Festivals

1
Festivals Events Seminar II
Prepared for July 2006 Project 4414
Davies Pacific Center 1150, 841 Bishop Street,
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Telephone
1-808-528-4050 Fax [phone] E-mail
omnitrak_at_omnitrakgroup.com
2
Table of Contents
Page 1 BACKGROUND
3-9 2 FINAL SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1
0-27 3 TOPLINE EVALUATION REPORT 28-50 4
PARTICIPANTS COMMENTS (DETAILS) 51-74 5 SP
EAKER PRESENTATIONS 6 FESTIVALS
BRAND RESOURCE BOOK 7 APPENDIX
Save the Date Postcard Registration
Form Email Blast Event Program Evaluation
Form Attendance List
3
BACKGROUND
4
Background

• The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) has developed
  a Festivals program to add to the new and unique
  experience of the States visitors. This
  initiative is consistent with global trends and
  the Hawaii Tourism Strategic Plan that has
  identified visitor interest in authenticity,
  special interest products, and increased visitor-
  resident interaction.
• In 2005, HTA held its first statewide Festivals
  Events Conference, Creating Success For
  Festivals and Events. The primary objective of
  the program was to explore how the festivals
  program fits within the overall Hawaii leisure
  destination brand, to identify core values of
  Hawaiis Festival brand, and to educate festival
  product developers within the community on the
  importance of becoming effective brand stewards.
  As a result of the success of the 2005
  conference, a second annual conference was
  recommended and approved for 2006.

5
Purpose

• For 2006, Festivals Events II, Implementing
  Successful Strategies was developed to assist
  the HTAs Tourism Product Development Division in
  developing a recognizable, sustainable and unique
  Hawaii Festival brand that will fulfill visitors
  needs and increase the value of the tourism
  expenditure in Hawaii. HTAs Festival audits
  have shown that visitors who attend festivals
  contribute more to the States economy while
  having benefits to the residential lifestyle as
  well.
• This initiative will also help enhance the
  festival product so that it can be presented to
  travel wholesalers and directly to consumers as
  part of the States overall strategy to attract
  higher spending visitors.

6
Objectives

• Consistent with results from Year 1, primary
  objectives for the Year 2 program were
• To help festival product planners develop a
  higher level of expertise so the States festival
  products have an increased role over time in
  attracting visitors to Hawaii.
• To help educate festival planners on how to
  develop a brand strategy for their events that is
  consistent with the overall Hawaii Festival brand
  values.
• To further enhance the operational and
  executional aspects of the festival product.
• To assist in the integration of Festival brand
  values into product development and future
  product initiatives.

7
Project Deliverables

• Development of a one-day 2006 Festival Conference
  program, to be presented on each of four islands
• Administration and implementation of the
  conference, to include speakers, facilities,
  hotel, air and ground travel, administrative
  support, and evaluation
• Administrative support on each Island the day of
  the conference
• Planning, printing and distribution of
  invitations
• Customization of a Festivals Brand Resource Book
• Design, implementation and analysis of a
  conference participants Evaluation Survey
• A post-conference report, including participants
  evaluation

8
Conference Program (1 of 2)
9
Conference Program (2 of 2)
10
FINAL SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
11
Final Summary

• Festivals Events II, Implementing Successful
  Strategies, continued the success of last year
  and received very positive feedback.
• Good Attendance Island-wide, 299 people
  attended the seminars. Attendees were from
  various business sectors and had a diverse range
  of levels of experience in events and festivals.
  Most were first time attendees (21). Attendance
  was down slightly from 2005, primarily due to
  summer schedule conflicts.
• High Overall Satisfaction Attendees rated the
  seminar 8.6 on a 10-point scale, with 60 giving
  the seminar top box ratings of 9 and 10. Except
  for Maui (94), 100 said they were likely to
  attend a future Festivals Events seminar.
• Strong Advocacy 100 of respondents said they
  would recommend the Festivals Events seminar to
  others.

