Meet Hawaii

What Meet Hawaii does

Meet Hawaii is the destination marketing brand for the Hawaiian Islands' meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism industry. It operates as a public-private collaboration between the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), a 501(c)(6) private non-profit founded in 1945 responsible for citywide and single-property meeting sales, and the Hawai'i Convention Center (HCC), a state-owned 1.1 million square-foot facility opened in 1998 and managed by ASM Global (now Legends Global) responsible for local bookings and community events. The organization is overseen by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA), a state government agency established in 1998, with strategic responsibility for sustaining Hawaii's tourism sector. Meet Hawaii serves meeting planners, corporate groups, association organizers, and incentive travel designers seeking destination events; its customer base has included scientific societies (Goldschmidt, IEEE EMBC, AAS, OceanObs), military/government associations (AGAUS), and travel networks (Signature Travel Network).

The platform combines a digital destination marketing layer — including the MeetHawaii.com website, Meeting Planner Guide, RFP submission system, Partner Directory of 3,000+ suppliers, and interactive map of the six islands — with dedicated enterprise sales representation and the physical HCC facility (204,249 sq. ft. exhibition hall, 35,259 sq. ft. ballroom, 47 meeting rooms, 2.5-acre rooftop garden). Notable technology and sustainability integrations include AT&T 5G connectivity deployment, a public safety distributed antenna system (DAS) by Boingo Wireless, and a Gold Standard-certified carbon offset program operated with Legacy Carbon and Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative. The platform connects planners with 147 hotels providing 51,711 overnight rooms across 18 resort areas, 50+ offsite venues, and 11 million annual air seats from North America plus 2 million from Asia/Oceania. Strategic initiatives include the Mälama Hawai'i CSR program, LEED v4.1 O+M Gold certification (first Hawai'i convention center, 2018; recertified 2024), GBAC STAR accreditation, and ongoing cultural programming.

Meet Hawaii does not generate direct revenue as a destination marketing organization; it instead facilitates tourism economic impact through sales activities, marketing efforts, and convention services. The underlying economics flow through HTA allocations, member dues to HVCB, facility rental and F&B revenue at HCC, and the broader partner ecosystem of hotels, transportation providers, and activity operators. Pricing is not publicly disclosed: venues, hotel blocks, and event services are negotiated through the RFP process based on event specifications rather than fixed rates. The go-to-market combines an enterprise field-sales motion targeting associations and corporate groups at industry events such as IMEX America with self-service digital tools (interactive map, guides, RFP, Partner Directory) for independent planners. Distribution channels include the Meet Hawaii sales team, online RFP submission, Partner Directory, and direct booking at the HCC managed by Legends Global/ASM Global.

Name

Meet Hawaii

Legal name

Hawaii Tourism Authority

Website

https://meethawaii.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Meet Hawaii is the state-overseen destination marketing organization that promotes the Hawaiian Islands as a MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) destination. It operates the Hawai'i Convention Center via HVCB/ASM Global and connects meeting planners with 147 hotels, 50+ venues, and 3,000+ suppliers across six islands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Convention & Meeting Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB), Convention Campus & District Operators (Integrated Venue Districts) (THAHAAAL), Partner, Channel & Alliance Summits (THAHAMAC)

Keywords

• Destination marketing
• Convention venue
• Meeting planning
• Incentive travel
• Event services

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tourism Marketing and Promotion: Meet Hawai'i is a destination marketing organization overseen by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA). It operates as a collaboration between the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and the Hawai'i Convention Center (HCC) to promote the Hawaiian Islands as a premier MICE destination. The organization does not generate direct revenue but facilitates tourism economic impact through marketing efforts, sales activities, and convention services that bring events to the islands.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Meet Hawaii promotes the Hawaiian Islands as a meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE) destination. It operates the Hawai'i Convention Center facility, connects meeting planners with Hawaii-based venues and suppliers, and provides destination-marketing collateral, RFP tools, and on-site event services to corporate, association, and government group-event buyers.

