Once Again Open to Visitors, Hawaii Prepares for the Return of Meetings and Events
November 2, 2020
With the launch of its pre-travel testing program on Oct. 15, the State of Hawaii officially began welcoming visitors back to the islands. According to John Reyes, senior vice president and chief meetings, conventions and incentives (MCI) sales officer for Meet Hawaii, the reopening is positive news for groups looking to book meetings and events — even if, at the moment, allowable gatherings are still small.
Currently, Hawaii has limited social gatherings to 10 people inside and 10 people outside. In an attempt to increase that number, Reyes says the tourism industry is urging political decision makers to consider MCI groups separately because of the work being done to implement health and safety protocols specific to the market.
That includes a comprehensive health and safety program developed by venue and event management company ASM Global at Hawaii Convention Center. According to Teri Orton, general manager, HCC is available for meetings as long as they follow State of Hawaii Department of Health and CDC guidelines, which planners can find on the reopening protocols section of the center’s website.
To further aid planners, Meet Hawaii is aggregating the newly implemented protocols along with venue updates and supplier relationship assistance into what they are calling the New Hawaii MCI Blueprint, which will soon be available on the Meet Hawaii website and continually updated with the latest information.
While Meet Hawaii has received an uptick in meeting inquiries for 2021 — especially for smaller groups and hybrid gatherings — they are seeing greater interest for 2022 and beyond. “2022 has strong group bookings, and Meet Hawaii anticipates the return to pre-COVID group demand to Hawaii in 2024,” says Reyes.
Coupled with the introduction of a vaccine, Reyes sees the return of meetings dependent on the industry’s ability to respond to the evolving needs of planners. “The key for Hawaii and our industry is to offer meeting customers the technology that allows them to have on-site attendance and stream to attendees who choose to attend their meetings virtually,” says Reyes. He adds that they’re also seeing a demand for more flexible cancellation policies by meetings customers.
The positive news, says Reyes, is that Hawaii’s health and safety protocols have already created a strong level of confidence among visitors. To build upon those, Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association has launched the “We Are Ready” program outlining the measures implemented at Hawaii hotels. “As a hotel community, HTLA has been proactive in ensuring the health and safety of our hotel guests as well as our hotel employees,” says Reyes.
Hotels with meeting facilities that reopened Oct. 15 with measures in place include Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, which recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation and is offering a program that allows groups to buy out all or a portion of the 40-acre resort, and the two Four Seasons resorts on the island of Lanai. Scheduled to reopen in November are Prince Waikiki on Oahu, Mauna Kea Resort on Hawaii Island, and — for smaller groups — the 18-room Plantation Inn on Maui. Also on Maui, Ka’anapali Beach Hotel expects to reopen on Dec. 1 following a $75 million renovation.
Get more information on holding meetings in Hawaii here.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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