PUBLIC RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS

Consumer eNewsletter:

  • The O‘ahu Visitors Bureau (OVB) released their third consumer eNewsletter on May 12th to their distributed subscriber database focused on Oʻahuʻs current regenerative tourism direction (Mālama Hawai‘i) news, sustainable visitor experiences and behavioral tips (i.e., multi-modal types of ground transportation).

Visiting Media: The O‘ahu Visitors Bureau continues to vet and support media visits that will translate to stories that impact visitors, residents, and the industry positively. OVB hosted and supported media in May. 

  • OVB initiated and supported COE Magazine publisher Cindy Cruz with her visit to Oʻahu from May 23-26. She is working to produce a story for COE focused on the best of Oʻahu and expressed interest in exploring things unique to our island such as gardens, museums, cultural activities, snorkeling, scuba, and dining.
  • OVB provided media assistance to Hotels Above Par, Adventure Sports Journal and Fodor’s. 

 

TRAVEL TRADE & SALES

The O‘ahu Visitors Bureau works closely with HVCB, the other Island Visitors Bureaus (IVBs) and industry partners to align and prepare for sales activations.  In May, OVB worked with HVCB and IVBs in planning for upcoming travel trade events and activities. 

 

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES & SUPPORT

Global Marketing Team (GMT) Support. The Oʻahu Visitors Bureau (along with the other Island Visitors Bureaus) utilizes their on-island knowledge, and their destination marketing & management expertise to guide, assist and support the HTA and HTA’s GMTs with guidance and expertise on each island. This month, the Oʻahu Visitors Bureau (OVB) provided the following support.

 

IPW 2024 in Los Angeles from May 5-7, 2024. The Oʻahu Visitors Bureau, along with the other Island Visitors Bureaus (IVB), select GMTs (HTO, HTCanada, HTChina and HTEurope) and HTA attended IPW 2024 in Los Angeles.   OVB participated in the three days of appointments with travel trade partners.  In total, our HTA booth had 214 travel trade appointments and 75 media appointments over the three days, with OVB directly meeting with 35 international trade partners.  OVB’s other responsibility at IPW was to set up, manage and coordinate the HTA booth and the travel trade appointments, the Hawai‘i Lane arrangements, client luncheon events, and the two Pau Hana events co-sponsored by the HTA, IVBs, Polynesian Adventure Tours, Kualoa Ranch, and Outrigger Hospitality Group.   

 

Public Relations/Media

  • OVB helped HTE with itinerary review for a travel writer from Germany, Detlef Berg, who was visiting O‘ahu after IPW 2024.
  • OVB is working with HTCanada on their scheduled HTCanada Media FAM scheduled for September.

 

Travel Trade

  • HTO’s Month of Lei, May 13-24, 2024.  OVB attended HTO’s Month of Lei with travel trade training and events, and media opportunities. Month of Lei events took place in Auckland, Tauranga, Adelaide, Newcastle, and the Gold Coast. 
  • HTChina’s Sales Mission, May 26-Jun 1, 2024.  OVB attending HTChina’s sales mission training and engaging travel trade and media in Beijing. The trip also includes presence and travel trade opportunities at ITB China in Shanghai. 

 

UPCOMING TRAVEL TRADE & SALES (JUN-OCT). Upcoming events that OVB is planning on attending over the next few months.

 

U.S. Travel Trade Events

  • Travel Leaders EDGE Conference  l   Washington D.C.   l   Jun 8-11, 2024
  • HVCB Travel Trade Blitz   l   Denver & Salt Lake City   l   Jun 19-21, 2024
  • NorCal Hawai‘i ‘Ohana   l   Foster City   l   Jun 24, 2024
  • Pacific Northwest Hawai‘i ‘Ohana   l   Seattle, Tacoma & Portland   l   Jun 25-27, 2024
  • GTM   l   Fort Lauderdale   l   Jul 18-20, 2024
  • HVCB Travel Trade Blitz   l   (TBC) Atlanta, Orlando & Washington D.C.   l   Aug 20-22, 2024
  • HVCB Travel Trade Blitz   l   (TBD) SoCal Cities   l    Oct 15-18, 2024
  • ALGV Ascend Conference   l   Cancun, MX   l   Oct 22-25, 2024

International Travel Trade & PR Events

  • HTEurope Travel Hawai‘i Mission   l   Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Zurich, Manchester & London   l   Sep 2-11, 2024
  • HTJapan Japan Mission   l   Tokyo   l   Sep 25-29
  • HTCanada O‘ahu & Maui Media FAM   l   O‘ahu   l   (TBC) Sep 20-23, 2024
  • HTCanada Aloha Canada Mission   l   Toronto, Calgary & Vancouver   l   Oct 22-24, 2024

Other

  • HTA Fall Hawai‘i Tourism Conference week   l   O‘ahu   l   Sep 30-Oct 3, 2024

 

OTHER AREAS

Emergency Management.  OVB worked with the City & County of Honolulu Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and OVB’s select industry security partners to communicate updates on the severe weather (rainfall) conditions the island experienced – in preparation of and monitoring during the incident – May 9 thru May 12, 2024.

 

O‘ahu’s Upcoming Events:

  • 41st Annual Pan-Pacific Festival, June 7-9
  • 2024 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall, June 8
  • MAMo Wearable Art Show, June 10
  • Hoʻolaule‘a o Waimea Hawaiian Music Summer Concert Series, June 29