The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau organized a comprehensive team of group sales pros from the state's hotels, resorts and travel companies to kick off a highly coordinated phone campaign aimed at boosting meetings and conventions business to Hawaii.
The Hawaii Sales Prospect Blitz, as organizers dubbed it, began with a four-hour phone spree at the Kauai Beach Resort the morning of Feb. 9. Similar sessions were held on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island from Feb. 10 to 12.
Sales professionals from 50 HVCB industry partners on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai participated, working together to sell Hawaii as a world-class meetings and conventions destination, rather than simply drumming up business for their respective companies.
"We have created a list of nearly 10,000 potential clients, and our goal is to contact each one and sell them on the benefits and competitive advantages of booking Hawaii for business meetings," said Michael Murray, HVCB's vice president of sales and marketing for corporate meetings and incentives.
"Our industry partners statewide have really stepped up to do what's best for Hawaii as a whole," Murray added. "With all of us working together, I'm confident we will generate prospects and leads on new business for the state."
According to the HVCB, the campaign targeted North American meetings planners in all industries, but the effort did place a priority on "reaching lucrative business sectors, such as medical, pharmaceutical, banking, business-related services and supply services."