George Applegate, executive director for the Big Island Visitors Bureau, announced the organization has appointed Waynette Kwon as BIVB's new director of sales, effective immediately.
Kwon, who most recently served as Director of the Lanai Visitors Bureau since 2002, will be based in BIVB's Waimea office and will travel frequently, promoting the appeal of Hawaii Island as a destination to travel agents, wholesalers and consumers. She will direct the leisure sales activities for the U.S. mainland and Canada, and assist BIVB's senior director of sales Debbie Hogan with conventions, meetings and incentive opportunities, as well as nurture markets in Europe, Asia and Oceania.
Kwon, who was born and raised in Kona, is a graduate of Konawaena High School and Kapi'olani Community College.
Her background in tourism and hospitality includes finance, advertising, sales, marketing, plus community and public relations. Prior to becoming Director at Lanai Visitors Bureau, she worked for Castle & Cooke Resorts, LLC on Lanai, and was the Aloha Week Hawaii manager for Lanai.
Kwon is moving back to Hawaii Island with her husband and two children. A third child attends college on the U.S. mainland.
Contact Waynette Kwon at [email protected], or call (808) 885-1625, and for more information on Hawaii's Big Island, visit http://gohawaii.com/big-island.