21 Leaders Meet in Ko Olina

Sunday, the final day of APEC, the focus moved 45 minutes west to the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa, where the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting took place. Here, just the 21 leaders from APEC nations met to discuss world issues.

Its remote location in Ko Olina, with a gated entrance, may have been one of the reasons that the State Department selected the JW Marriott for the meeting. Plus, the resort's 15,600-square-foot Hokulani Ballroom, where the meeting took place, is detached from the rest of the hotel, offering security and privacy.

The hotel went into lockdown mode from Saturday evening through Sunday evening to prepare for the leaders meeting. The hotel was empty other than those coming for the leaders meeting, so some guests were moved to Disney's new Aulani Resort, which is located next door. Coast Guard ships patrolled the area off the coast, and the vicinity near the hotel was closed to boats. No one was let through the gates without security clearance.

All employees had to be checked and cleared by the Secret Service to work the meeting with different levels of clearance. Those with the highest level of clearance were servers and others with closer access to the leaders. Secret Service oversaw all food preparation and food service during the lunch.

“We were honored to host such a high-level meeting, and I applaud our associates for giving exemplary service to President Obama., the First Lady, all the APEC leaders and their entourages, amidst intense U.S. Secret Service security at the resort,” says Dan Banchiu, the hotel's general manager.

The Obamas stayed two nights at the hotel and closed out the week with a fundraiser on November 14 at the Aulani. In his press conference following the Leaders Meeting, Obama thanked his home state. “Usually when Michelle and I and our daughters come back to visit, it's just one president, and this time we brought 21,” said Obama. “So thank you so much for the incredible graciousness of the people of Hawaii and their patience, because I know that traffic got tied up a little bit.”

APEC's Lasting Impact

While traffic tie-ups certainly tried the patience of locals, 73 percent of residents supported the meeting, says Lt. Gov. Schatz. Meanwhile, Hawaii received high marks from APEC delegates, according to an article in the Star-Advertiser.

U.S. Ambassador for APEC Kurt Tong told the paper that Hawaii received an “A-plus” for hosting APEC. The destination received no complaints and was compared favorably to other cities that have hosted APEC or similar events, like the G20 Summit, he said. “Hawaii definitely has proven it's ready for the big time,” Tong told the Star-Advertiser. Some APEC delegates told him they would like to return to Hawaii with their own meetings — and that's exactly what Hawaii meetings officials were hoping for.

APEC generated an estimated $123 million in economic impact for Hawaii, but tourism leaders believe the real impact of APEC will be felt after everyone leaves.

“We are zeroing in on an opportunity in meetings and conventions that maybe wasn't there before,” says Schatz. The destination has been so good at marketing to the leisure market that it has presented challenges when marketing Hawaii as a meetings destination, he says. Hawaii tourism officials want to let the world know that meetings here are about business, and APEC serves as the platform to launch that message worldwide. “We want the meetings and conventions community to know about our ability to conduct a meeting of this magnitude,” says Schatz.

So far, so good: Hawaii has already booked three international meetings because of APEC, says McCartney.

Hawaii has started connecting North American associations with their Asian counterparts to boost attendance, but that's just a first step. Officials found through surveys that North American meeting planners knew little about APEC, so they will promote Hawaii's ability to handle such a large meeting stateside.

Also, they will aggressively market Hawaii to Asia-Pacific nations as a destination for international meetings. Right now, the vast majority of Hawaii's meetings are U.S.-based, but with the exposure of APEC to so many CEOs, leaders, and new markets in Asia, it opens new doors. Schatz visited Asian leaders in advance of APEC to promote Hawaii and marketing staff will beef up marketing efforts there. “What used to be a geographical disadvantage becomes a geographical advantage,” added Tanaka, citing Hawaii's location between Asia-Pacific and North America.

The marketing effort began even during the meeting, as the Host Committee broadcast Leaders Week TV into every hotel room in the block. It was created for APEC as a promotional video about Hawaii, its culture, businesses, and the four pillars of its economy for the 21st Century — clean energy; earth sciences; life and health sciences; and meetings, conventions, exhibitions, and incentives. Each of the 21 world leaders brought the video home with them on iPads that they were given as gifts from the host committee.

As one of the pillars, hosting meetings, a symbol of Hawaii's “Aloha Spirit,” are going to be a big part of the state's economic future. And the future starts now.

“November 13th is the end of APEC, but it's the beginning of our marketing and positioning efforts,” says Tanaka. “It's the beginning of what we want to do as a state.”