12
Final Summary

• Well-Received Speakers Overall satisfaction for
  the speakers was good, with a high of 9.5 for
  Bruce Erleys Sponsorship session to 6.1 for
  Julie Zadehs luncheon keynote on Online Travel
  Planning. Respondents said the speakers met
  their expectations and that they found the topics
  to be useful. Overall speaker satisfaction
  surpassed the ratings from last years seminar
  speakers by 5.
• Great speakers!
• Great topics and speakers at breakouts. It
  seems they have a lot to offer.
• Bruce Erley - very animated and energetic -
  worth the whole day!
• Paul Jamieson was exceptional in providing
  practical, can-do advice. Very upbeat.
• The message of the lunch speaker was valuable,
  but the speaker was not that effective.

13
Final Summary

• High Perceived Value and Importance (1 of 5)
• Respondents think the seminar is very valuable
  for several key reasons, including
• Promotes a common goal
• This seminar provides information and tools for
  our festivals future success.
• It is valuable to make sure everyone is doing
  their programs the right way. A great
  education!
• We stay unified and deliver the same message.
• We as a people and as a destination should be
  consistent and unified in our basic message to
  the world. Values and this seminar help us do
  this.

14
Final Summary

• High Perceived Value and Importance (2 of 5)
• Raises standards and helps Hawaii stay
  competitive
• Creates a standard of professionalism and
  organization in Hawaii's event community.
• Hawaii needs to continue to grow. Keep
  competitive with new ideas.
• Keep everyone informed, update information on
  events on the mainland.
• Its always great to gain more information,
  techniques, options. See what others are doing
  in Hawaii and around the world.
• Its extremely valuable to assist the locals in
  running a quality event.

15
Final Summary

• High Perceived Value and Importance (3 of 5)
• Provides networking opportunities
• Provides awareness of the existence of the
  event/festival community.
• This provides an amazing catalyst for networking
  of island resources for promoting awareness.
• It helps those of us in the festivals and events
  industry keep current and learn from others
  successes.
• Great opportunity to network and learn about
  strategies others are using.

16
Final Summary

• High Perceived Value and Importance (4 of 5)
• Is efficient and cost-effective
• The information presented was very valuable and
  not available anywhere else in one event.
• Chance to meet event professionals, hearing
  other points of viewhow things are done
  elsewhere. Dont have to go to the mainland and
  spend big bucks!
• There is so much to know and we can learn from
  the experts instead of trial and error.
• Excellent source of information not otherwise
  available in one place, in one day.

17
Final Summary

• High Perceived Value and Importance (5 of 5)
• Creates support for HTA
• Great to have Muriel provide an overall update
  of HTA programs and funding levels to create
  awareness and support for HTAs efforts.
  Mahalo!
• Very good for technical tips, HTA perspectives,
  and networking.
• Valuable because it will help us, motivate
  volunteers, meet the expectations of HTA in
  writing grants and fulfilling our projects.
• It is extremely important to hold this seminar.
  Great learning opportunities as well as providing
  new, updated information for our event planners
  and community leaders.
• Should hold 4x a year!

18
Final Summary

• Feedback on Seminar Format (1 of 3)
• Overall, respondents are pleased with the seminar
  format and content, and appreciate that some of
  the Festivals Events II topics were a result of
  feedback from last years conference.
  Suggestions for further refining the program
  centered on the following areas
• More Hands-On Discussion and Real World
  Examples
• I would like to see more operational examples of
  actual events. It will help us plan and execute
  the future presentations of our events.
• More examples or perhaps using a well-known
  event to simulate a planning team digging down
  to determine values, branding and
  implementation.
• Have more chances to ask the speakers for their
  ideas on how they would handle a certain topic or
  examples of how they would do something in our
  real world.
• Encourage discussion among attendees in terms of
  sharing experiences, learning from failures,
  suggestions. Group scenarios or applications to
  practice or experiment with ideas.

