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This week in Opportunities:

Elite Traveler Survey Reveals Spending Plans of Super-Rich
PhoCusWright Explores Habits and Preferences of Next Gen Travelers
Opportunities Networking!
Opportunities Watch!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report

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OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS

Elite Traveler Survey Reveals Spending Plans of Super-Rich

As travel marketers brace themselves for a potentially rough holiday season, a potential silver lining lies in the wallets of the very, very rich. Over two-thirds (70%) of those with a net worth of at least $30 million project their spending through the end of 2008 to be on par with or greater than last year, according to the most recent Elite Traveler/Prince & Associates research conducted September 22-24, 2008. The survey polled approximately 500 families with a net worth of at least $1 million. Whether the super-rich can keep the economy, or at least the luxury brands going, remains to be seen, but 96.4% of these super-rich consumers plan to spend an average of $108,100 just on jewelry and watches before the end of 2008. Seventy-six percent (76%) of families with a net worth of $1 million-$10 million said they will spend less between now and the end of the year, as did a similar number of families worth $10-$30 million. Less than 1 percent of the "Middle Class Millionaires" or Aspirational Segments as they are commonly referred to said they would spend more. Only those worth more than $30 million plan to spend the same or more as last year.

"The Elite Traveler/Prince & Associates research shows that a small percentage of consumers are still purchasing luxury goods and services at an undiminished rate, really just the very top of the economic pyramid," says Douglas Gollan, president and editor-in-chief of Elite Traveler. "Today, people in that exclusive $30 million + segment continue to fly privately, and the private jet industry is healthy with more people flying privately than ever before. At the NBAA private jet conference in Orlando this week billions of dollars in orders for new private jets were placed. That the private jet industry is strong in the US and abroad, and that the super-rich are continuing their strong spending habits, are two pieces of very good news for Elite Traveler and its luxury marketing partners." Between now and the end of 2008, 97.6% of those surveyed who are worth more than $30 million plan to spend an average of $77,300 on apparel and accessories, 34.9% plan to spend an average of $42,500 on audio visual equipment, 31.3% plan to spend $54,900 on luxury resorts and hotels, and 94% plan to spend an average of $23,400 on the personal consumption of wines & spirits. A full copy of the survey is available for download at www.elitetraveler.com/business/research.html.

PhoCusWright Explores Habits and Preferences of Next Gen Travelers

Technological change has reinvented the manner in which travel service suppliers bring their products and services to the marketplace in recent years, and a recent survey now reveals that emerging technology has had an equally profound effect on the behavior of those who use it. The NEXTgen Traveler survey of 2,559 adults—co-authored by PhoCusWright and Ypartnership—was conducted in March 2008. Respondents were "active users" of the latest computer, entertainment or consumer technology, and took at least one overnight trip requiring the use of commercial accommodations during the previous 12 months. According to the survey, these "next generation" travelers are highly educated (30% with a 4-year college degree; 20% with at least one year of graduate school), affluent (30% of households with an annual income in excess of $100,000), and are equally likely to be Echo Boomers (18-28 years of age) as Baby Boomers (43 to 61 years of age), thereby debunking the belief that the usage of new technology is concentrated among younger travelers. They have a zest for travel (75% would travel more if they had more money; 62% would travel more if they had more time) and spend, on average, over 50% more on travel services annually than their less tech-savvy counterparts.

"The data paint a fascinating picture of the manner in which emerging technology has re-shaped the attitudes and behavior of contemporary travelers," said Philip C. Wolf, President and CEO of PhoCusWright. "And it is clear that tech-savvy travelers display a significantly different market profile than travelers who are less wired."

