For Immediate Release

HVCB GOES DOUBLE PLATINUM WITH MEETINGS INDUSTRY AWARDS

HONOLULU – The service excellence provided groups has earned the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and its industry partners the Platinum Choice Award from Smart Meetings magazine and Platinum Partner Award from Incentive magazine.

Notably, both awards were determined by the voting of the magazines’ readers – meetings industry professionals nationwide.

“Congratulations to the HVCB and our industry partners for the achievement of these prestigious awards,” said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA). “The awards are a testament to their hard work, dedication and professionalism in promoting the Hawaiian Islands as an ideal destination for meetings and incentives travel, and extending their aloha spirit. The HTA remains committed to marketing Hawaii as a global meetings destination and will continue to capitalize on the interest in our state following the success of APEC 2011.”

Smart Meetings magazine determined its Platinum awardees using a variety of criterion, including breadth of resources, guest services, meeting packages, staff attitude, and technical support. Other award honorees included the convention and visitors bureaus for Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Orlando.

Incentive magazine referenced the motivational appeal of the destination, quality of professionalism of the service, and degree of creativity and promotional support in deciding its Platinum winners. Other awardees included convention and visitors bureaus for New York, Boston, Denver, and San Francisco.

Michael Murray, CMP, CMM, CASE, HVCB’s vice president of sales and marketing, credited HVCB’s earning of the two awards to the teamwork of its Island Chapters and industry partners and the Hawaii Convention Center in fulfilling the program objectives of groups while staying within their budget.

“We’re very proud about receiving these awards and applaud the efforts of our partners statewide for all their support in affirming Hawaii’s stature as a world-class meetings destination,” said Murray. “These industry honors are further proof that meeting planners and the groups they represent can always count on Hawaii’s tourism professionals to band together and do everything that’s needed to ensure their business meetings and incentive programs are a success.”

HVCB is contracted by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the state of Hawaii’s tourism agency, to provide marketing management services for the conventions, meetings and incentives market segment. HTA was established in 1998 to ensure a successful visitor industry well into the future. Its mission is to strategically manage Hawaii tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with the state of Hawaii’s economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources, community desires, and visitor industry needs.

Statewide Meetings Contact:
Michael Murray, CMP, CMM, CASE
Vice President, Sales and Marketing, CMI Division
Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau
mmurray@hvcb.org
(808) 924-0253

Patrick Dugan
Senior Vice President
McNeil Wilson Communications
Patrick.Dugan@AnthologyGroup.com
(808) 539-3411

For information about hosting corporate meetings and incentives in Hawaii, visit HVCB’s website at BusinessAloha.com or call 1-888-424-2924.

Hawaii Convention Center Contact:
Neil Mullanaphy
Executive Director, Sales and Marketing
The Hawaii Convention Center
nmullanaphy@hccsmg.com
(703) 647-7410

Teddi Anderson
President
The Limtiaco Company
TeddiA@TheLimtiacoCompany.com
(808) 535-9099, ext. 103

For more information about the Hawaii Convention Center, visit www.hawaiiconvention.com or call (808) 943-3500. For additional information about SMG, visit www.smgworld.com.