Posted on: Friday, November 7, 2003

BUSINESS BRIEFS
2 firms chosen to help tourism

Advertiser Staff and News Services

The Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau is renewing its contracts with advertising agency Milici Valenti Ng Pack and public relations firm McNeil Wilson Communications Inc.

The four-year contracts take effect Jan. 1 and are worth $875,000 for public relations and about $5 million for advertising in the first year.

HVCB discontinued its contract with Travel Related Marketing for broadcast media buying and will instead shift that responsibility to Milici Valenti Ng Pack. The ad agency beat out Wongdoody, Ogilvy & Mather Hawaii and McCann-Erickson.

McNeil Wilson held on to its contract by beating out Becker Communications, Edelman Public Relations, and a partnership of Weber Shandwick and PR Works.

Fed to rule on takeover bid

Central Pacific Financial Corp. said yesterday it is waiting for a ruling from the Federal Reserve Board on its application to proceed with a bid to take over City Bank parent, CB Bancshares.

Central Pacific needs both federal and state regulatory approval before it can buy its cross-town rival. City Bank this week launched a grassroots campaign to convince state regulators not to approve the takeover.

The federal regulators accepted public comment on the proposed merger in May and are now considering the application.

AAA Hawaii moves office

AAA Hawaii has moved to a new office at 1130 Nimitz Highway in the Nimitz Center in Honolulu. The office is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.