prime event

SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY

More than 100 meeting planners and incentive travel organizers from the Asia Pacific region and North America will converge on the Big Island this week for PRIME2008, a record number for the event in Hawaii for Hawaii’s conventions, meetings and incentive market this year.

The 11th annual Pacific Rim Incentives and Meetings Exchange, PRIME2008, runs Tuesday through Saturday, and brings together decision-making meeting and incentive group planners from North America and Asia, with Hawaii industry suppliers to showcase the island of Hawaii as a business and incentive destination. An unprecedented number of 38 Asian planners are attending from targeted emerging markets, including the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, China and Japan.

The Big Island Visitors Bureau, or BIVB, in partnership with the County of Hawaii were a key force in bringing PRIME back to the island of Hawaii.

“PRIME2008 is an important opportunity we worked hard to bring back to the island since it debuted here in 1999,” said George Applegate, BIVB’s executive director. “It is a privilege to be the host island, but one we deserve. Hawaii’s Big Island offers an excellent CMI experience unmatched elsewhere. I’m pleased to offer our Hawaii Island businesses this immeasurable networking opportunity. The island of Hawaii welcomes approximately 100,000 convention, meeting and incentive visitors per year. The positive economic impact of these guests on the community is vast, benefiting resorts, activity providers, farmers and product suppliers and all their employees throughout our island. We are excited about the great potential to build the group business coming to this island and the positive contribution to our community.”

According to organizers, PRIME2008 is a groundbreaking opportunity to showcase Hawaii Island as not only a beautiful and productive destination to hold a meeting, but as the most logical choice for international conventions, incentives and meetings business because of its location in the middle of the Pacific. “Hawaii provides an ideal gathering place between North America, Asia and Oceania,” said Priscilla Texeira, PRIME2008 managing director.

A sample of top international companies sending decision-making planners include Amway Japan Ltd., Toyota Motor Philippines, Kuo Hua Insurance from Taiwan, Korea’s Hyundai Dream Tour and New Shanghai CITS from China.

More than 80 mainland companies will also attend, including Kaiser Permanente, University of California San Francisco, Microsoft and FTD.

The four-day itinerary includes PRIME Business Exchange meetings, and site tours of the Big Island’s diverse range of accommodations and meeting venues offered from Keauhou to the Kohala Coast. Also on the agenda are distinct Hawaii Island activities, such as helicopter flights over Kilauea volcano to paniolo ranch tours, dolphin swims and sunset sailing trips. The PRIME Business Exchange is sponsored by Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa on Thursday and Friday in its brand new conference center.

Receptions, beachfront dinners and luau are being hosted by sponsor resorts, including the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa, Keauhou Beach Resort, The Fairmont Orchid and Hilton Waikoloa Village. Approximately 75 industry suppliers from Hawaii and the Asia/Pacific region will meet one-on-one with the planners during pre-scheduled appointments. Destination management company, Kathy Clarke Hawaii, is sponsoring all the transportation, and orchestrated all the activities.

To be eligible to attend PRIME2008, planners must have site-selection/negotiation responsibilities; have had past or have existing or potential business for Hawaii; use offshore destinations; plan/organize meetings and conferences of an international scope; and have members or affiliates in the Asia Pacific region.

For more information, visit www.prime-aloha.com, call Texeira at 597-1179 or e-mail prime-aloha@hawaii.rr.com.