19
Final Summary

• Feedback on Seminar Format (2 of 3)
• More Local Speakers
• Since this is held on all islands, I would have
  liked to see more island specific discussions.
• More on how to work with local authorities,
  permitting, security, etc...
• Invite KVB to discuss how they do Kauai events.
  (Kauai)
• Use resource people from Hawaii Island instead
  of other islands. Nice to see Kauai folks but
  they have different issues than we do.
• For operations, have planners who worked on the
  respective island. Maui planners do not know
  Oahu.

20
Final Summary

• Feedback on Seminar Format (3 of 3)
• More HTA Information
• Learn about most effective ways to communicate
  and contact HTA.
• Have a workshop on what is needed in the
  proposal process.
• If the goal of HTA is to raise the bar on
  festivals, then need more training. Need more
  critical event evaluations. Have more on-going
  resources for festival organizers to access
  consultants, info, etc.
• Make it a requirement or strong recommendation
  that all HTA grantees attend this seminar
  unless major reason they cannot.
• Communicate the brand promise to the grantees.
  Use brand promise as part of final event report,
  i.e. did your festival fulfill the brand promise?

21
RECOMMENDATIONS
22
Recommendations

• 1. Promotion/Attendance (1 of 3)
• Increase Awareness
• Further develop database work with Neighbor
  Island Economic Development boards, U.S. and
  State small business assistance organizations,
  local university and community college Travel and
  Tourism departments, and perhaps a past-Festivals
  attendee refer a friend program.
• Run advertising on all Islands.
• Consider posting information and registration
  form in a more prominent position on HTA website.
• Utilize Calendars of Events on related websites
  and work closely with HVCB and Island Chapters.
• Encourage past attendees to pass the word.
• Improve perception of price/value ratio provide
  more details on everything thats included in the
  fee and make this very clear in all
  communications and on the registration form.

23
Recommendations

• 1. Promotion/Attendance (2 of 3)
• Work with HTA on Website Constraints
• Down Time for 2006, the HTA website was down
  several times, including most of the week that
  registration closed
• Download Time the registration form took so
  long to load that many thought it was not on-line
• Improve Perception of Price/value Ratio provide
  more details on everything thats included in the
  fee and make this very clear in all
  communications and on the registration form.
• Consider an Earlier Date one before private and
  public schools are out for the summer and before
  many of the existing summer festivals are held

24
Recommendations

• 1. Promotion/Attendance (3 of 3)
• Evaluate Pricing Strategy Options - early bird,
  group discounts, etc.
• Develop a P.R. Plan - in advance for all islands.
• Consider Offering Seminar Certification present
  a certificate for completion for each HTA
  Festivals conference attended or research the
  possibility of attendees getting credit toward
  their CFEE degree by attending the seminar (low
  out-of pocket cost to HTA/higher perceived value
  for the price) .
• Send Special Cover Letter to HTA Grantees - along
  with program/registration form.

25
Recommendations

• 2. Program/Format
• Consider Plenary Format like Year 1 with the
  addition of informal work sessions and/or
  roundtables at end of day for increased
  interaction and discussion.
• Make Session Opening More Celebratory by working
  with local festivals and integrating host culture
  component.
• Distribute Hard Copies at beginning of
  presentations to encourage participation and
  better note taking.
• Generate Ideas from attending IFEA conference(s).
• Include Opt-in Box on registration form for
  attendees to share their contact info.
  Distribute the list post-conference.

26
Recommendations

• 3. Operations/Venue
• Consider Non-hotel Venue with bento/ box lunches
  to accommodate price and food issues. Or
  consider having attendees responsible for their
  own lunch.
• Offer Minimal Food with morning coffee due to
  early start time.
• Post Session Names and Times on hotel welcome
  boards and outside of each breakout room.

