We’ll have to admit we were a bit worried when the island’s largest hotel announced special room rates for Hawai’i residents during what is normally a sold-out summer period. But, after getting the inside scoop from Claire Morris Dobie, public
We’ll have to admit we were a bit worried when the island’s largest hotel announced special room rates for Hawai’i residents during what is normally a sold-out summer period.
But, after getting the inside scoop from Claire Morris Dobie, public relations manager at the Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort & Spa, relief came instantly.
Yes, the hotel is full or nearly full (Hyatt policies prevent her from discussing specific occupancy rates) not just throughout the peak summer season, but for the most part right through November, which coincides with the annual visit of Tiger Woods and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, she said.
But, since most guests book rooms at the hotel two to three months in advance, seeing some available rooms during certain weeks (specifically the last two weeks of this month), hotel management came upon the idea to offer special room rates and packages for Hawai’i residents, based on availability of rooms.
The response from advertising on O’ahu and Maui was instantaneous, and the Family Times packages are proving an effective marketing tool to fill those few available rooms between Monday, July 15 and Saturday, Aug. 31.
And ensure continued full-time work for 1,000 Kaua’i residents the resort employs, she beamed.
The summer season is upon us, and that means more visitors on the roads, on the beaches, in the shops. And while some local businesses were holding their breath unsure what kinds of numbers the summer season would bring, an informal check shows confidence in a strong summer.
If an 86.1 percent occupancy rate for Kaua’i hotels during the last week of June holds into this month, it will be the expected summer. That rate was best in the state, and 13.3 percent above the same period last year, according to Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors LLC (limited liability company).
“It should be a great summer,” said Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau. She tempered that statement, though, by saying she has the feeling that lots of people, out of lingering fears and rumors of terrorist events over the July 4th long weekend, might have decided to stay close to home.
That might cause a slight dip in overall July numbers, though in her talks with various hotel and visitor-industry officials, they appear “quite comfortable” with booking levels now through the first week of September, she said.
The KVB focus, therefore, has shifted to driving fall traffic to the island, she continued.
A potential downer for would-be visitors could be a lack of availability of rental vehicles. Kanoho was on the Kona side of the Big Island recently for a conference, and attendees had to carpool because of a lack of available vehicles, she said.
The KVB has been fielding some complaints from visitors who say airline seats and hotel rooms are available, but they cannot get rental cars. Kanoho is confident, though, that veteran Kaua’i rental-car managers with fleet management experience will bring in necessary numbers of vehicles to alleviate any potential shortage.
On the advanced-bookings front, people who planned to come to Kaua’i used to book their travel arrangements three to six months in advance, and now are sometimes waiting until just two weeks before traveling to make plans, she said.
While that could make it even more difficult for visitors to get rental vehicles, it also puts pressure on visitor-industry executives to try to plan for those late-planning vacationers, not knowing if they’ll materialize or not, she explained.
While an increase or even a similar arrival figure this month compared to the last two Julys would be a welcome sign, the fact is that July has been the island’s most important month in terms of visitor arrivals for every year except two over the past 11 (please see the chart).
Only 1997, when there were more visitors in April than in July, and in post-‘Iniki 1993, when more visitors came to Kaua’i in October than July, was July not the top month in terms of visitor arrivals to the island.
And, trends indicate a quicker recovery in terms of visitor arrivals post-Sept. 11, which did no physical damage to Kaua’i, compared to ‘Iniki, which trashed all parts of the island.
Kelly Hoen, general manager of the Princeville Resort, said direct flights from the Mainland to Kaua’i and other contributors are helping her property plan for a strong summer.
She’s even seeing booking levels approaching figures for the summer months of 2001 and the monster year that was 2000, she said.
Through a free-sixth-night promotion and other incentives, her property is also enjoying guests who are staying longer, she added. Confirming Kanoho’s point, Hoen said she also sees lots of leisure visitors booking travel through travel agents or wholesalers confirming their travel plans as close-in as two weeks before intended arrival dates.
Business Editor Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
