The HTA (Hawaii Tourism Authority) wants more secrecy with respect to how it spends it money... to start with it probably would rather not advertise it spends one quarter of its 70 million dollar budget on administration, and it spends $95,000 for legislative lobbying. (Consider that these lobbying funds are likely used to ensure that that State takes from the Counties' portion of the TAT (Transient Accommodation Tax) revenues, rather than reducing any of its 34% take of these TAT revenues. (Pacific Business News December 25, 2009, page 1 article about the HTA)

Anyway here we have a fatboy of an government paid for advertising company.  I suggest HTA's portion of the TAT funds should be reduced to 0%. The responsibilities of this ad agency should be shifted back to the Counties and the local business and the constituency.  Time for all of these hotels to be forced to work with the Counties and with the folks who live on these islands.  In general object to its over all marketing strategy and I don't like its slick advertising. I suggest tourism businesses can do creative advertising and work with County level organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce.

Advertising should be more individual island -- County based. Encourage resorts to have a closer relationship to the local communities.  Recently there was a Japanese couple shopping in the Waikoloa King's shops. They said they had come to Hawaii Island a number of times but they were getting tired of just hanging out at the hotels, and did not intend to return.  When asked whether they had been to Hapuna Beach or up Mauna Lea -- they said conceige services had never mentioned going to those places. As it turned out, they had never even been to the Queen's shops -- and assumed this would be no different from the King's shops (They had been encouraged to do their shopping at King's Shops.)  Other tourists, wandering around the Mauna Lani Shops were upset because there was not one restaurant open for lunch and there is no shuttle to go from Mauna Lani to Waikoloa King and Queen Shops. ( I understand a lunch restaurant is now or will soon be opening). A greater emphasis needs to be placed on the quality of hosting to lure tourists back here --- not just sell the place from placards on buses in far off places which market a visitor  experience at a single resort and possible an around Hawaii island bus trip.    Laos for example does very little advertising elsewhere - but its ecotourism sector is on the upswing. There is much focus on the quality of the experience once the tourist is there, and encouraging tourists to stay "one more day" and participate  one of the community or  farm volunteer programs.

I also believe Hawaii County resorts need to develop a local cliente -- with communities around the island. Have a Waimea discount night or  Puna Special -- or a Hawaiian quilters night or chess players night or lawyers get together night -- best with late checkout times .  I recently stayed at one of the hotels and was upset there was an extra fee I had not been told about: for self parking and the internet.  Also the internet services need to be upgraded -- so one can use the computer wireless anywhere in the hotel. And don't forget to encourage each and every resident of Hawaii to promote Hawaii tourism -- among both personal and business contacts.

Anyway to get back to my main point -- if the state needs more TAT funds -- then take from from HTA, a state level entity, not from the Counties.   This is a good place to shrink government .  Recently Governor Lingle said "We need to be creative and realistic. We can't be in a state of denial about the reduction in revenues that we have." (See West Hawaii Today article by Mark Niesse, Associated Press " Hawaii dimmed by education, election, health cuts" page 10A  December 10, 2009.  Being creative and realistic are not characteristic which would bring Governor Lingle to mind. I wish her well in this objective... I am waiting to hear such suggestions from her.

SEE MY PREVIOUS BLOGS:
-- EARLIER TODAY "STATE MAKES CRAFTY MOVE TO USURP COUNTIES' TAT"  AND 
-- 1/19/10 BLOG ON ECOTOURISM AND THE TOURIST TRADE