Newsletter - June 10, 2002

GLOBAL STAFF MOVEMENTS UPDATE:
WHO’S WHERE AND DOING WHAT

Edited by Benoit Gateau-Cumin
President  The Boutique Search Firm


Global Update:
Who's where and doing what: this month, we have  so many news that we had to split the column into two issues. This one pertains to the Americas. The rest of the world will  come  to you next week


THE AMERICAS

The City of Angels  extends a warm welcome to a disappointingly meagerly attended worldwide conference of the Leading Hotels of the World. Some blame poor attendance on the economy, others claim Los Angeles  is  too far. Far from what? I thought we were the  center of the world. Others feel the recent creation of Leading Small Hotels brought in properties so  small they cannot afford the financial nor human cost of the  conference. The Italians and those from the French Riviera find the  conference  to come at one  of the busiest times of the year.  For Swiss hoteliers in Geneva, the Saudi Royal family has taken every luxury suite  as  well as 500 of the best rooms in town for an extended stay, a unique bonanza worth staying around for. Last but not least, some of our local hoteliers have decided June is a lovely time for a vacation...

Island Outpost merged with Acacia, making Acacia founder William Anderson the new company¹s Chief Executive Officer. Acacia¹s Chief Financial Officer, Bruce Campbell, joins the new company as its CFO. Jona Liebrecht, Island Outpost¹s former President, is now Head of Operations. Prior to launching Acacia in 1999 under the principle of "intelligent luxury" Anderson served as President of Abercrombie & Kent Hotels. Bruce Campbell was Corporate Controller for Carefree Resorts, and Senior Vice President of the Golden Door Spa division, when Wyndham gobbled up Carefree.

Seamus McManus has returned to Napa Valley after one year in Orange County. He who used to live in St Helena while managing Meadowood from 1998 through 2000, has moved back home. He is now the General Manager of the upcoming Calistoga Ranch, the newest project from the good people at Auberge Resorts.

Jo-Anne Hill has been named Vice President Sales and Marketing, Western Region, by Ritz-Carlton. She was until last winter the Vice President Sales and Marketing North America for Mandarin-Oriental Hotels, a company she had originally joined as Director of Sales and Marketing for the boutique Mandarin-Oriental San Francisco. Prior to that, Hill had a successful career with Four Seasons.

With St Regis taking over London¹s Lanesborough from Rosewood (upon expiration of its initial ten-year management contract), no personnel changes are expected, since the team there had been put into place by St Regis President Atef Mankarios, while he was at the helm of Rosewood.

Speaking of St Regis and former Rosewood people, Gunter Richter is taking over from Herbert Pliessnig as Managing Director of the St Regis New York. Richter was the opening General Manager of the Remington for Rosewood, several years ago. The Remington, after a brief Ritz-Carlton  re-incarnation, is now known as the St Regis Houston. The St Regis New York is an old stomping ground for Richter who was the property¹s General Manager some twenty years ago, long before the property was upgraded to what it is now. Richter joins the St Regis from New York¹s Drake Swissôtel.

At Fandango Resorts, principals Bill Shoaf and Matt Bailey have taken over the 300-room Inn of the Seventh Mountain in Oregon, slating it for a major remodel. They have appointed Clarence Hofheins as the inn's new General Manager. Hofheins has spent more than 15 years in the hospitality industry, 12 of those years at Robert Redford's Sundance in Utah during the resort's huge expansion. He followed Shoaf from Sundance to Bermuda in 1998, where he was part of the opening team for Elbow Beach following a $40 million renovation. Before joining the Inn of the Seventh Mountain, Hofheins was General Manager of a boutique property in Bermuda, the Newstead Hotel. Davis Smith has been hired as Director of Sales. His experience in the hotel industry spans more than a decade, with his latest position being General Manager of the Honeywell Conference Center in Redmond, Washington.  Prior to that, Smith was General Manager of the 234-room Doubletree Hotel in Eugene, Oregon. Karen Mayall, CPA, is the inn's Controller and her latest position was Controller at the Hooker Creek Ranch in Bend, Oregon. For six years she was employed by Four Seasons Hotels, and held the position of Staff Accountant at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills and the Four Seasons Seattle. Craig Fraser has been hired as Director of Human Resources. His most recent positions in the travel industry include being Human Resources Director at Silvertree Properties in Snowmass Village and Sundance Resort. Patricia McMeen is the inn's Director of Lodging. She most recently hailed from INNspired, LLC as consultant and Housekeeping Manager.

Rudy Tauscher has been appointed by Mandarin-Oriental as Project Director for the upcoming Mandarin-Oriental New York at AOL Time Warner Plaza. Up until March of this year, he was the General Manager of the Trump International Plaza, across Columbus Circle from his new home.

Markus Engel is  leaving his post of Director of Food and Beverage at the Peninsula Chicago, which he had joined in  October 2000, to become the Resident Manager at the Mandarin-Oriental Hyde Park in London. Engel, a German, has also been  the Director of Food and Beverage at the Vierjahreszeiten in Hamburg and Peninsula's Palace in Beijing.

Susana Parks has joined Sofitel as Director of Global Entertainment Sales, based at the Sofitel Los Angeles and responsible for selling all Sofitel properties to the entertainment industry. She previously held the position of Director of Sales for Bacara in Santa Barbara. Susana also handled West Coast sales for the St Regis New York and the Four Seasons Beverly Hills.

Rich Ramirez joins the Sofitel Los Angeles as Director of Sales and Marketing. He was until recently the Director of Sales for Palmilla, in Mexico. Also at the Sofitel Los Angeles, Max Hamilton is the Manager of Outlets. He previously performed food and beverage management stints at the Fairmont Miramar, the Ritz-Carlton Huntington and the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Cecile Gilmer has joined the Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasadena as Associate Director of Sales. She previously was the Director of Sales at the Shore Club in Miami, following several years in sales with Four Seasons in Chicago and Carlsbad, California.

Jonathan and Nicole Wise will be, as of July 1, taking over as co-General Managers of the very plush Villa Del Sol in Zihuatanejo. As such they will be taking over from Peter Koehler. Wise, the son of a Relais & Chateau owner, was until now the Project Director for Delamar, a soon-to-open boutique luxury hotel in Greenwich, Connecticut. He also served as the General Manager of New York's boutique Iroquois Hotel, following a stint as Front Office Manager at the Mark, also in New York. He was the General Manager of the exclusive White Barn Inn in Kennenbunkport. Wife Nicole Wise has been responsible for selling the Bulgari perfume line to luxury hotels. She previously was the Revenue Manager at the Mark.

Andrew Zephirin is the new General Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Marina Del Rey, where he replaces Charles de Foucauld, who went to the Ritz-Carlton Seoul just in time for the soccer world cup. Zephirin was previously the Hotel Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island.

There is another change of General Manager at the Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach where former Marriott man Marc Hoffman is being replaced by Darryl Sheaffer. Hoffman is returning to Marriott, in Orlando, while Sheaffer transfers from the Ritz-Carlton Doha in Qatar, which he opened.

