hawaii2017.indd 1 10/5/2017 4:42:37 PM Hawai’i takes it up a notch Upscale hotels, cruises, local air are compelling selling points TED DAVIS n upcoming luxury collection by Air Canada Vacations is agrees with that overview. “Waikiki has gone through a major being readied for release in about a month, and will help transformation, and it is now a much more cosmopolitan desti- Adrive more traffi c to the Aloha state, says ACV. The new nation than it was,” she said. “The message for travel agents is luxury collection brochure will be released this November, and that it is now a great destination for foodies and shoppers.” The will feature the Ritz-Carlton Residences, the Royal Hawai’ian combination of this urban experience directly adjacent to famous Resort, the Westin Moana Surfrider Resort, and the Kahala Hotel Waikiki beach “makes this unlike any other place in the world.” & Resort. “We’ve seen strong growth since the addition of Air Canada Rouge service to Hawai’i,” said Tina Seminara, director of product development for ACV in Mississauga. She also credits the fun- damental evolution of Waikiki away from a stereotyped, down market presence to a much more upscale, world-class destination “THE MESSAGE FOR TRAVEL – a dramatic change that has swept through Waikiki over the AGENTS IS THAT IT [WAIKIKI] IS past decade. “If you haven’t been to Waikiki in over ten years, you have to NOW A GREAT DESTINATION come here to see it for yourself,” said the director. An ideal stay on Oahu would combine three nights in Waikiki with four nights FOR FOODIES AND SHOPPERS.” on the north shore at a luxury property like the Turtle Bay Resort, she said. Denise Sterling, product manager for WestJet Vacations, All images, unless otherwise indicated, were provided by Hawai’i Tourism Authority. The Hawaii Sales Guide is published by Baxter Travel Media, as a supplement to Canadian Travel Press, October 9, 2017 Sales & Marketing: Edith Baxter, Editor-in-Chief Earl Lince, Director of International Marketing David McClung, President Rodney Tugwell, Sales Manager Wendy McClung, Executive Vice President, Operations Mitchell McClung, Luke Farr, Account Executives Bob Mowat, Executive Editor Production: Ted Davis, Western Editor; Mike Dunbar, Quebec Editor Wayne Labourn, Production Manager Greg Coates, Assistant Editor Sharron Taylor, Advertising Material Coordinator Ann Ruppenstein, Assistant Editor; Ian Stalker, Senior Writer Johnny Koo, Art Director Dragana Lekovic-Lucic, Senior Design Manager Emily McClung, Dee Ristic, Audience Development Wayne McDonald, Michael Mouatt, Production Artists 310 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5R 1V9 Tel: (416) 968-7252 Email: [email protected] Reproduction, copying or dissemination of this publication in whole or in part, without prior written consent of Baxter Travel Media is strictly prohibited. ©2017 2 HAWAII hawaii2017.indd 2 10/5/2017 2:52:25 PM DRIVING MORE ALOHA TRAFFIC Easy air access to the neighbour islands is a compelling selling Helping to drive more Aloha traffi c is an NCL cruising option point, said Sterling. that Goway is selling for the second year now. One-week cruises The company now has an agreement with Island Air to ex- of the Hawai’ian islands aboard the NCL Pride of America is pedite visits to the other islands in the Aloha state, and agency getting more popular, and includes two nights in Honolulu, said sales of these through WestJet Vacations are commissionable, Bertoia. “You unpack once and start enjoying all the islands.” she said. In any case, demand is defi nitely back in the Canadian market, Airline capacity and access from Canada continues to be a said Amanda Edwards, digital sales director at FlightNetwork. primary consideration for Canadian tour operators who sell com. “People have become used to the (devalued) dollar and still programs into Hawai’i. As such, more non-stop fl ights from other want to travel!” she said. Canadian cities would be benefi cial. Having to stop and trans- fer fl ights in Vancouver can be a deterrence, making Hawai’i a tougher sell, said Mike Bertoia, product manager at Goway in Toronto. On the other hand, taking a break in Hawai’i on the way to South Pacifi c destinations like Fiji and New Zealand – Goway staples – is proving to be popular. “Hawai’i has become more of a destination for us over the past few years,” he said. “IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO WAIKIKI IN OVER TEN YEARS, YOU HAVE TO COME HERE TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF,” Some of the tour operator reps who attended the recent Global Tourism Summit in Waikiki were (l-r) Jean-Michel Gendron of Voyages Gendron, Julie Godbout, product buyer for Groupe Voyage Quebec, Amanda