According to the Hawaii Tourism Authority, visitors spent a total of $7.1 billion during the first six months of 2012. This was a 21.4 percent increase as compared to the same period a year ago.
The hotel industry saw some of the highest gains as revenue increased by 14.8 percent for a total of $1.6 billion. This equated to a half-year record for the hotel industry in the state of Hawaii. According to the senior vice president and director of operations for the Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Hawaii and French Polynesia, Keith Vieira, “Guests are willing to pay more for enhanced services in 2012. Our Sheraton Club at the Sheraton Waikiki is doing so well that we are looking at introducing it in other hotels next year.”
The Hawaii Tourism Authority also noted that on average visitors spend 9 percent more on shopping, 8.8 percent more on food and beverages, 8.5 percent more on transportation and 5.1 percent more on entertainment. This equates to a per person per day spending of $40.50 for food and beverages, $28.80 for shopping, $19.10 for transportation, $16.10 on entertainment and $7.90 for miscellaneous expenses.
President and CEO of the HTA, Mike McCartney, stated, “Our visitors spent an average of $39 million a day during the first half of 2012. That’s up from $32 million a day during the same period in 2011. At this pace, annual expenditures would exceed $14 billion.”
Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 8-19-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com