Jean-Pierre Alotte is the new General Manager at the 133-room Pala Mesa resort in Fallbrook, near San Diego. Until recently Alotte was the General Manager of Miramonte in Indian Wells, a Preferred Hotel.

Nathalie Doane is the Director of Citywide Sales for Starwood in San Francisco. Prior to that she was a Sales Manager for the W San Francisco, which she opened three years ago. Her husband Jeff Doane is the Director of Sales and Marketing at the Fairmont San Francisco.

Donna Collings is the new General Manager of the Lodge at Sonoma Renaissance Resort. She previously held the same position at the Renaissance Westchester.

Joe Malia has joined the Boston Harbor Hotel as Director of Sales and Marketing. A native Bostonian, he relocates to Beantown from San Francisco, where he was the Director of Marketing at the Renaissance Stanford Court.

Still in San Francisco David Akin is the Director of Marketing at the Four Seasons, moving up from the position of Director of Sales at the Four Seasons Scottsdale, a property he opened. Prior to joining Four Seasons, Akin spent six and a half years as Director of Sales at the Breakers in Palm Beach. In San Francisco he replaces Jeff Doane who left several months ago to re-join Fairmont.

Jennifer Wachter has been hired as Director of Catering for Charlie Palmer¹s Astra at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. She joins from La Costa in Carlsbad. Wachter's previous positions were all in New York and included stints as Catering Manager at the Waldorf=Astoria and the Peninsula.

Patrik Pollak moved from the Four Seasons Mexico City where he was Assistant Director of Food & Beverage to the Ritz-Carlton Chicago (a Four Seasons Hotel) in the same position. Pollak spent six years with the Four Seasons Mexico City.

Jim McPartlin was recently named Director of Operations for Kimpton Boutique Hotels in San Francisco, as well as General Manager for the 198-room Hotel Palomar. McPartlin brings nine years of experience with Kimpton. Most recently, he spent two years as Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development. From 1993 to 1999, he worked as General Manager for several Kimpton Boutique Hotels, beginning with San Francisco¹s Vintage Court, followed by the Beverly Prescott in Los Angeles and the Prescott in San Francisco.  

Chris Riccardi transferred from Director of Sales at the new Ritz-Carlton Naples Golf Course, to Director of Western Region Sales for the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. Riccardi will be working from his home in Southern California. Prior to joining Ritz-Carlton, he logged five years with Renaissance in Hawaii, Chicago and St. Thomas.

Jody Flowers has been elevated to Vice President of Business Development with Kerry Hotels, which belong to her brother Kerry Flowers.

Jeff Ward has been named General Manager of the new Teton Mountain Lodge, the newest property from Destination Hotels and Resorts in Wyoming. He did not have far to travel since he came from Amangani, up the road in Jackson Hole, where he was the Resident Manager. Prior to joining Amanresorts, Ward was the Director of Rooms at the Spring Mountain Ranch, also in Jackson Hole.

Kyle Lott has joined the Athens Group, developers of the upcoming Ritz-Carlton at Bachelor Gulch, near Vail. Lott is a Project Manager for the uber-posh resort, and was previously the opening Director of Housekeeping at Miami¹s Shore Club. Lott had previously opened, in the same capacity, the former Regent of Las Vegas.

Stephane Clasquin, one of Los Angeles most popular Maitres d¹Hotel, has returned to Gerard Ferry¹s LŒOrangerie as Manager. He had logged several years at the prestigious Relais Gourmand until he left two years ago to take management of Mario Oliver's popular Linq in Los Angeles. Also at L¹Orangerie, Executive Chef Ludovic Lefebvre is leaving after a six-year tenure.

Deborah Potter is the opening Director of Catering at the spanking new Sofitel Chicago. She joins from the Fairmont Chicago. Also at the Sofitel Chicago, Julie Hellyer is the opening Executive Housekeeper, after performing the opening of the Peninsula Chicago as Assistant Director of Housekeeping.

Renaissance Hotels Florida announced a new Marketing and Sales team led by Randy Griffin, former Director of Marketing for the Eden Roc Renaissance Resort & Spa in Miami Beach. The team includes Bryan Schacht, Director of Sales, Southeast Corporate Sales, Atlanta to Carolinas. He was previously the Director of Group Sales at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club; Wendy Traurig, Director of Sales, Southeast Corporate Sales, Key West to Orlando, was until now the Director of Sales for the past 3-1/2 years at the Renaissance Eden Roc; Laura Alsup, Senior Account Executive, Southeast Corporate Sales, Orlando to Atlanta, was previously a Sales Manager at the Renaissance Orlando; Karen Nosari Hollern, Senior Account Executive, Florida State Association Sales and Diane Jezdimir, Director of Sales, Leisure Sales, Southeastern U.S.

Park Place Entertainment Corporation has named former judge, gaming administrator and casino executive Lorenzo Creighton as the new President of the Flamingo Las Vegas. Creighton, 49, formerly served as Park Place's Corporate Vice President for Government and Community Affairs. Before joining the Park Place corporate group last year, Creighton served for six years as the executive in charge of operations at Bally's Casino in New Orleans.

Trey Matheu was named Director of Lodging at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa. Prior to joining Nemacolin, Matheu was Resident Manager at Snake River Lodge & Spa in Teton Village, Wyoming.
Also at Nemacolin, Kenneth Migneault has joined the resort as the Chef at Seasons restaurant at Woodlands Spa. Prior to joining Nemacolin Woodlands, Migneault was Executive Chef at Red Mountain, in Utah, Chef de Cuisine at Miraval, Tucson, and Executive Sous Chef at Maine Course in Tucson.   

Chuck Katan has been appointed President of the Coral Collection of Fine Hotels & Resorts, a group of eight small hotels in Florida and the Caribbean, which he joined in 1999. He previously was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Noble House Hotels, Resorts and Hideaways. Prior to Noble House, he directed the worldwide sales effort to establish a portfolio of more than 50 member hotels for Inter-Continental Hotels and Resorts¹ Global Partner Division.

Ellen Thornton has joined the Hotel Bel-Air as Director of Sales after two years with The Leading Hotels of the World, where she worked as a Sales Manager in the Los Angeles office. Prior to that, she served as National Sales Manager for the Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasadena.

Also at the Bel-Air, the new Controller is Ed Anonas, who came from the W Los Angeles, the former Westwood Marquis. He also was the Controller at Ian Schrager¹s Mondrian in West Hollywood.

At the St Regis Monarch Beach, Food and Beverage Director Charles Lennox III was replaced by Paul O'Dowd, who was most recently in Florida as Director of Operations at the Boca Country Club.  He has also held positions as Corporate Director of Food and Beverage for Kimpton and Director of Food & Beverage for the Highlands Inn in Carmel, the Homestead in Virginia and L'Auberge Del Mar in San Diego as well General Manager of Aqua San Francisco. Lennox is now the Director of Food and Beverage at the Regent Beverly Wilshire.

