The Travel Career Connexxions Opportunities Newsletter
03/13/07
The only weekly newsletter detailing essential trends, news and
top executive moves in travel. Opportunities is a free
newsletter that provides you with the vision to "see" travel
industry opportunities in the making. Whether you are in
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This week in Opportunities:
Canadian and American Leaders Explore Passport Requirement Options
Opportunities Watch!
Opportunities Networking!
Executive Movers! See who's going where?
Travel Executive Employment Report
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Did you know? As of 03/13/07 there are 200 executive-level
travel jobs published in the Travel Career Connexxions
employment report. Positions include Sr. Manager/Director of CRM (03/13),
Director of Engineering (03/13), Regional VP of Sales (03/09),
Director - IT Support (03/07), Director of National Sales (03/07),
VP Quality Operations and Services (03/09) and more. It only takes one
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http://www.TravelExecutive.com
OPPORTUNITIES NEWS & TRENDS
Canadian and American Leaders Explore Passport Requirement Options
According to the Travel Industry Association (TIA), a group of American business and Canadian political
leaders is teaming up to urge the departments of State (State) and Homeland Security (DHS) to explore
alternatives to a passport before implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
(WHTI) passport requirement at land and sea entry points.
Three Canadian premiers and leaders from the American travel industry are concerned that the WHTI will
diminish trade and tourism; cost jobs and disrupt the daily lives of American and Canadian citizens if not properly implemented.
The group is calling upon State and DHS to use the extended deadline of June 1, 2009, granted by Congress
to allow for the development and testing of options other than a passport and to ensure that the necessary
infrastructure, training and technology are funded and in place along the Canada-U.S. border. The group is
also calling for greater bilateral co-operation between the two federal governments in exploring and testing options.
The premiers, who include Dalton McGuinty of Ontario, Gary Doer of Manitoba and Shawn Graham of New Brunswick,
note that the Conference Board of Canada estimates that the WHTI would reduce travel spending by Americans coming
to Canada by $3 billion from 2005 to 2010.
Jonathan M. Tisch, chair of the Travel Business Roundtable and chair and CEO of Loews Hotels, said that travel
and tourism is a $703 billion industry in the U.S. While travel from overseas is down 17 per cent since 2000,
it has increased by 10 per cent from Canada and Mexico. "Canadians are our largest inbound market. In order to ensure that legitimate travel continues to flow across
the Canada-U.S. border, secure alternatives to a passport that are not prohibitively expensive, such as a pass
card, must be made available to both Canadians and Americans," said Tisch.
Canada is the largest export market for 38 states, with two-way trade supporting an estimated 5.2 million
American jobs. J.W. Marriott, Jr., chair and CEO of Marriott International, Inc. and chair of the President's
Export Council, said, "Canada is our ally, neighbour and largest trading partner. Getting WHTI wrong could damage
this relationship and economies on both sides of the border. Our governments must work co-operatively to get it right," said Marriott.
The premiers are on a joint mission to urge the U.S. administration to consider alternatives to a passport requirement.
The mission is supported by Quebec Premier Jean Charest. While in Washington, the three premiers have been working
closely with Canadian ambassador Michael Wilson and have met with U.S. governors, members of the Senate and House of
Representatives, and private sector leaders.
OPPORTUNITIES WATCH!
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to Undergo Major Expansion and Renovation
Morgans Hotel Group Co. (MHG) and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners (DLJMB) have announced a large-scale expansion
and renovation project for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The expansion project will include the
addition of approximately 950 guest rooms, including an all-suite 15-story tower with upgraded amenities,
approximately 60,000 square feet of meeting and convention space, and approximately 35,000 square feet of
casino space. In addition, the project includes the expansion of the Hard Rock's award-winning pool, several
prominent new food and beverage outlets, a new and larger "Joint" live entertainment venue, 30,000 square
feet of new retail space, as well as a new spa and health club. As part of the project, the Hard Rock's
existing suites and common areas will be renovated to revitalize the property and bring it up to MHG's
brand standard. The project, which is scheduled to begin this year, is expected to be fully completed by
mid-2009.As previously announced, DLJMB agreed to fund 100% of the equity capital required to expand the
Hard Rock property, up to a total of an a additional $150 million. MHG will have the option to fund the
expansion project proportionate to its equity interest in the joint venture. A credit agreement provides
for a loan of up to an additional $600 million for the Hard Rock renovation and expansion.
OPPORTUNITIES NETWORKING!
