Message from George D. Szigeti
President & CEO
Hawaii Tourism Authority
|
|
Aloha mai kakou,
Kilauea volcano has brought an unexpected influx of attention to Hawaii throughout May, the likes of which none of us have ever seen before.
The videos and photos of the eruptions and lava flows have been truly spectacular, the kind of “can’t look away” images showcasing nature’s power in creating new land.
The footage has captivated national and local media on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, some of the national coverage has mischaracterized the volcano’s impact on the Hawaiian Islands as a whole. Some of it has been disheartening, especially when you realize some people believe it to be true.
HTA and its marketing partners have been working diligently since Kilauea erupted on May 3 to clarify the public record, correct misinformation and communicate the message over and over again that “Hawaii is open for business” except in the area of lower Puna on the island of Hawaii (see the map below).
We have conveyed this message in several news releases issued nationally, in dozens of interviews with national, international and local media, and through information provided to numerous journalists and concerned travelers.
We will continue to reiterate this message in the weeks and months to come, along with emphasizing the point that visitors have absolutely no reason to change their travel plans to the Hawaiian Islands.
We recognize some industry partners have expressed concerns the booking pace looking forward has dipped from the U.S. mainland and Japan. In addition to our continued media outreach, we will be implementing some aggressive marketing strategies to help convince travelers that booking Hawaii is a wise choice.
Our industry partners can support this overall effort by reinforcing the message that Hawaii is open for business and putting in perspective for travelers where the volcano activity is taking place in relation to the rest of the state.
Your continued support of Hawaii’s tourism industry is welcomed and appreciated.
With Warmest Aloha,
|
|
Island of Hawaii map indicating the current lava flow area (as of 5/29)
|
|
Celebrating Kamehameha
Kamehameha is Hawaii’s best-known king, famous for unifying the islands which were once each under separate rule. His efforts in the late 1700s and early 1800s prepared Hawaii for the future in a rapidly changing world, while setting a standard for leadership guided by the well-being of his people.
Kamehameha was born in Kohala, Hawaii Island. He was raised in the royal court of his uncle Kalaniopuu, ruler of Hawaii Island. As Kamehameha grew up he built a coalition: chiefs who believed in a prophecy that he would conqueror the islands, and foreigners who invested their support in an ascending warrior chief.
The story of Kamehameha’s rise is epic. Opposing warriors were covered in volcanic ash. A large heiau (temple) was constructed. An armada of 1,000 canoes and 10,000 soldiers converged on Maui. Warriors were forced over the pali (cliff) at Nuuanu. Battle by battle, island by island, Kamehameha united Hawaii as one kingdom.
Kamehameha Day, established in 1871 in honor of his accomplishments and contributions, is celebrated every June 11. Annual festivities include draping lei on statues in Honolulu, Kohala and Hilo, as well as parades in Honolulu and Kona and other celebrations. Many of these are supported by HTA. Visit gohawaii.com to find festivities on your island.
|
|
Celebrating Travel and Tourism Week
The Hawaiian Islands proudly celebrated Travel and Tourism Week, May 6-12, with a special video featuring the PAI Foundation whose mission it is to preserve and perpetuate Native Hawaiian arts and culture for future generations.
HTA shared with the travel community a glimpse of the Aloha State’s people, history and heritage which have made Hawaii an iconic travel destination for decades, through the following video.
|
|
Early-Bird Registration for Global Tourism Summit Opens
Sign up now and take advantage of the savings! Early-bird registration to attend the 2018 Global Tourism Summit, being presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA),
October 1-3, is currently being offered through July 31. Early-bird prices are:
- Full Summit, October 1-3, $325, for a savings of $100
- Students and Faculty Members, Full Summit, October 1-3, $150
- Partial Summit, October 1-2, $315
- Partial Summit, October 2-3, $295
|
|
OAHU
June 8-10
June 10
June 30
|
MAUI
June 13-17
June 16-17
June 24
June 29-30
|
ISLAND OF HAWAII
June 2
June 9
June 11
|
KAUAI
Ongoing through Dec. 31
Ongoing through Dec. 31
August 3-4
|
|
State of Hawaii Recognizes
Global Tourism Summit as Green Event
HTA’s 2017 Global Tourism Summit was recently designated as a Green Event by the State of Hawaii’s Hawaii Green Business Program. Seventeen businesses and nine events in total were recognized with the designation for pursuing energy efficiency and sustainable business practices that will help their bottom line while advancing Hawaii’s clean energy goals.
