BUSINESS BRIEFS
Tourism summit closed to public

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Gov. Linda Lingle is inviting legislative leaders and tourism industry representatives to a closed-door tourism summit April 24 to develop the state's strategy in coming years for the visitor industry.

Asked why the summit will be closed, Lingle spokesman Russell Pang said, "It's really for the industry to talk openly about the issues, so that they can talk openly, freely amongst themselves."

Home Depot goes to Kaua'i

Home Depot plans to break ground tomorrow on its first store on Kaua'i, and its fifth in Hawai'i.

The store at 4320 Nuhou St. in Lihu'e, is to open this fall. It will have 95,000 square feet of retail space and additional space for a garden center.

Home Depot plans to hire about 125 workers.

Outrigger Web sites revamped

Outrigger Hotels & Resorts has redesigned its Web sites to make it easier to book hotel stays online and to cut call center costs.

Bill Sthay, Outrigger vice president of interactive commerce, said the redesigned sites are aimed at providing more information to customers and attracting more online bookings.

Online bookings are less expensive for the company than phone inquiries and reservations.