Hawai’i Tourism Conference Focuses on Success

E ku i ka moku, Hawaii Tourism Authority Conference, courtesy image.

By Wendy Osher

The Hawaii Tourism Authority will hold its eighth annual conference, this year themed E Ku i ka Moku: Together We Will Succeed.

The two-day event will run from August 23 to 24 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

It features local and national visitor industry experts and their insight on tourism issues and trends.  HTA officials will provide updates on tourism statistics and targets.

Keynote speaker, David Sheatsley, vice president of research at MMGY Global kicks off the conference with an overview of the tourism industry and international travel trends.

The second day of the conference features Kainoa Horcajo, cultural trainer of the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, who will discuss how to integrate Hawaii’s unique host culture into creating authentic experiences.

Tourism, file photo by Wendy Osher.

“Working in harmony with our industry partners and the community to recover from a series of global, economic and natural events, we have truly shown, Ku i ka Moku, that together we will succeed,” said Mike McCartney, HTA president and CEO in a statement.

“As a result, Hawaii’s tourism economy is prospering to record levels, and it is more important than ever that the HTA continue to build this momentum by providing an opportunity to gather industry members to learn from and inspire one another,” said McCartney.

The two-day agenda will also include updates on tourism statistics and revised 2012 targets.  The event also features an HTA Tourism Legacy Awards Luncheon which recognizes those in the industry and community who have helped to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture.

Registration is available online: http://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/tourismconference.