27
Recommendations

• 4. Presenters/Speakers
• Get recommendations from more than one
  organization on speakers. If possible, listen to
  speaker in person or review sample video.
• Continue to request all presentations be
  submitted in advance for review and possible
  edit.
• Make attendance at pre-seminar meeting and dinner
  mandatory for speakers.
• Require presenters using their own equipment to
  test by 715 a.m. and require them to use a
  microphone for their speeches.
• Revise seminar evaluation form to measure
  delivery of presentation separate from other
  dimensions.

28
TOPLINE EVALUATION REPORT June 23, 2006
29
Sample

• The total sample size for this survey was n115
  with a sampling error of /-5 percentage points
  at a 95 confidence level.
• The response rate was 46.
• The sample size and sampling error by island

30
Overall Satisfaction with Seminar
Seminar attendees rated the seminar 8.6 on a
10-point scale, a solid level of satisfaction.
Further, almost 60 gave the seminar top box
ratings of 9 and 10.
Extremely Satisfied
MEAN RATINGS
Not Satisfied At All
Base Oahu (55) Maui (16) Big Island (22)
Kauai (17) Total (110) Q How would you rate the
seminar overall?
31
Future Seminar Attendance
Except for Maui, 100 of respondents on all other
Islands are likely to attend a future seminar.
Repeat participation is another indicator of
strong satisfaction levels.
LIKELY TO ATTEND
Base Oahu (57) Maui (16) Big Island (23)
Kauai (18) Total (114) Q How likely would you
be to attend another Festivals and Events seminar
in the future?
32
Advocacy for Festivals/Events Seminar
Across all Islands, 100 of respondents say they
will recommend attendance to the Festival/Events
seminar, reinforcing overall high satisfaction
ratings.
LIKELY TO RECOMMEND
Base Oahu (57) Maui (16) Big Island (23)
Kauai (18) Total (114) Q How likely would you
be to recommend this Festivals and Events seminar
to family or friends?
33
Speakers Overall Satisfaction
While ratings of the overall seminar, future
attendance and advocacy were consistently very
strong, satisfaction with individual speakers
were mixed. Ratings ranged from a high of 9.5
for Bruce Erley to a low of 6.1 for Julie Zadeh.
Open-ended comments suggest that lack of real ad
examples made Branding theoretical to some, and
delivery was a major problem with the luncheon
keynote.
Extremely Satisfied
MEAN RATINGS
Not Satisfied At All
Base 105 Q Please rate SPEAKER on overall
satisfaction.
34
Speakers Satisfaction by Island
All speakers showed improvement after their first
presentations, suggesting that the seminar might
consider starting on a smaller Island in the
future. Lang and Zadeh showed the most
significant improvements after acting on initial
feedback.
Extremely Satisfied
ERLEY
JAMIESON
JAMIESON/ Breakout
MEAN RATINGS
LANG
ZADEH
Not Satisfied At All
Base Oahu (50) Maui (15) Big Island (22)
Kauai (18) Total (105) Q Please rate SPEAKER
on overall satisfaction.
35
Speakers Comparison (Overall and By Topics)
Despite some softness in ratings, overall seminar
satisfaction increased 5 over last year to 8.6.
This was led by a 13 higher Sponsorship rating
and comparable highs for Operations. The two
other areas declined.
Extremely Satisfied
MEAN RATINGS
Not Satisfied At All
36
Speakers Met Expectations
With the exception of the luncheon keynote, all
speakers clearly met audience expectations, some
more than others.
Extremely Satisfied
MEAN RATINGS
Not Satisfied At All
Base 98 Q Please rate SPEAKER on meeting
expectations.
37
Speakers Usefulness of Speech
Usefulness ratings were incrementally stronger
than expectations, suggesting that the delivery
of information rather than content accounted for
weaker ratings. Next year, well explicitly
separate presentation/ delivery quality from the
usefulness of content.
Extremely Satisfied
MEAN RATINGS
Not Satisfied At All
Base 102 Q Please rate SPEAKER on meeting
expectations.
38
ATTENDANCE
39
Attendance
The full hard copy direct mail effort (Save the
date, program registration and reminder) was sent
to 444 usable names, in addition to HVCB members.
Of the list that received the full direct mail,
57 or 253 attended the seminar.
40
PAID ATTENDANCE Historic (2006-2005)
This year, there were 87 fewer paid attendees
than last year, a decline of 25.
41
1st Time vs. Repeat
1st timers exceeded repeaters by more than 21.
42
Efforts to Boost Attendance

