From the Director

Aloha,

We are pleased to announce the launch of several exciting enhancements to our GoHawaii.com website.

Recently we sent you information regarding the new updates. GoHawaii.com now features a section called "Destination Experiences," providing added exposure for your organization under one lifestyle or market niche of your choice. If you have not done so already, please take a moment to log on to your Partner Online Portal and select one lifestyle that you would like your listing to be placed under.

In our efforts to continuously meet the needs of our global consumers, we have also adjusted the navigation system of our site. The new category listings have been sent to you for review, along with the placement of your organizations' category. If you have any questions about your future category listing, or have not received the information above, please contact the Membership department at (808) 924-0230 or email membership@hvcb.org.

Your support and Kokua is greatly appreciated, as we work together towards reaching first-time and repeat visitors from around the world, and invite them to enjoy the beauty and uniqueness of our Islands of Aloha.

Mahalo,

Gina Salvador

HVCB, Director of Membership

Inside this Month's Issue

		HVCB Well On Its Way To Exceeding 2003 CMI Production Goals HVCB surpasses first quarter lead production goals for corporate meetings and incentives.

Aloha Concierge Service Serves 21,000 Guests, Asks For More.

21,000 delegates and exhibitors attend the American Association of Orthodontist Convention at the Hawaii Convention Center.

OVB Launches Stylish Newsletter

Keep up to date with what's happening at the O'ahu Visitors Bureau with the new Kahe Wale O'ahu

German Travel Agents Win Trip Of A Lifetime

tm Counter Cup winners tour the islands, take a luxury cruise aboard the Norwewgian Star and have a ripping good time for nine days.

Travel Weekly To Start New Oahu Publication

Oahu's Best Places to Stay and Play will promote Oahu's condominiums, hotels,  bed & breakfast properties, tour operators and activities.

Partner Online Education Series (POES): Web stat reports
When was the last time you checked your Web site stat reports? You can't execute a good online strategy with out those reports!

Pow Wow Pau. Verdict? Wow!

HVCB Attends "Pow Wow," America's Largest International Travel Event, targets new markets.

2003 Hawaii's Big Island Events

Big Island Events Hit Big in Hilo and West Hawai'i

Big Island Visitors Bureau Teams Up with Canadian Traveller Magazine

Don't miss your chance to gain exposure in the Big Island's fastest growing international market.

Mark Your Calendars!

Here's What Members Have to Say

Aloha & Welcome to the HVCB Ohana

Mahalo For Your Continued Support and Participation

CMI Department On A Roll

Building on last year's success, the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau's (HVCB) Corporate Meetings and Incentives (CMI) division has surpassed its lead production goals for first quarter 2003.

For the first three months of 2003, HVCB generated 274 qualified hotel leads representing 192,234 room nights. The results exceeded first quarter 2002 by 21 percent in leads and 27 percent in room nights.

It also puts HVCB well on the way to exceeding its 2003 production goals as the figures represent 29 percent of leads and 31 percent of room nights for the year. Thus far, HVCB-generated leads have covered a wide business spectrum, including technology, pharmaceutical, finance, insurance, manufacturing, and construction.

HVCB's production goals established for 2003, in conjunction with the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, are 945 qualified hotel leads and 630,000 hotel room nights.

For more information about HVCB's Corporate Meetings and Incentives (CMI) division, contact CMI Director of Sales, Michael Murray, CMP, CMM, CASE at (808) 924-0253 or mmurray@hvcb.org.

Spreading Aloha To Conventioneers

Beginning May 2, the Aloha Concierge service was kept very busy attending to the 21,000 delegates and exhibitors throughout the American Association of Orthodontist Convention at the Hawaii Convention Center. 

During the event, we were able to provide information about various activities, shopping, transportation, restaurants, and attractions throughout the islands of Hawaii.  With the delegates traveling to Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island for seminars, we were able to provide them with some helpful hints prior to their voyage to our neighbor islands. 

