David Y. Ige

HONOLULU – The hot-button subject of tourism’s impact on communities – especially in regard to short-term vacation rentals and alternative accommodations in neighborhoods – will be addressed in key sessions at the Global Tourism Summit, October 1-3, at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.

Presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the summit’s theme – Charting the Course – speaks to the need of travel destinations to constantly seek a balance between the economic infusion tourism generates for states and counties with the negative impacts it can cause for residents and communities.

George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO, said, “Balancing tourism’s economic benefits for business and government with its effects on residents’ quality of life is delicate and requires all points of view to come together and work toward solutions that are fair and reasonable.

“We encourage residents, tourism professionals and government officials to attend the sessions addressing this subject, share their input, hear what’s being done in other destinations, and come up with strategies to support tourism, while protecting the way of life we treasure in Hawaii.”

Following are sessions addressing topics of importance as it relates to tourism’s future and the desire to maintain a vibrant industry while being responsive to the concerns of residents on key issues, such as the usage of short-term vacation rentals and having alternative accommodations in neighborhoods. The public is encouraged to register for the summit (www.globaltourismsummithawaii.com), participate in the sessions, and offer their input as to how this balance can be achieved.

How Destinations Manage Both Legal and Illegal Vacation Rentals, October 1, 4:00 p.m.
This panel discussion will feature guest speakers from New Orleans, San Francisco and Los Angeles, three cities in which government officials have successfully taken action to prevent legal and illegal short-term vacation rentals from encroaching into residential neighborhoods.

Managing the Destination – Finding a Balance for Residents and Visitors, October 2, 10:10 a.m.
Guest panelists from Colorado, Oregon and Honolulu will discuss strategies being implemented by destinations to cope with record numbers of travelers who, with the help of social media, are finding their way into what were once unspoiled locations.

Traditional Accommodations: Hawaii Hotel and Timeshare Update, October 2, 10:10 a.m.
This panel discussion will provide an update on the current landscape, the changes taking place globally, and the new challenges and opportunities being presented to hotels and timeshares, the dominant accommodation types for Hawaii’s lodging industry.

Alternative Accommodations: Continuing the Conversation, October 2, 1:00 p.m.
Guest panelists representing Airbnb, HomeAway, and the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office will address current issues related to vacation rentals and destination experiences.

Your Voice Matters: A Workshop on the Future of Hawaii Tourism (Part 1), October 2, 2:45 p.m.
The PATA Hawaii Chapter invites the public to join this panel discussion to address key issues facing Hawaii’s tourism industry and specific actions that can be adopted to improve its future.

Your Voice Matters: A Workshop on the Future of Hawaii Tourism (Part 2), October 2, 4:05 p.m.
This session is a continuation of the panel discussion with working breakout groups addressing the issues and proposed action steps developed in Part 1 of this workshop.

During the three days of the summit, October 1-3, thought-provoking sessions, presentations and panel discussions will address the need of destinations to strive for sustainable tourism, trends in the global travel marketplace, the significance of culture in marketing tourism, and new travel innovations being implemented, including artificial intelligence.

Special events include the Networking Reception on October 1, the Aloha Reception – with cuisine provided by 20 restaurants – on October 2, and the Tourism Legacy Awards Lunch on October 3, all of which are included in the full summit registration, or when registering for those days.

Registration for the Global Tourism Summit is closing on Tuesday, September 25, at 11:55 p.m. Any tourism industry partner, business or individual interested in tourism’s future – both in Hawaii and around the world – is encouraged to register, network and share their opinions.

Participants can register online for the Global Tourism Summit via the dedicated website, www.globaltourismsummithawaii.com, and choose from one of several options below that features savings for groups, students and faculty.

Individuals: Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $425

Group Package (Minimum of 8 people): Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $2,600 total, a savings of $100 per person. Groups can mix and match different attendees during the conference.

Students and Faculty Members: Full Summit Registration, October 1-3: $150

Students: 1-Day Summit Registration, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday: $50

Individuals: 2-Day Summit Registration, October 1-2: $315 (Includes attendance to the Networking Reception on October 1 and Aloha Reception on October 2)

Individuals: 2-Day Summit Registration, October 2-3: $295 (Includes attendance to the Aloha Reception on October 2 and Tourism Legacy Awards Lunch on October 3)

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About the Hawaii Tourism Authority
The Hawaii Tourism Authority is responsible for strategically managing the State of Hawaii’s marketing initiatives to support tourism. HTA’s goal is to optimize tourism’s benefits for Hawaii, while being attentive to the interests of travelers, the community and visitor industry. Established in 1998 to support Hawaii’s leading industry and largest employer, HTA continually strives to help ensure the sustainability of tourism’s success.

For more information about HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org. Follow updates about HTA on Facebook, Twitter (@HawaiiHTA) and its YouTube Channel.

Media Contacts:

Charlene Chan
Director of Communications
Hawaii Tourism Authority
808-973-2272 (o)
808-781-7733 (m)
[email protected]

Patrick Dugan
Anthology Marketing Group
(808) 539-3411 (o)
(808) 741-2712 (m)
[email protected]