WHAT’S NEW ON O‘AHU AND WITHIN THE INDUSTRY 

REMINDER: OVB Email Address Change 

Reminder that our email addresses have changed.  Moving forward please update your contact database and use the following: 

•   Noelani Schilling-Wheeler, Executive Director: nschilling-wheeler@hvcb.org 

•   Karishma Chowfin, Director of Sales: kchowfin@hvcb.org 

•   Catherine Orlans, Marketing Manager: corlans@hvcb.org 

•   Leilani Robertson, Administrative Assistant: lrobertson@hvcb.org 

 

Quick Glance: Upcoming Events – OVB Participation 

  • Romance Travel Forum | June 4-7 

  • IPW 2025, Chicago | June 15-18 

  • MailPound Coop Partner Webinar | June 17 

  • NorCal Hawai‘i ‘Ohana Trade Events:  Sacramento, CA | June 24 

  • Pacific Northwest Hawai‘i ‘Ohana Coconuts & Bolts: Redwood, WA; Lake Oswego, OR | June 25-56 

 

TRAVEL TRADE & SALES 

AAA Northeast Webinar: May 21 
OVB conducted webinar sharing What’s New on O‘ahu destination updates, components of mālama O‘ahu / Hawai‘i & Hawaiian culture. 

 

Month of Lei: May 5-9 

The Oʻahu Visitors Bureau alongside the other island chapters assist the Global Marketing Teams with guidance and expertise on each island.  OVB provided support for the following programs:    

  • Partnered with Hawai‘i Tourism Oceania (HTO) on Month of Lei in Auckland, Christchurch in New Zealand, and Sydney (Manly & Paramatta), Canberra in Australia. Events consisted of destination training seminars, and media lunch presentation.  

 

HTE Product Manager FAM (O‘ahu & Hawai‘i Island): June 19-22 

HTE is bringing 10 top product managers from UK, German, and Swiss wholesalers on a travel trade FAM.  The FAM will start after IPW and start on O‘ahu.  OVB is collaborating on developing an itinerary and coordinating strategic experiences for these clients.   

 

IPW 2025, Chicago 

International markets play a vital role in O‘ahu's tourism industry. While some are still recovering from pre-COVID levels, many HTA targeted markets are eager to return and show positive signs. If international visitors are important to your current or future business plan, consider attending U.S. Travel’s IPW—the largest international travel trade and media show in the U.S.—held in Chicago from June 15-18, 2025. If you have questions on the event, contact Noelani at nschlling-wheeler@hvcb.org. 

 

MARKETING, MESSAGING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 

Consumer eNews:  July Theme around Buy Local 

OVB is preparing the July edition of our consumer eNews that is sent to our vetted consumer subscriber database and will be highlighting our buy local scene on O‘ahu and we’d love to feature your content!  If you have products, events, or stories that showcase O‘ahu’s locally made products, now is the time to share! Send your updates to Catherine Orlans (corlans@hvcb.org). 

 

OVB Social Media Collaborations 

Looking to expand your reach and connect with a broader audience? Consider collaborating with OVB on a strategic social media post! This partnership allows you to tap into our follower base while showcasing your brand to a wider network, and in turn, we can highlight the destination to your audience. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to boost your visibility and engage with potential customers. Contact Catherine Orlans at corlans@hvcb.org!                            

 

Upcoming Media Visits and Prospective Exposure 

OVB continues to vet and work on media visits and to support HTA GMT media FAMs and visits that will translate to appropriate  O‘ahu messaging and stories. 

 

Media FAMs:  

•    BrandUSA & HTE FAM: HTE is collaborating with BrandUSA to bring top European media to O‘ahu & Maui at the end of May 28-June 2.  OVB working with HTE to finalize itinerary and support FAM efforts.    

 

Recent FAM Highlights and Coverage: 

OVB/HTO/Qantas Media FAM: We're thrilled to share that the recent media FAM trip, initiated by OVB and in partnership with HTO, has already generated buzz on social media! We hosted three key Melbourne-based media outlets on the inaugural direct Qantas flight from May 1-6. Their experience, which included our beloved Lei Day celebration, provided an authentic taste of O‘ahu. The resulting coverage will be instrumental in showcasing our islands to mindful Australian travelers seeking a deeper connection with O‘ahu, highlighting the convenience and unique experiences now accessible via this direct route.