Over 4,200 referrals to partnering businesses were made throughout our 5 days on-site at our lobby level kiosk and we were even seen on KHNL news! 

The Aloha Concierge service looks forward to servicing the American Society of Association Executives in August.  By providing superior service and showing the Aloha Spirit, together we are able to enthusiastically welcome the delegates that  come to visit our beautiful islands and heartily encourage their return!

Kahe Wale O'ahu

Communication is the key to success.  Check out the brand new O'ahu Visitors Bureau newsletter here. 

German Travel Agents Visit the Islands

During the months of September, October and November 2002, HVCB conducted a travel agent correspondence course in cooperation with the German trade publication tm-Das Tourismus Magazine, American Airlines, and Norwegian Cruise Line.  Called tm Counter Cup, the course (3 editions in total) was featured on 3 pages of the magazine, which has a total circulation of 29,000, and is read by all retail travel agents throughout Germany.

The promotion was very successful with great media exposure and drew approximately 3,000 travel agent participants throughout the entire three courses.

At the end of each course/month, three winning agents were selected at random from a pool of agents who answered all questions correctly.  These nine lucky people (who HVCB-Germany confirmed as being a good industry mix of independent and chain agencies with geographic diversification well throughout Germany) were the participants of a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Hawaii, where they not only were able to experience the Norwegian Star, but also receive a unique "on-site" educational opportunity to learn about the islands that they have been helping to sell so well.

In cooperation with the Island Chapters and the promotional partners listed above, the Developing International Markets Division produced this educational 9-day trip for the agents who were all first-timers to the islands.  With sponsorships from the Radisson Waikīkī Prince Kūhiō, V.I.P. Trans., Discover Hidden Hawaii, Kona Historical Society, Kona Mountain Coffee Farm and Café, Maui Ocean Center, Wailea Marriott - an Outrigger Resort, HoloHolo Charters, Bishop Museum, USS Arizona Memorial, Battleship Missouri Memorial, and Hilo Hattie - The Store of Hawaii, the trip presented a remarkable opportunity for all HVCB members involved to showcase their products/services to these agents who will be selling them directly to German travel consumers following the trip.

For more information, please contact Daniel Chun, Event Coordinator at 1-808-924-0251 or dchun@hvcb.org.

Great Advertising Opportunity

Travel Weekly, the national newspaper of the travel industry, is teaming up with Oahu Visitors Bureau to organize a guide promoting Oahu's condominiums, hotels, bed & breakfast properties, tour operators and activities called Oahu's Best Places to Stay and Play.

Several pages of editorial on Oahu will be included in the guide for agents to learn more about our beautiful island and help them sell our destination.  As an added value for our members, each participating advertiser will be clearly located on the large area maps, and at no extra charge, advertisers will receive computerized labels from direct response cards to assist with your own marketing efforts.

This guide will be distributed to over 42,000 travel agents and the OVB will receive 1,500 overruns to distribute to those who request information on Oahu.

OVB members receive 15% off regular advertising rates.  Please contact Odia Chew at 1-808-942-7400 for more information.  odiachew@hawaii.rr.com

Partner Online Education Series (POES): Web site stat reports

View this month's POES installment now:  http://search.gohawaii.com/kw/poes 

OK, we all see the light: you've just got to have a Web site. It's a vital part of your business. Can't do without it. Gotta have it. Don't-even-think-about-it.  Right?

Perfect! So, tell me, who was your top referring site?  What are the key search terms people are using to reach your site?  How many average page views per week do you get?  How do you compare to last year? What's your most accessed sub-page?

If you're left scratching your head about the answers, you need to get with the program and start reading those Web stat reports. "What's a stat report?" you ask.  "I've never seen a stat report", you say?  You must know that managing a Web site without reading and understanding your Web stat reports is like driving a car without gauges:  its difficult at best, and disastrous at worse.

As part of our ongoing monthly installment of the Partner Online Education Series (POES), we're happy to roll out a mini-course on what Web stat reports are, how to read them, and what to do with what you learn from them.  This is a "beginner" course designed for those that have rarely (if ever) seen a Web stat report and/or for those that have seen one but can't make heads or tails of it.