• Mailed a reminder post card and sent a email
  blast
• Conducted a telephone calling effort

• Called 509, of which 444 were usable Left message
  with 227 Spoke with 217
• Among 217 contacts, 67 could not attend (of
  which, 63 indicated interest but would be out of
  town, and 37 had other reasons).
• Of 150 contacts who could attend, 51 or 34 were
  recruited

43
Obstacles to Attending

• Overall Conversion is high We need a larger
  database and to increase awareness.
• Timing --- 22 of qualified contacts were
  interested but were not in town to attend.
• Pricing --- 48 registered at the 29 price.
• Website Down --- The HTA website was down for
  most of the last week of registration and the
  week after initial posting
• Delays
• HVCB mailer went out about a week after Neighbor
  Island mailer

44
Attendance Recommendations

• Expand database of prospects for seminar
• Consider separate invitation to grant submitters
• Advertise on Neighbor Islands
• Improve Neighbor Island publicity

45
TOPLINE EVALUATION REPORT PARTICIPANT COMMENTS
46
Overall Perception of Seminar

• Seminar promotes a common goal
• Raises standards and helps Hawaii stay
  competitive
• Networking is invaluable
• Creates support for HTA
• Its extremely valuable to assist us locals in
  running a quality event.
• This seminar provides information and tools for
  our festivals future success. It is valuable to
  make sure everyone is doing their programs the
  right way. A great education!
• We as a people and as a destination should be
  consistent and unified in our basic message to
  the world. Values and this seminar help us do
  this.
• Helps us keep competitive with new ideas.
• Creates a standard of professionalism and
  organization in Hawaii's event community.
• Hawaii needs to continue to growan amazing
  catalyst!
• We stay unified and deliver the same message.
• Great to have Muriel provide an overall update
  of HTA programs and funding levels to create
  awareness and support for HTAs efforts. Mahalo!

47
Program Comments

• Great topics and breakout speakers!
• All speakers had a lot to offer!
• Great content and information! Some speakers
  more dynamic than others!
• Bruce Erley animated, energetic, worth the whole
  day!
• Jamieson exceptional in providing can-do advice.
  Very upbeat!
• Branding was not easy, but I learned a lot and
  more than I thought.
• Branding was too complicated for the time frame.
  
• The message of the lunch speaker was valuable
  but the speaker was not effective.

48
Program Recommendations

• Get recommendation from more than one
  organization on speakers
• Consider plenary format like Year 1 (Have all
  speakers present in same room, but with addition
  of informal roundtable at end of day for
  increased inter-action time when there is no set
  presentation to encourage discussion.
• Increase speakers on local subjects, permitting,
  security
• Integrate host culture component. Make opening
  more celebratory by working with local festivals
• Distribute electronic copies of presentation in
  advance
• Include list of attendees in program.
• Consider a session when there are group scenarios
  and working together like last year.
• Generate ideas from IFEA attendance

49
Operations Recommendations

• Consider non-hotel venue with bento/ box lunches
  to accommodate price and food issues
• Re-locate Maui seminar venue
• Make attendance at pre-seminar session mandatory
• Require presenters using their own equipment to
  test by 715 a.m.
• Require presenters to use a microphone

