Visitors Bureau Leading Statewide Sales Team to Orlando

File photo.

By Sonia Isotov

The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) is leading a sales team with representatives from all island counties to the Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress (MPI-WEC) in Orlando, July 23-26.

“Hawaii’s presence at the MPI-WEC is important to showcase our islands and build on the momentum of our meetings, conventions and incentives market,” said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of Hawaii Tourism Authority, in a written statement. “The HTA, together with the HVCB and our partners in the visitor industry, remain committed to promoting our islands as a premier meetings destination and capitalize on the interest in our state with the upcoming APEC Leaders’ meeting this November.”

The Hawaii marketing team is being led by John Monahan, HVCB’s president and chief executive offier and Adele Tasaka, HVCB’s senior director of accounts.

Joining them are industry partner sales representatives from Fairmont Kea Lani, Fairmont Orchid, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Grand Wailea, Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa, Kahala Hotel & Resort, Marriott Resorts Hawaii, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Waikiki, Turtle Bay Resort, and The Westin Maui Resort & Spa.

Monahan said, “We’re bringing to planners at MPI-WEC some of the world’s best resort properties in the Hawaiian Islands and communicating the diversity of meeting facilities and amenities available to groups when doing business in our beautiful state.”

The tradeshow format was changed this year at MPI from a tradeshow format to that of pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings between buyers and suppliers. Knowing from its years of experience selling Hawaii that direct sales is the most effective technique to secure new business, HVCB and its partners have scheduled appointments with 280 meeting planners at MPI-WEC. In addition, HVCB and its partners are participating in networking events and hosting private client receptions to further develop new business opportunities.

Based in Dallas, MPI is the industry’s largest meetings trade organization, with 23,000 members and 71 chapters and clubs worldwide.