Splitting marketing contract stirs worries
| • | HTA rebuts criticism |
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
The tourism authority is conducting a controversial search for a marketing agent to carry out the state's tourism marketing contract for next year, a deal worth $25 million.
The Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau has been the state's marketing agency for a century. But with the tourism authority splitting up the contract into smaller parts and putting them out for competitive bid, that legacy may be at risk.
The prospect of a divided marketing effort has some tourism leaders, many who work for HVCB member firms and sit on HVCB's board, nervous. They fear that the change could damage the state's tourism marketing effort — and the visitors bureau.
The tourism authority's board will pick the contract winners.
The process has generated some controversy. Two board members — Starwood Hotel's Keith Vieira and the governor's tourism liaison Marsha Wienert — are closely connected with HVCB. Vieira's Starwood colleague, Karen Hughes, sits on HVCB's board. Wienert works for the Maui Visitors Bureau, a branch of HVCB. Other authority board members work for HVCB member firms.
Some tourism executives are urging a delay in the selection of the next marketing agency or agencies, saying there should be accountability measures in place and a full board before the decisions are made. Two positions on the board are vacant.
Officials said postponing the process could pose legal problems because the 13 bidders have spent thousands of dollars.
Authority Executive Director Rex Johnson said final selection is planned for July.