The Santa Barbara Inn has hired Susie Couch as Director of Sales. She previously was the Director of Sales and Catering for the Holiday Inn Santa Barbara.

Martin Finch was named Regional Director of Sales for Fiesta Americana and Fiesta Americana Grand Hotels and Resorts. Finch¹s extensive sales career features management and sales positions with the Manele Bay Hotel and Lodge at Koele, the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and LuxuryLink.com.     

John Arnett is the new Head of Operations at Brad Korzen¹s Kor Group in Los Angeles. Until recently he was Vice President of Operations for the Kimpton Group. Arnett also was the opening General Manager of the late Ritz-Carlton Mauna Lani on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Also at the Kor Group, Kurt Wiksten, has been transferred from General Manager at the Estrella Inn in Palm Springs to Food and Beverage Director at the soon-to-open Viceroy in Santa Monica. The restaurant at the Viceroy, incidentally, will be operated by Tim and Lisa Goodell, owners of three highly successful restaurants in Orange County, Aubergine, Troquet and Pearl Dragon.

At KSL¹s La Quinta, Director of Food and Beverage Randy O¹Connor, who had held the position since September 2000, has been replaced with Alex Kim, previously the hotel¹s Director of Conference Services. Kim is now in charge of both Conference Services and La Quinta¹s $30 million food and beverage operation.

At the Plaza-Athénée New York, Director of Housekeeping Elizabeth Cheung has left. Her successor is Anna Marie Eapen.

Win Person has been named Director of Food and Beverage at Las Vegas¹ Bellagio, following a seven-year career with Four Seasons in Mexico City, Houston and Dallas. Person is a graduate of the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.

Former Hyatt Executive Cody Plott has been named President and Chief Operating Officer at Pebble Beach Company. The position had been vacant since the untimely passing of John Chadwell in February. Plott, 52, was previously the President of the commercial real estate brokerage firm of Colliers Seeley, based in Southern California. He also spent more than 22 years with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, rising to Regional Vice President of Sales in Southern California.  

Diane Briskin, after opening up the Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park South as an outside consultant, now runs the hospitality division of Dan Flores Communications.

Francesca Gadaleta has been Named Director of Sales and Marketing at the Muse in New York.  Swiss-educated Gadaleta was previously with Swissôtel, including three years with the Swissôtel Beijing. She most recently functioned as Associate Director of Sales at Swissôtel New York, The Drake.

Rockresorts announced the appointment of Michael Shindler as Vice President of Development. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Development for the Americas at the Mandarin-Oriental Hotel Group.
  
Adolf Fratton has been named General Manager of LaSource, Grenada. Since 1997, he was General Manager at the Muskoka Sands Resort & Conference Center in Ontario. Prior to this, he held the same position at the Grenada Renaissance Resort from 1994-1996.  
      
Jim Bode has been named General Manager of Miami¹s Roney Palace Beach Resort. Prior to joining, Bode served seven years as General Manager of the Ft. Lauderdale Marriott.  Also at the Roney Palace, Tim Paulus has been named Director of Sales and Marketing. He previously held a similar position at the Westin Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jean-Francois Pelaez joins the Lyford Cay Club in Nassau as Executive Chef. Pelaez was the Executive Chef of the Four Seasons Mexico City for the past three years.

The Pinehurst Company has announced the hiring of Andy Finn as Senior Vice President, Sales. Most recently, he worked as Vice-President of Sales, Resorts and Specialty Markets for Starwood, and was based in Chicago.

At Ritz-Carlton, some substantial changes at the corporate office with the departure of Vice President Sales and Marketing Jim Shultonhauver to Ian Schrager¹s hotel group. He has been replaced by Bruce Himmelstein, who comes from sister company Marriott. Also at Ritz-Carlton, Corporate Director of Catering Eddie Layton has left the company to become a meeting planner for Home Depot.

Charlton Hines has been appointed General Manager of the Loews Miami Beach, replacing Mike Welly who was there no more than a few months. Hines comes from the soon-not-to-open Ritz-Carlton South Beach in Miami. He is a former Marriott General Manager.

Eric Torralba is the new Executive Chef at Domaine Chandon in Napa Valley. The Frenchman, who was selected after a very complex search process, was most recently at Masraff¹s Restaurant in Houston, but also spent eight years as the Executive Chef on board the Savarona, arguably the world's most luxurious and largest private yacht. Globe trotting Torralba also once earned a Michelin star for the restaurant Westra Piren in Goteborg, Sweden.

John Moser has been named the new Chief Marketing Officer of Manhattan East Suite Hotels. Moser most recently served as General Manager of the company's luxury hotel The Benjamin, which opened in April 1999. Prior to The Benjamin, Moser was General Manager of the company's Dumont Plaza for eight years. Before that he was General Manager at the Shelburne Murray Hill following positions at the Beekman Tower Hotel and the Surrey Hotel.

Michael Pendergast has been appointed General Manager of the Fairmont Kansas City. He originally joined Fairmont in 1994 where he held his most recent position as Hotel Manager for the Fairmont New Orleans.

Hervé Pennequin is the Dining Room Manager and Wine Director at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. A true wine expert, Pennequin previously ran his own wine import company, following a two-year stint as the Head Sommelier at Nicolai¹s Roof at the Atlanta Hilton and Towers.

Cynthia Chung has joined the stylish new Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park South as Director of Diplomatic Affairs. She most recently was at the Plaza for four years in the same capacity. Prior to that, Chung was the Front Office Manager at the Waldorf=Astoria.  

At the Peninsula Chicago, former Assistant Director of Food and Beverage Eric Faivre was promoted to the Peninsula Bangkok as the Director of Food and Beverage. He replaces Hans Hordijk who transferred to the Peninsula Manila. Faivre¹s replacement in Chicago is Jonathan Crook who was transferred from the Peninsula New York.

Last month we announced by mistake that Araj Azarbazin was named General Manager of the W New York Times Square. We had the city right, but the square wrong: he went in fact to the W New York Union Square. Speaking of the W New York Times Square, exit its opening General Manager Daniel Bergman, who left the company after opening three of its Manhattan properties. Prior to joining W, Bergman was the General Manager of the Wyndham Bel-Age in West Hollywood for over three years.

Brian Dye has left the St. Regis Monarch Beach where he was the Director of Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining the property, he had spent several years in the same capacity at the Hilton Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii. Laura Madrid, who previously served at St. Regis Monarch Beach as a Sales Manager, is heading St Regis¹ new Atlanta sales office. Rob Roche, former Regional Director of Sales with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, is heading the Los Angeles office, and will be based at the St. Regis Los Angeles. Lori Lauman, former Director of Sales with the Peninsula Beverly Hills, is overseeing the New York regional sales office.

Richard Sorensen has been promoted from Front Office Manager at the Four Seasons Resort Nevis,
to Rooms Manager at the Four Seasons Resort Carmelo, in Uruguay. He was previously with the Four Seasons Aviara and Four Seasons Vancouver.

