Veteran Planner Closes Meetings Firm

Oahu/Kauai
Treasured islands

by MARIA LENHART

· While Oahu is Hawaii’s most populated isle and Kauai one of its most secluded, each reflects facets of the Aloha spirit that make Hawaii unique as a meetings destination. Whether it’s an intimate retreat, high-level incentive, military reunion or international convention, planners will find no shortage of site and activity options to create programs that deliver on substance and style.

With billions of dollars worth of renovations recently completed, both Oahu and Kauai are looking their best. And with many attractive booking incentives currently in place throughout the state, the allure of the islands is stronger than ever.

Oahu
Oahu is a superlative island on many levels. As the location of Honolulu, it offers not only the state’s largest city, but its principle hub for both business and leisure travel.

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Sponsor

Hawaii VCB

Hawaii is offering a natural resource that creates energy and saves you money. Visit our Value Resource Center at businessaloha.com and discover the full range of money-saving, value-added programs available to meeting attendees in Hawaii—from booking advantages and special hotel and resort rates to tips on how to enjoy complimentary activities in Hawaii. The Value Resource Center features: Hot Rates, Hot Dates!, Hawaii Booking Advantage, Valued Added Program and Hawaii Speakers Bureau.

For more information, visit http://businessaloha.com.

Site Scene

Hawaii

· The Kauai Marriott Resort is undergoing a $50 million renovation, including major enhancements to its rooms, restaurants and other public areas. The renovation of all 356 hotel guest rooms and suites started June 1, with completion slated for the end of August. Guest room upgrades include a flat-screen television in each room. Also undergoing a complete transformation is the open-air Kukui’s Restaurant. When the restaurant reopens in the fall, it will include more covered dining areas and a new sushi bar. Future renovation plans include upgrades to the main lobby and other public areas. For more information, call 808.245.5050 or visit www.kauaimarriott.com.

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Sponsor

Halekulani Hotel

Your Meeting, Our Legacy. Originally designed to be the ultimate leisure getaway, today Halekulani has also become Hawaii’s best location for business meetings and conventions. Our goal is to not only meet the expectations of our meeting planners, but to exceed them. The Halekulani Meeting Package includes sophisticated and welcoming meeting facilities, internationally inspired catering options and impeccable guest service.

Contact our Sales Professionals at (808) 923-2311 or visit http://www.halekulani.com.

Vineyard Ventures
Wineries blend team building with wine appreciation

by MARLENE GOLDMAN

· Rivaling its popularity as a beverage, wine has become a phenomenal draw for tourism, including meetings. Production tours, cave dinners and team-building activities built around wine-making are all part of the many ways that wines and wineries figure into meeting agendas these days.

While the term “wine country” has been extended to regions across the continent, it is still the West that offers the greatest abundance of top wines and where meetings-friendly wineries are in greatest abundance. The choices continue to grow every year, with options extending from Southern California’s Temecula Valley on up to British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley.

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Meetings Webinar

Measuring ROI: Proving Your Worth

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

ROI has become one of the most challenging issues facing the meetings industry. In response, the ROI Institute’s Jack Phillips developed a methodology to measure ROI specifically for it. Join Terri Breining, CMP, CMM, founder of Concepts Worldwide, and learn how to demonstrate the ROI Methodology so you can calculate ROI for association conferences, corporate marketing events, user group meetings, management retreats, incentive travel programs, trade shows, sponsorship participation, etc.

Visit MeetingsFocus.com to register or learn more.

Sponsored by: MGM Grand