50
Suggested Future Topics

• Budgeting
• Basics of marketing
• E marketing
• Specifics on HTA promotional campaign
• How to brand value will be used with award/grant
  criteria for consistency
• Website Basics
• Research
• Project management, from start to finish
• Strategies for kamaaina vs. visitor events
• Event management software review
• How to keep events fresh
• Calendars
• Writing grant applications
• More on how to communicate and work with HTA
• How to work with local authorities
• How to work with local visitor bureaus
• Strategic planning
• Volunteer and Staff Responsibilities and
  Approaches
• How to Select Your Board of Directors

51
PARTICIPANTS COMMENTS (DETAILS)
52
Conference Execution/Presentation (1 of 4)

• Overall, the attendees were very pleased with the
  program presentation.
• This years workshop was excellent
• Well done
• Good content and good speakers.

53
Conference Execution/Presentation (2 of 4)

• Attendees varied in their comments regarding the
  length of the sessions and of the program
  overall some thought it was too long, while
  several thought they would have liked even more
  time to absorb the great content presented.
• More in-depth time for topics perhaps expand
  to two days.
• The program itself was a little too long because
  theres just so much information to absorb.
• Could shorten the lunch a bit.
• Presentation should not exceed 60 minutes
  especially after lunch.
• Hold 4 times a year.

54
Conference Execution/Presentation (3 of 4)

• Many participants wished to see more
  event-specific, and particularly Hawaii
  event-specific, examples to illustrate the points
  being made. This would also assist in softening
  the impression that some of the content presented
  was too abstract or not directly related to their
  issues.
• I would like to see more operational examples of
  actual events. It will help us plan and execute
  the future presentations of our events.
• Need more practical information.
• More examples or perhaps using a well known
  event to simulate a planning team digging down
  to determine values, branding and
  implementation.
• Have more chances to ask the speakers for their
  ideas on how they would handle a certain topic or
  examples of how they would do something in our
  real world.

55
Conference Execution/Presentation (4 of 4)

• Some attendees suggested distributing hard copies
  of the PowerPoints prior to each session for
  easier information absorption and note taking and
  a few attendees commented on the fact that the AV
  could have been better louder/miked speakers,
  QA mikes, smoother PowerPoint start-ups, etc.
• Use microphone especially after lunch.
• An attendant with a wireless microphone for
  attendees to use, especially during
  question-answer sessions. Frustrating not to be
  able to hear questions.

56
Speakers/Content

• Attendees had positive comments about the
  speakers, their content, and the usefulness of
  the content.
• Great speakers!
• Great topics and speakers at breakouts.
• It seems they have a lot to offer.
• Great content/info. Some speakers more dynamic
  than others.

57
Program Format (1 of 3)

• The seminar format was well-received, although
  attendees continue to request more interaction.
  Some suggestions included a roundtable segment,
  encouraging speakers to ask the audience
  questions throughout their speeches, and
  including more QA time.
• More question/answer session time.
• More interaction with breakout sessions. More
  hands on.
• Encourage discussion among attendees in terms of
  sharing experiences, learning from failures,
  suggestions.

58
Program Format (2 of 3)

• Networking was a popular feature. Several asked
  for more types of networking options mixer-type
  time, sharing the attendee list, individual
  stand-up introductions (name and company) at the
  beginning of the session like at the OVB
  membership meetings. One person asked for
  networking to be built into the schedule earlier
  in the day.
• Should include a list of attendees so could have
  networked better.
• More time for networking. To learn from others.
• More audience participation on experience on
  events on this island would be helpful.
• Group scenarios or applications to practice or
  experiment with ideas.

59
Program Format (3 of 3)

• Some, particularly from the smaller Neighbor
  Island groups, thought the format would be more
  efficient if they stayed in a single room,
  instead of being moved from place to place. Some
  questioned why breakouts were even done.
• It would have been better to have all of the
  speakers present in the same room. Maybe give a
  5-10 minute break between for the set-up, but
  there was such a small group it was really
  unnecessary to break it up into smaller groups
  and move from room to room.
• Breakout sessions didnt seem like discussion
  format rather a presentation by the presenter
  for the most part. So are they needed? If so,
  then recommend presenters ask more questions to
  engage dialogue by participants.

