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Convention
Center now open
to local groups

Priority, however, still will
be given to out-of-
town events

By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

For the first time, the Hawaii Convention Center is now open for local organizations to hold meetings, events and shows.

The policy change comes with two main conditions -- each meeting must bring at least 300 people to the center and the organizations must pay rent of 30 cents a square foot for exhibition space and 20 cents a square foot for meeting rooms, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

"This will strengthen our relations with our local taxpayers and it will provide experience and training opportunities for the center's staff," Bob Fishman, HTA chief executive, said in a statement issued after yesterday's meeting at the center.

Since it opened for business in mid-1998, the $350 million center has been restricted to events attracting visitors from outside Hawaii and filling 500 hotel rooms.

The HTA changed the rules yesterday in its first meeting since the Hawaii Convention Center Authority was abolished June 30, ending the authority's role of developing and launching the center.

Now, the HTA is responsible for the center.

Under the new policies, the center will not be allowed to host any event at a loss or provide "unfair competition" to facilities such as hotels and the city's Neal Blaisdell Center.

The rules state that out-of-town events get first consideration. The HTA also said it has arranged with the center's professional management company, SMG, to change staffing and other policies to save about $750,000 a year.