From the Director

Aloha HVCB 'Ohana!

As the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) transitions to using new marketing contractors, HVCB will be in constant communication with our members - our major stakeholders - so you will learn about 2004 marketing plans, programs and opportunities in both domestic and international markets as well as in the meetings markets.  

The first opportunity to hear about 2004 marketing plans is during an HTA-sponsored series of open meetings on four islands (Kaua'i, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island) during the week of November 17.  During these meetings, the following HTA marketing partners will be presenting marketing plans:

• North America (U.S. and Canada): HVCB

• Japan: Dentsu Inc.

• Europe: The Mangum Group

• Asia: Marketing Garden

• Australia/New Zealand: The Washe Group

• Corporate Meetings and Incentives: HVCB

• Hawai'i Convention Center: SMG

Please join us on your respective island. The meeting dates are listed below. When times and locations are announced by HTA, we will e-mail a notice to HVCB members.

• OAHU - Monday, November 17

• KAUA'I - Tuesday, November 18

• BIG ISLAND (WEST) - Thursday, November 20

• MAUI - Friday, November 21

'A 'Ohe Hana Nui Ke Alu 'Ia

"No Task Is Too Large When We Work Together"

E Malama Pono,

Gina Salvador

HVCB, Director Membership

Inside this Month's Issue

		A Message From The President

Market Trends: Travel Industry Executives Project Slow But Steady Growth for Travel Industry in 2004

Mayor Dai Xianglong of Tianjin visits the Islands

HVCB Promotes Hawai'i Goodwill in Beijing, China

Island Chapters Update:

Check out the latest news from the Big Island Visitor's Bureau & Maui Visitor's Bureau!

HVCB's CMI Team "Insuring" a Great Time for Planners

E-Membership Minute: Who is linking to your site?

Optimizing your search engine position is all about having lots of links to your site. Peter Kay shows you how.

Here's What Members Have to Say

HVCB 'OHANA SPECIALS!

See what your fellow HVCB member is offering you for the holidays!

Aloha & Welcome to the HVCB Ohana

Mahalo For Your Continued Support & Participation

A Message From The President

Aloha!

HVCB's success and contributions over the past 100 years to Hawai'i's economy are due in large part to the commitment the organization has received from its members.

In the days ahead, I look forward to meeting you, and to working closely with you, the Island Chapters, and the HTA to continue to help our state's most important industry. 

I want to thank the Board of Directors for entrusting me to serve as HVCB's president and CEO, and for the welcome I have received from all of the employees.

Together with your support, Hawai'i will continue to remain the world's leading visitor destination!

Mahalo,

John Monahan

HVCB President/CEO

Market Trends: Travel Industry Executives Project Slow But Steady Growth for Travel Industry in 2004

Industry leaders discussed future tourism trends and best business prospects in the "Executive Roundtable" General Session at the Travel Industry Association's Marketing Outlook Forum in Austin, Texas last week.  The panel agreed that the country should experience slow, but steady tourism growth in 2004, and that industry professionals will need to be creative and have a willingness to adapt to a changing travel market environment.  Other highlights of the roundtable:

• Robert E. Dirks, Senior Vice President, Brand Management and Marketing at Hilton Hotels, is seeing bookings of seven days or fewer.  Friday hotel nights sell out, but not until Friday noon.

•  Vickie Escarra, Executive Vice President and CEO of Delta Air Lines, stated that more travelers are trading convenience for lower prices, and are booking later in order to get cheaper fares.

• Patrick Moscaritolo, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, reported that Boston has increased its non-traditional partnerships (i.e. Kellogg's and Rockport) to leverage limited budgets.  "There are no crazy ideas anymore."

• Robin Tauck, President of Tauck World Discovery, said that family travel, including multi-generational trips, did well this year, as did special interest travel (cultural, heritage, event, etc.).  A growing and lucrative demographic segment is "Well-off, Older People" (dubbed "WOOPies").  This segment is living longer and seeking out more active vacations.

The full outline of the Executive Roundtable can be viewed online at: http://www.hvcb.org/tia/tia_roundtable.html

This was featured in the Tourism Industry Update (Issue 03:42). To receive the HVCB Tourism Industry Update each week via e-mail, contact HVCB's Membership Department at membership@hvcb.org or visit the Media Communications section located at the bottom of http://www.gohawaii.com.

