It's a beautiful sunny day here in Scottsdale, Arizona where Marriott's Spirit of Aloha Tour launched this morning with a traditional Hawaiian chant and blessing at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Here's Chris Tatum, vice president of North Asia, Hawaii and South Pacific - Marriott International, announcing the start of the 5,530-mile journey aboard the 45-foot-long tour bus emblazoned with tropical images of Hawaii that will visit 11 additional U.S. cities through February 12.
Here's Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau President and CEO John Monahan, Hawaiian Airlines Phoenix Station Manager Jane Everett, American Idol Season Three finalist and Hawaii native Jasmine Trias, Chris Tatum, and Polynesian Cultural Center Account Manager Nephi Setoki untying the ceremonial maile lei.
To encourage visits to the islands, the traveling road show will bring the sights and sounds of Hawaii to the mainland. Traveling on the bus will be Marriott Resorts Hawaii leaders, including general managers and directors of sales and marketing from each of its resort hotels, who will visit with travel partners, groups and media, while performers from the Polynesian Cultural Center will provide Hawaiian entertainment at each stop.
Tour partners are Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and Hawaiian Airlines. This trip follows two successful promotional tours on the U.S. mainland and Japan last year.
Following the blessing, we went to Phoenix Children's Hospital where Jasmine and the Polynesian Cultural Center entertainers performed "These Islands" for Children's Miracle Network children and their families.
We also presented to Phoenix Children's Hospital two five-night vacation package giveaways for four to Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa on Oahu, respectively, with roundtrip air accommodations on Hawaiian Airlines. We will continue to visit select Children's Miracle Network hospitals during the tour.
We will be providing continuous tour updates while on the road. Follow us @MarriottHawaii on Twitter or be a fan of Marriott Resorts Hawaii on Facebook. Click here to see if Marriott's Spirit of Aloha Tour will be visiting a city near you!
In a beautiful day in Scottsdale, Arizona, representatives of the Marriott recently shared the beauty and the glamor of its vacation packages featuring Maui hotels. While the economy understandably has people thinking more about their day to day budget, it's also created unprecedented opportunities for affordable stays at Maui luxury hotels. You can enjoy some of the best accommodations at reduced rates. The economy has hit the tourist industry of Hawaii, which means you get cheap Hawaii hotel rates, and you can avoid the big crowds. Enjoy island life all to yourself and get the best deals for hotels in Honolulu for an affordable Hawaiian vacation.
