From the Director

Lead Generation Service

Do you provide wedding, honeymoon, or golf services in Hawai'i?  Through HVCB's added value lead generation service, you can respond directly to consumers requesting information on their upcoming trips to Hawaii. 

Advancements to the 2002 service have been made and our new system will provide better service to the consumer by connecting them directly to businesses on their island(s) of interest.  As consumers select islands they would like information on, inquiries are sent to subscribers in that county and in the event consumers select the "All/Undecided" category, the lead will be sent to all businesses enrolled in that service.  Other advancements include an updated online consumer form that incorporates more detailed questions and provides businesses with more information, a 24/7 tracking system, and the alias engine protecting consumer privacy. We look forward to the system going "live" on Monday, February 10, 2003.

This year HVCB's enhanced lead generation service expands beyond the wedding and honeymoon market and is looking forward to servicing golf and other niches later this year.  If you are interested in enrolling in this added value service, please contact Jaci Murakami at (808) 924-0250 or jmurakami@hvcb.org.

Gina Salvador,

HVCB Director, Membership

Inside this Month's Issue

HVCB Membership Minute

Peter Kay continues his discussion of email marketing. If you're thinking of starting an e-newsletter, let Peter give you some tips on making it a truly successful venture.

Stay on Top of the Market with HVCB's Tourism Industry Update

Have you heard the latest news on Hawaii's visitor industry? The HVCB Market Trends Department provides quick summaries of the latest news, developments and research affecting Hawaii's visitor industry in its weekly HVCB Tourism Industry Updates.

Here's what members have to say:

HVCB members have much to talk about. Learn how you can reserve a fabulous oceanfront home, earn increased commissions, adopt a beach and save the sea turtles.

HVCB welcomes Latin America Media Fam and one of Germany's Premier Travel Photographers

Millions of Germans and Latin Americans will soon learn more about Hawai'i. Take advantage of this new awareness to tap into two of the world's largest travel markets.

Developing International Markets Tradeshow Calendar

HVCB's Developing International Markets Division is in the process of finalizing a market calendar of events for 2003.  Once completed, HVCB members will be able to easily view the tradeshows, promotions, and FAMs anticipated for the year.

Aloha & Welcome to the HVCB Ohana

HVCB Membership Minute

   by Peter Kay

A reader asks, "We have a web site that's doing well and need to take it to the next level.

What do you suggest?"

This is part 2 of the email marketing process I started on my previous column and I'll discuss what it takes to get started in this issue.

First, get your list. You have to be extremely careful here as today everyone really hates receiving unsolicited emails (spam.) Do not get lists from third parties (I don't care how good they claim the list is) and do not send emails to anyone that does not know you or your organization. Start with your customer list, then gather every contact and business card you and your employees have on file. You'll end up with at least several hundred if not several thousand email addresses. Clean your list to eliminate duplicates and you're ready for the next step.

Create the first THREE (3) issues of your email publication. The reason for this is that you need to really understand what it's going to take to publish your piece on a regular basis and if you go through creating three issues you will find out that it takes A LOT of work. Bow out now if you can't commit to publishing issues on a regular basis. I can't tell you how many times I've received "Our first monthly newsletter" from companies I know, only to never receive another. It is far worse to start and not deliver regularly that to never start at all.

Once you've got your list and your three issues ready to go, send an introductory email that will explain to your future subscribers that you are going to be delivering an email publication. Let them know when it will begin, why you are doing it and most importantly, how it will benefit them. Make sure of course you let them know that a simple reply will take them off your list before they even receive the first issue.

In our next exciting episode I'll review the various ways you can send out mass emails safely and cost-effectively.

Send me your toughest e-business questions and if the topic is of general interest, I'll happily post your question and the answer.

Peter Kay

peter@cybercominc.com

Stay on Top of the Market with HVCB's Tourism Industry Update

Recent issues have featured stories on how interisland air service cutbacks may hit the Big Island hardest; a look at preliminary year-end visitor numbers for 2002; and results of an American Society of Travel Agents survey which showed that agents attending last year's ASTA World Travel Congress in Hawaii rated the get-together the best meeting in the past five years.

If you missed any of these stories, the current and past issues are all available on the Internet at Market Trends Online at www.hvcb.org/trends. To request a user name and password to access Market Trends Online and/or to sign up to receive HVCB Tourism Industry Update each week via e-mail, contact HVCB's Membership Department at membership@hvcb.org.

