Hawaii steps up convention-meeting efforts
Two of Hawaii’s tourism contractors joined up to combine marketing efforts to attract more meetings, conventions and incentive groups.
The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, which markets meetings primarily at single-property hotels and SMG Hawaii, which focuses mostly on meetings at the Hawaii Convention Center, are consolidating.
The convention bureau has a marketing budget of $2.5 million for next year, according to news reports, while SMG has a budget of $4 million.
“It translates into a better sales encounter with customers,” said Joe Davis, general manager of the Hawaii Convention Center.
Costs for conventioneers are expected to be reduced because of the consolidation.
The two groups also expect to portray Hawaii, possibly best known as a leisure destination, as also a business and meeting center.
“Where Business and Aloha Meet” is the new tag line.
Report by David Wilkening
David
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