Computerized Airline Sales & Marketing Association Spring Conference
CASMA's spring 2007 "Dynamic
Distribution: Transforming Your Strategy" themed conference has set record
levels of registration and sponsorships with more than 200 attendees
registered to date and more than thirty (30) exhibitors. Join industry
executives discussing and debating critical Distribution issues facing the
airline industry in today's price sensitive and hyper-competitive market.
CASMA continues the tradition of featuring industry leaders in keynote
addresses beginning Monday, 25 March. Keynotes will consist of Kay Urban,
President of Amadeus North America, Michael Premo, Vice President of Sales
and Customer Relations with Airline Reporting Corporation (ARC), Roland
Bersch, Lufthansa Systems, Tyler Hoffman, PayPal, and Michael Bennett, Cheapflights.com.
New panelists include executives from jetBlue and Eos Airlines who will
join a featured panel, "Casting A Wider Net: Reaching Customers Through
Multiple Channels" focusing on case studies from these leading airlines
which have re-examined their distribution strategy in order to take
advantage of reaching higher yield passengers and hence increased revenue
and greater success.
Other panels will include exploring new and inventive sales and
marketing initiatives, including the online community through customer
experience, RSS feeds and podcasts as well as discovering ancillary revenue
sources for airlines and much more. Panels and workshops will focus on the
effects industry-wide on unbundling airline products, partnering with
travel related companies for cross-selling opportunities, charging for
premium services, in- flight meals, integrating new and old payment
systems, next generation passenger services systems and anything that
customer demand dictates.
Limited registrations are available. For further information, visit www.casma.org.
OPPORTUNITIES EXECUTIVE MOVERS!
AIRLINES: Alaska Airlines has
announced the appointment of Jeff Butler to the new position of staff vice
president of station operations.
Butler will oversee the airline's airport operations and customer
service divisions, including more than 5,000 employees and contractors in
58 cities. A 23-year veteran of Alaska Airlines, he previously served as
managing director of inflight operations, leading more than 2,600 flight
attendants. Butler joined Alaska Airlines in 1984, holding a range of positions
with increasing responsibility, including editorial assistant, reservations
sales agent, consumer affairs representative and reservations supervisor.
Butler was named manager of the airline's Tempe, Ariz., reservations center
in 1994 and managing director of inflight operations in 1998.
In 1995, Butler received Alaska Airlines' #1 Leader Award, among the
airline's highest service honors. He holds a bachelor's degree in
communications from Washington State University.
HOTELS & RESORTS: Myriad Entertainment and Resorts, Inc. has announced that
it has appointed Robert M. Leahy as its Executive Vice President of Finance. Prior to
joining Myriad, Leahy served as vice president and director of Process Improvement and Reengineering
for Kerzner International Resorts, Atlantis Resort and Casino.
Leahy, a successful business leader with more than 20 years of financial experience, will continue
to develop and execute financial strategies to support the Company's new business plan, which focuses
Myriad's current efforts and resources on the development of the Myriad Botanical Resort in Tunica County, Mississippi.
Throughout his career, Leahy has effectively built and led development and redesign teams, rolling out
policies and procedures designed to maximize corporate efficiencies and customer satisfaction. In 1997,
he joined Kerzner International Resorts, Atlantis Resort and Casino, located in Plantation, Florida as
an IT Decision Support System Manager and Decision Support System Analyst. Upon being promoted to Director
of Accounting and Director of Operational Analyses in 1998, he managed financial reporting, accounts
payable, accounts receivable, payroll and operational projects. In 1999, he was promoted to Vice
President of Finance - Atlantis Resort & Casino; he structured, managed and developed a department
of 105 full-time employees, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll,
cost control and receiving; managed revenue of $375 million and earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortization of $130 million. From 2001 to 2006, Leahy served as Vice President and
Director of Process Improvement and Reengineering leading key corporate improvement projects including
Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance for IT, Business Infrastructure Process Improvement (telecommunications), and
a Customer Relationship Management System (CRM) selection project.. MGM MIRAGE has announced that Aldo Manzini has been named to the newly created
position as the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative
Officer. This addition to senior company management will bring strategic
coordination to the company's administrative functions.
