• Aloha to Margy Parker Aloha to Margy Parker Marketing the scenic wonders, beautiful white sand beaches and luxurious resort destinations of Kaua‘i is an endless job that goes on around the globe, year-in, year-out. The Poipu Resort Association is
• Aloha to Margy Parker
Aloha to Margy Parker
Marketing the scenic wonders, beautiful white sand beaches and luxurious resort destinations of Kaua‘i is an endless job that goes on around the globe, year-in, year-out.
The Poipu Resort Association is a leader in this effort, along with the Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau, the County of Kaua‘i and other organizations, plus the marketing and sales offices of our hotels and resorts.
The people who represent the visitor industry of Kaua‘i to the outside world help in a great way to underwrite the majority of our Island’s economy. Without the visitors coming to our shores each day of the year, our economy would be in the same place as it was in the months following the onslaught of Hurricane ‘Iniki in 1992.
One of the long-time leaders of Kaua‘i’s tourism marketing efforts is on her way to Oregon to go to graduate school.
Margy Parker played a key role in launching the Poipu Beach Resort Association back in 1982, with the support of Sheraton Kauai and three other hotels. Today, the “PBRA” is the major player in marketing Po‘ipu Beach as a South Shore resort destination. And Margy Parker deserves the credit for keeping the PBRA the success that it is for over 20 years.
Parker’s departure is also a sign of the emergence of a new generation of visitor industry marketers on Kaua‘i. Taking Parker’s place is Jody Kono Kjeldsen. Kjeldsen was raised on Kaua‘i, and brings major league visitor industry experience that includes a key position at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu.
Another Kaua‘i visitor industry leader — Walter “Freckles” Smith — is being followed by his son Kamika Smith in both leadership at the family’s visitor industry businesses, plus in representing Kaua‘i. “Freckles” and his compatriot Chris Chang are known throughout the global tourism industry as leading representatives of Kaua‘i.
Parker may return to Kaua‘i in a new role as she’s hinted at making the Island the topic of a graduate paper in communications.
Best wishes to Margy and her husband as she starts a new life that is likely to span the Pacific Northwest and Kaua‘i. Kudos on a job well done.
