Posted on: Friday, February 6, 2004

BUSINESS BRIEFS
Meetings bring in $248.7 million

The Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau helped to attract corporate meetings and incentive groups that brought in $248.7 million in visitor spending to the state, including $20.7 million in tax revenues.

Get updates on tax refunds

Taxpayers can get updates on the status of their state tax refund through a new automated phone system. Call 587-4242 on O'ahu or (800) 222-3229 from the Neighbor Islands.

Hotels see strong revenue

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. said the hotels it owns on Maui and in several other North American cities showed particularly strong revenue per available room, a critical measure of hotel performance, according to the company's quarterly earnings report. Its Westin Ka'anapali time-share resort on Maui was sold out before its opening.

The company had $87 million in net income in the fourth quarter, or 42 cents per share, down from $91 million, or 45 cents, in the same period a year ago.