Maui Hotels Target Meeting Business at Springtime Expo

Grand Wailea fountain. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Sonia Isotov

Sales teams from the Grand Wailea and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa are busy this week joining the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau (HVCB) and the Hawaii Convention Center (HCC) at the Springtime Expo in Washington, DC where they hope to bring home more Maui meetings and convention business.

Along with the Hawai‘i sales exhibit at Springtime Expo, HVCB and HCC are cohosting a special Hawai‘i reception for prospective new clients based in the region, while also making sales calls throughout the week.

With more than 4,000 meeting planners and industry professionals attending, the Springtime Expo is the largest meetings industry trade show event of the year. This year it takes place on Thursday, April 28, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

“Hawaii’s presence at the Springtime Expo is an important opportunity to promote the islands as an ideal location for business and group meetings,” said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) in a statement released today. “The HTA is committed to marketing Hawai‘i as a premier global meetings destination and capitalize on the interest in our state with the upcoming APEC Leaders’ Meeting in November.”

Joining HVCB and HCC in the Hawai‘i sales effort are representatives from across the state, including sales teams from The Fairmont Orchid, Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, Hilton Waikoloa Village, The Kahala Hotel & Resort, Kauai Beach Resort, Prince Resorts Hawaii, Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and The Waikiki Edition.

“Washington is a great meetings market and we have a strong complement of partners to help us sell Hawai‘i and generate new business opportunities for resort properties and other ancillary businesses statewide,” said Michael Murray, CMP, CMM, CASE, vice president of sales and marketing for HVCB’s corporate meetings and incentives division.

Hawai‘i sales exhibit is being organized by Meredith Parkins, HVCB regional sales director, and Sherri Thadeus, HCC regional director of accounts; both are based in the Washington, DC area.