Category Archives: Travel & Tourism Industry
Kaua‘i Malama Awards
BY MARIANNE THESKEN — For 15 years the Kaua‘i Chapter of the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association celebrates and honors industry stars nominated by their respective properties. The Kaua‘i ‘ohana nominated star performers from the Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation (KPR), Outrigger at Lae Nani (LNR) and Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort (WBR) to be honored on March 20, along with those from other Kaua‘i hotels and resorts. Nominees were recognized for outstanding and unusual service to the resort, guests and/or the community. This year’s theme was Hā‘upu Mauna Kilohana i ka La‘i – A Mountain Outstanding in the Calm. It is a perfect description for a person of outstanding achievement. We celebrated with a wonderful dinner, entertainment and camaraderie. Read the rest of this entry
18th Annual Honolulu Festival Ends with a Bang!
BY CONCHITA MALAQUI, KATHY HANSBERRY AND LEHUA LASH — The slightly damp weekend in Waikīkī did not “rain on our parade,”…the Honolulu Festival’s Parade that is. In fact, the light afternoon showers on Sunday did not dampen the spirit of the parade participants nor deter the hundreds of spectators who turned out to watch the 18th annual Honolulu Festival festivities. Read the rest of this entry
Movies and TV Shows Boost Tourism, Buoy the Economy
BY DR. RICHARD KELLEY — Since the beginning of the year, we have enjoyed high demand for our properties in Hawai‘i. Good management, excellent marketing, flawless operations and warm hospitality, along with the modest global economic recovery we are experiencing, have all contributed to this gratifying picture, and each of us can take personal pride in the success of our collective efforts to make it happen. Read the rest of this entry
AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards
BY UNA MURRAY — The AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards were held at the Sofitel Resort & Spa at Denarau Island, Nadi, last week. The awards salute leaders in the tourism industry in achieving a perfect balance between quality and sustainability showcasing the best of Fiji to the rest of the world, and Fiji’s tourism sector showed their strength in numbers at one of the most important events on their calendar. Read the rest of this entry
The Legacy of Women Leaders In Hawai‘i’s Travel Industry
BY RICHARD KELLEY — Last week, many of the veterans of Hawai‘i’s Travel & Tourism industry gathered to celebrate the life of Myrtle Chun Lee, who recently passed away at age 85. A veteran of our industry since the end of World War II, she rose to become the first woman president of a major Hawai‘i corporation, Island Holiday Tours and Amfac Resorts Hawaii, in 1973. Read the rest of this entry
United Airlines Familiarization Tour
BY LISA LENCKOWSKI — United Airlines launched a direct flight four times a week between Guam and Okinawa in September 2011, and the Outrigger Guam Resort (OGM) was pleased to host CWT Sato Travel, United Airlines Familiarization Tour from Okinawa, Japan, on February 4.
Michiru Sato, DOS; Mr. Hideki Toma, Torii Station Office; Mr. Kiyoshi Oka, Manager, Military and Government Market; Mr. Wilson Antonio, Camp Foster Branch Manager; Mr. Yukiharu Sekiya, United Airlines, Regional Sales Manager Okinawa; Ms. Aki McSwain, Kadena AFB; Ms. Matsumi Kenat, Area Manager, Military and Government Market; Ms. Kim Sartorius, Camp Courtney Office Manager; Ms. Yoshimi Namihira, Camp Foster Office; Ms. Simone Owens, Kadena AFB Office Branch Manager; Ms. Anne Quinata, Andersen AFB Manager; Lisa Lenckowski, Marketing Manager; and John Wigsten, OGM General Manager
Groundhog Day!
By Chad Teramae
As we prepare for six more weeks of winter, The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, Outrigger Reef on the Beach and Holiday Inn® Waikiki Beachcomber were pleased to host students from Waipahu High School’s (WHS) Academy of Hospitality and Tourism. A total of six students, either in their junior and senior year, were chosen to participate in the WHS annual Groundhog Day shadowing program. Chosen by the Director/Instructor Todd Nakayama to participate in this all-day event held at different hotel properties, students were given the opportunity to experience and learn the day-to-day operations of a hotel and get a glimpse of what it’s like to work in the hospitality industry. The positive experiences in this program have resulted in many students choosing the hospitality industry as their career of choice!
Lono Padilla, Lea Cacho, Patrick Concepcion and Keith Christy
Patrick Concepcion and Lea Cacho
International Travel Gets President’s Attention
By Richard R. Kelley
President Barack Obama delivers remarks on a strategy that will significantly help boost tourism and travel during a statement at the Magic Kingdom Theme Park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, Jan. 19, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza. credit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/engage/latest-news)
I was very pleased and excited to learn last week that President Barack Obama had flown to Disney World, Florida, and, with the unique structures of the Magic Kingdom in the background, announced a number of new federal policies and initiatives designed to boost international travel to the United States. Read the rest of this entry
Record Holder to be Honored
By Dr. Richard Kelley
Dr. Jim Barahal congratulates Gladys Burrill on her record-breaking finish of the 2010 Honolulu Marathon. An inspiration - this year, she will help to raise funds for the Lokahi Giving Project
According to the Honolulu Marathon, “another highlight of race week will be the induction on Thursday of Gladys “Glady’’ Burrill into the marathon’s Hall of Fame. She has completed the Honolulu race five times, and last year, at age 92, set a world record as the oldest female to finish a marathon, earning her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. Her time was nine hours, 53 minutes and 16 seconds. This year, she will lead a group in the Race Day Walk to raise funds for the Lokahi Giving Project, a Honolulu charity that helps the less fortunate.”
Continental Airlines: A New Beginning – Old Memories
By Dr. Richard Kelley
This past week, as the world focused on protests in the streets of many major cities, the extremely serious sovereign debt crisis in the euro-based economies and the bankruptcy of the parent corporation of American Airlines, AMR Corp., few heard the quiet whimper from Continental Airlines on Wednesday, November 30, when that proud carrier, now merged with United Airlines, flew its last flight under the call sign “Continental.” Captain R. J. “Jim” Starley, Continental’s Managing Director, Flight Operations, noted the occasion in a Pilot Bulletin printed on United letterhead saying, “While we will experience mixed emotions with the retirement of our proud call sign, our brand and our heritage will live on.” Read the rest of this entry
