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This week in Opportunities:

Survey Shows Traveler Spending Up 6.9% in '04
Growth Continues at Top Online Travel Sites
Northwest to Give Top Execs $3.7 Million in Stock
Veteran David Banmiller Named CEO of Aloha Airlines
AirTran Sticks with the Top Guy Who Got 'Em There
Opportunities Watch!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS!

TIA Survey Shows Traveler Spending Up 6.9 Percent in 2004

There's more good news showing the travel industry's budding comeback. After years of little travel volume growth combined with significantly lower travel spending, 2004 appears to be the year of recovery that the travel industry has been waiting for. It's the first year since 2000 that all travel industry sectors are showing increases in demand, with some finally exceeding 2000 levels, though some sectors remain troubled by weak revenues. According to the Travel Industry Association of America's Annual Travel Forecast, overall traveler spending by domestic and international visitors in the U.S. is set to increase 6.9 percent by year-end to nearly $593 billion up from $555 billion in 2003. An additional 5.3 percent increase in 2005 will bring expenditures to well beyond the $600 billion mark to $624 billion. Two of the hardest-hit segments in the travel industry, domestic business travel and international inbound travel, will both see their first increases since before Sept. 11, 2001. U.S. residents will take nearly 144 million business trips by the end of the year, an increase of 4 percent over 2003. In 2005, business travel will increase 3.6 percent to nearly 149 million trips. "It's clearly good news that business travel is showing the beginnings of recovery this year and will continue in 2005," said TIA's Suzanne Cook, senior vice president-research and technology. "The gains have been driven primarily by a stronger economy and fewer travel restrictions by corporate America." Separately, Air Transport Association forecasts a 5 percent increase in air passengers by year end, and Smith Travel Research predicts a 4 percent gain in room demand this year. After falling steadily for three years, international arrivals to the U.S. are forecast to rise 7.5 percent this year and nearly 5 percent in 2005. This translates into more than 43 million international arrivals by the end of this year and almost 46 million in 2005. Nevertheless, these numbers remain well below the record high of 51 million in 2000. International traveler spending in the U.S. is projected to increase 11.2 percent by year end, to nearly $72 billion and increase nearly 8 percent in 2005 to over $77 billion. Once again, these spending levels are well below the $82 billion spent by international visitors in 2000. Domestic leisure travel has slowly but steadily increased over the years, despite the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, the lagging economy, the war in Iraq, and high gas prices. TIA forecasts leisure travel volume will grow 2.9 percent this year up from a 1.9 percent increase in 2003. It will increase once again in 2005 by nearly 2 percent. "The bright spot has remained domestic leisure travel," Cook said. "While some recent shifts in consumer preferences such as a desire to travel closer to home remain valid, Americans are now returning to their more traditional habits. For example, some of the increases in air travel are attributable to domestic leisure trips." For more information, visit www.tia.org.

Growth Continues at Top Online Travel Booking Sites

After a few rather unspectacular quarters, IAC/InterActiveCorp, parent of such online travel bookings sites as Expedia.com, Hotels.com and Hotwire.com, reported third quarter revenue was $1.5 billion, operating income was $112 million and net income was $89 million. Worldwide merchant hotel revenue increased 22 percent, with a 16 percent increase in room nights stayed, driven primarily by the inclusion of Hotwire and continued growth in the international and private label businesses. Meanwhile Orbitz, Inc. reported $5.1 million in net income for the third quarter of 2004. Revenue growth was led by hotel revenue increases, which were fueled by expansion of Orbitz Merchant Hotel bookings. For its part, Priceline.com Incorporated reported third quarter 2004 gross travel bookings of $432 million, up 44 percent over a year ago. Gross travel bookings refer to the total dollar value inclusive of taxes and fees of all travel products purchased by consumers. Hotel room night unit bookings grew 27 percent compared to the same period last year and rental car day unit bookings increased 12 percent year over year. Indeed, all three major online travel bookings sites are relying on dramatic increases in hotel bookings to boost their revenue streams.

