Press Releases

HAWAI‘I’S BIG ISLAND IS READY FOR P.R.I.M.E. TIME

09/05/2008

Pacific Rim Incentives & Meetings Exchange is a Big Deal for the Big Island

Hawai‘i’s Big Island (Sept. 4, 2008) – More than 100 meeting planners and incentive travel organizers from the Asia Pacific region and North America will converge on Hawai‘i’s Big Island next week for PRIME2008, a record number for the most important event in Hawai‘i for Hawai‘i’s conventions, meetings and incentive market this year.

The 11th annual Pacific Rim Incentives & Meetings Exchange, PRIME2008, runs Sept. 9 – 13, and brings together decision-making meeting and incentive group planners from North America and Asia, with Hawai‘i industry suppliers to showcase the Island of Hawai‘i 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 in partnership with the County of Hawai‘i was a key force in bringing PRIME back to the Island of Hawai‘i.

“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. Hawai‘i’s Big Island offers an excellent CMI experience unmatched elsewhere. I’m pleased to offer our Hawai‘i Island businesses this immeasurable networking opportunity,” he said. “The Island of Hawai‘i 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,” he said.

According to organizers, PRIME2008 is a groundbreaking opportunity to showcase Hawai‘i 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. “Hawai‘i provides an ideal gathering place between North America, Asia and Oceania,” said Priscilla Texeira, managing director of PRIME2008.

A sample of top international companies sending decision-making planners include Amway Japan Limited, 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 Hawai‘i Island activities, such as helicopter flights over Kīlauea volcano to paniolo ranch tours, dolphin swims and sunset sailing trips. The PRIME Business Exchange is sponsored by Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Sept. 11 and 12, in its brand new conference center.

“What makes PRIME Business Exchange different than other industry events is that you don’t go from booth to booth to talk to people, it’s all prescheduled one-on-one business meetings,” Texeira said.

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

To be eligible to attend PRIME2008 on Hawai‘i’s Big Island, planners must have site-selection/negotiation responsibilities; have had past or have existing or potential business for Hawai‘i; 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, or contact Priscilla Texeira, managing director, (808) 597-1179 or email prime-aloha@hawaii.rr.com

For more information on meetings on Hawai‘i’s Big Island, visit http://meet.BigIsland.org

NOTE: BIVB recognizes the use of diacritical markings, i.e., glottal stop (‘), macron (ā), in place names of Hawai‘i, such as Kīlauea. However, BIVB respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses.

Big Island Visitors Bureau Media Contact:
Jessica Ferracane, Irondog Communications, (808) 895-5740; jessica@irondogpr.com