Guy Luzy is the opening General Manager for the chic, boutique, Le St James, in Montreal. He was previously with Delta Hotels, also in Canada.

At the spanking new Sofitel Montreal, Denis Goupille is the Financial Controller, coming from the Hilton Lac Lamy and Méridien Toronto; Veronique Loiseau is Front Office Manager, moving up one notch from the Sofitel New York where she was the Assistant Front Office Manager; Joel Gosselin is Director of Engineering, coming from the Sheraton Montreal, the Inter-Continental Montreal (which he opened) and the Hilton Bonaventure, also in Montreal; Denis Dupart is the Director of Operations, coming from Accor Asia Pacific where he spent seven years; Genevieve Gravel is Director of Human Resources, coming from Delta Hotels in Montreal.

Jérome Laurent is the new Chef de Cuisine at Julien, the signature restaurant of Le Méridien Boston. He was previously the Chef at Le Relais in Great Falls, Virginia, and had spent two years as Executive Chef at France¹s Chateau de Marcay, a Relais & Chateau.

Omni Hotels has appointed five Area Managing Directors. They are Peter Austin, General Manager of the Omni Shoreham, a ten-year Omni veteran;  Steven Ferran, General Manager of the Omni Royal Orleans, who had joined Omni Hotels in 1998; Offer Nissenbaum, General Manager of the Omni Berkshire Place in New York, who joined Omni in 1999, from The Plaza also in New York; Troy Schroeder, Managing Director of the Omni Atlanta, joined Omni Hotels in 1992. Mark Yardis General Manager of the Omni Richmond Hotel, joined Omni Hotels in 1987.
                        
Al Petrone has been recruited by Ian Schrager Hotels to be the General Manager of New York¹s Hudson, replacing Mark O¹Brien who moved to Connecticut to take care of his own business. Petrone joins Schrager after leaving his post as Vice President for Sheraton brand operations at Starwood. He previously was Director of Operations for the W brand, and Director of Planning and Development for Starwood. He originally joined Sheraton in 1992, from General Electric.

Also at Schrager Hotels in New York, Klaus Ortlieb left Royalton to launch his own venture.

Lesley Carey is the new General Manager at Palm Springs¹ historic La Mancha. A Canadian, she recently was the Director of Sales and Marketing at Ian Schrager¹s Mondrian in West Hollywood.

Chris Komanowski has joined Harrah's Entertainment as Vice President. Komanowski, a Cornell graduate, was formerly the Vice President of Hotel Development for Ritz-Carlton.

At the Peabody Memphis Elise Wiggins has been appointed Chef de Cuisine for Capriccio, the hotel¹s Italian restaurant.

Shannon Short has been named Public Relations Manager for the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, the 1,000-or-so-room hotel that touts itself a "boutique" property. Short was previously part of the 2002 Winter Olympic Organizing Committee.


Edited by Benoit Gateau-Cumin
President
The Boutique Search Firm
http://www.boutiquesearchfirm.com
benoit@boutiquesearchfirm.com

TURNAROUND OF MOST MAJOR HOTEL MARKETS TO COMMENCE IN THIRD QUARTER 2002

HRG and TWR Expect Recovery by Late 2003

Updated lodging industry performance forecasts prepared by Boston-based Torto Wheaton Research (TWR) and Atlanta-based The Hospitality Research Group (HRG), the research affiliate of PKF Consulting, were recently released to clients and subscribers. The forecasts are based on HRG/TWR proprietary forecasting models and reveal that most major lodging markets around the nation will bottom out in the second quarter of this year.

Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) growth, a key industry performance measure, is forecast to turn positive in the fourth quarter of this year and will increase at record levels in 2003. The experience, however, varies significantly by both market area and property type. The turnaround for full-service hotels (defined as the quarter in which RevPAR change turns
positive) is expected to be in the third quarter of 2002 (2002:3) in eight of the top ten domestic markets (measured in terms of the number of available, chain-affiliated rooms). The exceptions are Dallas, which is forecast to recover in the second quarter of 2002 (2002:2), and Chicago, which should turn around in fourth quarter of 2002 (2002:4). The attached exhibit summarizes forecast turnaround and recovery dates for the top U.S. metropolitan markets.

Because the business sector of the economy continues to lag the consumer sector, noted Ray Torto, Ph.D., Principal of TWR, property types and markets that are more dependent on the business traveler will take longer to recover. TWR and HRG define recovery as the 3rd quarter during which the forecast RevPAR level exceeds the average of its 3rd quarter levels in 1999 and 2000.

We believe that the average of these two historical points in time reflects market equilibrium in the majority of the major cities that we track, noted Jack Corgel, Ph.D., Managing Director of Applied Research for HRG. While six of the top ten markets that we track are forecast to recover in 2003:3, two, Houston and Washington, D.C., will recover in 2002:3, Corgel noted. Because of their comparatively severe declines, Boston and Chicago are forecast to experience a much more protracted recovery period.

The turnaround for limited-service hotels is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2002 in only four of the top ten domestic markets. Nashville, largely because of weak market conditions prior to 2001, is forecast to turn around in 2002:2 whereas Detroit is not expected to experience a RevPAR turnaround until 2004:1.

Accelerated new construction of limited-service hotels will prolong the recovery period in some markets, noted Torto, while overall weak demand conditions will undermine improved performance in others.

According to Corgel, the strength of the Houston market is such that limited-service properties there have already recovered. However, we anticipate that soft demand conditions in markets such as Charlotte and Detroit will result in a recovery period exceeding six years.

Air Travel Stigma is Dissipating

Unless the government's first quarter GDP estimate is largely inaccurate, it appears that the overall economic environment can hardly be considered recessionary, stated Petros Sivitanides, Ph.D., Senior Lodging Analyst at TWR. Yet, the fate of the nation's hotel market is still being challenged by a poor business environment and, to some extent, by the effects of 9/11.

HRG/TWR take heart in that the market is improving and the negative effects of 9/11 on the nation's lodging demand have diminished considerably during the first quarter of 2002.

The researchers have factored what they call the stigma effect into their projections. This effect refers to the reduction in lodging demand because of psychological and emotional barriers to travel created by the terrorist attacks. The air-travel stigma effect on the nation's lodging demand fell from 10.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2001 to only 3.4 percent in the first quarter of this year.

According to Corgel, These figures reflect the pure stigma effect since our estimates control for the effect of the economy on lodging demand. According to HRG/TWR estimates, the stigma effect inflicted on lodging demand during September 2001 contributed to roughly 25 percent of the decrease in demand.

Increasing RevPAR Does Not Always Result in Higher Profits

While the updated forecasts from the HRG/TWR Summer 2002 Hotel Outlook report anticipate an accelerated recovery schedule relative to that anticipated in their Spring 2002 Outlook report, most operators continue to struggle in their efforts to maintain current profit levels.

Based on the data compiled in our 2002 Trends Report, noted Mark Woodworth, Executive Managing Director of HRG, the average hotel in our sample experienced a 19.4 percent decline in profits in 2001. Although RevPAR levels are expected to turnaround this year, additional profit declines are expected in 2002.

