• Total visitor spending declined in 2008 • ResortQuest Hawai‘i re-brands • Rotary Club of Kapa‘a green business awards Total visitor spending declined in 2008 Expenditures for 2008 by visitors who arrived by air totaled $11.3 billion, down 9.9 percent
• Total visitor spending declined in 2008
• ResortQuest Hawai‘i re-brands
• Rotary Club of Kapa‘a green business awards
Total visitor spending declined in 2008
Expenditures for 2008 by visitors who arrived by air totaled $11.3 billion, down 9.9 percent or $1.2 billion, according to preliminary statistics released this week in a press release from the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.
According to a report, for the month of December, total air visitor expenditures dropped 22.4 percent or $280 million, from the same month last year, to $967.7 million. The decline was caused by a 17.1 percent decrease in arrivals by air to 550,529 visitors and lower average daily visitor spending ($170 per person, down from $185 per person in December 2007).
Total visitor days for air and cruise visitors in December 2008 fell 14.9 percent from the same month last year. Total arrivals for air and cruise visitors declined 16.5 percent from December 2007. However the average length of stay by these visitors was slightly longer at 10.35 days, compared to 10.16 days last December. Among the top four visitor markets, air arrivals from the U.S. West dropped 21.9 percent while U.S. East arrivals were down 15.3 percent compared to December 2007. Japanese arrivals fell 15.5 percent while arrivals by air from Canada declined 11.6 percent from last December.
For all of 2008, total visitor days for air and cruise visitors declined 9.1 percent. Total arrivals by air and cruise decreased 10.8 percent from the same period last year to 6,806,622 visitors. This will be the first year since 2004 that annual arrivals were less than seven million visitors.
2008 arrivals by air totaled 6,699,424 visitors, 10.6 percent lower compared to last year. The average daily spending was $180, compared to $182 per person for 2007.
ResortQuest Hawai‘i re-brands
ResortQuest Hawai‘i announced this week that it is returning to its former name of Aston Hotels & Resorts. The change comes as the Hawai‘i-based management company celebrates its 61st year in the hospitality industry of Hawai‘i, as one of the state’s largest hotel and condominium resort management companies.
The name change is the centerpiece of a complete re-branding campaign that will encompass a new image, including a logo that embodies the respected Aston reputation with a contemporary update.
A key component of the expanded marketing campaign will be an increased sales presence in Asia, with the recent opening of general sales offices in China and Korea, complementing an already well-established presence in Japan.
Rotary Club of Kapa‘a green business awards
The Rotary Club of Kapa‘a announces the call for entries for its third annual 2009 Kauai Green Business Initiative Awards to honor local businesses which have adopted and exemplified best “green” practices over the past 12 months. Awards will be bestowed to local businesses with a track record in the areas of energy efficiency, recycling/reusing and conserving resources, according to Rodney Pascua, chairman of the club’s Vocational Committee. Awards categories include: Hotel/Resort, Retailer, Visitor Activity, Health/Wellness, BuilderArchitect/Developer, Home Business, Grower, Technology, Energy, Nonprofit, Restaurant, Publishing, and Manufacturer.
Last year, the Rotary Club of Kapa‘a awarded plaques to eight companies at its awards luncheon ceremony, where recipients were honored for their notable “green” business efforts.
Guidelines and entry forms for the 2009 Kaua‘i Green Business Initiative Awards program can be accessed online at www.kapaa.rotary.org
The deadline for entries is March 27, 2009. An awards luncheon honoring the winning businesses will be held in May.
For more information contact Rodney Pascua at 482-0980 or rodney@dakauai.com or Melissa Mojo at 822-0545 or melissa@aol.com