60
Operations (1 of 2)

• Registration operations comments were primarily
  in the areas of a desire for increased
  awareness/more notice of the seminars and for it
  to be easier to find information and registration
  forms on the HTA website.
• Promote this seminar in a more timely manner.
  We only found out about this Friday before in the
  newspaper and Monday was a holiday. If we found
  out earlier many more of my partners would have
  come and benefited from it.

61
Operations (2 of 2)

• A few Seminar operations comments were received
  in the area of comfort more moderate room
  temperature and the need for continental
  breakfast or snacks because of the early start
  time. One person commented that the Hawaii
  Prince parking lot was full and they could have
  used some advance warning of alternate parking
  options prior to the event.
• Have some small food items available even just
  chips and peanuts.
• Since you started early donuts or continental
  in order. HTA has bucks? Aloha spirit Malama
  Food.
• The rooms are too cold. Hard to concentrate.

62
Other Comments (1 of 3)

• Local Speakers/Local Issues
• Respondents thought the mainland speakers were
  great and brought proven mainland ideas and
  methods to Hawaii. Several attendees suggested
  HTA continue to include experienced Hawaii-based
  speakers/planners but consider hosting speakers
  from their own island who could better address
  issues most relevant to them.
• Speakers are well-versed, however, in my opinion
  many of the Hawaii festivals are cultural. It
  would be nice to hear their personal observations
  and comments about a Hawaii cultural festival.
  Having a local speaker is good, but the major
  presenters seemed to have a different
  perspective.
• Invite KVB to discuss how they do Kauai events.
  (Kauai)
• Use resource people from Hawaii island instead
  of other islands. Nice to see Kauai folks but
  they have different issues than we do.
• Since this was held on all islands, I would have
  liked to see more island specific discussions.
• For operations, have planners who worked on the
  respective island. Maui planners do not know
  Oahu.

63
Other Comments (2 of 3)

• HTA Resources
• Several people asked for more information on how
  to best work with HTA. An interesting area to
  note is comments regarding HTA funding applicants
  and grantees. More than one person thought the
  seminar attendance should be required, or at
  least strongly encouraged, for all HTA grantees.
  Another suggestion was that Hawaii Festivals
  brand values should be included in the grant
  application requirements and be a measured
  component in the post-event HTA evaluation.
• Learn about most effective ways to communicate
  and contact HTA.
• Have a workshop on what was needed in the
  proposal process.
• If the goal of HTA is to raise the bar on
  festivals, then need more training. Need more
  critical event evaluations. Have more on-going
  resources for festival organizers to access
  consultants, info, etc.
• Require or strong recommendation all HTA
  grantees to attend unless major reason they
  cannot.
• Grantees should be required to attend.
• Communicate the brand promise to the grantees.
  Use brand promise as part of final event report,
  i.e. did your festival fulfill the brand
  promise?

64
Other Comments (3 of 3)

• The Hospitality Industry
• One person suggested HTA do more to incorporate
  the hospitality industry in the seminars. This
  could be accomplished by having them either as
  attendees or possibly even as presenters,
  offering assistance for logistics/operations for
  hosted events.
• Hospitality industry General Managers, Director
  of Sales Marketing, F B Directors need to be
  involved so that they have a better understanding
  and how it could help increase occupancy by
  partnering with a well-known festival.

65
Value (1 of 7)

• One attendee summed up why the event is so
  valuable overall
• Sharing, learning, networking and brainstorming
  - all to better execute better plans.
• Others commented
• Sharing the information amongst the organizers
  of festivals and events will provide valuable
  information for our own event.
• Yes. Great networking and learning experience!
  We learn from each other.
• A springboard to gain experience and exposure of
  all aspects of producing an event/festival/activit
  y.
• It is extremely important to hold this seminar.
  Great learning opportunities as well as providing
  new, updated information for our event planners
  and community leaders.