Northwest to Give Top Executives $3.7 Million in Stock

You can run a major airline and still get some pretty good compensation, even though most major carriers these days are operating under bankruptcy protection or teetering near it. The top five executives at Northwest Airlines, for example, were just awarded $3.7 million in stock. Among them was Northwest's new chief executive and president, Doug Steenland, who received 150,000 shares of restricted stock, with an estimated value of $1.4 million based on Monday's closing share price of $9.22. The stock awards were disclosed in a filing last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission. They came ahead of last Friday's approval by Northwest pilots of a two-year contract that will reduce their pay by 15 percent and save the company $265 million a year. Northwest executives who were awarded the restricted stock recently got salary increases to reflect new responsibilities. But those raises will be short lived, according to press reports, as implementation of the pilots' contract will trigger substantial pay cuts for executives as well. The executive salary reductions will be taken off higher base salaries that recently went into effect. Northwest spokesman Bill Mellon said pilots union leaders were briefed on the pay increases and stock grants for senior executives before pilots started voting on the new contract. In addition, the five executives who received the stock can't immediately convert it to cash. In recent years, Northwest's board has been awarding restricted stock that vests over multiple years. Northwest reportedly has lost more than $2 billion since early 2001. The company is attempting to cut its labor costs by $950 million a year.

Veteran David Banmiller Named CEO of Aloha Airlines

There's a new top airline executive in town...or make that on island. Aloha Airgroup, Inc., the Honolulu-based parent company of Aloha Airlines, named airline veteran David Banmiller as president and CEO of Aloha Airgroup and Aloha Airlines. Banmiller's appointment is effective Nov. 14, 2004. Banmiller has a career spanning more than three decades in the aviation industry. He has held senior airline positions in United States, Europe, South America, Mexico and the Far East. Most recently, he was Air Jamaica's executive vice president and COO, overseeing all elements of the day-to-day operation of the airline. At Air Jamaica, Banmiller helped the carrier's reliability, on-time performance and profitability. Prior to joining Air Jamaica, Banmiller enjoyed a successful career that began as a management trainee for TWA. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the industry: managing airport operations, cargo, passenger service, catering, sales, reservations, pricing, scheduling, planning and finance while rising through the executive ranks. Banmiller served as president and CEO for a number of airlines, including Sun Country Airlines, Pan American World Airways and Sun Jet. At American Airlines, he was vice president, international division. Before that, he was president and COO for Air Cal, which was acquired by American Airlines.

AirTran Sticks with the Top Guy Who Got 'Em There

On the low-cost front, at least one airline is eager to keep its top executive just where he is. AirTran Holdings, Inc. said its employment agreement with Joe Leonard, chairman and chief executive officer, has been extended for three years. Leonard joined AirTran as chairman and CEO on Jan. 6, 1999, and this announcement marks the third contract he has signed with the airline. One of the few licensed pilots who also serves as CEO of an airline, Leonard recently added the Boeing 737 type rating to his private pilot's license, an accomplishment shared by fewer than 1 percent of all FAA licensed pilots. Said Jere Drummond, retired vice chairman of BellSouth Corporation and chairman of the compensation committee and a member of AirTran Holdings' board of directors: "During the past five years, Joe has provided the vision and the disciplined leadership that has allowed AirTran Airways to prosper even in challenging economic times. Our airline is stronger today because of Joe Leonard and his team, and the board knows that a strong leadership team is essential particularly in these uncertain times. This new agreement ensures continuity of management in these challenging times." Prior to AirTran Airways, Leonard held executive positions with Allied Signal Aerospace, Northwest Airlines, Eastern Air Lines and American Airlines.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Celebrity's Galaxy Debut Puts Focus on Port of Galveston

Homeports for top cruise ships continue to be all the rageÖand they're leading to more jobs as those ports expand. Last week Celebrity Cruises' Galaxy set sail Nov. 1 for the first time from the Port of Galveston, Texas, with a sold-out cruise, including a more than 300-member group of veterans who served in major conflicts ranging from World War II to the current war in Iraq. The 1,870-guest Galaxy, rated one of the top 10 "World's Best Ships," according to a readers' survey published in Conde Nast Traveler, departs round-trip from Galveston on 11- and 12-night Panama Canal cruises through April 2005.

Luxury Resort at Paws in Montana Set to Open in June 2005

The Resort at Paws Up will bring a new level of five-star service and amenities to Montana when it opens in June 2005, combining luxury with 37,000 acres of untamed western wilderness. The Resort at Paws Up is situated along seven winding miles of the Blackfoot River, made famous by Robert Redford's coming-of-age classic, "A River Runs Through It." Accommodations for 80 guests range from private, 2,600-square-foot Big Timber Homes to a fully renovated, 100-year-old farmhouse nestled on the bank of Elk Creek, each individually decorated with a rich, yet rustic elegance. Paws Up will also offer a full-service spa with unique signature treatments featuring indigenous plants like sage and alfalfa. Their vision for this unique luxury resort has attracted a highly credentialed management team, including Jamie Holmes, the former general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as Biras Creek Resort and Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands. For more information, visit www.pawsup.com.

