When Hawaii Destination Specialists send their clients to Kauai,
they know more than just the basic ins and outs of the island.
Thanks to Ke Kula O Hawaii, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention
Bureau’s (HVCB) self-study program, they can customize an island
visit precisely to each client’s interests, whether it’s telling
them about the Kilauea farmer’s market or sharing the rich history
and culture of the Wailua River.
Since HVCB launched Ke Kula in 1999, it has certified over 7,000
agents well versed not only in Kauai but all the Hawaiian islands.
Now the bureau has debuted an improved version of the program based
on travel agent feedback.
On April 10, HVCB travel trade partnerships managing director
Elizabeth Johnsen previewed the product at Cruise3Sixty in Florida,
with NCL sponsoring the seminar. In late April another 200 agents
learned about Ke Kula’s upgrades at the Go Go Learning Conference
on the Big Island.
As HVCB tweaked Ke Kula, it solicited suggestions at travel
agent discussions and conducted an online survey, getting 546
responses from a combination of active HDS agents and non-HDS
agents. Based on those comments, HVCB has taken the coursework to a
new and more effective level, said Johnsen.
“Fifty percent of the work now focuses on Hawaii’s geography,
history and culture,” she said. “And 50 percent focuses on selling
Hawaii today, looking at the most profitable market segments,
examining booking trends and offering tips on selling up, and using
technology for research sales and marketing support.”
Along with a more relevant program of study, today’s HDS agents
have access to a more personalized pre-arrival product and
easier-to-navigate agent Web site. There, they can input bookings
more easily and get improved sales and marketing tools and
support.
The certification is available for free online, and HDS agents
receive seven Continuing Education Credits. If agents took the HDS
course over 12 months ago, they qualify to receive the seven CEUs
when they retake it and pass certification.
What hasn’t changed are Ke Kula’s agent welcome packet; online
consumer referral system via HVCB’s consumer Web site; sales and
marketing tools available around-the-clock through the agents’ Web
site; and rewards points accrual and redemption.
“No matter what island an agent is selling,” said Johnsen, “we
consider Ke Kula O Hawaii to be the official word on the
destination based on extensive research, fact-finding and marketing
knowledge.”
800-847-4844
www.agents.gohawaii.com