Hawaii is getting ready for its three-day Global Tourism Summit, taking place this year from Sept. 19 to 21 at the Hawaii Convention Center. Presented by the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), the event has a dedicated website, globaltourismsummithawaii.com where participants can register and choose from one of several options to attend the conference being held at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
The theme of this year’s summit and a featured topic of the presentations is sustainability and how it is incorporated in the future of tourism. The significance of Hawaiian culture, global marketing, technology and innovation will also be highlighted in presentations and panel discussions, with the collective focus on improving tourism in Hawaii and abroad.
“The core objective of the Global Tourism Summit is the collaboration and sharing of knowledge to make tourism stronger and better for the Hawaiian Islands and the industry as a whole,” says George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO. “Tourism has stakeholders in all walks of life and all around the world and we are encouraging anyone interested in seeing this global industry succeed to participate in the summit, share their insight, and be part of this greater effort for everyone’s future benefit.”
Registration is available to both individuals and groups for either the full 3-day conference or just a day or two, on a partial basis. “We want to be flexible and provide interested attendees, especially those from Hawaii, with options that allow them to participate in the Global Tourism Summit in a way that best meshes with their daily work responsibilities,” said Szigeti.
Billy Beane, whose statistical methodology helped revolutionize major league baseball and inspired the best-selling book and Oscar-nominated film, Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt, will present the opening keynote address at the 2017 Global Tourism Summit in Honolulu on Sept. 19.
The Tourism Legacy Awards Luncheon is a highlight event of the opening day, adds Szigeti. The festive ballroom luncheon will feature live music, a video tribute to the worldwide voyage of Hokulea, and remarks from Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. Hokulea’s crew circled the world sailing approximately 40,300 nautical miles, stopping in more than 150 ports, and visiting 23 countries and territories.
Information on sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities is also available online at the dedicated website. A complete listing of sessions, programs and speakers will be added in the coming weeks.
Formerly known as the Hawaii Tourism Conference, HTA changed the name to the Global Tourism Summit to more accurately reflect Hawaii’s emergence as a leader in international travel and tourism.
