Groups are discovering the benefits of the Big Island as a meeting
destination, and resorts on the island are responding with creative
programs and beyond-the-call service to attract this lucrative
market segment.
Meetings, conventions and incentive groups comprise more than
10% of the Big Island’s total market, according to George
Applegate, director of the Big Island Visitors Bureau.
“We are putting more emphasis on attracting this segment with
additional sales staff that focus only on MCIs,” he said. “And we
have a new meetings Web site under development.”
The steady increase in direct air service from the West Coast to
The Big Island is making the meeting planner’s job easier, he
added.
Big Island resorts appeal to groups by offering elegant,
sophisticated facilities separated from each other by hundreds of
open acres, Applegate said. “You never get the feeling of being
crowded here.” Following are four examples of how Big Island
resorts are satisfying group needs:
" Hilton Waikoloa Village. Craig Pagadauan, director of
catering, meetings and conventions, said the 1,240-room resort goes
the extra mile to meet every group’s culinary desires.
“We’ll ask the meeting planner beforehand about any special
dietary needs,” Pagadauan said. “That way we can anticipate meal
requests and eliminate delays. If the planner isn’t aware of
dietary requirements, our kitchen will prepare a certain number of
vegetarian meals just in case, making sure that the taste and
presentation are as spectacular as the regular meals being
served.”
" Mauna Kea Resort. Cynthia Mayer, catering and conference
services director, said her property’s two hotels Hapuna Beach
Prince Hotel and Mauna Kea Beach Hotel specialize in customized
events.
“If the client wants to do a full-on 1970s disco night or an
outdoor paniolo steak fry complete with bull rides and
country-western music, we can do it,” she said. “We’ve produced a
huge luau for more than 600 people, with fire dancers, a roasted
pig and buffets so huge we had hula girls dancing around the food.
This kind of event makes our clients look good and their meetings
unforgettable.”
" Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows. Kalson Pang, catering
and conference services director, said the hotel’s 350 guest rooms
allows his team to give its full attention to a group in-house.
“We’ve had the group’s VIP make a signature arrival in a kayak,
even though the surf was up,” Pang said. “We’ve arranged for a luau
show with fire dancers for an intimate group of 10. We’ve provided
instant translation for a group of 300 that included 10 different
languages. And, in two hours, we turned a meeting room for 200 into
an enchanted garden island for a gala dinner.”
" Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Danny Breatchel, marketing
director, said his property customizes a wide range of group
programs, such as a stargazing party, a hukilau (a casual Hawaiian
party by the sea), a luau, a paniolo barbeque and an evening of
orchids banquet. Each group member gets top-of-the-line treatment,
Breatchel said.
“Given our small size of 243 rooms, we usually host only one or
two groups at a time,” he said.