Tourism groups meet privately

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

Gov. Linda Lingle's tourism summit committee leaders are meeting behind closed doors and won't open their discussions to the public until later in May.

Lingle previously said after a private tourism summit last week that committees formed after the summit would meet in public.

But the committee co-chairs met yesterday in a closed session and are planning to hold closed meetings leading up to a public meeting on May 22. The committees plan to submit reports to the governor during the week of May 15 and then present their problems, goals and plans at the public meeting.

Lingle spokesman Russell Pang said the committee co-chairs and their subject areas are: Terryl Vencl and Tony Vericella (increasing flights); David Carey and Marsha Wienert (accountability procedures); Mike McCartney, Diane Quitiquit and Cliff Nae'ole (tourism strategic planning); Shari Chang, Murray Towill and Rex Johnson (financing); John Toner, Keith Vieira and Donn Takahashi (role and composition of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority); and Brad Jencks, Ron Williams and Chris Resich (authority requests for marketing proposals).

The co-chairs are choosing members for their committees from the tourism summit attendees and others outside the group.