InterContinental's Hotel Indigo Opens First Location

InterContinental Hotels Group has officially opened its first Hotel Indigo hotel in Atlanta's revitalizing Midtown area. Hotel Indigo is a lifestyle hotel brand designed to address the desires of style conscious guests who are seeking experience and quality over pure mundane functionality when traveling. Hotel Indigo's 140 guestrooms feature signature murals, area rugs, duvets and slip covers that can be changed easily, and public spaces, like the lobby, will vary artwork, signage and paint on a scheduled basis. Extending the retail model from design through service, Hotel Indigo guests will be welcomed into an accommodating environment that is open and inviting. Hotel Indigo hotels will be located in urban, mid-town and near-urban markets proximate to businesses, restaurants and entertainment venues. Atlanta's hotel, developed by Jack Ward and Bill Hodges of Hodges, Ward & Elliott, is located in a circa-1920s building just across from the popular Fox Theatre on Peachtree Street. The second Hotel Indigo hotel is scheduled to open in Chicago's Gold Coast during the spring of 2005. For more information on Hotel Indigo, please visit www.hotelindigo.com.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: South African Airways Deputy Chief Executive Oyama Mabandla has resigned to pursue personal business interests, the airline said. Mabandla's resignation comes as the state-owned carrier is battling its worst financial crisis after losing 8.6 billion rand ($1.39 billion) before tax in its last financial year due to an ill-fated decision to hedge against the rand. He will leave Africa's largest airline at the end of the current fiscal year, which runs to March 31, 2005. Mabandla's departure follows that of former Chief Executive Andre Viljoen in August and Chief Financial Officer Richard Forson in October last year. Mabandla was appointed the airline's deputy chief executive in November last year...Flight Options, a leading provider of fractional shares in jet aircraft, said that Chairman and CEO John Nahill is leaving the company to pursue other interests. S. Michael Scheeringa, currently chief operating officer, will retain his current responsibilities and has been appointed acting CEO while a permanent replacement for Nahill is sought. Scheeringa's appointment is effective immediately. Scheeringa joined Flight Options in February of this year from US Airways, where he was vice president of the Express Division. At US Airways, he held a series of management positions in the areas of customer service, operations and corporate planning, in addition to overseeing the MetroJet and US Airways Shuttle divisions. Nahill was named Flight Options CEO in Feb. 2003. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Flight Options LLC offers the complete spectrum for fractional ownership, leasing and membership options...The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) has hired aviation lobbyist Lisa Piccione as its new senior vice president-government affairs. Piccione comes to NBAA having held senior lobby posts at Delta Air Lines and the Airports Council International-North America. She also has served as a top aide to several members of Congress, including Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), the ranking member on the House Subcommittee on Aviation. Piccione replaces Pete West, who recently resigned from NBAA. West had joined the Association from Delta Air Lines in 1987 and was named senior vice president-government affairs in 1998.

CRUISES: P&O Cruises Australia and the World's Leading Cruise Lines, which include Cunard, Costa and Princess products, will now be marketed under the restructured and integrated umbrella of Carnival Australia, which has led to several executive changes. Gavin Smith, P&O Cruises Australia's managing director, is now president of Carnival Australia and John Molinaro, the former vice president-sales for P&O Princess Cruises in the U.S. and Canada, who relocated to Sydney in September last year, has been appointed vice president-sales. Jackie Foggitt, vice president Asia Pacific for World's Leading Cruise Lines, has been appointed to the newly created position of vice president-international sales for Carnival Australia... G. Alberto Aliberti will join Bermello, Ajamil & Partners as director of cruise destination and tourism planning. Aliberti will work in B&A's growing port and maritime division, based from the company's Fort Lauderdale office. Most recently the director of shore programs for Cunard Line, Aliberti also brings cruise and destination expertise from earlier positions at Royal Olympic, Premier and Silversea Cruises. B&A's port and maritime project list extends from the Caribbean to St. Petersburg, Hong Kong to Juneau, New York City to Seattle... Bill Starkey was appointed interim port director by the Tampa Port Authority's board of commissioners. A well known community activist who sits on a number of boards, Starkey has agreed to serve without pay until a permanent director is chosen through a nationwide search. The previous interim director, Zelko Kirincich, returned to his post as senior deputy port director. News reports from Tampa said Kirincich also will withdraw from seeking the port's top job. The previous director, George Williamson, resigned in February to take an executive position with a private Florida company. New interim director Starkey retired from GTE in 1994 after a career spanning 30 years and a variety of executive positions. At GTE, he was vice president of business planning-telephone operations, president of GTE Information Services, president of Florida Telephone Co. and group vice president of telephone operations. He previously worked for General Telephone of Pennsylvania.

