Posted on: Friday, June 17, 2005
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Jobless claims among lowest
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i continues to enjoy the distinction of being one of the states with the fewest number of claims filed by residents for unemployment benefits.
The latest U.S. Labor Department figures show that Hawai'i residents filed just 1,000 first-time claims for unemployment benefits in the week ending June 4, down 200 from a year earlier.
Claims filed by Hawai'i residents accounted for 0.3 percent of the national total. The only states with fewer claims filed were Maine, Delaware, Vermont, the Dakotas and Wyoming.
Hawai'i's unemployment rate of 2.9 percent in April was the lowest in the nation.
The value of Hawai'i's seed crop industry rose 22 percent to a record $60.2 million in 2004-05, according to an estimate released yesterday by the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service.
The value of the state's seed-crop industry, 40 percent of which is estimated to involve genetically engineered crops, has grown nearly fivefold in the past decade. It was the third largest agricultural industry in 2003 behind sugar and pineapple.
Seed corn is expected to account for $55.4 million, or 92 percent, of the total industry value in 2004-05.
Roberta Rinker-Ludloff, former regional vice president in charge of marketing for Hilton Hawai'i, has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for Conrad Hotels, North America.
Rinker-Ludloff assumes the new post on July 18 and will be responsible for the marketing efforts of the Conrad brand in North America, including advertising, direct marketing, public relations,
e-marketing and promotions. Conrad Hotels is Hilton's luxury brand and operates 18 hotels around the world.
Rinker-Ludloff, a 33-year veteran of the hospitality industry, served as vice president of marketing for the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau before joining Hilton in 2000. She also worked for Starwood and Sheraton hotels.
Seed crop value increases 22%
Official to move to Conrad post
