2010 Sugar Crop Safe; Future Still Cloudy

Aloha Kakou:

After meeting this week, officials of A&B's Hawaiian & Commercial Sugar company have decided to leave the company open until at least the end of 2010.

Despite $45 million in losses over the last two years, A&B says HC&S's viability may be decided by the outcome of the state's Commission on Water Resource Management investigation into stream flows in the East Maui watershed, water that HC&S has been diverting for agricultural use for more than a century.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/528128.html?nav=10

Sorry, We Didn't Make This List!

Aloha Kakou:

There are some lists that you'd rather not be on.

This is definitely one of them! Read these reviews if you dare!

http://www.tripadvisor.com/DirtyHotels

Wither Goest Thou, Sugar?

Aloha Kakou:

Alexander & Baldwin officials are meeting this week to discuss the viability of sugar cane on Maui.

In case you didn't see it, this article from today's Maui News explains, in excruciating detail, how the company has come to this decision.

Could you imagine Maui's central valley with nothing but sand and brush? For me, not too easily, but then, these are extraordinary times.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/528042.html?nav=10

Lower Visitor & Spending Numbers For '09

Aloha Kakou:

With Maui County tourism down almost 9% in 2009 compared to 2008, December's decline of 1.5% continued last year's downward momentum.

The state as a whole, however, is seeing modest increases in tourists coming from states in the US West. This could be positive news for Maui as most of our tourists are from those states.

Steep discounting and lower visitor spending decreased annual revenues by 13.6%, with December down only 4.3%, meaning perhaps that tourists are still willing to pay more to book those Christmas vacations.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/528043.html?nav=10

Very Cautious About 2010

Aloha Kakou:

Many Maui businesses, including the visitor industry, are looking at the first half of the year as stagnant and are hoping that the second half of 2010 will be the start of a new upswing.

In all cases, though, it seems everyone is in agreement that 2009 is over.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/527967.html?nav=10
http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/527969.html?nav=10

Should We Start Offering This Service?

Aloha Kakou:

In addition to lowering rates and offering value-added packages, hotels are looking for any way to differentiate their product.

Here's one of the most unique I've seen:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/7009900/Hotel-chain-offers-human-bed-warmers.html

Hawaiian Air Pilots Ratify Contract

Aloha Kakou:

Putting an end to the years-long tensions between Hawaiian Airlines pilots and the airline, pilots today ratified a new 68 month contract providing raises of between 15% and 22% over the contract's term.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34867860

Travel Impressions Promotion

Aloha Kakou:

Travel Impressions, one of our primary wholesale partners, has all of it's promotions to travel agents, including those for the Outrigger Maui Eldorado, listed here:

http://www.travimp.com/promo.php?msg=ogg

And Now In Portuguese

Aloha Kakou:

This booking website in Portuguese lists Outrigger Maui Eldorado as one of their hotel choices.

http://www.booked.net/pt/hotel/46536/Outrigger-Maui-Eldorado-Lahaina_overview.html

More exposure is good exposure!

Hotel Reviewers - How They Do It

Aloha Kakou:

Two different hotel reviewers, one from AAA and the other from Oyster, a dot com review site, are followed and interviewed about how they do their jobs. I think you'll find this article interesting.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/08/AR2010010801905.html?sid%3DST2010010802414&sub=AR

Mandatory Resort Fee - A Good Idea?

Aloha Kakou:

Our neighboring competitors charge mandatory resort fees of up to $25 to all guests. The resort fee covers parking, newspaper, gym access, beach towels, etc.

Scroll down to Do I Have To Pay A Resort Fee At My Hotel to get this well-published travel ombudsman/writer's take on the issue. I tend to agree with him, in case you were wondering.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34707059/ns/travel-tips/

Hawaii's General Excise Tax

Aloha Kakou:

You already knew that we don't have a state sales tax, right? That 4.166% extra that you pay is not sales tax but general excise tax. The difference is that a sales tax is a tax on the buyer but the GET is a tax on the seller.

Every time goods change hands in Hawaii, the GET is charged. There are no exceptions here as there are in other states. Groceries, prescriptions, milk and even doctor's visits are subject to Hawaii's GET.

Please see this article from January 3rd's Star-Bulletin for more information about how this tax works.

http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100103_Lawmakers_consider_increasing_the_sales_tax.html

November's Rate, Occupancy Down

Aloha Kakou:

Maui's 58% hotel occupancy rate for November was lower than last year's 61.2%

Maui's average room rate for the month was down to $194 from 2008's $226.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/527462.html?nav=10

High Surf

Aloha Kakou:

Hawaii's north facing shores could see 25 to 35 foot surf within the next 24 hours. A swell approaching from the northwest is slowly making it's way down the island chain.

The National Weather Service issued the warning today which is in effect to 6pm Thursday.

The next couple of days will be a great time to head over to Hookipa or Jaws to watch some real surfing!

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100105/BREAKING01/100105008/25-+to+35-foot+surf+forecast+for+Hawaii+s+north+shores

Airfare Increase

Aloha Kakou:

The new year is bringing increases to major air carrier's airfares, with United Airlines leading the pack by increasing tickets by $10. Increased airfares are never good news for us, who depend upon airlines for all of our business.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34689398/ns/travel-news/

Alaska Air Mileage Plan

Aloha Kakou:



The Outrigger Maui Eldorado has joined with Alaska Airlines to offer mileage for stays with us. Paid stays at the Outrigger Maui Eldorado are now eligible for 500 Alaska Air miles per stay.



Paying guests are also still eligible for mileage on Hawaiian, Japan and Continental Airlines, too.

http://www.agentathome.com/Editorial.aspx?n=32903

Choice Hotels Announcement

Aloha Kakou:

In conjunction with our new association with them, Choice Hotels has listed us on their New Hotels page.

http://secure.choicehotels.com/ires/en-US/html/HotelOpenings

Advance Grocery Delivery

Aloha Kakou:

Here's another place that picked up on our promotion regarding preordering of groceries.

http://planeteyetraveler.com/2009/12/18/grocery-shop-in-the-comfort-of-y