Harveys exec named CEO at Travelscape.com

Friday, Sept. 10, 1999 | 10:53 a.m.

The former general manager of the Hard Rock hotel-casino was named the new president and chief executive of Las Vegas-based Travelscape.com.

Stephen Cavallaro will replace current CEO Timothy Poster in October. Cavallaro is currently executive vice president and chief operating officer of Harveys Casino Resorts, which operates Harveys Resort & Casino in Lake Tahoe.

Cavallaro served as senior vice president and general manager of the Hard Rock from 1994 until its sale by Harveys in 1997.

Poster co-founded Travelscape.com in 1998. He will remain the company's chairman.

"Steve Cavallaro's impressive record of financial and operating success for Harveys, combined with his public company and extensive travel/hospitality industry experience, makes him the ideal candidate for this job," Poster said in a statement. "Travelscape.com needed someone with Steve's leadership and experience to propel the company to the next level."

Travelscape.com operates an Internet-based travel and hotel reservations system. The company had attempted to move forward with a $50 million initial public offering this summer, but after repeated delays, withdrew the offering in August. Company officials said the withdrawal was partly caused by market conditions, but added that they wanted to take more time to prove their business concept to Wall Street. The company intends to try going public again in 2000.