Posted at 4:33 a.m., Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Online site to book meetings in Hawai'i launched
News Release
HONOLULU -- The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and SMG Hawaii/Hawaii Convention Center (HCC) have jointly launched BusinessAloha.com, a new online resource for meeting planners to book Hawai'i. For a limited time, HVCB and HCC are offering hundreds of thousands of dollars in accommodations and services for qualified conventions and meetings in the islands."Meeting planners accessing BusinessAloha.com will be very impressed by the value of offerings being made available for booking Hawaii," said John Monahan, president and CEO of the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau. "For some lucky winners, it will be as close as you can get to booking an event in the islands for free. And with such incredible diversity in accommodations and venues to choose from, Hawaii is perfectly suited to meet any group's needs."
Joe Davis, SMG general manager of the Hawaii Convention Center, added, "The Web site helps meeting planners spend less time figuring out how to get here and allows for more time to be spent planning the details to make their Hawaii meeting the best ever. The site provides additional opportunities for success since they are able to maximize savings for their Hawaii meeting by taking advantage of the offerings presented by our industry partners and the Hawaii Convention Center."
The information found on BusinessAloha.com conveys the value of Hawaii as a meetings destination, while showcasing the Hawaii Convention Center and the variety of single property offerings statewide. The new Web site is an extension of the distinctive branding message for Hawaii's meetings industry: Where Business and Aloha Meet. As part of a special introductory three-month promotion, HVCB and HCC are offering huge savings at the Convention Center and at resort properties statewide for clients that register for the BusinessAloha.com Giveaway by Mar. 31.
The HCC Giveaway provides 50 percent off its rate card and $50,000 in destination services for new bookings finalized by Dec. 31.
The HVCB Giveaway provides complimentary accommodations and reduced fees for event services and venues throughout the state of Hawaii by simply submitting a brief essay (no more than 500 words) stating why Hawaii is perfect for business or incentive meetings; three winners will be chosen. Qualified meeting planners can take advantage of one or both offers.
The HVCB and HCC Giveaways may be accessed at BusinessAloha.com (select "Promotions" link). Some restrictions apply; additional details are available online.
At BusinessAloha.com, planners have access to a new tool: a meeting planning timeline – with topics including why to select Hawaii, combating the boondoggle perception, productivity and results – featuring testimonial video from past clients sharing why their Hawaii meeting was a success. Information about the benefits of meeting in Hawaii, practical tips on cost savings, useful facts about travel, accommodations and meeting venues statewide is also available.