Like all of our other POES installments, you can sit back and watch the streamed presentation or interactively click through online slides and view screenshots and sample reports.

If you have a Web site and believe it's important to your business, then learning how to read your stat reports will give you the right information that will allow you to make the right decisions in growing your online distribution and sales. 

Just go to http://search.gohawaii.com/kw/poes  and learn how to read the gauges that will let you drive your Web site to the highest levels of performance.

Let us know what you think!

Peter Kay is the president of CyberCom, peter@cybercominc.com.

Showcasing Hawaii to the World

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau - Developing International Markets attended the 35th Annual International Pow Wow in St. Louis, MO from May 17th to the 21st.  More than 70 countries, with an attendance of 5,750 travel professionals, and 1,375 exhibit booths displaying travel products and services by U.S. suppliers attended this year's Pow Wow.

Pow Wow is the largest international travel trade event in the United States hosted by the Travel Industry Association of America (TIA).   Pow Wow brings international buyers in direct contact with domestic suppliers via pre-scheduled 20-minute business oriented meetings.

The Developing International Markets conducted 140 meetings with international tour wholesalers, and media from Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Latin America.  The Hawaii delegation of marketing professionals included representatives from the Kaua'i Visitors Bureau, Maui Visitors Bureau and O'ahu Visitors Bureau.

"Pow Wow lets us sell Hawaii to tour companies capable of bringing in higher spending visitors from promising international markets," said Maydene Simmons, Vice President of Developing International Markets, "By integrating our marketing efforts with the Island Chapters, we can deliver a compelling message showcasing Hawaii's multitude of assets and cultural diversity."

Nineteen additional product suppliers from Hawaii participated in Pow Wow to create a Hawaii-themed pavilion area with classic images from all the Islands, complemented by tropical floral arrangements and bright Hawaiian colors.  The other suppliers included: Aloha Airlines, Connoisseur Hawaii, The Fairmont Collection, GGP / Ala Moana Shopping Center, Grand Wailea Resort and Spa, HTH Corporation / Pacific Beach Hotel, Hawaiian Hotels and Resorts, Hilton Resorts Hawaii, Hyatt Resorts and Spas of Hawaii, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Kapalua Villas and Homes, Maui, Marriott & Renaissance Resorts Hawaii, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Polynesian Cultural Center, Prince Resorts Hawaii, Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Hawaii, Sun Islands Hawaii, Inc.

For more information on Pow Wow, please contact Michele Lee at mlee@hvcb.org or (808) 924-0240.

Hawaii's Big Island Events - Big Success!

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau in collaboration with the Big Island Visitors Bureau kicked off the 2003 Island Events - Marketing Advantages, in Hilo on May 27, and in West Hawaii on June 10. Information presented included the latest on integrative marketing efforts of the HVCB and BIVB. Attendees were encouraged to take advantage of all the resources and marketing tools available to partner businesses.

Major Marketing Areas, North America and Japan also provided insights into their divisions. North America presented their new advertising campaign that illustrated the spirit of the State, portraying real people of Hawaii inviting visitors from afar into their homes. The Japan department illustrated recent market trends, described various segments of their market area, and introduced upcoming promotions and events.

Also included were technology sessions that explained the new Partner Online Education Series, a program created to educate and assist organizations looking to enhance their web presence. Web traffic, e-marketing initiatives, and recent developments to the gohawaii.com website were discussed in detail. 

Seminar attendees were asked to complete a feedback survey to share their insights about the events. Ninety-eight percent of those who responded to the survey stated that the information presented showed value in membership with the HVCB/BIVB. The responses included specific comments from attendees such as Leanne Pletcher, of Hilton Waikoloa Village who shared, "I appreciate the time you took to share this information - it was very educational and gave a good picture of HVCB & BIVB." 

For copies of the handouts distributed at each of the events, and complete results of the feedback survey, please visit our website at www.gohawaii.com/memberevents .

