THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	14
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A HOTEL, training hotel, or other commercial retail facility ABOVE THE HAWAII CONVENTION CENTER FACILITY.

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Convention Center is a $350,000,000 state project that was completed in October 1997; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Convention Center, located at the entrance to Waikiki, was designed to convey a "Hawaiian Sense of Place"; and

     WHEREAS, the facility includes a 35,000 square foot registration lobby, 200,000 square foot exhibition hall, nearly 150,000 square feet of meeting space, including two presentation theaters, a 35,000 square foot ballroom, 20,000 square foot production kitchen, and 2.5 acre landscaped rooftop garden, with 700 parking stalls available on the premises; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Convention Center also provides a wide array of technology and telecommunications equipment and services for convention planners and attendees; and

     WHEREAS, the Hawaii Convention Center has received a continued stream of awards for all aspects of convention management, and is a winner of thirteen consecutive Prime Site Awards for 1999-2011 from Facilities & Destinations Magazine; and

     WHEREAS, three of the Hawaii Convention Center's largest meetings of 2011 made significant contributions to Hawaii schools, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, and communities, all while attracting more than 25,000 participants from around the world, resulting in more than $120,000,000 in state revenue; and

     WHEREAS, the location of the Hawaii Convention Center and the many amenities it offers may provide additional opportunities for an expansion of convention-related initiatives; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to study the feasibility of developing a hotel, training hotel, or other commercial retail facility, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, above the Hawaii Convention Center facility, including the consideration of the following:

     (1)  Site and other logistical issues related to the development of a hotel or other facility at this location, including traffic and infrastructure demands;

     (2)  Jurisdictional, permitting, design, construction, and funding requirements;

     (3)  Interest by private sector developers;

     (4)  Public-private partnerships for development and operations of such a hotel or other facility, including a partnership with the University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management for the provision of internships, externships, and other professional development opportunities for students enrolled in the school and the operation of a training hotel; and

     (5)  Any other pertinent issues that may have a direct or indirect impact on the development of a hotel, training hotel, or other commercial retail facility; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the feasibility study be undertaken in conjunction with a baseline study of the current operations of the Hawaii Convention Center to more accurately determine the impact that the development of such a hotel, training hotel, or other commercial retail facility may have on the Hawaii Convention Center, including its operations and management, physical assets and constraints, short- and long-range plans for the facility, and any legal issues that may arise as a result of changes to the Hawaii Convention Center; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawaii Tourism Authority is requested to report the findings and results of the feasibility study, including any recommendations requiring legislative approval, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2013; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Executive Director of the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Dean of the University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management.

Report Title: 

Hawaii Convention Center; Hotel; HTA Feasibility Study