"These two days of negotiation sessions have been the most productive since bargaining stated in June and are a testament to what can be come if the parties work together in the spirit of cooperation," said Gary Seibert, area vice president and managing director for Hilton Hawaii.

Eric Gill, financial secretary UNITE HERE Local 5, said the union welcomed the hotel's proposal to reduce the workload for housekeepers.

The next negotiating session is set for sometime next week, although no exact date was set.

Local 5 also has contract talks set Thursday and Friday with the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa. The union is considering September for negotiations with the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.

AT&T unit wins $250 million DOD contract in Hawai'i

AT&T Government Solutions Inc. in Honolulu today received a maximum $250 million contract to provide telecommunications services for the Department of Defense in Hawai'i. The six-year deal can be extended by up to four years. Other users may include federal, state, and local agencies. The contract was awarded by the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization - Pacific.

Lecture set on raising venture capital in China

Several prominent venture capital experts are scheduled to speak next month at a lecture "Entrepreneurship in the Far East: securing venture capital in China."

The Sept. 7 lecture sponsored by the the University of Hawai'i College of Business will include presentations by Danny Lui, Chairman of Authosis Capital; Gavin Ni, chief executive and president of Zero2IPO; and Barry Weinman, co-founder of Allegis Capital.

For more information, call 956-5357.