Mayor Dai Xianglong of Tianjin visits the Islands

In cooperation with the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism (DBEDT), the HVCB assisted Mayor Dai Xianglong and representatives of Tianjin, People's Republic of China, with their Hawai'i itinerary and travel arrangements.  Tianjin, one of Hawai'i's 68 sister cities, engaged in this business visit to meet with Governor Linda Lingle, Director of DBEDT Ted Liu, and other state government and business leaders to discuss expanding their cooperation and partnership with Hawai'i.  The trip concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build upon the relationship between Hawai'i and Tianjin.

For more information, please contact Daniel Chun, Event Coordinator at (808) 924-0251 or dchun@hvcb.org.

HVCB Promotes Hawai'i Goodwill in Beijing, China

In its fifth year, the Beijing International Cultural Tourism Festival is an opportunity for all participating countries to display their unique arts, culture, music and native dress to attract travel interest for couples, weddings and honeymooners.  Held October 18-21, this year's festival theme was "Romance" and involved more than 50 countries, attracting over 200,000 attendees throughout the four-day event.

Six Hawai'i-based performers sponsored by the HVCB entertained the attendees at the opening parade on October 19 with authentic Hawaiian music and hula.  Traditionally the most popular event of the festival, the parade drew huge crowds along the parade route and resulted in extensive local media coverage for Hawai'i. 

The HVCB has showcased Hawai'i each year of the festival and established the "Islands of Aloha" as one of the more popular attractions, due primarily to the energetic presentation of traditional Hawaiian entertainment and colorful displays.

For more information, please contact Daniel Chun, Event Coordinator at (808) 924-0251 or dchun@hvcb.org.

BIVB Joins Hawai'i's Big Island Festival with Annual Golf Tournament

For the first time, The Big Island Visitors Bureau is blending their annual travel industry golf tournament with the Hawai'i's Big Island Festival and T&L Golf.  The tournament is an official Hawai'i's Big Island Festival event and includes exciting prizes and an opportunity to golf with the culinary stars gathered for the Festival. The T&L Golf Travel Industry Shootout is set for Saturday, Nov. 8 at Mauna Lani's South Course at 12:30 pm with a shotgun start. The cost is $145 per player. Entry fee includes green fees, lunch, great prizes and an added bonus. Also included in the entry fee is the Hawaii's Big Island Festival's signature event - Taste of Mauna Lani Under the Hula Moon slated for later that evening.

For more information or to sign up log onto: www.bigislandfestival.com or call BIVB at (808) 961-5797.

Air Service Increases to Hawai'i's Big Island

Great news from Air Canada for the upcoming winter season to Hawai'i's Big Island. Air Canada plans to start Sunday service from Vancouver to Kona starting Dec. 14 with a 226 seat Boeing 767 aircraft. BIVB will provide our traditional inaugural greeting complete with lei, halau and welcome gifts.

Anyone wishing to participate in the inaugural greeting please contact Vivian Landrum at vlandrum@hvcb.org.

Perk Up This Fall with the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival

You don't have to be a coffee connoisseur to get a buzz at the 33rd annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival held November 6 -16, 2003. Filled with cultural foods, colorful dances, music, arts and crafts, world famous Kona coffee and its remarkable 175-year coffee heritage, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival has something to satisfy every taste. This year's festival theme is Hawai'i's Kona Coffee 100% American Grown. The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is an eleven-day extravaganza filled with more than thirty festival events that whisk visitors from the sandy shores of Kailua Bay to the verdant coffee fields along the slopes of Mount Hualalai.  The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival is the oldest and most successful product festival in Hawaii, and is the only coffee festival in the United States.

For more information on the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival please call BIVB at (808) 961-5797.

MAUI Named "Best Island" and "Top Destination" for the 10th year in a Row

For the tenth consecutive year, Maui was voted the "Best Island in the World" in the 16th annual Conde Nast Traveler  Readers' Choice Awards Poll. With a score of 90.0, Maui captured "Top Asia Pacific Island" scoring higher than Bermuda  (Top Caribbean/Atlantic Island, 83.0) and Capri (Top Europe Island, 78.6).

