Aloha,

We're well into the last quarter of the year, and we wanted to update you on the efforts that the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, together with all of you, our industry, global marketing and community partners, are undertaking to preserve the vitality of Hawai'i's tourism economy. Most recently, we shared positive news when we released our August visitor statistics, based on data collected for the first eight months of 2011, and compared to the same period last year:

• Arrivals are up 2.5 percent
• Total visitor days are up 4.0 percent
• Total visitor expenditures are up 16.1 percent to $8.25 billion, up nearly $1 billion over the same period

We are also confident that we will meet our target of $12.6 billion in visitor expenditures and 7.47 million visitors by the end of the year, which translates into $1.12 billion of state tax revenue. The following information will provide insight into how we expect to be successful. Read More

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011

Presented by David Uchiyama and HTA's Marketing Partners

1:00 - 1:45 p.m.         Market Update - David Uchiyama, HTA

1:45 - 2:45 p.m.         Japan - Eric Takahata, a.link LLC

2:45 - 3:30 p.m.         Other Asia - Michael Merner, Aviareps                                Marketing Garden

3:30 - 4:15 p.m.         Oceania - Helen Williams & Darragh                                    Walshe, The Walshe Group

To Register             

Click here to register. Please be aware that you must register to be able to participate and learn the latest about Hawai'i's tourism economy and marketing plans for Japan, Other Asia and Oceania.

Note: Webinars for the major market areas of North America, North America Leisure, Europe and North America Meetings, Conventions and Incentives, as well as the Hawai'i Convention Center, will be held at a later date.

"Meet & Greet" Sessions  

Week of Nov. 15, 2011 

HTA is also pleased to invite Hawai'i visitor industry stakeholders to participate in "Meet & Greet" sessions that will be held on the islands of Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i from Nov. 15-18, 2011. During these sessions, stakeholders will have the opportunity to meet face-to-face and interact with HTA global marketing partners representing each of our major market areas (Japan, Other Asia, Oceania, North America and Europe), as well as North America MCI and the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Registration will be required and details will be made available soon.

"Meet & Greet" sessions will not be set up for annual tourism marketing plans to be presented. We recommend that you participate in the HTA Webinar, as well as familiarize yourself with the information in any of the marketing plans that you are interested in, prior to attending our "Meet & Greet" sessions. Webinar and marketing plan presentations will be available on the HTA website after Oct. 12, 2011. 

The Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), HTA's marketing contractor for North America, turned its attention to Seattle and Chicago throughout September and October, typically blustery months, targeting the cities' avid travelers and residents with various consumer events and blitzes aimed at increasing visitor arrivals to Hawai'i. HVCB's campaign, a part of ongoing marketing efforts in North America, focused on Hawai'i's culture, people and history, and the many experiences visitors can have while vacationing only in Hawai'i. Read More