Manzini will oversee multiple corporate departments providing
significant administrative support to the company's operations and
corporate endeavors. Among the departments reporting to Manzini: Human
Resources, Information Technology, Procurement, Purchasing, Risk
Management, Call Operations, Loyalty Marketing, Advertising and Public
Affairs. After graduating from Oxford University in 1984, Manzini went on to
receive his MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago, Graduate School
of Business in 1988. Manzini comes to MGM MIRAGE after an accomplished tenure with the
Walt Disney Company. Serving as that company's Senior Vice President for
Strategic Planning, he led corporate development and strategy in Consumer
Products, Theme Parks and Corporate Alliances.
From his strategic planning position, Manzini touched many areas of
Disney's global business interests, including specialty retail, cruise line
and theme park resort operations, integration of publishing operations,
development of new avenues in electronic media and both the development and
financial restructuring of overseas operations.
Manzini is an experienced competitor on the global business playing
field. He speaks several languages and worked overseas in Europe and on
recent development projects in Asia... Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, a joint venture of Boyd Gaming Corporation and
MGM MIRAGE, has announced the appointment of two executives
to its senior management team. Dave Coskey has been named Vice President of
Marketing for Borgata and Drew Schlesinger has been appointed as Vice
President and General Manager of The Water Club at Borgata, an 800-room
upscale, boutique hotel on schedule to open in early 2008.
As Vice President of Marketing, Coskey will be responsible for all
aspects of marketing including casino marketing, database and direct
marketing, loyalty card center, public relations, advertising and special
events.
Coskey brings over twenty years of senior management experience in the
fields of marketing, advertising, and public relations in both the
Philadelphia and Atlantic City markets. Most recently, he served as
President of Dave Coskey Associates, an independent marketing and
consulting firm with clients throughout the Northeast, and prior to that,
President of Comcast Spectacor, LLC, where he was responsible for the
marketing, communications and community relations efforts for sports teams
Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers, while serving on The National
Basketball Association Board of Governors. Throughout his career, Coskey
has held a myriad of executive positions with organizations such as the
Philadelphia 76ers, Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, and was a founding
partner in Media Works Communications in Linwood, NJ.
Coskey is a graduate of Villanova University and holds a B.A. degree in
Communications. He resides in Avalon, NJ, with his wife and three sons.
As Vice President and General Manager of The Water Club, Schlesinger
will oversee all aspects of the hotel including development,
administration, recruitment, as well as the property's day-to-day
operations.
Bringing a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry,
Schlesinger most recently served as the Director of Operations and General
Manager of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants in New York City and Miami,
responsible for the launch of Kimpton's first hotel in New York City, a
four-star, 205-room luxury hotel. Prior to joining Kimpton Hotels and
Restaurants, he held the General Manager position at hotels such as The
Mondrian in Los Angeles, CA, Paramount Hotel in New York, NY and the
Inter-continental Central Park South and Crowne Plaza Manhattan
(Intercontinental Hotels Group) in New York City.
Drew holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Boston
University... Crestline Hotels & Resorts, Inc. has announced the appointment of Connie Brewer as Director of Sales &
Marketing for the Crowne Plaza Williamsburg, VA. Brewer joins Crestline Hotels with more than 12 years of
hospitality management experience. Her last position was Vice President of
Sales & Marketing for LAP Hospitality. Prior to that she was Director and
Corporate Sales Manager for LTD Management and the General Manager for the
Courtyard by Marriott, Newport News. She has also held both general manager
and sales & marketing positions with Innkeepers Hospitality - Denver,
Detroit Residence Inn by Marriott. She began her hospitality career with
Starwood Lodging in food and beverage.
Brewer holds a B.S. in Business Management from Baylor University,
Waco, TX. She is a member of the Virginia Business Travel Association; the
Business Professional Women's Association; Yorktown & Williamsburg Chamber;
the Kiln Creek Building Association for Yorktown, and the Williamsburg
Visitors & Convention Bureau.
TRAVEL TECH: WorldTradeShow.com, Inc., which specializes in providing online
business for the travel/tourism, import/export and meeting/convention industries, announced that
Robert Malasek will be joining WorldTradeShow.com, Inc. as a corporate officer and
CFO. Currently Malasek also serves as the Chief Financial Officer for NatureWell, Incorporated, a
position to which he was re-appointed on August 15, 2006. Malasek had previously served as Controller
for NatureWell, Inc. from September of 2001 until October of 2002 at which time he began serving as Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary until his resignation in May of 2005. From September 1987 until August
1999 Malasek was employed with Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in a number of positions within
the accounting department and became Assistant Controller in 1998 until his departure in 1999. Malasek
received his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from San Diego State University in 1998.
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