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Airlines
Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks closer at JetBlue's revamped loyalty program, Hawaii's tourism push, and the AI chatbot solving every travel news need.
Rashaad Jorden | 1 year ago
News Blog
The Hawaii Tourism Authority plans to move forward with its plans to award an expensive contract to market Hawaii to the U.S. mainland, despite not being allocated funding from the legislature for the next two years. The decision was made at a board meeting Tuesday, according to Honolulu Star Advertiser (paywall). The contract is worth…
Dawit Habtemariam | 1 year ago
Hotels
Today's edition of Skift's daily podcast looks at tourism influencers, IHG's departing CEO, and Hawaii's tourism frustrations.
On Thursday, the Hawaii Tourism Authority was officially excluded from the state budget and now has to request funds from the state’s budgeting and finance department. The governor and legislature will vet the funding requests, putting the agency under their scrutiny. “We understand that our spending will be more scrutinized, and we recognize that we…
The Hawaii Tourism Authority may not be around for long. Last week, the state legislature’s House committee approved a Senate bill that would repeal the Hawaii Tourism Authority and create a government office dedicated solely to destination management, leaving the island without a tourism marketing agency. The bill now has to face two hearings before…
The Hawaii Tourism Authority put two contracts up to bid, one for marketing to the U.S. and the other for destination management, on February 14. The two contracts are essentially a split of the previous one that included both responsibilities and had been awarded to a community non-profit. A government official canceled the it minutes…
Tourism
Tackling overtourism and committing to sustainable growth requires new public policy and support from the top layers of government. For Hawaii, that opportunity could come next August.
Lebawit Lily Girma | 3 years ago
How can the tourism industry strengthen its relationship with communities? Simple: it needs to embrace the fact that it's the communities who invite stakeholders in, and who give them a seat at the table, not the other way around.
Dennis Schaal, Skift | 3 years ago
Overtourism
Hawaii's residents are aware tourism per se is a plus for development, the latest survey shows — but they also want solutions and action. Acting fast is crucial.
Lebawit Lily Girma, Skift | 3 years ago
Experts say Hawaii's tourism officials are making a genuine effort to build back better, but this is where the rubber meets the road: Who will tackle Hawaii's overcrowding problem? And with legislators aiming to slash Hawaii Tourism Authority's funding and authority, how will a majority domestic tourism market impact Hawaii's travel industry?
