Think Pink

If your clients want to contribute to a cause as they travel, tell them to think pink. That’s the message from the Oahu Visitors Bureau, which has come up with a way for people to fight against breast cancer while vacationing.

Called Travel Pink, Travel Oahu, the new initiative supports the Hawaii affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization dedicated to increasing breast cancer awareness. Joining forces on the campaign are accommodation-providers on Oahu, tour wholesalers and retailers.

“The island of Oahu is a special place for rejuvenating from daily stresses and reconnecting with oneself and loved ones,” said OVB senior sales and marketing director Noelani Schilling-Wheeler. “We wanted to create a campaign that would help the thousands of women who are battling breast cancer. Travel Pink, Travel Oahu gives visitors to Oahu an opportunity to help efforts to find a cure for this deadly disease.”

Hotel partners in the initiative include the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa, which is donating $10,000 to island-based Komen programs. Its Travel Pink room package, designed to encourage active lifestyles, provides clients with a black sports bag with a custom-designed pink breast cancer ribbon imprint; floral pink breast cancer cloisonne pin; Support Breast Cancer Research bracelet; polycarbonate sports bottle; $20 discount coupon for treatments at the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Mandara Spa; bath salts and oatmeal soap; $25 gift certificate for merchandise at Tori Richard fashion shops; and 20 percent discount at the hotel’s Rainbow Lanai restaurant. Starting at $239 per night and good for stays through Dec. 20, the package requires a minimum booking of three nights (800-445-8667, rate plan P0; www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/pink.

The Royal Hawaiian, which is making an outright donation of $1,000 to the Komen affiliate in Hawaii, has dreamed up its own Travel Pink package for the OVB campaign. Clients receive pink champagne and banana bread upon arrival, a Royal Hawaiian Beach Club bag, pink visor or hat and 15 percent off any spa treatment at the hotel’s Abhasa Waikiki Spa. Based on a minimum three-night stay, the package starts at $289 per night, applicable to visits through July 31, 2008. Clients can combine it with other promotions (866-716-8140, rate plan TVLPINK; www.starwoodhotels.com/hawaii.

During October, Halekulani is giving Komen in Hawaii a percentage of the rate from every guestroom sold. During the month, clients can enjoy an exclusive $12 cocktail called Heavenly Rose, available at Orchids restaurant and Lewers Lounge. At the Boutiques of Halekulani, all pink merchandise sold during October will benefit the cause, as will proceeds from a one-day sale of goods baked by the hotel’s employees (800-367-2343; www.halekulani.com.

The Waikiki Parc is also dedicating October to the campaign by contributing a percentage of that month’s room sales to Komen Hawaii. For $20, clients can uncork a bottle of the hotel’s own Tickle Pink sparkling wine (800-422-0450; www.waikikiparc.com.

Pleasant Holidays is partnering in the campaign by fashioning five-night land-only vacations to the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Royal Hawaiian from $708 per person. The wholesaler is donating a portion of its profits from those packages to the foundation, while clients get the same amenities at the hotels as listed above (800-448-3333; www.pleasantagent.com.

Clients who book a Travel Pink, Travel Oahu package from Apple Vacations receive pink luggage tags and a pink lei greeting. A $50 donation to the local Komen chapter will be made for each package booked at the Royal Hawaiian, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Halekulani and Waikiki Parc, with the same pink-oriented perks (800-800-0202; www.myappleonline.com.