HRG/TWR forecast that the overall occupancy level for their sample of the 75 largest markets in the U.S. will increase by 1.4 points in 2002 (relative to 2001). This will be offset, however, by a 2.6 percent decline in average daily rate, thus yielding a 0.4 percent decline in RevPAR for the year. Given this outlook, the average hotel manager will sell more rooms overall this year than last noted Woodworth. However, these rooms will be sold at a lower price point, and the typical manager will incur more costs because of the higher occupancy. Because of this, along with the normal level of expense inflation that will occur, we expect further deterioration in unit-level profits this year.

Torto noted that the good news is that the industry has bottomed out, and the light is clearly visible at the end of the tunnel as the U.S. economy improves.

About:

The Hospitality Research Group (HRG), headquartered in Atlanta, is the research affiliate of PKF Consulting, the international consulting and real estate firm specializing in the hospitality industry. HRG, along with PKF Consulting and the PKF Consulting Capital Markets Group, are wholly owned subsidiaries of Hospitality Asset Advisors International, a U.S. Corporation. HAA International has offices in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Singapore.

Boston-based Torto Wheaton Research is the premier provider of commercial real estate forecasting, analysis and consulting services for office, industrial, retail, multi-housing and hotel property types. The firm provides unrivaled market knowledge through a full suite of research products and specializes in commercial real estate risk management through strategic debt and equity consulting. Highly sophisticated and reliable forecasting models, along with proven analytical expertise, have earned the company international recognition. Torto Wheaton Research is on the web at www.tortowheatonresearch.com.

FORMER CORNELL HOTEL SCHOOL DEAN BECK AND HIS LATE WIFE HONORED AT PROJECT DEDICATION

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell School of Hotel Administration (SHA) hosted a project dedication, and reception, Monday night in honor of former Dean Robert A. Beck, his late wife, Jan M. Beck, and the School’s Beck Center Project.

The Beck Center, a planned addition to the existing Statler Hall, home to SHA, will be named after Dean Beck and his late wife, Jan M. Beck, and will be a significant expansion. The Beck Center will enable The Hotel School to continue its role as a leading research and teaching center for the hospitality industry. Some highlights of the new Beck Center will be a lecture hall for 140 individuals, two case study rooms for 80 students and one for 60 students, an expanded computer center, as well as a three story “curtain of glass” and study/meeting rooms.

Attending the event were, Dean Beck, University President Hunter R. Rawlings III, and current SHA Dean David W. Butler. It was an honor to also have Emeritus Presidents, Dale Corson and Frank Rhodes, as well as former SHA Deans, David Dittman and Jack Clark, with us to celebrate this exciting project. There were many colleagues and friends who had worked with Dean Beck over the years, as well as prominent graduates of SHA who wished to honor the Dean and express their gratitude for his and Mrs. Beck’s dedication and service to the Hotel School.

Under Dean Beck’s guidance as dean for two decades, (‘61 to ’81), the Hotel School gained international recognition, becoming known as an important research center, as well as doubling the size of the school. He also founded the schools Master of Professional Studies (now known as the Master of Management in Hospitality) and fully developed the Executive Education program.

Construction of the Beck Center, a $15.5 million project, of which over $11 million is already raised, will begin late fall 2002, and is expected to end in the fall of 2004. For more information please contact Meg Overstrom at 607-255-9542, email:

(mhb7@cornell.edu) or visit the Beck Center Project web-site: www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/beckcenter/

WHERE IS HOTEL INVENTORY ELECTRONIC DISTRIBUTION HEADED?

by Ian Graham, Director in Andersen’s Hospitality Industry Team in the United Kingdom - June 2002 (6/10/2002)

by Ian Graham, Director in Andersen’s Hospitality Industry Team in the United Kingdom - June 2002 Introduction

Primary school learning is typically centred in the three “R’s” – reading, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic. By comparison, hotel executives today need to learn to think about the 3 “C’s” –customers, content and channels – if they are to make the right decisions in planning and executing tomorrow’s electronic distribution.

This article attempts to summarize and put in context some of the issues.

HEDNA

Early May in London saw more than 300 people from around the world congregate for several days as delegates at, and visitors to, the annual meeting of HEDNA, the Hotel Electronic Distribution Network Association. The plenary sessions brought into the open many of the issues facing the industry, and in particular the quest for excellence in managing distribution channels in this changing world.

HEDNA was in London celebrating a decade of accomplishment. Founded in 1991, the association started off with an issues list to better use the Global Distribution Systems (GDS) for the sale of hotel inventory. At the time of the first survey of GDS delivery, in 1994, it was thought that 25million bookings per annum were made for hotels; by the end of 2001, electronic reservations had almost doubled to 47million and the new distribution channels using the Internet as a tool are growing at rates in excess of 60 percent. As HEDNA enters its second decade, its membership now from over 200 of the most influential companies in the hotel distribution industry, the playing field has changed – the Internet may be eroding brands, HITIS and OTA standards are in place and will become increasing important, the GDSs are metamorphosing into new business models, etc. It is trite, but accurate, to state that the only constant is change.

The membership of HEDNA has been at the very centre of the enormous changes that have taken place in the last decade and no doubt will be instrumental in enabling tomorrows future successful businesses sell to tomorrows customers.

The customer the King; content is King

The new distribution channels have changed, and are changing, the relationship with the customer. In the past, hotels described themselves with difficulty, in brochures, in pictures and through intermediaries. But the very essence of the experience was difficult to explain in words – in many cases, it is much more than just bed, breakfast and bathrooms but how to explain the sense of wonder from an atrium design, the sense of pleasure obtained when a staff-member goes out of their way to provide personal service, the sense of relaxation obtained from an hour at the pool under the setting sun, etc., etc. The challenge for hotel’s in-house sales and marketing teams, and particularly intermediaries, has been to move from marketing and selling the physical to selling the experience.

Current technological tools are able to transform this situation, enabling hotels to communicate in a content-rich way with target and actual customers bi-directionally. The opportunity now exists for hotel companies to radically change their approach to marketing; best practice companies really are designing their position in the marketplace. However, many hotels are still only using these new distribution channels to promote one aspect of their offering – price. There is considerable opportunity to move beyond merely price promotion to product, experience and price promotion.

The customer today is not the same as the customer yesterday – today’s customer is much better informed, much more knowledgeable about the hotel industry’s product and enabled to shop in a very different manner. Web-savvy customers are increasingly accustomed to designing personalized products and services. As time moves on, it seems likely that these trends will be core to customer behaviour such that we may see increasing levels of price sensitivity but also increasing expectations of being able to demand personalized packaging of travel products and services. Woe then to a hotel company in the future that cannot, or does not, enable its target customers to design their leisure and business hotel experiences on the web, and then arrive at the property to have the experience delivered faultlessly.

