Meetings & Conference
Tourism marketers to promote new businessAloha.com giveaway
In January, the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and its industry partners were in New Orleans for the first of several sales promotions involving the world’s biggest meetings association.
Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) Professional Education Conference took place January 20-23 at The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Meeting professionals, most of whom were corporate and incentive planners participated
Joining the HVCB sales team in a colorful, island-themed tradeshow display wererepresentatives from its four island chapter bureaus, the Hawai‘i Convention Center, Pacific Destination Services, Prince Resorts Hawaii and Turtle Bay Resort & Spa.
Organizing the Hawai‘i showcase was Adele Tasaka, HVCB’s senior director of accounts and past president of MPI’s Aloha Chapter. “MPI is a great source for booking new business meetings. This is our initial promotion of 2007 and we have every island covered in selling the diversity of meeting services available to planners and their clients,” said Tasaka.
A major initiative HVCB will be promoting at MPI-PEC is http://www.businessaloha.com/,
the new website jointly launched in January by HVCB and the Hawai‘i ConventionCenter to highlight the state as a business meetings destination. The Hawai‘i Convention Center is providing 50 percent off its rate card and $50,000 in destination services for new bookings finalized by Dec. 31, 2007.
HVCB is providing complimentary accommodations and reduced fees for event services and venues statewide. Registrants submit a brief essay stating why Hawai‘i is an ideal location for business or incentive meetings. Three winners will be chosen.
Qualified meeting planners can take advantage of one or both offers. Over the next several months, HVCB will host a series of regional promotional events with several MPI chapters nationwide. Dallas-based MPI is the meeting industry’s largest association with 21,000 members and 68 chapters and clubs worldwide.
Report by Chitra Mogul
Chitra Mogul
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