Cathing Up With..

Gail Sayadian is the director of marketing andand economic recession. If travelers do not feel
sales for Choice Hotels International, Inc.safe and secure traveling - they will not travel and
(NYSE:CHH). A veteran with over 20 years ofthe industry will suffer.
experience at Choice Hotels, Ms. SayadianOn the positive side, the potential affects of
oversees Choice's 22-person group and meetingssustainable tourism could be positive and continue
department. She is responsible for overseeing theto grow the tourism industry in an environmental
group tour, wholesale and group meetings marketand culturally aware way.
segments of the travel industry for Choice Hotels'When you're not in the office or traveling to a
ten hotel brands.show, where will we find you?
MORE...You will often find me spending time with my
Why/ How did you become involved in the travelhusband and daughter in our lovely hometown of
Tourism industry?Montgomery Village, Maryland. I also enjoy
I have always loved to travel. During my careerspending time with friends, shopping, reading and
as a ballroom dance teacher, I began planninggoing to the movies.
group travel to competitions around the country.What is your most sought after group travel
At that time I began to understand the travelmarket at this time?
industry and decided to make it a career.Consistently, students, SMERF and meetings are
What advice would you give to a group travelhighly sought after markets.
organizer to recruit someone who has neverDo you expect to see anything new and exciting
experienced a group tour and would like to try it?in terms of travel technology in 2007? Is there
The key to group travel is catering to the needsanything in the spectrum of travel from searching
of your travelers. Knowing the demographics andfor hotels and flights to a destination that
lifestyle patterns of the people you are recruiting,technology has yet to improve on?
will give you great insight into how to cater toCurrently most group travel bookings are done
their needs.offline, while general travel bookings occur more
Group travel is not only right for one type ofand more frequently online. In the next years I
traveler -- tours are available that match anyexpect to see rapid growth of online group travel
travel style and desire, from structured tobookings and offerings. This will continue to
unstructured, adventure, shopping or ecotourism.increasing the ease and customization of group
Let your previous travelers do the talking. Sharetravel.
peer testimonials about the ease and freedom ofThe group travel industry is a very
letting somebody else do all of the planning.people-oriented industry. How do you see
Everybody can relate to making life less hectic.technology affecting the personal nature if travel?
What are some of the most pressing tourismIt will be even more critical for the hotels,
development issues facing the industry?attractions and venues to provide the very best
Several hot issues directly affected currentcustomer service, resulting in a memorable
tourism development. Among the most pressingexperience for the guest.
and pervasive are global terrorism, natural disaster