Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) Selects AEG Facilities To Manage Hawai‘i Convention Center

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Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) Selects AEG Facilities To Manage Hawai‘i Convention Center
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HTA SELECTS AEG FACILITIES TO MANAGE HAWAI‘I CONVENTION CENTER HONOLULU --

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state's tourism agency, today announced the selection of AEG Facilities to manage the Hawai‘i Convention Center (HCC). AEG Facilities, one of the world's leading venue management organizations, will be responsible for the management and operation of the HCC, as well as working collaboratively with the HTA's "Meet Hawai‘i" team in marketing the convention center and the Hawaiian Islands as a premier business destination.

AEG Facilities has more than 20 years of experience in the management of convention centers, as well as arenas, stadiums and other facilities. They offer a network of elite worldwide convention centers, all of which have a similar look and feel to Hawai‘i's convention center. With a presence in more than 100 venues on five continents, the Los Angeles-based organization will be able to immediately position the HCC in some of the HTA's key Meetings, Conventions and Incentive (MCI) markets, especially in the Asia- Pacific region.

"This announcement represents the rebirth of the convention center for a new era in Hawaii," said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the HTA. "Our three priorities are to focus on further strengthening our "Meet Hawai‘i" sales and marketing strategies, realigning HCC's operations and management to elevate the facility's global presence, and enhancing and expanding the function, use and service beyond a traditional convention center." While the total tax revenue of the HCC has covered the cost of operations over the years, the HTA believes there is opportunity to perform at a more optimal level. AEG Facilities will be responsible for boosting and optimizing usage of the facility. Their global presence and influence will be a tremendous asset in increasing bookings and drawing international visitors for Hawai‘i's growing MCI market, which is in line with the HTA's strategic plan for diversification and sustainability of Hawai‘i's tourism economy.

"We are honored to have been selected by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority to manage the Hawai‘i Convention Center," said Bob Newman, president, AEG Facilities. "We are truly excited to partner with the HTA and all of the hospitality stakeholders to build on the foundation in place and attract new and diverse events to the facility. We also believe

that the unique cultural attributes of the region will truly be another asset that will set the Hawai‘i Convention Center above all others." AEG Facilities' is uniquely qualified to be able to deliver its partners and clients resources that are proven to inaacrease event activity, revenue generation and proven cost containment programs through proprietary programs such as AEG Encore, AEG 1Force, AEG 1Earth, AEG Energy Services, AEG S.A.F.E., AEG 1Community and company divisions such as AEG Live and AEG Global Partnerships.

The HTA and its board of directors will continue efforts to study enhanced uses for the convention center, including the development of a center for Hawaiian music and dance that will strive to honor and perpetuate Hawai‘i's unique host culture, while creating an attraction to draw visitors and residents to the facility.

"The Hawai‘i Convention Center is an essential resource for the state of Hawai‘i and it is important that we work towards ensuring its continued success. AEG Facilities has the ability to take the convention center to the next level and compete on a global scale," said Ron Williams, HTA board chair.

The HTA's current contractor, SMG Hawai‘i, will manage the HCC through December 2013 with AEG's contract commencing Jan. 1, 2014. SMG Hawai‘i has managed the HCC since its opening in 1998.

"We want to extend a sincere mahalo to SMG for what they've done for Hawaii. They are a part of our history that we will always treasure and honor. When the HCC first opened, they faced many challenges in establishing Hawai‘i's image as a serious MCI destination. During their 15 years, they were able to secure numerous conventions, drawing thousands of attendees from across the globe. They also played an essential role in the success of the 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week held in the Hawaiian Islands," added McCartney.

SMG Hawai‘i currently employs approximately 70 employees. The HTA is working closely with AEG in their efforts to retain a majority of the HCC staff, as well as ensure a smooth transition when their new contract takes effect.

About the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority

Established in 1998, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the state's tourism agency, is responsible for strategically managing tourism to optimize benefits for Hawai‘i that integrates the interest of visitors, the community and visitor industry. Tourism is our state's leading economic driver and largest employer and the HTA continually works to ensure its sustainability well into the future. For more information on the HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@HawaiiHTA).

About AEG Facilities

AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Anschutz Company, is the leading sports, entertainment and venue operator in the world. AEG Facilities, a stand-alone affiliate of AEG, owns, operates or consults with more than 100 of the industry's preeminentvenues worldwide, across five continents, providing complete venue management, as well as specialized programs in operations, guest services, ticketing, booking, sales and marketing. AEG Facilities also provides resources and access to other AEG-affiliated entities, including live event producer, AEG Live, AEG Global Partnerships, AEG Development, AEG 1Earth, AEG Encore and AEG Creative to support the success of AEG venues across the globe. The Los Angeles-based organization owns, operates or provides services to the world's most elite venues, including STAPLES Center (Los Angeles, Calif.), StubHub Center (Carson, Calif.), Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE (Los Angeles, Calif.), Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.), KFC YUM! Center (Louisville, Ky.), Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (Brisbane, Australia), Sydney International Convention Exhibition, and Entertainment District (Australia), the Qatar National Convention Centre (Doha, Qatar) Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (Malasia), Cairns Convention Centre (Australia), Darwin Convention Centre (Australia), Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (Oman), AmericanAirlines Arena (Miami, Fla.), Prudential Center (Newark, N.J.), Target Center (Minneapolis, Minn.), BBVA Compass Stadium (Houston, Texas), O.co Coliseum and Oracle Arena (Oakland, Calif.), CONSOL Energy Center (Pittsburgh, Penn.), Rabobank Arena (Bakersfield, Calif.), Mercedes-Benz Arena (Shanghai, China), MasterCard Center (Beijing, China), The O2 Arena (London, England), O2 World (Berlin, Germany), O2 World Hamburg (Hamburg, Germany), Ahoy Arena (Rotterdam, Netherlands), Itaipava Arena Pernambuco (Recife, Brazil), Allianz Parque (Sao Paulo, Brazil), Allphones Arena (Sydney, Australia), ULKER Sports Arena (Istanbul, Turkey), Ericsson Globe Arena (Stockholm, Sweden). For more information, please visit aegworldwide.com.

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Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii News Item

Waikiki Get Down - Honolulu, Hawaii
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