So is loyalty to the hotel, the channel or the brand? Loyalty programmes are a reason for customers to come to your web site in the first place, and the type of price guarantees recently introduced by Six Continents and Starwood are tools to keep the e-customer loyal to your Website, your brand. Customers are increasingly expecting the same price for the same product irrespective of channel. The only exception is the “Web Fare” where the supplier shares some of the distribution cost saving with the customer in a very transparent way. But nowadays, this really is the only application for the concept of “never knowingly undersold” price guarantees. And just as customers are increasingly accustomed to having a single price available irrespective of channel, so too customers will come to expect a single product, service and experience description, irrespective of channel.

Channel-shift Will the emerging distribution channels simply lead to channel-shift or enable access to new sources of demand? There is no doubt that the new channels are stimulating channel-shift – as hotels increasingly manage the distribution of inventory to lower cost channels. But the new channels also make more inventory available to more people and this must lead to new demand being created. New demand is likely to be attracted first to the lower priced inventory; in much the same way as low-cost airlines and car hire companies have emerged to target new markets. One of the more expensive channels is voice – when a customer calls a hotel or a call centre, or indeed arrives at a hotel unannounced.

Channel management techniques will increasingly move voice “shoppers” to the CRO or Internet, voice business guests will increasingly be managed by corporate procurement agreements, and the individual leisure traveller will therefore remain as the high yielding segment for which the voice channel will be reserved. But for this to happen, the voice customer needs to have the same level of trust in other channels as he today gets from his voice contact. But is the Internet not better described as an enabler rather than a channel in its own right? The Internet will act to discipline all other channels because of it’s low-cost nature and huge reach, as well as the fact that a growing number of business and leisure customers are happy to use the channels that are enabled by the Internet. As TravelCLICK famously pointed out, December 2001 saw the end of the growth in Travel Agent reservations for hotels, reversing a trend that had gone on for years. And as TravelCLICK also identified, September 11 caused a reduction in the growth of Internet reservations but the residual growth was still impressive. We are in uncharged territory but there is no going back. What will the next wave of technology enable?

There are several key elements which, when put together, will change the way that customers relate to hotels. The first is XML, the second is Direct Connect and the third is Web Services. Added together during the next three to five years, these technologies will enable a customer to access rich and deep content for a multitude of travel suppliers easily – constructing complex travel packages that once were the domain of the intermediary. Indeed, the long-forecast demise of the intermediary is likely to be some way off, as the more aware intermediaries will adopt the role of custodians of rich digital content. Conclusion We see a move towards truly integrated systems, with technology vendors and their customers increasingly cooperating to create a content-rich network that will in the near future become the distribution channel of choice, for the industry and for the customer.

The successful companies of the future will be those, whether today’s GDSs, today’s major hotel brand owners and franchisers or even some businesses as yet un-invented, that best harness today’s and emerging technologies, to connect target and actual customers with hotels and other travel providers, using current and new channels, making full use of the new types of content to sell the experience that is on offeringle and successful whole. ### Contact: Ian Graham Director Andersen’s Hospitality Industry Team ian.graham@uk.andersen.com 44 20 7438 5045 

SINGAPORE VISITORS ARRIVAL IN APIRL 2002

Singapore visitor arrivals in April 2002 grew by 1.4% over the same month in 2001, to a total of 621,957 visitors. China overtook Japan to become the second largest visitor-generating market for Singapore.

The 12 largest visitor-generating markets were:

1.       Indonesia - 408,071 (-1.8%)
2. P R China - 238,552 (+48.6%)
3. Japan - 214,648 (-23.8%)
4. UK - 178,564 (-0.8%)
5. Malaysia - 175,292 (-2.5%)
6. Australia - 170,280 (-2.0%)
7. South Korea - 32,696 (+8.4%)
8. Thailand - 30,349 (+9.1%)
9. India - 28,642 (+0.7%)
10. USA - 24,639 (-11.2%)
11. Hong Kong - 21,759 (-15.7%)
12. Philippines - 20,176 (-4.0%)

The stronger Indonesian Rupiah had contributed to the growth in arrivals from Indonesia (+4.4%). Arrivals across all major segments performed well, with holiday and business-related traffic registering a growth of 5.4% and 10.0% respectively.

Increased promotional efforts by STB and air capacity (from 17 to 28 flights) resulted in a double-digit growth in arrivals from China (+70.2%). Holiday traffic grew by 86.4%.

Visitor arrivals from UK fell by 7.2%. This was due to the shift in Easter holidays from April 2001 to March this year, causing a drop in holiday arrivals (-10.4%).

Arrivals from Hong Kong dropped 15.7%, primarily due to the lack of public holidays and long weekends in the month of April. Holiday traffic fell by 27.2% while business-related traffic grew by 4.1%.

Holiday arrivals from the top 12 markets rose by 2.4%. The main contributors were China (+86.4%), South Korea (+14.4%), India (+12.2%), Thailand (+10.1%), Malaysia (+5.5%) and Indonesia (+5.4%). Conversely, holiday arrivals from Hong Kong (-27.2%), USA (-24.8%), Japan (-22.2%) and the Philippines (-17.8%) recorded decreases.

Overall, business-related1 traffic from the top 12 markets increased by 6.1%, with China leading the growth (+24.5%). Australia (+24.1%), the Philippines (+22.7%), Thailand (+15.5%) and UK (10.3%) also posted strong increases. Other markets with increases in business-related visitor arrivals were Indonesia (+10.0%), South Korea (+7.1%) and Hong Kong (+4.1%).

Business-related segment includes Business, Business & Pleasure and MICE arrivals.

Hotel Sector Performance in April 2002 (Preliminary Data)

Maximum room-nights: 923,040 (+1.3%); Available room-nights: 869,968 (+2.4%)

Gross lettings: 663,271(+2.0%); Paid lettings: 651,734 (+1.8%)

Standard AOR: 76.24% (down 0.3 percentage points over April 2001)

Standard ARR: $126.02 (-6.9%)

Visitor Arrivals in January - April 2002

Visitor arrivals in January - April dropped by 2.3% over the same period in 2001, to a total of 2,472,215.

AOR = Average Occupancy Rate 
ARR = Average Room Rate

UNIFORM GRADING FOR EAST AFRICAN HOTELS ON THE WAY

The Nation/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- A uniform criteria for classifying hotels and restaurants in East Africa is being developed. The move would boost efforts to market the region as a single destination for tourists, Kenya's Tourism Minister Kalonzo Musyoka said.

The process would involve grading of hotels and restaurants in the three East African countries according to the internationally recognised standards, he said. The minister was speaking at the inauguration of the newly constituted Hotels and Restaurant Authority at the Grand Regency Hotel, Nairobi, yesterday. Headed by by Mr Zul Harunani, the authority would be charged with setting standards of services in the tourism industry

It would grade local hotels and restaurants according to the set professional status and inspect them to ensure compliance with international standards. They would also ensure that only qualified persons were entrusted to operate and manage them. Mr Musyoka said the authority had classified most hotels in some parts of the country, and the process - which was last carried out in 1988 - was going on in the Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza provinces. Mr Musyoka said the Hotel and Restaurants Act and the Tourist Industry Licensing Act would be harmonised to give the authority more responsibilities, including issuing of work permits to foreigners as well as determining the location and viability of hotel establishments.

