Advertiser Staff and News Services
Tourism Authority would end in 2003
A measure to abolish the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority made some progress yesterday, as the Senate voted to send it to the House. The bill would end the tourism authority in June 2003 and also requires a financial audit. For the past several weeks, lawmakers have been questioning the accountability of the authority, which was created by the Legislature in 1998.
It was designed as a policymaking board that would have dedicated tourism financing and would be responsible for tourism spending. The authority’s $61 million budget comes from the hotel rooms tax.
Cheap Tickets to close University store
Cheap Tickets Inc. said it will close its retail store at University Square on April 17, reducing the Honolulu-based travel company’s retail outlets in Hawai‘i to four.
Company spokeswoman Penelope Wrenn said yesterday the store at 2615 S. King St. was not as profitable as the nearby store on Kapi‘olani Boulevard near the Hawai‘i Convention Center. She said the two University Plaza employees have accepted other posts.
The company, which does extensive ticketing and related travel business by telephone and Internet, also operates stores in Pearl City, Kane‘ohe and in Kahului, near the Maui Airport, as well as sites on the Mainland.
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