Maui's score also topped any other destination in the world including San Francisco (Top U.S. City, 85.6), Sydney (Top Asia/Pacific City, 87.3), Florence (Top European City, 84.6) and several others to be named the world's "Best Island" and "Top Travel Destination."

Terryl Vencl, Executive Director of the Maui Visitor's Bureau, accepted the award on behalf of the Island of Maui. "We are truly overwhelmed. To win 'best island' during any given year is an honor. To capture the title an entire decade is remarkable and unprecedented. This is one of Maui's proudest moments," Vencl said.

Also making the "Top Asia/Pacific Islands" list is #3 Kaua'i (87.7), #4 Big Island of Hawai'i (85.4), and for the first time, #6 Lana'i (81.2). O'ahu is ranked #8 (80.3).

For more information, contact the Maui Visitor's Bureau at (808) 244-3530.

Maui Calender of Events

• Santa Arrives at Queen Ka'ahumanu Center
  November 28 - Ka'ahumanu Center, Kahului
  (808) 877-3369 ext. 25
     

• Gala Tree-Lighting Ceremony
  December 2003 - The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua
  Holiday celebration include special dinners, brunches, life-size gingerbread house, and children's hula performances.
  (808) 669-6200.
   

• Festival of Trees
  December 2003 - Lahaina Cannery Mall
  Decorated trees on display for all to enjoy
  (808) 661-5304
   

• Na Mele O Maui
  December 2003 - Ka'anapali Resort
  Annual festival to perpetuate Hawaiian culture, includes children's song contest and arts & crafts fair. 
  (808) 245-9229 or (808) 661-3271

To view the Maui Visitor Bureau's full calendar of events please visit http://www.visitmaui.com

2004 ICPA Convention Being Held at Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa 

HVCB in conjunction with the Maui Visitors Bureau (MVB) and a delegation of Hawai'i travel companies and suppliers will be in Orlando, Florida the week of November 2-6, to promote the state's meeting and incentive benefits for a 2004 conference expected to generate future business. The objective is to create excitement in the destination for the 2004 convention and enhance the messaging of Hawai'i as an ideal meeting location.

The Insurance Conference Planners Association (ICPA) is holding its 2004 annual meeting at Maui's Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa, November 11-14, 2004. ICPA is comprised of meeting, convention and conference planning professionals for insurance and financial services companies, a lucrative sector of the meetings industry.

More than 600 ICPA executives are expected to attend the November 2004 conference on Maui, of which approximately 400 will be meeting planners responsible for booking thousands of meetings and incentives annually.

ICPA is considered a "showcase opportunity" for Hawai'i because of its potential for producing future meetings and incentives statewide. Other "showcase" conventions previously booked by HVCB to generate meetings business include the International Association of Exhibition Management, Meeting Professionals International, American Society of Association Executives, and Professional Convention Management Association.

For information about holding meetings in Hawai'i, the "Islands of Aloha", visit the HVCB's Web site at http://www.meethawaii.com or call the CMI division at (888) 424-2924.

Who is linking to your site?

Optimizing your search engine position is all about having lots of links to your site. 

Last month's POES issue of how to optimize your search engine performance was a big hit and I thank everyone for the great feedback. 

As we covered in that issue, one of the best ways to get the highest ranking on Google is to maximize the number of links to your site.  And that point raised the all-important question, "How can we find out how many sites are linking to us?"

Good question. Here's all you need to do: If you want to find out how many sites link to www.yourcompany.com, just go to Google and enter the following in the search box:  "link:www.yourcompany.com".   Google will then list out all the sites that link to that URL.  Just replace "www.yourcompany.com" with your company's Web site address and you'll know who links to you. 

By organizing a concerted effort on increasing the number of links to your site, you will have a dramatic effect on how Google will rank your site. Using the "links:www.yourcompany.com" feature of Google is a great way to quickly measure those all-precious links.

Did you miss out on last month's popular issue? Just go to http://search.gohawaii.com/kw/poes/  and learn how to crank up your search engine performance!

Let us know what you think!