66
Value (2 of 7)

• Respondents also felt that having ideas and
  examples from both mainland experts and local
  planners was valuable.
• Keep everyone informed update information on
  events on mainland.
• It gives various festival planners an
  opportunity to discuss new ideas and ways to work
  as well as gain valuable knowledge through
  industry experts.
• Its always great to gain more information,
  techniques, options. See what others are doing
  in Hawaii and around the world.
• Hopefully those in the business will increase
  their resources and newcomers hoping to imitate
  events will receive excellent information in
  advance and therefore less time and expense
  learning the hard way.

67
Value (3 of 7)

• Attendees felt very strongly that the program is
  valuable because it promotes a common goal and a
  unified front.
• To keep informed about Hawaii marketing as a
  whole. It is valuable to hold a Hawaii Festivals
  Events seminar to make sure everyone is doing
  their programs the right way.
• We as a people and as a destination should be
  consistent and unified in our basic message to
  the world.
• It educates all event planners how to do
  business and speak the language that companies
  understand.
• People need to understand the role of festivals
  and events in the overall visitor package.
• Stay unified and deliver the same message.
• Because we are renewing our common goals and
  motivations.

68
Value (4 of 7)

• The conference also offered value in instilling a
  level of pride and interest in increasing the
  level of local professionalism.
• Helps us with bigger picture understanding and
  appreciation and inspiration.
• Its extremely valuable to assist the locals in
  running a quality event.
• Keeps us competitive with new ideas.
• Creates a standard w/professionalism and
  organization in Hawaiis event community.
• Hawaii needs to continue to grow.
• It is great education especially for those who
  are starting in events business.

69
Value (5 of 7)

• Attendees found that increasing the awareness of
  the scope of Hawaii events and festivals was
  valuable.
• Provides awareness of the existence of the
  event/festival community.
• I didnt realize how many/how often Hawaii held
  seminars until I attended this event.
• This provides an amazing catalyst for networking
  of island resources for promoting awareness.
• It helps those of us in the Festivals Events
  industry keep current and learn from others
  successes.

70
Value (6 of 7)

• Clarification of HTA expectations and options for
  assistance was appreciated and valuable.
• Great opportunity to network and learn about
  strategies others are using. Also, lets us know
  what the HTA expects.
• Great to have Muriel provide an overall update
  of HTA programs and funding levels to create
  awareness and support for HTAs efforts.
  Mahalo.
• Very good for technical tips, HTA perspectives
  and networking.
• Valuable because it will help us, motivate
  volunteers, meet the expectations of HTA in
  writing grants and fulfilling our projects.
• Lets have even more instructional support on
  receiving state help. State should be more
  involved and helpful to first time events.

71
Value (7 of 7)

• The efficient and cost-effective nature of the
  program is of value to the attendees bringing
  multiple people and ideas to Hawaii, at one place
  for one day.
• The information presented was very valuable and
  not available in one event.
• Its a chance to meet event professionals,
  hearing other points of viewhow things are done
  elsewhere. Dont have to go to the mainland and
  spend big bucks!
• There is so much to know and we can learn from
  the experts instead of trial and error.
• Excellent source of information not otherwise
  available in one place, in one day. The
  networking is invaluable.

72
Suggested Content/Topics for Future Festivals
Seminars (1 of 3)
Operations and Marketing Topics
73
Suggested Content/Topics for Future Festivals
Seminars (2 of 3)

• Corporate Issues Topics
• Leadership
• Communication
• Strategic Planning
• Volunteers Staff
• Community Outreach
• Board of Director Selection/Support
• Planning Committee Basics

74
Suggested Content/Topics for Future Festivals
Seminars (3 of 3)

• Additional Topics
• Affinity sessions arts, music, culture, food,
  etc.
• Panel or forum with editors and news media
• More on events (less on festivals)
• Examination of the host culture and its protocols