An international group of microwave engineers were so pleased with their 2007 meeting at the Hawai'i Convention Center that officials have signed up to return a decade later — in 2017.

Officials announced last week that the Hawai`i Convention Center will once again host the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' International Microwave Symposium in 2017.

The symposium is the premier conference of the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society and will feature a large trade show, presentations of technical papers, and workshops.

The last time the symposium was held at the center was in 2007, where more than 7,000 participants from all over the world contributed nearly $34 million to the state along with over $3.2 million in tax revenue.

The convention center's hotel partners benefited with nearly 58,000 booked rooms. They are expecting an even larger contingency in 2017 which with greater potential impact to the visitor industry. The 2007 event was also the first time in the society's 50-year history that this symposium was held outside of the North American continent.

Based on the success in 2007, a team composed of the wireless science and technology industry (TeraSys Technologies and Oceanit), the University of Hawai'i's Electrical Engineering Department, the Hawai'i Convention Center, and their hotel partners decided to bid to bring the symposium back to Hawai'i.

"Bringing the symposium to Hawai'i was a win-win for everyone involved," said Kevin Miyashiro, general chairman of the event. "Our technical attendees had the opportunity to exchange ideas on leading edge wireless science and technology, our local science and technology community had an opportunity to meet with the world's experts in wireless technology, and the families of the attendees got to experience the aloha that Hawai'i has to offer."

The capture team worked months to prepare a competitive bid based on value to the attendee, quality of the destination, and cost. A proposal presentation was made to the voting body of the IEEE, and Hawai'i was selected as the destination for the International Microwave Symposium in 2017.

"We are extremely pleased that the IEEE has chosen to re-book the center in 2017," said Joe Davis SMG general manager of the Hawai'i Convention Center. "Last year (2007) was a banner year for engineering based events at the Center and to have the largest engineering group choose us again to hold their major annual event is a sure sign that we are truly a viable option as a meetings destination."