Edwards, digital sales director at FlightNetwork.com, and Mike Bertoia, product manager at Goway in Toronto. Photo supplied by Amanda Edwards. HAWAII 3 hawaii2017.indd 3 10/5/2017 2:52:27 PM Taking care of culture, nature and the world we live in With its Pacifi c Ocean location far from any population centres, Hawai’i brings a more urgent perspective to natural and cultural sustainability. For islands like Hawai’i, sustainability can be considered more of an economic necessity than a destination luxury. Given Hawai’i’s leadership role in cultural tourism, it made sense that the theme of the recent Global Tourism Summit in Waikiki was sustainability. And it was apparent to Summit attendees that the essential appeal of Hawai’i tourism is based on foundations of Hawai’ian culture. “To be a global leader of sustainable tourism, we must always seek a balance that allows tourism to thrive,” said George Szigeti, CEO of the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, whose keynote address kicked off the conference. “But this must be achieved without sacrifi cing the principles of our culture, the beauty of our natural resources and our treasured way of life.” 4 HAWAII hawaii2017.indd 4 10/5/2017 2:52:29 PM SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION 4 Reasons To Experience Hawai‘i NOW Each of Hawai‘i’s six main islands are home to post- card-worthy beaches, moun- tain peaks, traditions and adventures. Your trip to Hawai‘i is guaranteed to be unlike any other escape you’ve experi- enced. Whether on a romantic getaway, a family trip, or off to explore on your own, the offer- ings from the Hawaiian Islands are not to be missed. The Beauty 1 Simply put, Hawai‘i is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. From white-sand beaches, mountains, waterfalls, rain forests, and explosions of colour the likes of which you’ve never experienced, there is no shortage of sights – on any of the are a number of affordable interisland inclusive culture cannot be found islands! airlines and ferry services readily anywhere else in the world. available to let you extend your trip to It’s Not as Expensive as you include more of the islands! The Great Outdoors 2 Think 4 Hawai‘i is known for year-round The notion that Hawai‘i is too expen- The Culture warm temperatures. When the sive for the avid traveller is an old 3 Meaning so much more than winter is in full swing in Canada, myth. With record low airfares, simply “hello” and “goodbye,” aloha and temperatures are plummeting, unbeatable packages (including is a spirit one adopts. According to the daytime high-temperatures are flights, accommodations, and vehicle Hawai‘i State Law, aloha spirit “is the hovering between 25 and 31 degrees rentals), on top of an array of low-cost coordination of mind and heart within Celsius on the islands. While the (or even free!) activities and adven- each person. It brings each person winter months (November through tures awaiting you the moment you to the self. Each person must think March) will see increased rainfall, land, any of the six Hawaiian Islands and emote good feelings to others.” experiencing one of the short-lived are affordable and full of experiences It’s this unique approach to daily life rain showers is often rewarded with that won’t break the bank. that makes Hawai‘i such a powerful one of Hawai‘i’s famous rainbows. experience for travellers of any age. Want to take your trip the extra mile? Appreciating their surroundings, and Travellers can play on the white sands Try island hopping to include more in sharing their experiences with of Papohaku Beach on Moloka‘i, hike experiences on your vacation. There visitors from the mainland, Hawai‘i’s to the summit of Maui’s HaleakalĈ to witness a sunrise experience unlike anything they’ve ever experienced, take a hike on Kaua’i to one of its famous waterfalls, watch migrat- ing humpback whales in the ‘Au‘au Channel, and learn to surf on the famous Waikţkţ Beach. The oppor- tunities are endless. 100917-8 Hawaii Tourism indd 1 10/5/2017 10:24:48 AM hawaii2017.indd 5 10/5/2017 2:52:31 PM SUCCESS is in the air Bullish forecast for islands’ future lift conomic sustainability for the Hawai’i tourism industry For example, his organization tabulated an additional relies almost exclusively on the volume of airline traffi c 170,000 visitors to Hawai’i in 2017 to date versus 2016, and also E that fl ies into the islands, and between the islands. So counted US$312 million in direct visitor spending. delegates to the recent Global Tourism Summit held in Waikiki Mainland traffi c – mostly west coast US – is up by 8% and were pleased to hear a generally bullish outlook in the forecast more capacity growth is forecast for 2018, said DeFiore.