Meeting News - February 15, 2010 - (Page 28)

Island Incentives By Michael Ratcliffe Disney Forges Ahead With Plans For Major Hawaiian Resort Confident that prosperous times lie ahead for that can do so, this economy affords great While Aulani will have an on-site sales and the meetings and incentives industry, Walt Disopportunities for new construction, and as the services team to assist meeting planners, the ney Parks and Resorts is currently investing bileconomy continues to improve, Disney will be specialized services of the Disney Institute and lions of dollars in new construction to ensure one of the few that will be ready with new prod- the Disney Event Group—both based in Florithe company is well positioned to accommodate ucts for what we think will be a market hungry da— can be retained to help planners wherever and capitalize on the resurgence of business it for new experiences.” needed, from providing technical support or expects will come when the global economy Aulani will be a boon for the state, said coaching teambuilding experiences to running a improves. Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau vice group’s entire program, Aguel said. Key among these projects is the newly named president for sales and marketing, corporate The resort’s other amenities will include an Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, being built meetings and incentives Michael Murray. 18,000-sq.-ft. spa and water playground, featuralong 21-acres of oceanfront proping a lazy river, pools and watererty on the Hawaiian island of slides.“We’ll also have a saltwater Oahu. It will boast more than snorkeling lagoon filled with 50,000 square feet of ballroom, vibrant tropical marine life, and meeting space and event lawns. guests will be offered convenient Having broken ground in Novemaccess to the adjacent Ko Olina golf ber, Disney is currently on schedule course and marina,” Aguel added. to open Aulani in the fall of 2011. HVCB’s Murray agreed Aulani’s “This will be our first resort in atmosphere will help it stand out Hawaii, and it’s a direct response to from the competition.“As a cusrequests we’ve had from our leisure tomer coming to Hawaii, you don’t guests and groups looking for new necessarily want to go to a property kinds of Disney experiences,” Aulani would add 50,000 square feet of Oahu meeting space where you get the same product George Aguel, senior vice president you’d get at another resort in Califor Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, said.“Obvi“As specific to the meetings, conventions and fornia or elsewhere, so to distinguish themselves ously, Hawaii is a popular destination in its own incentives side of the industry, business is grow- by incorporating a lot of authentic aspects of right, and we saw this as an opportunity to creing,” Murray said.“Obviously, we’re impacted by Hawaii is very clever,” he said. ate an entirely different kind of resort experithe global economic challenges, but Hawaii “Disney will also benefit because they’re so ence that would be just as attractive to meeting remains one of the top incentive destinations family-oriented,” Murray said, noting that a and incentive participants as it would be to our around the world. 2011 is where a lot of busigreat number of meeting attendees who travel leisure guests.” ness is being generated right now. Pacing-wise, to Hawaii bring their families or spouses along. Other ongoing projects, according to Aguel, we’re doing very well. We’re very encouraged by “You can still have a very successful meeting, are large-scale expansions for Hong Kong Disthe signs and activity we’re seeing.” convention or trade show and at the same time neyland, Disneyland Resort in California and Located 20 miles from Honolulu Internation- take vacation.” Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, as well as al Airport and situated within the Ko Olina Aguel pointed to the past for support of Disconstruction of two new cruise ships set to sail Resort and Marina development on Oahu’s pic- ney’s vision of the future.“We understand the in 2011 and 2012. Disney also has purchased turesque western shore, Aulani plans to offer cyclical nature of this industry and we have faith property for a planned resort in the National 350 hotel rooms, 481 two-bedroom villas in the fundamentals of our business. The indusHarbor development in Washington, D.C. housed in two 15-story towers and a 14,000-sq.- try has been through tough times before, and Disney’s commitment to the projects is “part ft. conference center with a ballroom that can be we’ve always come back stronger from the expeof the faith that there’s still a bright future for broken down into six separate rooms. The cenrience,” he said.“It boils down to the confidence the meetings and incentive industry. Where oth- ter also will house four breakout rooms and we have in the long-term health of meetings and ers in the industry have scaled back or canceled “generous” pre-function space, Aguel said. incentives. After Sept. 11, so many people said projects, we’ve continued to move forward with “Since outdoor events are so popular in Hawaii, that travel incentives would never be the same, one of the largest expansions in our history,” we’ve created three distinct event lawns, along but after a dip they came back strong. It’s proof according to Aguel.“It’s no secret that for those with lots of private patios and terraces,” he said. that incentives are very powerful motivators.” ❍ 28 MeetingNews February 15, 2010 www.meetingnews.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - February 15, 2010

Meeting News - February 15, 2010
Contents
Newsmaker
Meetings Spotlight
Viewpoint
Meeting People
Construction Cites
Association Watch
Strategic Mtgs. Mgmt
Gaming Destinations
Island Incentives
Dateline: Hong Kong
South Regional
Travel Dashboard

Meeting News - February 15, 2010