HONOLULU, Hawai‘i, May 10, 2012—The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state’s tourism agency, will release a request for information (RFI) from qualified entities regarding qualifications, capabilities, industry customs and standards, trends and best practices for facilities management and world-wide marketing of the Hawai‘i Convention Center (HCC) for meetings, conventions and incentives (MCI).  The RFI will allow the HTA to include industry input in a subsequent procurement process to ensure fair and open competition.

The RFI is for market research purposes only in preparation for a future procurement acquisition solicitation of the HCC. The information obtained from the respondents will be used to improve the HTA’s knowledge of private industry’s capabilities in managing the HCC. No evaluation of participating respondents will occur and participation in the RFI is not a promise of future business with the HTA. Failure to participate in the RFI will not bar anyone from competing in future solicitations. No contract will be awarded directly from the RFI. If a subsequent procurement solicitation is s released, the projected date for release is late 2012. 
 
The HTA is requesting information in the following areas:

• Qualifications and capabilities of the respondent;
• Industry standards for convention center facilities management, MCI marketing or both;
• Best practices for convention center facilities management, MCI marketing or both; and
• Other opportunities for improvement.

The HTA intends to use the information to:

• Develop lists of sources of the services to be acquired;
• Invite selected respondents to engage in further communications with the HTA;
• Obtain industry input;
• Determine whether industry trends, market conditions and business issues suggest changes in procurement acquisition approach; and
• Consider whether opportunities exist to integrate, bundle or unbundle requirements to encourage competition or generate efficiency or savings in costs or fees to HTA.

The RFI may be downloaded at www.hawaiitourismauthority.org (click on the link to “Request for Proposals”) on May 9, 2012.  Responses should be limited to five pages of attachments, not including the Respondent’s Information form.  Respondents are encouraged to review information on the HTA website for additional background. Responses to the RFI are expected to be due no later than June 8, 2012.  The official dates and times will be provided in the RFI, which may be amended as necessary.

Inquiries should be directed to the HTA Procurement Officer for this RFI, Mr. Winfred Pong, at 1801 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu, Hawai‘i, 96815, or by telephone:  (808) 973-2255, or email:  [email protected].

The HTA is responsible for managing and supporting the Hawai‘i Convention Center, as well as the selecting the contractor or contractors directly charged with its sales, marketing and operations.

About the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority
Established in 1998, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the state’s tourism agency, is responsible for strategically managing tourism to optimize benefits for Hawai‘i that integrates the interest of visitors, the community and visitor industry. Tourism is our state’s leading economic driver and largest employer and the HTA continually works to ensure its sustainability well into the future. For more information on the HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@HawaiiHTA).