Product overview

Meet Hawai'i is a destination marketing and events platform that promotes the Hawaiian Islands as a world-class meeting, convention, and incentive destination. The core offering consists of the Hawai'i Convention Center (a 1.1 million sq. ft. state-owned venue managed by ASM Global) combined with marketing tools including the Meeting Planner Guide, Request for Proposal system, Partner Directory, and Interactive Map. The platform connects meeting planners with over 50 venues, 147 hotels (51,711 rooms) across 6 islands, and an extensive network of local suppliers. Additional services include CSR programs (Mālama Hawai'i), sustainability initiatives, air capacity coordination, and cultural programming. The Hawai'i Convention Center itself hosts signature events like 'Twas the Light Before Christmas and Nā Lehua Marketplace, while offering amenities such as the 1801 Café, pickleball courts, e-bars, and cultural exhibits. The platform is overseen by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority with operations managed by HVCB and ASM Global.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hawai'i Convention Center Facility Rental Large-scale convention venue space in Honolulu available to corporate, association, and government event buyers for multi-day conferences, trade shows, and exhibitions.
• Request for Proposal (RFP) Submission Service Online form for meeting planners to request group-event proposals from Hawaii venues and suppliers, centralizing the sourcing process for site-selection teams.
• Meeting Planner Guide Destination-marketing collateral providing meeting planners with venue, accommodation, activity, and logistics information for planning events in Hawaii.
• Partner Directory Searchable directory of vetted Hawaii-based meeting-industry suppliers including hotels, destination management companies, caterers, transportation providers, and activity operators.
• Interactive Island Venue Map Online interactive map presenting meeting and event venues organized by Hawaiian island to support multi-island program planning.
• Mālama Hawai'i Corporate Social Responsibility Program Curated give-back and volunteer experiences that group-event organizers can integrate into their Hawaii programs to deliver cultural and environmental impact alongside the event.
• 1801 Café On-site food and beverage outlet at the Hawai'i Convention Center serving event attendees, exhibitors, and the local community.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hawai'i has hosted major international conferences including Goldschmidt Conference, IEEE EMBC, American Astronomical Society, and OceanObs'19
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau (SECB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 October 2025Three-year alliance (MoU) between HVCB and SECB to reinforce the Hawaiian Islands and Singapore as preferred meetings destinations among U.S. and Asia-based associations and groups. Objectives include positioning both destinations as gateway hubs, collaborating on joint marketing and educational initiatives, and facilitating client introductions for association bids.
• ASM GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASM Global is the venue management company responsible for operating the Hawai'i Convention Center. As the world's leading producer of entertainment experiences and global leader in venue strategy, ASM Global manages over 325 prestigious venues worldwide and provides comprehensive event management services.
• Legends GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegends Global is the premier partner managing the Hawai'i Convention Center, delivering premium services including feasibility consulting, owner's rep, sales, partnerships, venue management, hospitality, merchandise, and content booking. The company leverages a global network of over 450 venues, 20,000 events, and 165 million guests annually.
• AT&TsupportingTechnology or IntegrationAT&T deployed 5G connectivity at the Hawai'i Convention Center offering fast speeds and low latency for hybrid events, telepresence, augmented reality, social media, video streaming, digital conference badges, and mobile payment applications.
• Boingo WirelesssupportingTechnology or IntegrationBoingo Wireless serves as the Hawai'i Convention Center's connectivity provider, installing a public safety distributed antenna system (DAS) for emergency responder communications throughout the 1.1 million square-foot facility and enhancing two-way radio systems.
• Legacy CarbonsupportingTechnology or IntegrationHawaii-based carbon offset provider certified by the Gold Standard Foundation, offering the highest-quality certified carbon offsets for the Center's carbon footprint calculation and offset program. First forestry project in North America to issue Gold Standard credits.
• Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide nonprofit partnering with the Hawai'i Convention Center on the One Million Trees initiative since 2016 to reforest native and endemic trees in Hawaii as part of the Center's conservation program Ho'omaluo.
• GreenviewsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSustainability firm that calculated the Hawai'i Convention Center's carbon footprint in partnership with Legacy Carbon. Provides hospitality organizations with research, consulting, advisory services, and the leading online sustainability data platform.
• Paquin Entertainment GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to bring 'Twas the Light Before Christmas immersive holiday adventure to the Hawai'i Convention Center. Full-service arts and entertainment company established in 1985 representing world-renowned artists and producing immersive experiences.
• ARTECHOUSEsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNation's first innovative art organization dedicated to the intersection of art, science and technology. Produced the Spectacular Factory - A Holiday Multiverse immersive experience for the 2025 holiday event at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA): Destination marketing organization for Las Vegas, the largest US MICE market. Directly comparable to Meet Hawai'i in mission (CVB promoting a single US destination for conventions, trade shows, and incentives) and awards footprint (Stella, Smart Stars, EXHIBITOR Centers of Excellence), while operating at a materially larger convention venue scale.
• Choose Chicago: Official destination marketing organization for Chicago, hosting McCormick Place (the largest convention center in North America). Comparable to Meet Hawai'i as a city/state-level DMO selling group meetings, association conventions, and incentive travel to a single US destination.
• San Francisco Travel Association: Official DMO for San Francisco and the Moscone Center. Comparable to Meet Hawai'i in promoting a single iconic US destination for conventions and incentives, with overlapping customer base of associations, corporate groups, and incentive houses.
• Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau: DMO for Greater Miami, hosting the Miami Beach Convention Center. Closely comparable destination profile to Meet Hawai'i (warm-weather, leisure-plus-MICE destination, international gateway), competing for the same group and incentive business.
• Singapore Tourism Board: National tourism authority for Singapore, which is also the counterparty in Meet Hawai'i's October 2025 three-year HVCB-SECB alliance. Directly comparable as an Asia-Pacific destination marketing organization focused on MICE and incentive business from US and global associations.
• NYC & Company: Official destination marketing organization for New York City, hosting the Javits Center. Directly comparable mission and structure — a non-profit DMO promoting a single US destination for large conventions, trade shows, and incentive travel — though at a much larger venue and hotel inventory scale.
• Visit Orlando: DMO for Orlando, home to the Orange County Convention Center. Competes head-to-head with Meet Hawai'i for association and corporate group business in the US MICE market and operates a comparable sales, marketing, and RFP infrastructure.
• Destination DC: Official DMO for Washington, DC. Comparable non-profit CVB structure to HVCB, marketing a single US destination for association meetings, trade shows, and incentive travel and competing with Meet Hawai'i for association RFPs.
• Explore Atlanta (Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau): DMO for Atlanta, home to the Georgia World Congress Center. Direct competitor in the US association and corporate MICE market with a comparable CVB sales and convention services model.

Broad incumbents

• Caesars Entertainment (Las Vegas Convention Portfolio): Major integrated resort and convention hospitality operator anchored in Las Vegas. Overlaps with Meet Hawai'i at the convention-hotel-incentive intersection, with venue management, F&B, and destination event programming parallels to the ASM Global/Legends Global-managed HCC.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HawaiiConventionCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/hawaiivisitors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaii-convention-center
• Xx.com/HIConventionCtr

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Meet Hawaii