As expected, "next generation" travelers are heavy users of the latest technology: two thirds (65%) take pictures, text message (63%), access the Internet (33%) and play video games (29%) with their phones. Two thirds also shop online sites such as eBay (67%). Four out of ten (37%) own the latest video game console, and one out of four (23%) has a GPS in their car. "Next generation" travelers also rely heavily on the Internet when it comes to planning, purchasing and sharing information on travel experiences:

• Seven out of ten (71%) use the Internet to search for travel information, while 41% have taken a virtual tour of a destination, and 38% have built a trip itinerary online;
• More than half (58%) cite the "ability to check the best fares/rates" as the most important feature in a travel Web site;
• Almost four in ten (37%) report being influenced by personal comments read on social networking or travel advisory Web sites, but they frequent social networking sites such as MySpace.com (56%) and Facebook (30%) more than travel advisory or review sites such as TripAdvisor (14%);
• Fully one-third (33%) have authored and posted a travel review online.

OPPORTUNITIES NETWORKING!

World Religious Travel Expo Spotlights Agent Education Opportunities

The World Religious Travel Association has partnered with The Travel Institute to provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to Certified Travel Industry Executives, Certified Travel Counselors (CTCs) and Certified Travel Associates (CTAs) attending this year’s inaugural WRTA Expo and Educational Conference, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, in Orlando. “Our goal is for each agent to acquire cutting-edge knowledge and information on how they can personally develop their particular niche within the dynamic faith-based travel industry,” said Kevin J. Wright, WRTA president. “With more than 50 travel leaders and experts serving as speakers and panelists, the Expo seminars will offer the most comprehensive educational program ever assembled on religious tourism. Agents can attend sessions on marketing, sales, advertising, public relations and product development among others – all featuring an emphasis on the faith-based client.” Through leading industry speakers, dynamic presentations, panel discussions, interactive break-out sessions, educational seminars and peer Networking Forums, travel agents attending the expo can earn CEU's and expand their knowledge of the opportunities in various niches within the faith tourism industry. Travel agents can listen to and discuss with travel experts market trends, marketing intelligence and the latest products/services, plus discover actionable ways to exceed customer expectations in these market segments: Pilgrimages, Mission Trips, Cruises, Leisure Travel, Conferences, Events, Retreats, Attractions, Destinations, Adventure, Family, Student/Youth, and Volunteer Vacations. The World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference serves as the most important gathering of the “Who’s Who” in today’s faith tourism marketplace. More than 400 participants, including exhibitors and other top authorities, are expected at the historic event. The Expo will be held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2008 at the Gaylord Palms Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!

Florida Benefits Through $6 Billion in Cruise Industry Spending in 2007

The North American cruise industry contributed $6.06 billion in direct spending to the Florida economy in 2007, an increase of 3.6 percent over the previous year, according to a recently released study commissioned for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). This spending, in turn, generated 126,546 jobs paying $5.2 billion in income. Florida purchases represent one-third of the industry's total U.S. direct expenditures, and employment accounts for 36 percent of the cruise lines' U.S. employment impact, thus ensuring that Florida continues to be the cruise capital of the United States. Florida leads the nation not only in the number of passengers embarking on their cruises from the state's ports, but also in the number of residents that take cruise vacations. Last year, nearly 5 million people, comprising nearly 54 percent of total U.S. cruise embarkations, boarded their cruises from one of Florida's five cruise ports -- Miami, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, Tampa and Jacksonville. Floridians totaled nearly 2.3 million, or 25 percent, of all U.S. resident passengers.

The Contribution of the North American Cruise Industry to the U.S. Economy in 2007 study was conducted by Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) in Exton, Pa., and analyzes the economic benefits to the U.S. economy from five principal sources: spending by cruise passengers and crew; shoreside staffing by cruise lines in U.S. cities; expenditures by cruise lines for goods and services; U.S. port services; and vessel maintenance and repair. Nationwide, the North American cruise industry continued to have a significant and growing impact on the U.S. economy in 2007, positively affecting every state in the country. Cruise line and passenger spending generated a total of $38 billion in gross economic output, a 6.4 percent increase over 2006, and generated 354,700 American jobs paying $15.4 billion in wages and salaries. Direct spending by cruise lines, their employees and passengers totaled $18.7 billion.

OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!

AIRLINES: UAL Corporation, the holding company whose primary subsidiary is United Airlines, has named Dennis Cary senior vice president and chief marketing and customer officer, and Graham Atkinson president of Mileage Plus, the company's loyalty program. With this move, United is integrating the customer experience and marketing organizations under Cary, who will now be responsible for brand strategy, customer communications, merchandising, united.com, and the overall design of the customer experience. Cary previously was senior vice president of marketing. In this new role he will continue to report to John Tague, executive vice president and chief operating officer, who said the move will provide a greater focus on the end- to-end customer experience. As president of Mileage Plus, Atkinson will focus on developing Mileage Plus into a standalone business, leveraging the potential of United's relationship with key partners and ensuring that United is well positioned to address the changing landscape of loyalty programs and meet the needs of the company's most loyal customers. In his new role, Atkinson, who was previously chief customer officer, also will report to Tague. Robert Sahadevan, vice president of Mileage Plus, will report to Atkinson.

CRUISELINES: Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. has named Ian Bailey as its new Vice President of Investor Relations. Bailey joined the company in 2000 and has been the Vice President of Corporate and Capital Planning for the past 18 months. Bailey will now serve as the company's principle liaison with analysts, investors and the financial press. He will work closely with the New York and Oslo stock exchanges, and coordinate analyst calls, investor conferences and financial presentations. The appointment is effective immediately. Greg Johnson, who previously served as AVP, Investor Relations has assumed a new role within the company's Corporate and Strategic Planning department.

HOTELS & RESORTS: Morgans Hotel Group Co. ("MHG") has named John "JP" Oliver as Regional Vice President of Miami and General Manager of Delano in South Beach, effective October 20, 2008. Oliver joins MHG from LXR Hotels & Resorts (formerly Wyndham International) where he spent more than fifteen years in various management positions. Most recently, Oliver served as Vice President and Managing Director of Puerto Rico, where he was responsible for operations at the El San Juan Hotel & Casino, El Conquistador Resort & Casino, and Condado Plaza Hotel & Casino. Prior to that, he was Area Vice President of the Caribbean Region for LXR. Before joining LXR, Oliver worked with Hyatt Hotels and Resorts in several management positions at the Hyatt Regency Beaver Creek, the Grand Hyatt Wailea and Hyatt Grand Champions from 1988 through 1993. Oliver began his career at the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C... Mel Kaneshige, executive vice president of real estate and development of Outrigger Enterprises Group, announced that Outrigger has named Darren J. Edmonstone as Senior Vice President - Asia. In this newly created position, Edmonstone will lead Outrigger's expansion into Asia and oversee Outrigger's newly-established Asia regional office in Phuket, Thailand. Edmonstone has extensive Asian experience, having worked most recently in the region with HongKong and Shanghai Hotels Limited, the owners of The Peninsula Group, in a number of senior management positions in Vietnam and Thailand as well as in a corporate regional role based in Hong Kong, before joining Outrigger in 2005 as vice president of acquisitions and development. Prior to The Peninsula Group, Edmonstone worked in Europe with the hospitality arm of The Kuwaiti Investment Office, as well as with Sheraton Hotels, NCR Australia Pty, Ltd. and Hilton Hotels in his native Australia.

TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: YTB International, Inc. ("YTB"), a provider of Internet-based travel websites and home-based independent representatives in the United States, Bermuda, Canada, and the Bahamas, has announced that James M. Tackett has joined their Executive Team as Chief Marketing Officer. Tackett is a talented writer, producer and director, bringing over 22 years of video, television, and production experience to his role at YTB. Working extensively in the network marketing industry, Tackett has produced and consulted for companies such as Avon, Nikken, Herbalife, Pre-Paid Legal, Shaklee, and Primerica. Tackett also enjoyed over nine years' experience as a producer with Video Plus, a premier supplier to the direct selling industry. He has also produced various broadcast and syndicated television shows as well as in-flight programming for United Airlines.

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