Honolulu Star-Bulletin Business Briefs /2005/08/24/

[ FAST FACTS HAWAII ]

Harrah's to buy Imperial Palace

LAS VEGAS » Harrah's Entertainment Inc., the world's largest gambling company, has agreed to buy the aging Imperial Palace hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip for $370 million.

Harrah's said it has no immediate plans for "substantial operational changes" at the Asian-themed Imperial Palace once it takes control. The Imperial Palace employs approximately 2,500 people, has 2,640 rooms and boasts a 52,000-square-foot casino.

Airline reaches deal with caterer

LONDON » The U.S. company that provides in-flight meals for British Airways Plc was resuming negotiations with a worker's union today, hoping to resolve a labor dispute and ensure the future of a new deal with the airline.

Gate Gourmet and British Airways said late yesterday they had reached a new deal to give the cash-strapped caterer more money and extend its contract to 2010, allowing Gate Gourmet to delay moves to file for bankruptcy.

But the airline said it would only sign the deal if Gate Gourmet could resolve its dispute with workers, after the airline was forced to cancel hundreds of flights earlier this month when its ground staff joined a strike by the caterer's workers.

Star Cruises' sales increase 16%

Star Cruises Ltd., operator of Norwegian Cruise Line, posted a profit in the second quarter, as demand for ocean-bound trips by Asian tourists increased.

Net income was $6.2 million in the three months ended in June, compared with last year's loss of $9 million, the Hong Kong-based company said yesterday. Sales rose 16 percent to $438.8 million, based on Hong Kong accounting rules.

Star Cruises, which operates 22 ships, has been filling more of its cabins with passengers as economic growth in Asian countries encouraged more people to take vacations by sea. A record 11 million people may take holidays on ocean liners this year, an increase of 4.8 percent from 2004, according to a forecast by the Cruise Lines International Association.

[Hawaii Inc.]

NEW JOBS

>> Bank of Hawaii has announced new vice presidents: John K. Hulihee has been promoted to cash management services vice president. Carmen Iao has been hired as Bankoh Investment Services Inc. vice president and financial consultant. Gina I. Nakamura has been promoted to international client banking department vice president. Chong Pak has been hired as vice president and metro business banking center business banking team leader. Dorothy M. Parsons has been promoted to trust operations vice president.

» First Hawaiian Bank has hired Brian N. Sunada as its commercial real estate division senior vice president. He has 20 years of commercial real estate banking experience. He replaces John Landgraf, who will retire on Sept. 1.

PROMOTIONS

» D.R. Horton, Schuler Division, has promoted three employees. Alan Labbe has been promoted to construction vice president. He previously served as purchasing director. Celia Nirei has been promoted to purchasing director. She joined the company in 1992. Reyna Hashimoto has been promoted to assistant controller. She previously served as the financial analyst.

» First Hawaiian Bank has appointed Joy P. Cabildo residential real estate division manager. She joined the bank in 1993. She replaces Vernon T. Omori, who will retire Aug. 1.

» First Hawaiian Bank has promoted M'Liss H. Moore to senior vice president and co-director of equity at Bishop Street Capital Management. She joined the bank in 2000 as a senior analyst.

>> American Savings Bank has promoted Ross Sugibayashi to vice president and enterprise projects manager. He will be responsible for coordinating and directing the bank's project management process. He has worked for the bank for more than three years.

ON THE BOARD

» The Hawaii Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association has appointed KahBo Dye-Chiew chairwoman. She is a Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel attorney. She previously served as the organization's secretary and vice chairwoman.

» The city Planning Commission has sworn in Karin L. Holma as a member. She is a partner in Bays, Deaver, Lung, Rose & Baba law firm. She will be responsible for helping the commission advise the mayor, City Council and the city planning and permitting director on matters relating to land use and development.