Here's what members have to say:

SellActivities.com - If you are a Travel Agent or a Destination Product Provider, don't miss this opportunity!

SellActivities.com offers a travel agent only website where travel agents are able to book activities, tours, attractions and events, everything a consumer might want to do once they reach Hawai'i. The benefits the Travel Agent will enjoy:

 1. Earn increased commission ranging between 10-25%.

 2. Gain customer appreciation and loyalty, helping clients plan their whole vacation, not just       airfare and hotel accommodations.

 3. Easy, one-stop-shopping for everything clients want to do in one location.

Maui Beach House offers private swimming pool and pool house across the street from miles of Sandy Beach in Kihei. Sleeps 2-12. Perfect for a couple, families and family reunions. Walk to everything. Tennis, golf, scuba, snorkeling, beach, windsurfing, surfing. Shopping and restaurants. Ocean and territorial views. Fully equipped. Your perfect vacation home.

For reservations, please call 206-232-7669 or visit our website at www.haleanna.com.

Save The Sea Turtles International - Adopt A Beach Hawaii is pleased to announce the first beach park-recycling program in the State of Hawaii.  We are currently searching for businesses or individuals who would like to promote themselves to the millions of annual visitors on Hawaii's world famous beaches.  This program will provide recycling stations and pick-up services at select beach parks, education and income to public schools, a cleaner beach environment and a positive public image for sponsors and the State of Hawaii.  Six months to one-year commitments available at certain beaches, plaques with sponsors name/logo and or phone number displayed.  Co-op opportunities possible.  Sponsorship fees vary by location.  Community, groups, private individuals, corporations, small or large business all encouraged to inquire.  Be the first at your beach.

For more information, please visit our website at www.seaturtlesinternational.com or www.adoptabeachhawaii.com.

HVCB welcomes Latin America Media Fam and one of Germany's Premier Travel Photographers

The Developing International Markets Division has received a great opportunity in January from our Latin America market.  A two-member team, Mr. Caio Vilela and Ms. Ana Busch, are visiting the Hawaiian Islands in hopes of learning and sharing with their fellow Brazilians the beauty and uniqueness that are indigenous to our Islands of Aloha. 

Mr. Vilela and Ms. Busch, a photographer and travel writer respectively, will be producing three stories for the travel section of Folha de Sao Paulo, the leading Brazilian newspaper and news website (www.folhaonline.com.br), with more than 1.5 million readers daily.  In addition, articles will be published in Revista da Folha, a weekly magazine distributed with Folha de Sao Paulo on Sundays, and Horizonte Geografico, a monthly magazine with a circulation of 75,000.  In co-sponsoring Mr. Vilela and Ms. Busch's international tickets, Varig/United Airlines will also include the written Hawai'i articles in their in-flight magazine, Icaro.  The expected combined coverage in print media will be 26 pages, plus the added exposure on Folha de Sao Paulo's website portal, with a total estimated market value of $450,000.  Media material are set to be published between April and June 2003, prior to Latin America's winter holiday - the market's peak travel season. 

Mr. Vilela and Ms. Busch have planned more than a three-week visit from January 21 - February 17, and will be Island-hopping between O'ahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kaua'i. Their editorials will focus on the honeymoon lifestyle, and outdoor activities. 

Also in January, Holger Leue, regarded as one of Germany's premier travel photographers, visited the islands to produce an 8-page cover feature for the popular travel magazine, Reisefieber.  The magazine, distributed in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, has an estimated circulation of 60,000 and is one of two projects that will focus exclusively on Hawai'i.  The other is an online travel picture gallery on German CNN partner, n-tv.de, with an additional estimated circulation of 1 million page impressions per topic.   

Should you have questions, please contact Daniel Chun (808-924-0251), dchun@hvcb.org, or Michele Lee (808-924-0240), mlee@hvcb.org.

Developing International Markets Tradeshow Calendar

The Developing International Markets Division is in the process of finalizing a market calendar of events for 2003.  Once completed, HVCB members will be able to easily view the tradeshows, promotions, and FAMs anticipated for the year.  In the meantime, the major international market trade shows are outlined here for your reference.  

If you have questions about the tradeshow calendar, please contact Daniel Chun (808-924-0251), dchun@hvcb.org, or Michele Lee (808-924-0240), mlee@hvcb.org

Aloha & Welcome to the HVCB Ohana

Members who joined in January 2003.