|
Green Events are events planned with the intent of conserving Hawaii’s natural resources by implementing practices conserving and saving water and energy, and lowering the amount of solid waste generated. For more information about the state’s Green Business program, visit
http://greenbusiness.hawaii.gov/description.
|
2018 Cruise Executive Summit Held on Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the island of Hawaii
HTA’s 2018 Cruise Executive Summit was held from
April 29-May 5. Throughout the week of the summit, executives from Carnival, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line conducted port inspections in Honolulu, Kona, Hilo, Kahului, Lahaina and at Nawiliwili Harbor with representatives from HTA, the Island Chapters, the State Department of Transportation, the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Cruise Line International Association. Meetings were also held with industry partners on each island.
|
|
Hawaii Tourism United States Launches Work From Hawaii
Program in New York City
Inspired by a current workforce trend of conducting business on the move from wherever one is in the world, Hawaii Tourism United States (HTUSA) recently launched its Work From Hawaii work residency program, offering one of six carefully curated work residencies on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the island of Hawaii to six New York residents.
|
|
Selected participants will range from advertising executives and start-up CEOs, to techies, writers and even visual artists. Each weeklong work residency opportunity – one for each island – features a unique work and living space, dedicated island ambassadors and hands-on itineraries diving deep into Hawaii cuisine, culture, traditions and adventure. The ultimate goal of Work From Hawaii? Allowing the Hawaiian Islands to inspire the invited New Yorkers, match their aspirations and ensure they “come back better” to their home city.
|
|
The program launched with an earned media campaign that attracted national interest; ran on Facebook, Instagram and Reddit; and featured wallpaper on WeTransfer. New Yorkers were also exposed to the campaign on out-of-home advertising placements in key locations. Information about Work From Hawaii residencies and the entry forms were placed on
www.work-from-hawaii.com.
|
|
HTUSA and Island Chapters Sponsor Cruise 360 Event
|
|
HTUSA and the Island Chapters were sponsors for the Cruise Line Industry Associationʻs Cruise 360 event, held in April in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For the event’s trade show, HTUSA arranged for performances from Hawaii musicians and hula dancers for 650 agents. HTUSA and the Island Chapters’ sponsorship included three destination seminars, which also featured hula performances.
|
|
The Kauai Visitors Bureau, Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau and HTUSA conducted two sessions for more than 325 attendees. A sponsored breakfast training drew an additional 250 agents.
|
|
Meet Hawaii Team Attends Prestige Kate and Jack Networking Event
|
|
The HTUSA Meet Hawaii team attended two Prestige Kate and Jack networking events in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington, which were attended by 45 and 75 planners, respectively. Six hotel partners also attended the excellent networking opportunity connecting planners and hotels partners.
|
|
Seminar on Hawaii’s Japanese Immigration Roots
Hosted by Hawaii Tourism Japan
|
|
With 2018 commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival in the Islands of the first group of Japanese immigrant plantation laborers – known as the Gannenmono (or Eighteen Sixty-Eighters, and named after the first year of the Meiji Era) – Hawaii Tourism Japan (HTJ) hosted a seminar with a theme of the culture’s history in Hawaii.
|
|
Offered to 33 Aloha Program beginner specialists at Toyo Bunko Museum on April 29, the seminar discussed the roots of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. Attendees passed the exam successfully, advancing to the level of intermediate specialists. There are currently 28,040 Aloha Program members and 17,414 specialists. HTJ will continue to conduct educational seminars for specialists.
|
|
Hawaii Showcased at Educational Seminar and Workshop
|
|
HTJ provided support to Nippon Travel Agency (NTA) and Tobu Top Tours in April, showcasing Hawaii at a series of informational seminars and workshops. Held in Osaka, Tokyo, Nagoya and Fukuoka between April 5 and 10, NTA’s workshops were crafted for incentive travel specialists.
|
|
A representative from All Nippon Airways participated in the seminars to discuss the carrier’s upcoming launch of its Airbus A380 aircraft. A total of 127 agents attended the workshops. HTJ also reached out to 90 agents through workshops held for Tobu Top Tours in Osaka and Tokyo on April 10 and 11. Eighteen industry partners representing Honolulu hotels, attractions and activities participated as well.