For even more info on the happenings at the Big Island Visitors Bureau, check out their most recent newsletter here.  

Another Great Advertising Opportunity

The Big Island Visitors Bureau has teamed up with Canadian Traveller magazine for the fifth consecutive year to publish a special supplement in the August 2003 issue. Canada is a very important market for The Big Island and a stronger Canadian currency make Hawai'i even more attractive.

Canadian Traveller is Canada's only destination-focused, four color, glossy travel trade publication. Published for 15 years it has become a practical resource and key reference tool for travel agents and has generated a large number of replies for us in the past. After a year of focus groups and industry interviews, the magazine was recently re-launched with a more aggressive approach to help travel professionals effectively sell destinations like the Big Island by providing them with more hard-to-get information and sales techniques to close the sale.

Big Island Visitors Bureau Executive Director George Applegate encourages you to participate in Canadian Traveller's Big Island supplement, which will provide you with a wonderful opportunity to reach, influence and sell to over 16,000 travel agents and tour operators across Canada. Special, discounted group page advertising rates have been negotiated on your behalf to make participation easy and inexpensive in this perfectly timed supplement.

For more information please contact Dan Coombs toll free at (250) 861-9095 or by e-mail: dancoombs@canadiantraveller.net.

Mark Your Calendars!

HVCB & KVB's Kauai Island Event - Marketing Advantages

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2003

Time: 9:30am-12:30 noon (registration begins at 9:00)

Location: Kauai Marriott, Kauai Ballroom

Description of event:

Come and learn about the latest marketing efforts of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau and the Kauai Visitors Bureau.  Take advantage of the resources and marketing tools available to you! Please RSVP no later than Monday, June 23, 2003.  For more information or to reserve your seat(s), contact Melissa Archpru at (808) 924-0233 or email marchpru@hvcb.org

The HVCB & MVB's Maui Island Event, previously scheduled for Monday, June 30, has been postponed. Stay tuned for future updates.

Here's What Members Have to Say

The Big Island International Marathon Association is a Health/Fitness organization, providing monthly workships, Heath/Fitness Expo and a major East Hawaii destination event produces every March: Marthon - 26.2 Miles, 10.8 Mile Run and a 3.1 Mile Fitness Run/Walk.  In addition, there are pre-race events (fun runs & carbo load dinner.) For more information, visit www.runhawaii.com.

The Halekulani recently provided the public with one more reason why they are known for pampering their guests.  On April 1, SpaHalekulani opened its doors with a mission to provide guests with an all-enveloping experience, appealing to their innermost senses while promoting well-being.  The spa was designed by Sylvia Sepielli, renowned designer and operator of Sylvia Planning and Design (SPAd) and is the first spa to explore the healing traditions of the Pacific Island including Samoa, Tonga and Tahiti. Guests can experience an array of massage techniques at the spa facility or in the privacy of their rooms.  For more information on the array of massage techniques offered, contact the hotel at (800) 367-2343.  Reservations can also be made through their website at www.halekulani.com.

VResorts.com is pleased to offer all HVCB member hotels a complementary QuickTime VR "virtual tour" photoshoot, and a hotel feature page hosted on the "Destination: Hawaii" pages on our rapidly growing online travel agency site, in exchange for a complementary room during the photoshoot.  VResorts.com uses compelling Virtual Reality (VR) photography to sell rooms at high-end, luxury hotels in spectacular destinations.  Our photography is also available for licensing for use on hotel websites, and we offer full multimedia development services including design and production of promotional CDs, as well as Flash and Shockwave content development. Sponsorship opportunities for our Hawaii destination pages are also available at very moderate prices.  Contact Doug Rosenberg (doug@vresorts.com) for more details.