Noting that the country had enough manpower, the minister appealed to hotel proprietors to give priority to locally-trained management personnel rather that hiring foreign experts. Mr Harunani said the authority would boost efforts towards reviving the tourism industry. Meanwhile, the industry is asking the government to extend Stabex funds to the sector. Hotelier Z.K. Nderu said that the tourism sector needed assistance, just like the coffee and tea industries. Mr Nderu, the proprietor of Lotus Hotel in Mombasa, said hoteliers required financial assistance - in the form of soft credit - to rehabilitate their institutions. "Tourism is the main and most reliable contributor to the economy, having brought in Sh19.5 billion in the year 2000," he said.

PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS FORECASTS U.S. LODGING INDUSTRY PROFITS TO RISE TO $17.2 BILLION IN 2002

The U.S. lodging industry will record aggregate profits of $ 17.2 billion this year, up from $ 16.7 billion in 2001, as a result of cost reductions initiated in 2001. Revenues will increase from $ 108.7 billion in 2001 to $ 109.7 billion in 2002.

This increase in profits reflects aggressive cost controls and expense reductions that have been continued and "fine-tuned" from last year. Without these actions, profits would have decreased by 7.8 percent to $ 15.4 billion in 2002.

PricewaterhouseCoopers research indicates that the following measures are examples of actions taken by the lodging industry to reduce costs:

1. Eliminating selected job positions

2. Reductions in hours employees work

3. Reductions of expenses on advertising, renovations, maintenance and

bonuses

4. Reductions in the number of restaurants open and/or reduction in hours

of operation of restaurants and room service

5. Change of food service from waiter to buffet, more limited menus and

eliminating high food cost items

6. Reduction of hours of others services, including bell staff, doormen,

concierge and spa

7. Postponement of training programs

8. Reduction in amenities, such as the number of selections of soaps,

complimentary bottles of water,

9. Employee teams to identify cost savings

10. Reduced decorations (lobby flowers, candles in restaurants,

elimination of use of linens for some meal periods)

11. Pay reductions and deferring or skipping regularly scheduled salary

adjustments

"Had the industry not responded quickly, profits would have decreased by 7.8 percent to $ 15.4 billion this year," said Bjorn Hanson, Ph.D., global industry leader, PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality & Leisure Practice. "Some of these cost reductions seem to be institutionalized, and some can only continue for a limited time or they will affect the quality of facilities and guest service."

In 2000, PricewaterhouseCoopers had forecasted that industry profits would decline in 2001 for the first time since 1991, reflecting anticipated RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) declines which did materialize in March and April 2001. Profits declined by 27.4 percent from $ 23 billion in 2000 to $ 16.7 billion in 2001, as RevPAR declines became more severe in the last four months of 2001.

Lodging industry profits are expected to increase to $ 19.8 billion in 2003.

PricewaterhouseCoopers is the leader in econometric modeling and providing reliable U.S. lodging industry forecasts that offer true industry-wide samples based on proven econometric models. The group predicted every industry turning point in the last ten years, usually two years in advance of each market move.

In July 1991, PricewaterhouseCoopers predicted a return to profitability for the industry in 1993, and average daily room rates surpassing inflation. In April 1996, PricewaterhouseCoopers issued an early alert that there would be an occupancy decline in 1997. In October 1996, the firm predicted occupancies would decline in 1997. And in September 1997, PricewaterhouseCoopers said room starts would decline in 1998.

In January 2000, PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasted a U.S. lodging industry slowdown in late 2000 and early 2001.

Recently, PricewaterhouseCoopers applied the same econometric modeling to the local level and can now offer forward-looking Market Outlooks. These local forecasts rely on extensive lodging data collection, empirical studies and solid econometric models to support all positions and conclusions. The Market Outlooks are patterned after the structure of the U.S. industry econometric model.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Hospitality and Leisure Group provides services including management, technology, human resources and financial consulting in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. The group has a partnership with Smith Travel Research.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (http://www.pwcglobal.com) is the world's largest professional services organization. Drawing on the knowledge and skills of more than 150,000 people in 150 countries, we help our clients solve complex business problems and measurably enhance their ability to build value, manage risk and improve performance in an Internet-enabled world.

PricewaterhouseCoopers refers to the member firms of the worldwide PricewaterhouseCoopers organization.

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SOURCE PricewaterhouseCoopers

HSMAI CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2002

WASHINGTON, DC (June 12, 2002) – The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) provides an extensive calendar of events highlighting educational forums as well as business-to-business venues for buyers and suppliers of hospitality, travel and tourism.
“From cutting-edge educational sessions and executive think tanks featuring expert speakers, to a full program of regional meetings, trade shows and networking opportunities, HSMAI events are invaluable for sales and marketing professionals looking to hone their skills and stay abreast of industry changes and trends,” states Robert A. Gilbert, CHME, CHA, president and CEO of HSMAI.
Remaining HSMAI-sponsored events for 2002 include:

HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® (two shows remaining in 2002)
Each of these two-day events offers an unmatched exposition and a dynamic program of “need to know” educational seminars on topics related to cost-effective meeting planning. Affordable Meetings® is free-of-charge to qualified meeting planners from across the country. In addition, during the shows, attendees have the chance to do business with a variety of suppliers from hotels and resorts to CVBs, destination management companies, airlines, etc.

Remaining shows and venues for 2002 include:

June 19 – 20, 2002
HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® West
San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA

Sept. 4 – 5, 2002
HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® National
Washington, DC Convention Center

Meeting planners who would like to attend any of HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings® shows can easily register on-line at www.affordablemeetings.com or by calling (800) 272-SHOW. Additional information and a complete program schedule can also be obtained by visiting the web site.

For exhibitor information, contact Kelley Biondi, show manager, GLM, Ten Bank Street, White Plains, NY 10606-1954, or call (914) 421-3377; fax (914) 948-2918; e-mail: kelley_biondi@glmshows.com.


HSMAI Executive T.H.I.N.K. Series (two programs in 2002)
The Executive T.H.I.N.K. series introduces industry professionals at the vice president level and above to issues changing the way we do business.

June 24, 2002
HSMAI Executive T.H.I.N.K.
Chicago, IL

Themed “Global Wireless Devices: Connecting the Consumer,” this T.H.I.N.K. will look at the current state of wireless technology as well as what lies ahead to help attendees position their organization to connect with customers in new and innovative ways. Case studies will be presented to help demonstrate the potential pitfalls in actual implementations. Find out what is happening in the world of wireless technologies, from handheld devices to wireless phones and new software applications. The session will be held in conjunction with HITEC in Chicago. (Limited attendance)

Sept. 19, 2002
HSMAI Executive T.H.I.N.K.
Houston, TX

“Competitive Strategy” will be a valuable session on creating customer value, brand value and investor/shareholder value. Find out how successful and innovative companies have employed strategies to help them not only cope with change, but to create change within their organization. Keynote speaker Gordon Bethune, president and CEO of Continental Airlines, will kick-off the day with the story of his recent value creation. Two other industry leaders will debate the creation of hotel brand value through real estate vs. marketing. Participants will then have the opportunity to discuss and debate the ways to quantify and measure value. (Limited attendance)

For more information on the HSMAI Executive T.H.I.N.K. programs, call (703) 610-9024 or log-on to www.hsmai.org.