|
|
Hawaii Tourism Canada Has a Busy Spring at
Quebec and Ontario Trade Shows
Spring has been a busy season for the Hawaii Tourism Canada (HTCAN) team as it continues to take part in more than 15 trade shows organized by key travel partners. While most of the trade shows focused on the western Canada market, Hawaii was also represented at trade shows in Montreal, Quebec, and Ottawa and Toronto, Ontario.
|
|
Attending travel agents were very interested in learning more about Hawaii and scooping up all materials made available to them. A contingent of top Hawaii hotel partners joined the HTCAN team for many of the shows. Canadian travel trade publications and e-newsletters featured multiple images of Hawaii’s trade show presence.
|
|
Oahu and Kauai Culture and Culinary Scene
Wows Top Canadian Journalists
Top-tier Canadian journalists returned home impressed after experiencing culture and culinary adventures on Oahu and Kauai in May, hosted by HTCAN. From checking out Lei Day (May Day) festivities on their first morning in Hawaii and enjoying a private cooking class with La Hiki Kitchen Executive Chef Simeon Hall at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, to a waterfall helicopter tour of Kauai and opportunities to taste Hawaii’s local and traditional dishes, the journalists departed the islands happy, sated and armed with plenty of stories to share with their readers across Canada.
|
|
Media on the tour included the travel editor of the
Toronto Sun and greater
Sun Media newspapers, as well as journalists from
Bold, Canadian Traveller and
BCLiving, which allowed the HTCAN team to design the tour with a culinary angle while targeting key markets for Canadian travelers.
|
|
Hawaii Places in 4 Top 10 Lists in Ctrip’s 2017
China Travelers’ Top Spot Awards
|
|
Hawaii received four placement honors in Ctrip’s 2017 China Travelers’ Top Spots Awards, which are voted on by the online travel agency’s more than 6.5 million users. The Hawaiian Islands placed in Ctrip’s award categories for Top 10 Overseas Travel Destinations, Top 10 Island Tour Destinations, Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations and Top 10 Kid-Friendly Travel Destinations.
|
|
One of China’s largest online travel agency platforms, Ctrip held ceremonies for its annual awards in Xi’an. More than 800 representatives from multiple industries – including airlines, hotels, travel agencies, travel institutions, tourist bureaus and social influencers – attended the awards ceremony, which was featured on over 20 media channels.
|
|
Camp Aloha 2018 Successfully Held in
Hong Kong, Wuhan and Shanghai
|
|
Hawaii Tourism Hong Kong (HTHK) and Hawaii Tourism China (HTC) launched Camp Aloha 2018 in Hong Kong, Wuhan and Shanghai in April.
|
|
The Hong Kong session attracted 18 Hawaii partners – the most ever – and more than 75 travel trade representatives. Travel agencies and Hawaii partners in attendance developed and strengthened business ties during a busy program that included more than 190 meetings, a seminar featuring updates on the Hawaiian Islands and a networking luncheon.
|
|
The China Mission was also a success, providing Hawaii partners an opportunity to educate themselves on, as well as catch up with, China’s trade market. From April 16-20, more than 1,200 rounds of one-to-one meetings were held between 335 Chinese trade and meetings, conventions and incentives representatives and 23 mission partners from Hawaii.
|
|
Camp Aloha 2018 is a trade platform tapping outbound business opportunities presented by new and existing trade channels, and buyers from 16 first-tier and new first-tier cities. Camp Aloha’s series of events – held in Hong Kong, Wuhan and Shanghai – increased Hawaii’s exposure in Hong Kong and China’s tourism market immensely.
|
|
In addition to attending seminars organized for trade partners, 25 media partners also attended the Camp Aloha event. More than 35 media outlets reported on the mission. HTC expects new Hawaii packages introduced into the market by participating agencies will drive summer travel to the Islands.
|
|
Hawaii Tourism Korea Sales Promotion Awards New Hyundai Kona SUV
|
|
Hawaii Tourism Korea (HTK) recently completed its successful Kona Sales Promotion, which ran from November to March and was designed to maximize the sales volume of island of Hawaii travel products, including day tours and overnight products.
