The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) will lead an impressive delegation of its Island Chapters and 52 industry partners next week to the world’s largest incentive and products exposition in Chicago, September 16-18.

Called “The Motivation Show,” the exposition combines the 70th National Premium Incentive Show and the 31st Incentive Travel & Meeting Executives Show, bringing together over 2,000 suppliers of travel services and merchandise worldwide. The show serves as a three-day gathering of incentive buyers for major corporations, as well as “incentive houses” that operate to organize programs for companies. More than 20,000 top business executives are expected to participate representing industries involved with sales, marketing, meetings, and human resources.
Conveying the show’s importance, HVCB’s Hawaii Pavilion will establish a dominating presence on the tradeshow floor with a sweeping, eye-catching display area promoting the culture, natural beauty, activities and attractions, and range of accommodations on all islands. Among the featured “incentives” to draw attendees will be live Hawaii entertainment, food demonstrations of local delicacies, continuous Hawaii refreshments, special gifts for attendees, and a daily Mai Tai Hour.
“Incentives is extremely lucrative for the state so this world-class exhibit display is needed to keep promoting that a trip to Hawaii is a key motivator to drive sales and improve profits,” said Michael Murray, CMP, CMM, CASE, director of sales for HVCB’s Corporate Meetings and Incentives (CMI) division.

“We’re using The Motivation Show to showcase Hawaii’s attributes, reinforce existing business relationships and establish new ones, and conduct competitive analysis of what other destinations are doing.”

HVCB has been participating in the exposition show for over a decade. “It’s proven to be a great source for developing business,” he said.
Hawaii has ranked as the nation’s number one incentive destination for more than two decades, reflecting the strong interest by travel industry partners and other organizations, including the National Football League, to join HVCB.
Murray noted that, despite the external forces affecting worldwide travel earlier this year, incentive business for Hawaii remains vibrant. Through June 2003, incentive business statewide was 50 percent higher than for the same period in 2002.
“It’s a credit to Hawaii’s visitor industry that companies are continuing to use Hawaii as the ultimate reward for outstanding performance. As a motivator, Hawaii is setting the standard for the rest of the world to follow,” Murray noted.

For information about holding meetings in Hawaii, the Islands of Aloha, visit HVCB’s Web site at www.meethawaii.com or call the CMI division at 1-888-424-2924.

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