BUSINESS BRIEFS
Inouye: tourism industry fragile
Advertiser Staff and News Services
Tourism in Hawai'i and the nation as a whole could benefit from better coordination between state and federal officials, Sen. Daniel Inouye said in an address yesterday.
"Trying to get the federal government to partner with the states and the tourism industry is an effort that I, along with several other members of Congress, will continue to work on. However, because there is currently no coordinated federal-state-local partnership, even states that are strong in tourism, like my home state of Hawai'i, are experiencing challenges like never before," Inouye told members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., at their winter meeting.
"Despite (recent) success, the tourism industry today is still fragile," Inouye said. "Hawai'i's tourism industry has shown great resilience, but it faces continuing challenges."
Inouye said one way to help the industry would be for Congress to approve the Travel Promotion Act of 2007, authored by Inouye and Sens. Byron Dorgan and Ted Stevens.
The bill would create a nonprofit corporation to promote America to international visitors. The bill is currently awaiting a vote on the floor of the Senate.
Mayor Mufi Hannemann is attending the conference.
PAPAYA PRODUCTION INCREASES
Hawai'i papaya production rose to an estimated 3.1 million pounds in November, which was down 8 percent from October, but up 18 percent from November 2006.
Cumulative sales for the first 11 months of 2007 totaled 27 million pounds, which was 11 percent higher than the comparable period in 2006, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Papaya growers received 37 cents a pound for fresh fruit in November, which was unchanged from October and down from 1.3 cents from November 2006.
OUTRIGGER TO MANAGE KAUA'I RESORT
Koloa Landing on Kaua'i is the latest condominium project to be added to management by Outrigger Enterprises Group, the company announced today.
The new 24-acre, luxury resort condominium project is under construction on the southern tip of Kaua'i. The company describes the project as the first major oceanside real estate development in the Po'ipu area since 1990 and the newest master-planned "resort-style" community in Hawai'i.
Completion of the first phase of construction of the $285 million project is expected in 2009.
"We are excited to have been selected to manage the Koloa Landing at Po'ipu Beach, and we look forward to providing owners and guests with the very best in service to match the quality and luxurious accommodations that will define the Koloa Landing experience," said Steve Winter, vice president of Outrigger's Condominium Collection.
It will comprise 323 upscale resort units. Designed by Group 70 International Inc. of Honolulu, the resort will feature two-, three- and four-bedroom units.
COMPANY TO WEBCAST REPORT
General Growth Properties Inc., the nation's No. 2 shopping mall owner and the operator of Ala Moana and Ward shopping venues, will discuss its financial performance during a Feb. 12 conference call that will be webcast.
The company said it will release fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 11 and have its conference call at 3 a.m. Hawai'i time the next day. Interested parties may listen to the call and its rebroadcast at the company's www.ggp.com Web site.