HOTELS & RESORTS: The Marcus Corporation announced the appointments of Bruce Olson as senior vice president and Thomas Kissinger as vice president, general counsel and secretary. Olson, who serves on the company's board of directors, is also president of Marcus Theatres Corporation. He joined the company in 1974 and served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Marcus Theatres from 1978 until his appointment as president of the division in 1988. He served as vice president-administration of The Marcus Corporation from 1987 to 1991, when he was elected to his most recent position of group vice president. Olson was elected to the board of directors in 1996. Olson is vice president of the National Association of Theatre Owners of Wisconsin, a director of the National Association of Theatre Owners and a member of Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers. Kissinger joined The Marcus Corporation in 1993 as secretary and director of legal affairs. He was promoted to general counsel and secretary in 1995. Prior to joining The Marcus Corporation, Kissinger was associated with the Milwaukee law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP, and was a senior tax accountant with the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging and entertainment industries. The company's lodging division, Marcus Hotels and Resorts, owns or manages 11 hotels and resorts in Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Missouri and Texas, and one vacation club in Wisconsin...Accor named Nicolas Mercier as director of distribution-Asia. In his new position Nicolas will oversee global distribution, pricing, reservation and e-Commerce. Prior to his appointment, he was distribution and e-commerce manager-Asia, responsible for electronic distribution for both internal (Accor E-Commerce platform) and external (travel web sites) applications. Nicolas joined Accor in 1996 as executive assistant manager at Novotel Bogor and spent five years in hotel operations with Accor in Indonesia and Myanmar...Kenneth Svendsen has been promoted to vice president of travel operations and in-market sales at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif. Svendsen was formerly general manager of the West Coast offices of Walt Disney Travel Company, which he continues to oversee. Svendsen leads Walt Disney Travel Company's Anaheim reservations call center operations, developing marketing and sales plans, managing product development activities and negotiations for air, ground and accommodations tour components. In his new role, he now leads strategic initiatives for the resort's in-market sales programs, driving increased park visitation from Southern California through the Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel program. Svendsen reports to Claire Bilby, vice president of sales and travel operations at Disneyland Resort...

