Bank brings THE OFFICIAL word from the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau is that this past week's Asian Development Bank annual meeting brought 3,500 people to Hawaii and produced $11 million in new spending, resulting in a state tax take of $911,000.
spotlight, not
more spending
But attention shows Hawaii can
host a major meeting, say
tourism officialsBy Russ Lynch
Star-BulletinBusinesses involved say that hotel bookings turned out lower than the ADB had expected, that the meeting may not have turned out that well financially, but that it was an immensely valuable experience for Hawaii that will pay off in the future.
It wasn't a real money-maker, said Keith Vieira, vice president and director of Hawaii operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., which operates the Sheraton and Westin hotels.
But it showed Hawaii to the world for the first time as a place where peaceful and efficient global conventions can be held, he said.
Starwood hotels ended up booking about half as many rooms as were originally blocked out at the ADB's direction, a disappointment in numbers, Vieira said. But what the success of this convention means for potential future international meetings is more important, he said.
"I think our only disappointment was the number of delegates, but the actual delegate count was not the driving force from the beginning," Vieira said.
Hawaii proved it can handle an international meeting requiring high security, he said. Looking at the actual dollars created this time is less important than the demonstration of Hawaii's ability to handle a high-profile convention like the ADB, he said.
"If it requires the full law enforcement setup, we were prepared to do that as well," Vieira said. It wasn't needed, "so I think we came out well."
Sandra Moreno, head of meetings, conventions and incentive-trip activities at the HVCB, agreed.
"All reports were very positive. It was a very sophisticated business crowd," Moreno said.
Two organizations represented at the convention are already talking about future global conventions here, she said. They would be smaller than the ADB meeting but would be valuable in again showing off Hawaii's ability to produce a safe, global-technology, international meeting.
The presence of writers from the world business media didn't hurt, she said. The Global Pavilion, an exhibit by Hawaii businesses and educators, was a first for the ADB and left delegates with a clear image of Hawaii's capabilities, she said.
"There was a lot of spotlight on Hawaii's very interesting infrastructure, technology, the specialties at the University of Hawaii and the East-West Centers," Moreno said. "I really thought it was much better even than I had anticipated."
"I don't see any downside to speak of," said Bob Fishman, chief executive of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. There was some sensitivity about how Hawaii might react. There was some risk -- such as the worry that demonstrations could damage the convention -- "but it did not turn into anything negative," Fishman said.
"One of the most important audiences was the U.S. government itself. They were a tough customer for us," he said. The government was the host, since the country where ADB meetings take place always is.
"They didn't consider us to be a place for high-level meetings," Fishman said. Now the federal government knows that Hawaii can handle international matters.
That, and connections made by Hawaii businesses that can lead to future deals, add up to something more important than the initial financial return from one convention, Fishman and other officials said.
One business that has no complaints is the Ala Moana Hotel, which sold 500 of its nearly 1,200 rooms to ADB officials and rented a lot of its office and meeting-room space directly to the ADB.
The hotel would not have had much business last week without the ADB, said John Cushnie, its general manager. The Japanese "Golden Week" holiday period in late April and early May has not been golden for a few years, as Japanese travelers have learned to go on vacation in slower, less expensive periods.
There wasn't much other business around, but all of the Ala Moana Hotel's restaurants did solid business. Despite discounts for group bookings, the hotel's average daily room rate went up because the ADB booked the best rooms.
One company that saw disappointing numbers but a valuable experience was Aloha Resources Inc. The destination management business had the overall contract for moving people, with subcontracted buses and limousines.
"Basically, it started out as something that we looked at as an extremely large project that would be a money maker," said Frank Smith, president. The event proved a lot more complicated. Just getting the hang of the relationship between the ADB, the HVCB, the Hawaii Convention Center proved complicated and expensive.
"But a lot of the participants went on activities on a leisure basis. They took optional tours," on Oahu and to the neighbor islands, Smith said. That was all extra business for his company and others.
"All indicators are the attendees had a good time. They were pleased with the services they received," he said. "It was a great learning experience, especially in Hawaii being able to show it can handle a high-profile event like this."
Asian Development Bank