HSMAI/Leadership Synergies: Strategic Account Management Seminars
Sales professionals will find a wealth of training resources dedicated to Strategic Account Management as part of a new joint venture between HSMAI and sales and leadership performance-improvement company Leadership Synergies, LLC. Throughout 2002, a series of innovative skill development courses will be held nationwide specifically for national account managers:

· Washington, DC: June 24-25
· Chicago, IL: Sept. 10-11
· New York: Oct. 9-10
· Atlanta, GA: Nov. 6-7
· Washington, DC: Dec. 2-3

For more information on these seminars, call (703) 610-9024 or log-on to www.hsmai.org. For more information on Leadership Synergies, visit www.leadershipsynergies.com or call (301) 494-0282.


HSMAI Meetings Quest Program (eight shows in 2002)
Each HSMAI Meetings Quest program is a one-day format show featuring morning educational programs for meeting planners and suppliers, followed by a luncheon and speakers program, and an afternoon trade show providing an opportunity for meeting planners to visit one-on-one with suppliers. Over the past decade, the Meetings Quest trade shows have been considered by both suppliers and planners to be the most productive one-day events in the industry with a consistent buyer to seller ratio of 3:1, featuring 60-75 exhibitors and 200-300 planners.

For information on HSMAI’s Meetings Quest, contact JTDunn Enterprises, 513 Commerce Drive, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774; (301) 249-4600; E-mail: meetingsquest@jtdunninc.com; www.meetingsquest.com.

Shows and venues for 2002 include:

Sept. 12, 2002
HSMAI Meetings Quest
Millennium Hotel, St. Louis

Sept. 19, 2002
HSMAI Meetings Quest
Hyatt Regency Atlanta

Oct. 2, 2002
HSMAI Meetings Quest
Sheraton Boston

Oct. 10, 2002
HSMAI Meetings Quest
Millennium Hotel, Minneapolis

Oct. 24, 2002
HSMAI Meetings Quest
Holiday Inn O'Hare International, Chicago

Nov. 2, 2002
HSMAI Meetings Quest
Hotel Inter-Continental Dallas

Nov. 26, 2002
HSMAI Meetings Quest
Hilton Washington & Towers, Washington, DC

Dec. 5, 2002
HSMAI Meetings Quest
Location: Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim

HSMAI is a leading organization of sales and marketing professionals representing all segments of the hospitality industry. Members can access a wide variety of educational tools and enhance their skills and expertise to increase business and enrich their careers.
For more information on HSMAI, contact the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International, 1300 L Street, NW, Suite 1020, Washington, DC 20005, or call (202) 789-0089. You can also visit the web site at www.hsmai.org.

SOUTH AFRICA: TOURISM BOOM SET TO KEEP GROWING

Africa News   -   Tourism minister Valli Moosa has revealed that South Africa is experiencing a "tourism boom" with figures for January and February showing an overall 7% increase in foreign tourist arrivals.

Tourists from China increased by a whopping 63.5% during the first two months of the year, and more are expected.

In his budget vote speech in the National Council of Provinces, Moosa said that tourism figures from traditional markets, the United Kingdom and Germany, had grown by 21% during the same period "The tragic events of September 11 have repositioned South Africa in the eyes of the world," he said.

"This is a positive sentiment in the air."

The boom is set to continue, with tens of thousands expected to arrive for the August World Summit on Sustainable Development, and next year's Cricket World Cup, Moosa predicted.

Last month he indicated that the September 11 attacks had led to a decrease in American tourists coming to South Africa, but that tourism from other areas showed growth.

Yesterday he confirmed the trend and said, "our performance this year has been particularly good"

"In line with our new tourism growth strategy, there was also impressive growth from Asia and Africa, two regions where we believe there is tremendous opportunity for tourism," he announced.

An agreement recently signed by President Thabo Mbeki with China, designed to make South Africa an approved destination, has led to the massive increase in Chinese tourists.

"We believe these figures will continue to grow after we have signed the memorandum of understanding with the Chinese national tourism authority which would make us one of 20 countries allowed to market to the more than 10 million Chinese who take holidays every year", Moosa had said.

"There has also been more than a 20% growth out of Hong Kong and India during the same period."

The highest increase in numbers worldwide was from Botswana, with a 35% increase bringing arrivals from that country to 114 000 visitors, out of a population of 1 5 million.

"Significant increases were also reported out of Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Swaziland, Zimbabwe and Zambia", Moosa said.

He also announced that the government had decided to encourage South Africa's cities to "take active steps to promote themselves as destinations"

"Cities like Durban and Cape Town are setting an excellent example for others to follow", Moosa said.

But he warned that major cities should avoid destructive competition between each other, and should try to co-operate and co-ordinate.

AUSTRALIAN HOTELS NOW IN HIGH DEMAND BY GLOBAL INVESTORS

The Australian    -    Australian hotels are now hot properties among global investors and will become even more attractive over the next decade, according to the new head of Westpac's hotel and tourism division.

"We've reached the bottom of the market, and we're up from here," said Philip Levinson.

US investors, in particular, were keen because "they reckon there's only upside".

Mr Levinson said there were two key factors behind the resurgence of the sector: an expected doubling of tourists over the next decade, and a loss of hotel rooms because of conversions into apartments.

"The hotel market is at a unique point in the investment cycle," he said.

As soon as pressure caused by the loss of rooms started to affect "the premium end of the market, cities such as Sydney and Melbourne will be unable to meet the anticipated demand".

"This will have a positive effect on hotel values in the short to medium term, which can be expected to generate a level of institutional interest not seen since the mid 1990s," Mr Levinson said.

In December, the Sydney hotel market was considered to be in the late stages of a downturn, Melbourne was in a trough, and places like Cairns and Brisbane were picking up, he said.

"Sydney is now in the very early stages of an upturn. It's really accelerated.

"There's still a strong base of inbound domestic leisure and corporate guests, room rates haven't fallen too far and occupancies have stabilised."

Mr Levinson is responsible for Westpac's overall property lending. His appointment, from real estate consultants CB Richard Ellis, coincided with the promotion of Ben Dillon from head of hotels to head of property.

Mr Levinson said the challenge now was to promote Australian hotels to local investors and convince operators to take on more investment risk.

"Institutions are looking at putting money offshore -- and taking a currency risk, a market risk and a property risk," he said. 

"Yet they're walking past Sydney hotels every day which they wouldn't consider investing in."