Sixteen travel agents based in Seoul and Busan participated in the promotion generating high sales bookings, sending more than 16,670 travelers to the Islands, and enhancing visits to the island of Hawaii. HTK ended the promotion on April 26, rewarding top sales winner Hana Tour with the grand prize of a Hyundai Kona SUV at the Hyundai Motors Exhibition Center in Myeongdong, Korea.
|
|
HTK Hosts Digital Influencer Media FAM Tour
From April 25 to May 1, HTK hosted a successful two-island outdoor- and nature-themed familiarization tour for digital influencers, treating the group to a number of island of Hawaii nature activities, including an evening volcano tour and Dolphin Quest session, and cultural and outdoor experiences on Oahu, including a tour of Iolani Palace and ziplining at Kualoa Ranch. Participating influencers are expected to generate digital content for a variety of platforms, including video, social media and blogs.
|
|
HTK MCI Team Partners with LOTTE JTB for Golf Promotion
HTK’s MCI team partnered with travel agency LOTTE JTB, from March 14 to April 10, to promote Hawaii as the perfect year-round golfing destination for the Korean market. LPGA golf tour products were advertised through LOTTE-owned channels, including a website and mobile app with banner ads, LOTTE JTB’s SNS Channels, Naver Blog and Facebook, an e-newsletter distributed to 90,000 subscribers, a text message to 30,000 Lotte members and distribution to seven media outlets.
|
|
KKday Launches Social Media Promotional Campaign for Hawaii
|
|
Taiwan travel activities platform KKday, which participated in HTT’s 2017 GTS Trade familiarization trip, has launched an online Hawaii promotional campaign via its social media channels and Google Ads. The campaign features several Hawaii attractions, including Molokini islet and surf town Paia on Maui, Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, and a number of small boutiques and specialty restaurants throughout Hawaii. In the month following its launch, the campaign received more than 1,126,000 viewers.
|
|
Hawaii Tourism Taiwan Sponsors Game Six of
Super Basketball League Championship
|
|
Hawaii Tourism Taiwan (HTT) partnered with Taiwan semi-professional men’s basketball organization Super Basketball League (SBL) for a co-op campaign running from December through the league’s championship games in April.
|
|
HTT elected to host Game 6 of the SBL’s 15th Championship Games, held on April 29. The final game of SBL’s season, Game 6 attracted a sold-out stadium of more than 8,000 basketball fans. Everyone purchasing a ticket for the game received an entry to a lottery draw for a trip to Hawaii. As SBL playoff and championship game broadcasts typically draw large TV audiences, Hawaii received substantial coverage and exposure on social media and broadcast television.
|
|
HTO Promotes Hawaii on Popular New Zealand Morning TV Show
Hawaii Tourism Oceania (HTO) and the Island Chapters recently visited New Zealand and Australia, receiving coverage on daily lifestyle and entertainment TV program
The Café. The morning show airs nationwide in New Zealand, attracting more than 100,000 viewers. Island Chapter representatives conducted in-depth travel trade training and media interviews in both countries as part of HTO’s monthlong Month of Lei campaign.
|
|
Product Managers from Germany and Switzerland
Participate in HTE Oahu and Maui FAM
|
|
Hawaii Tourism Europe (HTE) recently invited product managers and tour operators from Germany and Switzerland to Oahu and Maui to showcase each island’s new hotel products and cultural diversity. HTE organized the visits to strengthen both islands’ position in the European market. Overall feedback from participants was resoundingly positive, with each taking home unique Hawaii experiences.
|
|
HTE Germany and FIT Touristik Collaborate on Multi-Island Press Trip
|
|
HTE Germany and German tour operator and travel agency FIT Touristik hosted six journalists on Oahu, Maui and the island of Hawaii, April 15-21, for a media trip featuring outdoor and active adventures. Highlights of the trip included outrigger canoe surfing and a visit to Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, a helicopter tour and manta ray snorkeling on the island of Hawaii, and a sunrise dinner cruise and visit to Iao Valley on Maui. Resulting articles from invited journalists will be published in daily regional and national newspapers, and magazines.
|
|
STA Travel Features Oahu in Travel Music Video
|
|
European student and youth travel agency STA Travel recently launched an interactive travel video featuring the United Kingdom band Skinny Living experiencing music and surfing on Oahu. Check out the video, along with videos from other U.S. destinations, at
www.statravel.co.uk/rhythmofthestreets.htm.
|
|
Keep in touch with HTA via social media:
|
|
HTA recognizes the use of the 'okina ['] or glottal stop, one of the eight consonants of the (modern) Hawaiian language; and the kahakō [ā] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawai'i such as Lāna'i). However, HTA respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses. Due to technological limitations, this current communication may not include all Hawaiian diacritical markings. droppable-1527623350353
|
|
|
|
|
|
|