FamilyTravel.com Names New Managing Editor
Travel Industry Veteran Assumes Post

( Santa Barbara, CA ) May 15, 2003 -- Lynn O’Rourke Hayes has been named Managing Editor of FamilyTravel.com, the premier website for families interested in exploring the world together.

Founded by parents for families, the site launched in 2000 under the direction of President Pam Plesons. Visitors will find tips for traveling with children of all ages as well as recommendations for family-friendly destinations, hotels, resorts, cruises, camps, spas and ranches.

“We created the site because we believed there was a real dearth of quality information available for parents interested in traveling with their children. We continue to work on filling that void,” explained Plesons. “ We are very pleased to have Lynn on board as we work to take our site to the next level.”

Hayes comes to FamilyTravel.com with a long history of experience in the field of travel and other family-focused work.

Hayes has held several executive positions within the travel and tourism industry. Most recently, she served as Managing Director of Worldwide Advertising at Best Western’s International headquarters in Phoenix. She spent seven years with Choice Hotels International at their world headquarters in Washington DC, serving as Vice President of Corporate Relations and Corporate Spokesperson as well as Vice President of International Marketing. While at Choice, Hayes managed the introduction of the first mandatory nonsmoking room policy in the country. At that time, Choice was the world's largest franchise hotel company, marketing more than 3500 hotels under eight brand names in 35 countries.

While in Washington, Hayes also served as Assistant to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Travel and Tourism (USTTA) at the U.S. Commerce Department during the Reagan Administration. She was awarded a commendation from the

Commerce Department for spearheading the development of a crisis management plan for the US travel industry. She was also recognized for creating a multi-country marketing campaign that introduced the concept of hotel segmentation to potential travel partners in Europe. US-based partners included major hotel chains and the Day In the Life of America publishing company.

Hayes also received a Presidential Citation from President Reagan in a Rose Garden Ceremony for her creation of a successful public/private partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Choice Hotels International.

In 1998, through their company Concorde Golf Tours, Hayes and her partner organized, marketed and accompanied a 23-day luxury, around the world golf tour aboard a chartered Air France Concorde. The tour was featured in the major golf journals, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the New York Times magazine.

Hayes is co-author of The Best Jobs In America For Parents (Macmillan 1991 and Ballantine 1992) one of the first books to document the trend and provide a framework for negotiating and managing flexibility in the workplace. She is the author of The Choice Family Travel Guide (Conover Press, 1991) and has been a contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Lodging Hospitality and Hospitality Upgrade magazine.

Hayes has discussed family, workplace and travel issues on national and local television and radio programs across the country including the NBC TODAY Show, CNN, CNBC, and the ABC Home Show. Her comments have appeared in The New York Times, USA TODAY, The Washington Post, The Arizona Republic and other major dailies across the country On Capitol Hill, Hayes has testified several times before the US Congress on the subject of workplace issues and has participated in Congressionally-sponsored symposiums on the same subjects.

Hayes began her professional career as the Phoenix Editor for Arizona Business magazine. She was a contributor to The Women's Travel Guide (G.K. Hall, 1987) Farm, Ranch and Country Vacations (Adventure Guides, 1995) and is the co-author of Crisis Management for American Hotels (American Hotel & Motel

Educational Institute, 1987) and co-producer of its companion two-hour videotape. Her comments are also included in Hospitality Sales and Advertising (AH &MA Educational Institute, 1989, 1993).

Hayes has traveled extensively, visiting more than 25 countries and 48 of our 50 states. Her favorite trips are those that included one, two or all three of her children.

For more information: FamilyTravel.com 


Lynn Hayes
480.556.6266
lohayes@familytravel.com