bid for APEC,” Tanaka told Convene. “There were three receptions. There were some support functions, community coordination, general awareness, working with the security organizations, Secret Service, diplomatic security, [and] working [with] and facilitating transportation. A whole lot that was just generally involved in hosting the meeting.” Beyond the nuts-and-bolts details,
Tanaka and the HCC and APEC Hawaii Host Committee teams were dedi- cated first and foremost “to really help the president put on a good meeting and be good hosts.” Another goal was to use the platform of APEC to nudge the world’s perception of Hawaii in the direction of it being more than just a leisure destination. Tanaka was fortunate in that he and
RESEARCH Inching Upward
American Express Global Business Travel predicts that in 2012, airfare prices and hotel rates will increase worldwide — somewhat conservatively in North America and Europe, and more dramatically in Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region.
North America AIRFARE Short-haul economy: +2–5% Short-haul business: +5–7% Long-haul economy: +0.5–3.5% Long-haul business: +3–5%
his teams had ample time — two years — to prepare for APEC, unlike other major international multi-governmental meetings with shorter lead times, such as the NATO Summit or the G8 or G20. And Hawaii used that time to the fullest, accelerating capital-project programs at Honolulu International Airport and on the road into Waikiki, and cleaning up graffiti and local communities, with the assistance of roughly 2,000 local volunteers. “We spent a lot of time on education and training,” Tanaka said. “When President Obama announced Hawaii would be the host city for APEC, we set into motion the training and education program by the host committee.” The committee held about 160 outreach meetings to educate community members as to what the APEC opportunity represent- ed, and to discuss cultural differences and the individual member economies
that Hawaii would be hosting. By all accounts, the meeting
achieved its policy goals. Among other resolutions and recommendations, according to an APEC press release, the APEC ministers came to an agreement on a number of concrete actions “to strengthen economic integration and expand trade, promote green growth, and advance regulatory convergence and cooperation to achieve economic growth in the region.” As for Hawaii, while traffic disrup-
tions and security issues did arise, Tanaka said, at the end of the day the effort was worth it. “You’re [working] for the betterment of mankind, because when these guys sit down they talk about cooperation,” he said. “We advanced our destination. We trained all these guys. We got commu- nity involved. So, by any stretch of the imagination, it’s a success.” n — Hunter R. Slaton
UNCONVENTIONAL
An Industry Phrase That Needs to Retire
M
ARK TUNNEY, CMP, MANAGING director of convention sales for the Chicago Convention &
Tourism Bureau (CCTB), hates the industry phrase “piece of business.” Why? “I think it trivializes what we
do,” Tunney said. Meetings are about education and training, and calling them a “piece of business” commod- itizes them. “Maybe I look at it too philosophically,” he said. “It sounds too much to me like a ‘piece of meat.’” Tunney instead refers to each group
event as a “business opportunity,” and tries to coach his staff to follow suit. But his coaching can only go so far. He said: “I’m surprised how many planners continue to use that phrase.” n — Michelle Russell