The O‘ahu Visitors Bureau concludes a busy and productive 2003 and looks forward to implementing a new set of marketing strategies and programs in 2004.

The North America sales team was busy throughout the month of November training top travel agents from across the U.S. through wholesaler fams and the O‘ahu Destination Specialist Level 2 on-island training portion of the program. Agents from Apple Vacations (South), November 9-14 and agents from All About Hawaii (Pacific Northwest), November 19-24, 2003 were introduced to the best of the kama’aina lifestyle through a whirlwind of activities including snorkeling, hiking, biking and learning to surf. The agents were also fortunate to attend both Sunset on the Beach and Brunch on the Beach before their extensive on-island training came to a close.

The North America sales team will conclude 2003 with more Level 2 on-island training of agents from Funjet Vacations (Chicago and St. Louis regions).

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OVB’s Japan Team Continues Radio Promotions in Kanto and Nagoya

Inter FM Radio Radio Promotion will continue to broadcast 10 minute segments focusing on O‘ahu as part of the hour long "Aloha Islands" program every Saturday, reaching 350,000 listeners in the Kanto area throughout December. Radio-I Winter Resort Campaign kicked off November 24 and will run through until December 14 in Nagoya. The campaign featuring a sweepstakes giveaway includes numerous radio announcements throughout the campaign, reaching 160,000 listeners daily and a web link on the Radio-I web page that receives 800,000 hits monthly. The OVB Japan team held their OVB "Hui" meeting on November 11 during which, OVB recapped the third and fourth quarters and discussed 2004 marketing plan. And in related news, the Hawaii Tourism Japan Office will open in Shiodome, Tokyo on December 8th, 2003, as the HVCB Japan Office in Tokyo will close down on December 26, 2003.

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OVB looks to Roberta Rinker-Ludloff to lead the team through 2004

The OVB ended November on a high note with the completion of our Annual Luncheon held at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Guests were treated to a surprise presentation featuring O‘ahu's rich past, over 75 years ago. The year in review presentation brought everyone back to the present with highlights of the best moments of 2003 and speeches, given by members of the OVB team including Les Enderton, OVB's Executive Director, focused on the global marketing efforts that OVB will target in 2004. An inscribed Koa paddle was presented to Joni Paahao, Senior Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Reservations for Aston Hotels & Resorts as she passed on the duties of Chair of OVB's Executive Committee to Roberta Rinker-Ludloff, Regional Vice President of Marketing for Hilton Resorts Hawaii who will serve as 2004 Chair of the OVB Executive Committee.

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OVB works with German economic writer of the Suedwest Press Covering the Honolulu Marathon

The OVB Marketing team is assisting economic writer Siegried Bauer of Suedwest Press, with a story covering the Honolulu Marathon and featuring residents of German ethnicity who contribute to the travel industry and hold other professional position on O‘ahu. Bauer is from the Ulm based publishing house that produces different regional newspapers in 10-subeditions covering the entire region of Schwaben, Southwest Germany with a circulation totaling 360,000. In addition, OVB also assisted travel writer Amy Cooper on assignment for the Sunday-Herald, Sunday Age and Sunday Life Magazine in Australia. The large travel feature will focus on basic island information as well as well known aspects of Hawaii's history, culture and interesting persons that call Hawaii home. Circulation of the travel feature will reach over 2 million throughout Australia.

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