| Gail Sayadian is the director of
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| | most pressing and pervasive are global
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| marketing and sales for Choice Hotels
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| | terrorism, natural disaster and economic
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| International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH). A veteran
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| | recession. If travelers do not feel safe
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| with over 20 years of experience at
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| | and secure traveling - they will not
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| Choice Hotels, Ms. Sayadian oversees
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| | travel and the industry will suffer.
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| Choice's 22-person group and meetings
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| | On the positive side, the potential
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| department. She is responsible for
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| | affects of sustainable tourism could be
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| overseeing the group tour, wholesale and
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| | positive and continue to grow the tourism
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| group meetings market segments of the
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| | industry in an environmental and
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| travel industry for Choice Hotels' ten
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| | culturally aware way.
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| hotel brands.
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| | When you're not in the office or
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| MORE...
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| | traveling to a show, where will we find
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| Why/ How did you become involved in the
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| | you?
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| travel/ Tourism industry?
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| | You will often find me spending time with
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| I have always loved to travel. During my
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| | my husband and daughter in our lovely
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| career as a ballroom dance teacher, I
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| | hometown of Montgomery Village, Maryland.
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| began planning group travel to
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| | I also enjoy spending time with friends,
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| competitions around the country. At that
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| | shopping, reading and going to the
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| time I began to understand the travel
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| | movies.
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| industry and decided to make it a career.
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| | What is your most sought after group
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| What advice would you give to a group
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| | travel market at this time?
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| travel organizer to recruit someone who
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| | Consistently, students, SMERF and
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| has never experienced a group tour and
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| | meetings are highly sought after markets.
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| would like to try it?
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| | Do you expect to see anything new and
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| The key to group travel is catering to
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| | exciting in terms of travel technology in
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| the needs of your travelers. Knowing the
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| | 2007? Is there anything in the spectrum
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| demographics and lifestyle patterns of
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| | of travel from searching for hotels and
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| the people you are recruiting, will give
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| | flights to a destination that technology
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| you great insight into how to cater to
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| | has yet to improve on?
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| their needs.
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| | Currently most group travel bookings are
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| Group travel is not only right for one
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| | done offline, while general travel
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| type of traveler -- tours are available
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| | bookings occur more and more frequently
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| that match any travel style and desire,
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| | online. In the next years I expect to see
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| from structured to unstructured,
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| | rapid growth of online group travel
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| adventure, shopping or ecotourism.
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| | bookings and offerings. This will
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| Let your previous travelers do the
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| | continue to increasing the ease and
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| talking. Share peer testimonials about
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| | customization of group travel.
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| the ease and freedom of letting somebody
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| | The group travel industry is a very
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| else do all of the planning. Everybody
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| | people-oriented industry. How do you see
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| can relate to making life less hectic.
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| | technology affecting the personal nature
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| What are some of the most pressing
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| | if travel?
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| tourism development issues facing the
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| | It will be even more critical for the
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| industry?
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| | hotels, attractions and venues to provide
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| Several hot issues directly affected
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| | the very best customer service, resulting
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| current tourism development. Among the
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| | in a memorable experience for the guest.
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