Aloha & Welcome to the HVCB Ohana

Members who joined during the month of May

Breeze Hawai'i Diving Adventures, Carson's Kapoho Oceanfront Cottage, Free Spirit, Kona Plantation, Hawaii Health Guide, Waianuhea, L.L.C., Kauai Osteopathic Inc., Directional Strategies Travel, AlohaOutlet.Com, Asher Productions, Travel Tracks, Dream Beach House, Hawaii Island Bed & Breakfast Association, Kuhio Shores Condominiums, Makahuena Resort, Prince Kuhio Rentals, Ali'i Photo & Video, Richards Shopping Center, Inc., Kekaha Oceanside Fielding House, Pine Isle Market, Ltd., Island Treats Creations, Bella Rosa, Chameleon Travel Club, Inc., Hale Kamaole, Aloha Holidays Ltd.

Mahalo For Your Continued Support and Participation

Members who renewed their membership in May

Member Since 1961-1986

Aloha Airlines, Inc., Ana Hallo Tours (USA), Inc., Caldwell Travel Service, Creative Hawaiian Gifts, Inc., Food Pantry, Ltd., Honolulu Academy Of Arts, Information Tickets & Travel, Isemoto Contracting Co., Ltd., Maita'i Catamaran, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corp., Min Plastics & Supply, Inc., New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, The, Obun Hawaii Group, Polynesian Plaza, Princeville Ranch Stables, Robert J. Clancey, Ltd., Royal Grove Hotel & Apts, Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations, Travel Plaza, LLC, Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, William H Coester

Member Since 1987-1993

A Dream Wedding: Maui Style, LLC, Ad-Visory Travel Media, Carole Kai Charities, Inc., Cove Entertainment, Inc., Current Affairs, Garden Island Inn, Hale Ohia Cottages, Hawaiian Travel, Inc., HVS International, Kaala Center, King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Resort, Louis Vuitton Hawaii, Inc., Maui Condo & Home Realty, Inc., Mauna Lani Point, Napili Sunset, National Geographic Traveler Magazine, The Bay Club Ownership Resort, Waipio Wayside B&B Inn, Watanabe Ing Kawashima & Komeiji

Member Since 1994-1998

All Islands Timeshare Resales, All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd., Eco-Adventures, Scuba, Snorkel, Travel, Embassy Vacation Resort Poipu Point, Gloria Bridal Services, Inc., Hale Makai Beach Cottages, Hawaii Forest & Trail, HonBLUE, Inc., I Do Weddings, Island Home Bed & Breakfast, Kilauea Lakeside Estate, Lahaina Ticket Company, Mahina Surf, Maui Accommodations Guide, McBryde Garden, Outrigger Royal Sea Cliff, Sea Life Park Hawaii, South Shore Vista, Sullivan Properties, Vacation-Maui.com, Vacations Hawaii, Waikiki Aquarium, The

Member Since 1999-2000

123 Hawaii Vacation & Tickets, A A'ala Aloha Maui Destiny Weddings, A Affordable Weddings of Hawaii, Ala Aina Ocean Vista, Flower Farm, Inc., Hale Ho'onanea Bed & Breakfast, Hawaii.com, King Kalakaua Owners, Lahaina Inn, Mokulele Flight Service, Inc., Paradise Hideaways LLC, Sun 'N Surf Condominiums

Member Since 2001-2002

A Affordable Weddings of Hawaii, A Tropical Hideaway, Aloha Condo Rentals, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, C.G. International, Dolphin Quest - Hawaii, Hideaway Bay, Leis of Hawaii, Maui Resort Vacations, Molokai Rentals & Tours, Molokai207.com, Patrick L. Roherty Photography, LLC, Plumeria Apartments, Products of Hawaii, Puunoa Beach Estates, The Islands at Mauna Lani, Volcano Country Cottages

Are we missing anyone? If you know someone who might want to be added to our mailing list, please email the information to membership@hvcb.org.

We welcome your suggestions or comments on how to improve this communications vehicle, and encourage you to forward your thoughts to us at sgodinez@hvcb.org.

 
For more information on membership or to submit articles for Kahe Wale, contact Scarlett Godinez at sgodinez@hvcb.org.