Kaua‘i greeted the equivalent of the island’s population in visitors here for conventions, meetings and incentives last year. And the general manager of one hotel which enjoys much CMI business expects 2004 to be even better. There were 54,341 arrivals
Kaua‘i greeted the equivalent of the island’s population in visitors here for conventions, meetings and incentives last year.
And the general manager of one hotel which enjoys much CMI business expects 2004 to be even better.
There were 54,341 arrivals for meetings, conventions and incentives in 2003.
From January to November 2003, incentive travel to the island was up 44.8 percent compared to the same period last year, according to Hawai‘i Visitors & Convention Bureau figures.
Convention arrivals were up 14.2 percent from the same time in 2002, and meetings arrivals were up 9 percent, according to an HVCB spokesman.
“Kaua‘i is a destination that people want to come to,” said Simon Jongert, Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club general manager.
“In light of what is happening globally, people are thinking twice about traveling overseas, and would rather come to a great place like Kaua‘i,” Jongert said.
The Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Beach Club reported a 15 percent increase in convention, meeting and incentive business from 2002 to 2003.
Jongert added that the Marriott expects an additional increase of 18 percent in convention, meeting and incentive business this year.
“It’s all about Kaua‘i’s infrastructure,” said Michael Murray, director of sales for HVCB’s Corporate Meetings and Incentives Division.
“The island offers world-class resorts that appeal to the incentive traveler.”
Free-spending visitors who get incentive, convention and meeting trips to the state normally don’t have to worry about paying for their airfare, car rentals, accommodations or food, as their companies pay their tabs.
That leaves them with more money to spend on activities, shopping and other leisure activities.
The 2003 results are in, and Murray said HVCB operatives had a very productive year when it came to generating meetings and incentives business for the state.
Meetings and incentives confirmed statewide in 2003 resulting from HVCB booking leads produced estimated totals of $248.7 million in visitor spending and $20.7 million in tax revenues, Murray noted.
“We’re extremely pleased with these results, and very proud of the hard work that our national sales team, island chapters, and industry partners contributed to help achieve them,” said Murray.
According to figures released by the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, Hawai‘i received 485,826 visitors for meetings, conventions and incentives, representing an overall 11.9 percent increase compared to 2002.
Domestic visitors dominated the mix of meetings-oriented traffic in the state for 2003, with 368,623 visitors, or roughly 80 percent of the total figure.
Overall arrivals for meetings, conventions and incentives rose statewide by 13.9 percent, with increases in conventions (14.8 percent), corporate meetings (7 percent), and incentives (30.6 percent).
“The visitor spending created by Hawai‘i’s meetings industry has a powerful impact that ripples throughout the state, helping to support numerous ancillary businesses on all islands that service groups with transportation, food, retail goods, and activities throughout their stay,” said Murray.
Murray noted that 2003 was a successful year for Hawai‘i’s meetings industry despite heavy competition from rival destinations and shrinking corporate travel budgets due to a sluggish global economy.
He added that the momentum of 2003 is projected to carry over and pay bigger dividends in 2004 and 2005.
“Booking windows for meetings have gotten shorter, but Hawai‘i is proving its value as a meetings destination that satisfies client objectives and is a great return on investment,” he said.
HVCB’s primary objectives, through its CMI division, are to market Hawai‘i as a meetings and incentives destination, and to generate qualified leads for single-property (resort or hotel) meetings.
Depending on the size of the group, the type of event being planned, and any other special considerations, hotel properties in Hawai‘i utilize these leads to submit bid proposals to host the meeting, he said.
Business Editor Barry Graham may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or mailto:bgraham@pulitzer.net.
