February 23rd, 2018

Tourism Day at the Capitol
Mahalo to all of our HLTA members who participated in making Tourism Day at the Capitol a huge success! Members and our team arrived at the Capitol early on Tuesday morning to set-up for the trade show on the 4th floor where industry partners could meet legislators and share their products and services. Participating exhibitors ranged from the hospitality industry to transportation, food and beverage companies and other non-profit organizations. They included A-1 Textiles & Hospitality Products, Alaska Airlines, Aqua-Aston Hospitality, Enterprise Rideshare, Family & Friends of Agriculture, HART, Hawaii Ecotourism Association, Hawaii Pacific University, Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau, Hawaii.com, Hawaiian Cool Water, HLTA Kauai Chapter, Home of the Brave, Kaimuki High School, Ko Olina Resort, Kyo-ya/Marriott International, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association, Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, Oahu Resource Conservation & Development Council, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Polynesian Cultural Center, Press Reader, Royal Hawaiian Center, the Orchid Lei Company, The Tea Chest, University of Hawaii, Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, Windward Community College and Tiki’s Bar & Grill.
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The morning kicked off with breakfast-talk story format. Hotel GM’s and allied executives were there from every county and everyone of the lawmakers who attended were introduced at the gathering. We were also favored with remarks from Senate President Ron Kouchi and the Governor’s Administrative Director Ford Fuchigami. During our chit-chats we were able to remind legislators of our top priority issues: the Airport Corporation, Transient Vacations Rentals, Homelessness and Public Safety and raise concerns of our opposition to any new taxes on the hospitality industry. Thank you to all our members who helped us with planning, preparation and execution of the event, including many of our lawmakers staffs- we couldn’t have done it without you!
 
Visitor Public Safety Conference
Another reminder again to please register and join us next week Tuesday, February 27 for the Visitor Public Safety Conference at the Sheraton Waikiki from 8-3:15 p.m. A committee of civic-minded stake holders have been hard at work helping us assemble a stellar group of speakers, including HPD Police Chief Susan Ballard and City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro and panelists who will address timely and appropriate topics on public safety and how we can keep the Hawaiian Islands a premier safe destination for visitors and residents. Q & A opportunities will also be a part of every session.
To register please go to www.hawaiilodging.org or to obtain more information about the conference please contact Jared Higashi jhigashi@hawaiilodging.org.
 
WIL Event Honors Woman of the Year and Scholarship Recipient
Mahalo to everyone who joined us at the Women In Lodging quarterly networking event to honor Woman of the Year recipient, Teri Orton. Teri is the General Manager of Hawaii Convention Center/AEG Facilities and has been an active member of HLTA and we congratulate her for a job well done and her commitment through the years to our industry. More than 100 guests attended the event held at Wisp Restaurant & Lounge at the Lotus Honolulu on February 22 to make it a great night for our guests of honor. and partake in the networking opportunity. The other honoree of the evening was WIL scholarship recipient and Kapiolani Community College student, Cassandra Robinson. Cassandra was awarded a $1,000 scholarship towards her studies as a hospitality major. The following Women in Lodging who serve as board members were also recognized that evening which include Julie Arigo, Denise Wardlow, Lisa Paulson, Karen Fowler, Chelsea Tsuchida and Carrie Takahama and new board members Michelle Harrison, Karen Wataru-Nakaoka, Debbie Murakami and Conchita Malaqui. I know I speak for everyone who attended the event that we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. Mahalo to WIL chair Pam Yagi for your leadership!