Stephen Powell has been promoted to senior vice president of sales and marketing for Europe, Middle East & Africa at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), responsible for the company's hotel brands--InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Express by Holiday Inn across the region. Powell joined InterContinental Hotels Group last December as vice president of sales for the U.K. and Ireland. He has more than 30 years' hotel experience, receiving recognition and a number of awards for industry leadership. He graduated from the University of Texas and has worked in various senior positions for a number of companies in the U.S. including Sheraton and Fairmont Hotels. There are over 600 hotels with more than 105,000 rooms in the Europe, Middle East & Africa region of InterContinental Hotels Group...A series of promotions and restructuring moves is expected to produce a more efficient sales operation for SuperClubs Resorts. Headquartered in Hollywood, Fla., the chain of all-inclusives with 12 hotels in Jamaica, Bahamas, CuraÁao, Dominican Republic and Brazil, announced the following new appointments: Bill Dwyer, former director of national accounts, groups and the wholesale client GoGo Tours, has been promoted to vice president of sales-wholesale, groups and national accounts. Dwyer has been with SuperClubs since 1999, when he joined the company as director, travel industry sales. Previously with Sun Country Airlines and Budget Rent A Car, Dwyer will be based in Chicago. Jesse Ostrum has been named vice president of sales-retail. He will be responsible for supervising the sales effort through a team of 18 sales managers nationwide. Ostrum had been director of domestic and international revenue, since 2001 when he joined SuperClubs. A 12-year veteran in sales and revenue enhancement, Ostrum started his career with Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Both Bill Dwyer and Jesse Ostrum will report to SuperClubs' new U.S. executive vice president, Tom Trotta, a SuperClubs veteran since 1996. Having pioneered the use of Virtual Pay in the travel industry, Trotta is the company's e-commerce guru and was instrumental in the development of the SuperAgency WebLink that customizes and integrates SuperClubs.com with individual travel agencies' web sites. Trotta will oversee all of SuperClubs' U.S. operations. Prior to joining SuperClubs, Trotta was vice president of finance at 1-800 TAKE-OFF, a cruise-only travel agency, and he was manager of corporate planning and corporate reporting at Royal Caribbean Cruise Line...The Sheraton Bal Harbour Beach Resort has appointed James (Jim) Moss as director of sales and marketing. In this capacity, Moss is responsible for all domestic and international sales and marketing initiatives for the 645-room oceanfront resort, supervising a staff of 22 staffers who promote the Starwood flagship property to the leisure, group and incentive markets. Moss' 13 years of experience has crisscrossed the country, with stints in Arizona, Florida, Southern California and Virginia. Most recently, he served as the director of sales for the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the director of group sales at The Westin Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Fla., both Starwood properties. He has also held sales positions at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, the Hyatt Regency St. Louis and the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, Calif., as well as the Sheraton Premiere in Tysons Corner, Va. Moss began his career in 1991 at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla....Best Western has added two members to its management staff that serves the Rocky Mount and Gold Rock hotels in North Carolina. Dong Jin, owner of the two hotels, announced that Jan Kiper and Rennie Proctor have been added to the staff as a part of a program to support increased business in the area. Kiper has been named general manager of the hotels. She has come to Best Western from the Holiday Inn in Rocky Mount. During her nine years at the Holiday Inn, she had a progressive career that included management roles in sales, room sales, reservation and catering. In her role as general manager of the two hotels, she will be responsible for all the business activities. Proctor has been named director of sales for both hotels. Her responsibilities include all sales activities involving corporate accounts, long and short term stays as well as meeting room facilities. Best Western offers a total of 154 rooms at the two locations.

TRAVEL AGENTS: Pam Arway, executive vice president and general manager of American Express Business Travel North America, will become country manager of American Express Australia in January. Arway, who has headed American Express' North America operation since January 2002, is expected to play a role in selecting her successor. Separately, American Express Business Travel began reorganizing from a regional to a global structure. In addition to sales--which already has a global structure--operations, marketing, corporate communications and supplier-relations management are being reorganized so executives will report to global rather than regional managers. As part of the restructuring, the Interactive Travel Group, launched in 1996, will be folded into American Express Business Travel instead of operating as a separate division. The latest American Express reorganization comes as the company restructures on its leisure side as well. Last month it was announced that Cynthia Valles was leaving her post as senior vice president and general manager for American Express Consumer Travel in New York to head up American Express' international card operations in London...Joystar, Inc., a leading provider of technology, hosting and support services to home-based travel agents, named Janet Deffenbaugh as controller and vice president of human resources to its management team. Deffenbaugh's 12 years of experience consists of managing the accounting and human resources departments for several top law firms. She has held accounting, human resources and Paralegal positions at the Law Offices of Bergman & Jacobs (General Counsel for SunTrust Banks) and St. George & Tejera, both in Miami, Florida, as well as for 50 employees at Advantech Corporation in Irvine, Calif. Joystar provides online and offline travel services for the leisure and small business traveler.

TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: Roland Tanner, former vice president-product development for Pegasus Solutions, Inc., joins leading content distribution technology provider Lanyon, Inc., (www.lanyon.com) a leading content distribution technology provider to the hotel industry, as executive vice [resident in its new office in England. In his new role, Tanner is responsible for Lanyon's operations in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and will play a key role in the product direction of the company. Tanner is a leading figure in the industry and has specialized in electronic hotel distribution for the last 15 years. Recently, as vice president of product development for Pegasus, Tanner was responsible for product management for Pegasus' suite of products and services, including central reservation systems, distribution solutions, commission processing, Utell and Unirez, and played a prominent role in product strategy. Prior to that, Tanner was vice president of information technology and distribution for Pegasus' Utell hotel marketing and representation service, and before that, was successively director of reservations for Forte and Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts. Tanner has spoken at various industry events and participated on several advisory boards, on behalf of both Pegasus and HEDNA (the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association), the latter of which he served recently as president. The new office of Lanyon is located at Thame in Oxfordshire, U.K....ebookers plc, the pan-European online travel company, announced two key appointments to its hotel team. A.J. Moreno joins as director of hotel supply for Europe, Africa and Middle East, responsible for product acquisition and revenue management. Previously he was regional revenue manager-destination packages for Expedia, Europe, where he was responsible for European and Middle Eastern hotel revenue. Moreno holds a Masters in Hotel Management from Cornell University. Meanwhile, Bas Lemmens joins as director of Hotel Supply, Americas and Caribbean, again responsible for product acquisition and revenue management. Bas joins from Bookings (www.bookings.nl), a leading European online hotel reservation company. Bas was a founding member of Bookings in 2000 and played a significant part in the company's subsequent rapid growth. His various roles included responsibility for the European hotel business, hotel database development, and strategic alliances. These new positions follow the appointment of Ranjan Singh in July as managing director-hotels from Expedia Europe, where he was director of lodging demand. As part of its strategic objective of achieving 50 percent of sales in non-air, ebookers is working hard to develop the performance of its hotel business.

