HTA gives out $1.4M for events

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has awarded more than $1.4 million to help fund 120 events and projects statewide.

HTA President and CEO Mike McCartney said this week that the agency for tourism remains committed to supporting programs that enhance and diversify Hawaii tourism.

He said the community-based events and projects selected for the HTA's Product Enrichment Program represent and preserve the culture and diversity of the islands.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii's Narcissus Festival will receive money.

Other events include the Big Island Farm Bureau's Western Week Festival and the Kauai Concert Association's Red Clay Jazz Festival.

SBA offers business consultations

Small-business owners can receive free, confidential, 30-minute consultations with specialists from the U.S. Small Business Administration between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. next Friday at Bank of Hawaii's Waipahu branch.

Staff members can help evaluate operations and find resources to help small businesses and startups deal with the economic slump, including information about the agency's loan programs, government contracting certifications and other aid.

Reservations are recommended and can be made at 541-2990, ext. 211, or online at http://www.sba.gov/hi.

Gannett sees small drop in ad sales

NEW YORK » Gannett Co. said yesterday that trends in advertising revenue are continuing in the right direction and that the company should meet Wall Street expectations with first-quarter earnings.

Gannett, which owns USA Today, The Honolulu Advertiser and more than 80 smaller dailies and 23 TV stations, said its publishing division should see a percentage drop in ad sales in the high single digits, or below 10 percent. That would compare with an 18 percent decline in the fourth quarter from the same period of 2008.

Gannett said it expects to report that ad sales in its broadcast division rose by a percentage in the midteens. First-quarter ad revenue at Gannett's NBC affiliates likely got a boost from the Winter Olympics in February.

The advertising slump afflicting almost every major media company has been softening as the economy improves and comparisons to year-earlier figures get easier.

Gannett also increased its CEO's pay package by nearly 41 percent last year, according to an Associated Press analysis of a company regulatory filing.

The nation's largest newspaper publisher gave CEO Craig Dubow compensation valued at $4.4 million. That was up from $3.1 million the year before.

However, it was far below the $7.4 million he got in 2007.

Gannett agreed last month to sell the Advertiser to Star-Bulletin owner David Black. Black has put the Star-Bulletin up for sale, and if no buyers come forward, he plans to merge the two newspapers into the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Mortgage rates steady below 5%

WASHINGTON » Mortgage rates held below the 5 percent threshold for the third straight week as the Federal Reserve prepared to end a program that has kept rates at or near record lows.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged up to 4.96 percent this week from 4.95 percent a week earlier, the mortgage finance company Freddie Mac said yesterday. The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 4.33 percent, up from 4.32 percent last week.

ON THE MOVE

  Austin, Tsutsumi & Associates' board of directors has named Adrienne W.L.H. Wong vice president. She joined the company in 1983 and has 26 years of civil engineering experience.

The American Society for Training and Development-Hawaii Chapter has announced the following 2010 board members: Shirley Tsukano, president; Ken Kiyohara, past president; Dina Tsuda, vice president of technology; Therese Dickerson, vice president of finance; Greg Chilson, vice president of marketing; Jodi Ching, vice president of records; Wendilee Adkins and Verna Wong, vice president of events/professional development; Sherri Okinaga, vice president of membership; and Lee Ann Del Carpio, board advisor.

Benchmark Hospitality International has appointed Michael Lee director of sales and marketing for Makena Beach & Golf Resort on Maui. He was a partner of Hospitality Taskforce as well as assistant general manager and director of sales for Hilton at Hampton Inn Tropicana in Las Vegas, director of sales for Marriott at Kauai Coconut Beach Resort and executive vice president for Asia Pacific Environmental Technology.