Tourism authority weighs marketing proposals

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Hawai'i Tourism Authority has received marketing proposals from 13 different bidders, including two for its entire marketing contract.

The Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau has been the state's primary tourism marketing contractor for years. This is the first time the tourism authority has offered companies the option of bidding on contracts covering separate regions for leisure travel marketing. The contracts start in 2004 and would last at least four years.

In addition to two bids for the marketing contract as a whole, the authority also received one proposal for marketing to North America, six for Japan, two covering Europe, two for other Asian regions, one for Oceania and one focused on corporate meetings and business incentive travel. Some companies bid for more than one market area.

The authority would not disclose the names of the bidders.

The tourism authority aims to select a "short list" of finalists by Friday, but authority officials said it may take longer.

Separately, authority marketing director Frank Haas said the tentative dates are July 6 to 12 for a trip to Japan led by Gov. Linda Lingle aimed at encouraging Japanese travel to Hawai'i.

Participants will include representatives from the tourism authority, the visitors bureau, the counties and the tourism industry. The delegation would likely visit Tokyo and other cities, Haas said.