Audio Interview w/ Julian Sparkes, Accenture Partner and Leader of the Global Travel Services Practice - discussing Accenture's recent report predicting near-term growth for the airline and hotel industries

CLick here for the full-text version of the related Accenture press release!

About Accenture - Accenture is the world's leading management consulting and technology services organization. Through its network of businesses approach -- in which the company enhances its consulting and outsourcing expertise through alliances, affiliated companies and other capabilities -- Accenture delivers innovations that help clients across all industries quickly realize their visions. With approximately 75,000 people in 47 countries, the company generated net revenues of US $11.44 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2001. Its Canadian home page is www.accenture.ca.

About Julian A. Sparkes - Mr. Sparkes is an Accenture Partner and Leader of the Global Travel Services Practice based in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition to his firm-wide responsibilities, Mr. Sparkes has overall client responsibilities for Marriott, which is one of the top clients in the firm over the past five years. During his 20-year career with Accenture, Mr. Sparkes has worked primarily with clients in the telecommunication, manufacturing, natural resources and hospitality industries, assisting in the design and implementation of information systems and production processes. In his capacity as leader of the Global Travel Services Practice, Mr. Sparkes is responsible for establishing market offerings, defining marketing strategies, coordinating new business opportunities, overseeing business development efforts, penetrating target clients, and driving profitable and increased volumes of business. Born in England, Mr. Sparkes holds a degree in Engineering from Cambridge University. Before joining Accenture, he worked for Schlumberger, an oilfield company, in South America and the Middle East.

Kevin Heilbronner is the US Editor for hsyndicate.com, wiredhotelier.com and hospitalitynet.org, providing content for these websites in the form of articles and both audio and video interviews. Based outside of Washington DC, Heilbronner has worked with Hospitality Net to conduct interviews at several hospitality trade shows in the US and Europe over the last year. A familiar voice in Washington, DC, Heilbronner is the stadium announcer for the NBA's Washington Wizards, WNBA's Washington Mystics, WUSA's Washington Freedom and DC United of MLS. He resides in Centreville, VA and can be reached via [email protected].