DESTINATIONS: Prudence Solomon-Inzerillo, president of South African Tourism U.S.A. left the organization on Oct. 31. Solomon-Inzerillo presided over the U.S. launch of South African Tourism's new global branding campaign. John Bateman, currently the West Coast Trade Relations Manager, assumed the position of acting country manager starting Nov. 1...Marcial (Charly) Ibarra, North American director of the Aruba Tourism Authority, retired Nov. 7 after more than 20 years of service. Ibarra served as North American director for the last 15 years, in charge of all marketing efforts for the region. Previously he was regional director, Southeast, overseeing 26 states in all. Following his departure, Theresita Chai will act as the interim director of the Aruba Tourism Authority, North America...Tourism New Zealand's regional managers in North America and Australia will trade spaces this coming January. The head office, based in Santa Monica, Calif., will welcome Bruce Lahood on Jan. 10. Lahood will spearhead the marketing efforts for New Zealand in both the U.S. and Canada, working closely with trade and media partners, and overseeing the marketing communications efforts of the Tourism New Zealand teams in California and New York. One of his primary objectives as regional manager, Lahood said, will be to maintain the continuity of marketing themes. Lahood has been with Tourism New Zealand since 2002, when he joined the tourist board as regional manager of Australia, based in Sydney. His career spans various industries in both private and public sectors. Most recently, he served with the Carlson Marketing Group, heading up its partnership development division in Australasia. His introduction to travel and tourism began with domestic carrier Ansett New Zealand in Auckland, before joining national carrier Air New Zealand in 1995, where he started as manager alliances for the Americas, Europe and U.K. He subsequently headed up the airline's airport operations in Australia. After seven years as regional manager of North America, a period of dramatic growth for New Zealand tourism, Gregg Anderson will head up the Sydney team starting Jan 10. A Tourism New Zealand veteran of 12 years, Anderson served as marketing manager in the U.K. and Nordic markets, before taking the helm of the North American operation in Santa Monica in 1998....

Michael McDowell, a long-time contributor to promoting cultural affairs for Los Angeles, has been named senior director of cultural tourism for LA INC. The Convention and Visitors Bureau. In his role, McDowell will create links between the bureau's marketing and LA's cultural products and services. In so doing, LA can better distinguish itself as a unique and competitive travel destination to both domestic and international travelers. McDowell has spent the last four years working as the associate vice president for public affairs at The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he conceived, directed and implemented all external relations activities for CalArts, its six schools and affiliated programs, including the opening and first season of RedCat in Walt Disney Concert Hall. He has worked in senior positions in public affairs and media relations at Brandeis University, UrbanArts Inc. in Boston, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in Washington and more recently as director of marketing at University of Southern California... Arlington (Texas) Convention & Visitors Bureau's director of communications, Diane Brandon, has been promoted to vice president of communications and research. Brandon joined FUN CENTRAL in 2002 from her previous post as owner and principal of Brandon Media and Promotions. According to the Arlington CVB's president, Linda DiMario, Brandon's efforts over the past two years have helped elevate the stature of the bureau both within, and beyond, the city of Arlington. As vice president of communications and research, Brandon will continue to direct all media and public relations initiatives for the ACVB while assisting with the FUN CENTRAL brand identity campaign. Additional responsibilities will include supervising all ACVB's internal research projects and compiling, analyzing and maintaining all independent industry research, performance measurements and industry standards. Before starting her own company, Brandon was marketing director for the West End Association in Dallas. She joined the association from her prior position as public relations manager for the Hard Rock Cafe.

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