Business briefs for the week of February 20-26, 2011
Kamp Kaua‘i open house
On March 1, students of Kapa’a High School’s Virtual Enterprise class will be presenting their virtual business at Kaua’i Beach Resort’s Jasmine Ballroom.
The presentation will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
The virtual business, Kamp Kaua’i, is a group and family based camp that would be located along the Wailua River. It includes on-site and off-site activities, along with activities packages and overnight accommodations.
Topics in the presentation will range from the making of the business plan, the employee manual and the catalog, to the construction of the website.
The public is invited. RSVP as soon as possible by calling Christine Farina at 821-4400 ext. 170.
LBA forum to discuss employment
The theme of Lihu‘e Business Association’s next public forum is “taking the measure of jobs in our community.”
Topics will include the challenges companies face during the hiring process, skill gaps between available jobs and applicants, and how employers and job seekers can work together to fill those gaps.
The meeting will be moderated by John Latkiewicz of the Small Business Development Center, and panels members will include Peggy Lake of WorkWise, Basil Scott of Oceanit, John Simmerman of ProService Hawai‘i and Carla Thomas of the Hyatt.
The meeting will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m., Thursday, at Duke’s Canoe Club in Kalapaki. For additional information, contact Pat Griffin at 639-1019 or lba96766@yahoo.com.
Chris White receives top honor as Starwood sales leader
Chris White, director of sales and marketing for St. Regis Princeville Resort, was named as the Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ (Western Region) sales leader of the year for 2010.
The announcement was made at the annual Starwood west coast sales and operations kick-off held at the Sheraton Waikiki. About 800 sales and marketing executives attended.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the contributions of the St. Regis Princeville sales team,” White said. “The staff was very successful in exceeding this year’s goals, including the booking of future business at 125 percent for the next three years. We were honored as the New Business Development Team of the year, growing our relationships in both the leisure and group markets.
“The future looks very bright, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to the St. Regis Princeville and the island of Kaua’i,” he said.
“We were thrilled to hear of Chris’ accomplishment,” said Milton Sgarbi,general manager. “He and his sales team have done a remarkable job in a short time since the St. Regis Princeville reopened in 2009.”
2011 Na Poe Paahana Awards St. Regis nominees
St. Regis Princeville Resort staff members were recognized at the 21st Annual Na Poe Paahana (hard working people) Awards luncheon hosted by the Hawai‘i Hotels Lodging Association (HHLA).
The annual statewide event honors Hawai‘i’s top hospitality industry employees.
Recipients of HHLA awards are selected based on nominations submitted by their coworkers and managers, and they are judged on the basis of outstanding service to hotel guests, coworkers and the community.
Kaua‘i firm receives national honor
Forty-four small businesses and eight individuals were honored Tuesday for the critical role they play in research and development for the government and for their success in driving innovation and creating new jobs.
Trex Hawai‘i-Advanced Materials Group (Trex Advanced Materials) in Lihu‘e was named as a 2011 honoree.
The Tibbetts Awards, given by the U.S. Small Business Administration, honor outstanding small businesses and individuals who participate in the SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program.
“Winning the future requires redoubling our commitment to supporting innovative entrepreneurs like those we honor with Tibbetts Awards,” said Karen Mills, SBA administrator.
Tibbetts award winners are selected based on the economic impact of their technological innovation, and on whether they have met federal research and development needs, encouraged diverse participation in technological innovation, and increased the commercialization of federal research.
The SBA’s Small Business Innovation Research program accounted for approximately $2.5 billion in FY 2010 in federal research and development funds and is coordinated by the SBA in cooperation with 11 federal agencies.
Highest auction residential sale on Kaua‘i
Coldwell Banker Bali Hai Realty recently closed the highest residential sale achieved on Kaua‘i through a luxury property auction process.
The property, known as Hanalei Bay Vista, is situated on 1.25 acres located off of Hanalei Plantation Road. The 4,630 square-foot, four-bedroom home is custom designed with extensive views of Hanalei Bay.
The sale, at $5.5 million, was recorded in early February. Bali Hai Realty Principal Broker Michael Schmidt said this was their first auction sale representing a seller.
The auction was conducted in partnership with Accelerated Marketing Partners of Danville California, a company that specializes in developing interest from qualified bidders.
The sealed bid auction process allowed high bids to be negotiated, as compared to the more typical auction where bids are accepted at the bidding price.
Schmidt said, “This sale, along with other recent high-end sales on Kaua‘i’s North Shore, signifies that the real estate market is improving. While the auction strategy is viable for sellers in a stressed market, we’re also seeing an increase in more traditional methods of buying and selling real property again.”
