Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire
Friday, December 5, 1997
Isle convention center gets first cancellation
A Japanese automobile parts supplier that was planning to bring 10,000 people to Hawaii for a convention next year has canceled its booking for the Hawaii Convention Center, citing worries about the weakness in the Japanese economy.The company, Autobacs, had been expected to occupy 5,000 hotel rooms for its Sept. 7-10 meeting. The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, which handled the booking, said corporate meetings such as the one booked by Autobacs, paid for by companies, are more vulnerable to changes in economic conditions than association meetings, which are largely paid for by members.
It was the first booking cancellation for the center, which is set to formally open in July.
BBB of Hawaii starts consumers' Web page
The Better Business Bureau of Hawaii has come up with a way for consumers to find out via the Internet whether businesses are BBB members, which means they meet the group's standards of fair and ethical conduct.Member businesses can use their Web pages to display a BBB logo and its authenticity can be checked by clicking on it and getting more information about the company from the BBB's Website. The BBB membership list is available at http://www.hawaii.bbb.org and businesses wanting information about the BBB can get it at http://bbbonline.org.
Kodak loses round in Japan film dispute
GENEVA -- Eastman Kodak Co. lost its bid to force the Japanese government to reduce Fuji Photo Film Co.'s dominance of Japan's photo film market.The World Trade Organization, in a preliminary ruling today, said Japan's government hasn't prevented Rochester, N.Y.-based Kodak from competing fairly in Japan, according to Bloomberg News.
Kodak vowed to fight back. The decision is "totally unacceptable," Chairman and CEO George Fisher said. He called on the Clinton administration to "define a concrete plan to open Japan's market."
The United States will "continue to press vigorously for meaningful access for this market" and consider sanctions against Japan, U.S. Trade Rep. Charlene Barshefsky said.
In other news ...
NEW YORK -- The dollar rose above 130 yen for the first time in 51/2 years after a U.S. employment report showed robust economic growth. The dollar rose to 130.20 yen in late trading from 129.39 yesterday.