Hawaii Hospitality - September/October 2013 - (Page 3)

Talk STorywith George Szigeti Aloha to Our New Team Member Aloha Kakou, We are pleased to welcome Brandon Coming up Sept. 20 is Na Mea Makamae o R. Barbour to HLTA as our new director Waikiki, a benefit for the Waikiki Community of government and community affairs. Center honoring Mel Kaneshige, Outrigger He takes over for Tina Yamaki, who, Enterprises, TS Restaurants and Jerry Gibson, after many years of stellar service with managing director of the Hilton Hawaiian the HLTA, left in June to join Roberts Village. We hope that many of our members will Hawaii. support this event because sponsorship helps Barbour most recently worked the Waikiki Community Center, which makes a for U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz as his difference in the lives of more than 20,000 in-need community affairs representative on seniors, children and families each year. education, foreign relations, social Good news for Hawaii marketers and golf services, consumer protection and aficionados: The PGA is returning to Hawaii other areas of policy. He also served Brandon Barbour through the Pacific Links Foundation. The as communications liaison for Schatz Champions Tour will once again bring a stellar during part of his term as lieutenant governor. Barbour roster of golfers to compete in mid-September at the Kapolei has also worked for Olgoonik Global Security and the U.S. Golf Club. This will be a great opportunity for our visitors and Department of State in Washington, D.C., where he was a locals alike to enjoy the “elite” field of Champion Tour Players liaison to the Hawaii Host Committee for the 2011 APEC in the greatest of settings at Kapolei. Summit. It’s been fun to watch hundreds of movie extras terrified, In his new role, Barbour will work closely with fleeing and screaming their way through the streets of Waikiki government and elected officials on behalf of HLTA members, while being chased by an imaginary Godzilla that—through as well as oversee many community and charitable programs, the magic of special effects—will soon come to life on film. including the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk. We It’s just another example of the film industry continuing to welcome Barbour to our team and look forward to his find Hawaii an attractive place to shoot movies and shows. contributions in serving our members. It’s great for people working in the business here, great There’s a big change taking place at the Hawaii for keeping the Islands in the spotlight and in this case, an Convention Center (HCC) that will have measurable impact enjoyable experience for the hundreds of extras who can say, on the fortunes of Waikiki hoteliers. AEG Facilities, a division “Look Mom, I’m in the movies!” of Anschutz Entertainment Group, has been selected by the I look forward to seeing many of our members at our 186th Hawaii Tourism Authority to manage the center and work General Membership Meeting at the Sheraton Kauai Resort collaboratively with the “Meet Hawaii” team in marketing the in October. It should be a wonderful time together during Hawaiian Islands as a meetings destination. which we can meet and enjoy all that we have to be thankful Based in Los Angeles, AEG has a presence in more than for living and working in this beautiful state. 100 venues on five continents and plans to position the HCC in key meetings, conventions and incentive (MCI) markets, George D. Szigeti is president & CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & especially in the Asia-Pacific region. SMG Hawaii, which has Tourism Association (HLTA). managed HCC since it opened in 1998, will continue the job until AEG’s contract commences Jan. 1, 2014. HTA is also looking into enhanced uses for HCC, including the development of a center for Hawaiian music and dance that will honor and perpetuate our unique host culture, while creating an attraction to draw visitors and residents to the facility. www.hawaiihospitalityonline.com 3 http://www.hawaiihospitalityonline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hawaii Hospitality - September/October 2013

Garden Isle's Ohana
Social Media
Visitor Sector Renovations
Featured Department: Housekeeping
New Restaurants
HLHF Expo Recap
Clean Talk with Rose
Talk Story with George Szigeti
Association News/News Brief
MarketPlace

Hawaii Hospitality - September/October 2013