1-800-Book-A-Limo, A'a Tours, Blue Kauai, Creative Meetings & Incentives, East Hawaii Cultural Council, Emerald View Guesthouse, Hale Ohia, Hawaii Pack and Paddle, Hawaii Speakers Bureau, Hawaii Travel Academy, Hawaii Tropical Flowers, Hawaii's Best Bed & Breakfasts, Hospitality Unlimited, Inc., Hula Inn Bed & Breakfast, Kaua'i Backcountry Adventures, Maui Play Care, Maui Troopahz, Stay-Maui.com, and Ueshima Coffee (UCC Hawaii) Corp.

Mahalo For Your Continued Support & Participation

Members who renewed in January 2003.

Member Since 1961-1986

Ala Moana Center Association, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., American Savings Bank, Bishop Museum, C.S. Wo/B.J. Furniture, Creative Arts Hawaii, Edmund's Hotel-Apt., Exclusive, Inc., Foodland Super Market, Ltd., Harper Car & Truck Rentals Of Hawaii, Hawaii World, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., Kailua Beachfront Vacation Rental, Kapalua Bay Hotel, Kapalua Land Company, Ltd., Kawazoe Enterprises, Inc., Lanihau Partners L. P., Love's Bakery, Maui Kai, Meadow Gold Dairies Inc., Meg Childs, Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation, Pacific Focus, Inc., Parker Ranch Visitors Division, Saison des Brides For Watabe, State Department of Commerce, Suzuki Enterprises, Inc., Uncle Billy's Hilo Bay Hotel, University Travel Service, Victoria Ward Centers, and Waimea Country Lodge.

Member Since 1987-1996

Ala Moana Shopping Center, Alsco, A Division of American Linen, Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel, Beaches n' Dreams, Inc., Blue Horizons Bed & Breakfast, China International, Inc., Destination Resorts Hawaii, Inc., Gaylord's At Kilohana, Girl Scout Council Of Hawaii, Hale Ho'o Maha, Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, Hawaii At Its Best, Ltd., Hawaii Magazine, Holualoa Inn, JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa, Kaanapali Alii (Classic Resorts), Kamaole Sands, Kapalua Villas, Kilauea Lodge, More Hawaii For Less, Net Results, Pacific Stock, Poipu Shores, Polynesian Cultural Center, Princeville Resort Kauai, Reggie's Tropical Hideaway - At the Banana Patch, Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian Advertising Int'l, Sunset Magazine, Trilogy Excursions, U.S. Army Museum Of Hawaii, and Waikiki Parkside Hotel.

Member Since 1997-1999

1 AAA Hawaiian Island Vacations, 1 Adventure on Maui, A Perfect Hawaii Wedding, Best 4 Hawaii Travel, Bike Hawaii, Dolphin House Bed & Breakfast, Hawaii Hotel Association, Hawaiian Condo Resorts, Inc, Hike Maui, Hopaco, Indigo Eurasian Cuisine Restaurant, Kauai Wedding Professionals Association, Kealia Ranch, Manu Mele Bed & Breakfast, Marc Resorts Hawaii, Pacific Destination Services, Pacific Travelogue, Inc, The Plantation Inn, Reef Trekkers Hawaii - Scuba Diving Tours, Sheraton Molokai Lodge & Beach Village, Team Unlimited, Travel Related Marketing Inc., Travel Weekly, Volume Services America, Waikele Golf Club, Waikele Premium Outlets, and Washin Air, Inc.

Member Since 2000-2002

 A Fairy Tale Wedding, A Maui Me Wedding, Absolute Paradise Gay B&B, Aloha Canoes and Kayaks, Aqua Marina Hotel, Birds In Paradise, Inc., Chapel by the Sea at Kauai Lagoons, Emerald View Guesthouse, GES Exposition Services, Goofy Foot Surf School, Hale Na Ke Maile Kai, Hana Pa`a Charters, Hawaiian Getaway, Islands Media, Kalani Oceanside Retreat, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, Ko Olina Golf Club, Kona Honu Divers, Inc., Pacific Beach Hotel, Pacific Business News, Paradise Helicopters, Quiet Storm Distribution, Sea Sport Divers, SpeediShuttle LLC, Temptation Tours, Inc., TourTalk - Hawaii Nei, Tropic Travels, and Waimea Preservation Association/Waimea Main Street.

For more information on membership or to submit articles for Kahe Wale, contact Scarlett Godinez at sgodinez@hvcb.org

We welcome your suggestions or comments on how to improve this communications vehicle, and encourage you to forward your thoughts to us at membership@hvcb.org.

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