Peter Kay on behalf of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau

poes@cybercominc.com

Here's What Members Have to Say

Maui PlayCare, LLC is a drop in childcare service. Fully air-conditioned completely secured, all new facility. Our staff is CPR/first aid certified, and experienced in childcare. Maui PlayCare offers a large 900 sq. ft. play area complete with slide, ball pool, air hockey, soft climbers and tunnels. In addition, there is a separate arts & crafts area. Kids can make sand art, color, enjoy mask making, lei making, and complete their project with our computer painting software. We play non-stop cartoons and many wonderful childrens movies in our large enclosed cartoon room. Upon check in you are assigned a beeper which will coincide with the number we put on your childs id tag. In any event we need to reach you, we will beep you!

For more information please call (808) 891-CARE (2273) or visit us online at: www.mauiplaycare.com

DreamCatcher is a vacation travel specialist committed to service and value. We emphasize quality, by giving you the most accurate and recent information on the island destination or vacation destination of choice. DreamCatcher travel professionals take pride in sharing the "Spirit of Aloha", the people and culture. We give you our opinions and recommendations for the betterment of your vacation, and you will always come before the "sale". Service, information, quality, concepts we are trying to re-introduce to the consumer!

For more information please call (916) 927-0445, via e-mail at call4ha@aol.com or visit us online at: www.dreamcatchervacations.com

HVCB 'OHANA SPECIALS!

Mahalo to all member businesses who shared the holiday spirit with the HVCB 'ohana!

Click here to view HVCB's 'OHANA SPECIALS!

The coupons are in Adobe PDF format for easy downloading and printing. If you do not have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your system, it is available at no charge from Adobe Systems.

Aloha & Welcome to the HVCB Ohana

Members who have joined in October 2003:

Blue Ocean Weddings, Graham Hawaii, Highlight's Beauty Salon & Supplies, Island Candle Company, SGV Hawaii, Sunsets Maui, Wailua Hideaway, Waterfalls Inn Bed & Breakfast                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Mahalo For Your Continued Support & Participation

Members who have renewed in October 2003:

Member Since 1961-2002

AAA Discount Wheelchairs & Scooters, A'ala Hale, Affordable Accommodations, Aloha Huelo Point Lookout, Aloha Weddings in Paradise, Aluli Public Relations, Anheuser-Busch Sales of Hawai'i Inc., Aqua Cafe, Aston Maui Lu Resort, Beach Home Hawai'i, Bougainvillea Bed & Breakfast, Charley's Taxi & Tours, CondoRentalsHawai'i.com, Cook's Discoveries 'Waimea Suite' Bed & Breakfast, Dreams Come True on Maui, Gloria's Spouting Horn Bed & Breakfast, Hankyu Express USA Inc., Hawai'i Beachfront Vacation Homes, Hawai'i-Aloha Unterkuenfte (Accommodations), Hawai'i's Plantation Village, Jack Harter Helicopters, Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, Kauai Fruit & Flower Co., Kauai Gift Baskets, Kauai Producers, Ltd. , Ke Nani Kai Club, Kihei Maui Vacations, King's Guard, Koolau Golf Club, Makaha Surfside, Makaha Valley Country Club (East Course), Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, Maui Dream Vacations, Maui Monkey, McNeil Wilson Communications Inc., Milici Valenti Ng Pack, Niu Pia Farms, Noble Kommunikation, Ohana Hawaiian Vacations , Ohana Hawaiian Vacations , Old Wailuku Inn At Ulupono, Opaekaa Falls Hale, Original Glider Rides, Oshima Store, Drug, Drygoods, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Pillows In Paradise, Plantation Carriages, Plumeria Moon, Polynesian Hospitality, Romantic Hideaway, Royal Hawaiian Destinations & Tours , Royal Lahaina Resort, Seaview Suite, Secret Beach Ohana Hale, Smith's Motor Boat Service, Sportfish Hawai'i, Sun Islands Hawai'i Inc., SunBusters Hawaiian Vacations, Textron Systems Kauai, The Big Day.com, The Honolulu Advertiser, The Living Ministry, Touchworks, Travel Impressions, University of Hawai'i Outreach College, Up-To-Date Cleaners Kauai Inc., Visual Impressions, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, Wild Side Specialty Tours

Are we missing anyone? If you know someone who might want to be added to our mailing list, please email the information to membership@hvcb.org.

We welcome your suggestions or comments on how to improve this communications vehicle, and if you would like to submit articles for Kahe Wale, please contact Jerry Ishibashi at jishibashi@hvcb.org.