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| Halemaumau at sunrise, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park |
Blue Sky Tours Adds Commission on Air Fares
One of Hawaii’s leading wholesalers, Blue Sky Tours, is offering 3 percent commission on all published air fares to the Aloha State. This includes all airlines and classes of service (both trans-Pacific and interisland flights), all departure cities and all days of the year. The 3 percent is in addition to agents’ normal commission on land and the 10 percent commission they get on bulk air, as well as any earnings agents make through Blue Sky’s Mahalo Money Loyalty Rewards program. Blue Sky pays commission at time of full payment, not when customers travel, and its waiver also covers published air to provide added protection.
Room Upgrades Completed At Aqua Lotus Honolulu
In Honolulu, Aqua Hotels & Resorts recently completed guest room renovations and upgrades totaling $2.5 million at the Aqua Lotus. The hotel was refurbished under the direction of Kory Wong-Oglesby of deZigns Interior Planning. A darker wood finish was used to help accentuate the white walls and cool color tones, and she used subtle tropical patterns on the upholstery and bedding. Guest rooms also got new 42-inch flat-screen LCD HDTVs as well as upgraded bedding and linen.
Volcano House Hotel Reopens
Weary travelers visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii, the Big Island can soon find shelter at the restored Volcano House Hotel this fall. Perched on the rim of Kilauea’s caldera, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, guest rooms offer incredible views of the rainforest and Halemaumau crater. Clients seeking a more rugged adventure can enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime camping experience at the newly refurbished Namakanipaio Cabins.
Hawaiian Airlines Boosts Oakland, San Jose Flights…
Good news for clients in the San Francisco Bay Area: Hawaiian Airlines has doubled its nonstop flights to Maui to 14 per week year-round with daily flights from both Oakland and San José. Except for a six-week seasonal summer increase in service, Hawaiian had been offering four flights per week between Oakland and Maui, and three flights per week between San José and Maui since January. Concurrently, Hawaiian’s daily service to Honolulu from Oakland will go to four days per week, and service to Honolulu from San José will go to three days per week. Hawaiian will continue to offer daily service between San Francisco and Honolulu.
…and Posts Gains for August and Year to Date
Hawaiian Airlines recently announced its traffic statistics for the month of August and year-to-date. According to the numbers, the airline reported 877,362 passengers in August, compared to the 779,097 clients it flew to Hawaii in 2011. This represents a 12.6 percent spike. As far as year-to-date numbers go, Hawaiian flew roughly 6.3 million passengers to Hawaii for the first eight months of 2012, compared to the 5.8 million it flew last year during the same time period. This represents an impressive 8.4 percent increase.
Island Destinations Paying Extra One Percent
Another commission boost is being offered by Island Destinations. The tour operator is paying an extra one percent commission on all bookings made for travel through December 15, including 15 percent on Hawaii, 16 percent on Tahiti, and an additional 1 percent on all other destinations. Additional commission is valid for new bookings made for travel through December 15. Even better, Island Destinations offers commission protection with the purchase of SPF 24/7 once the trip has been paid for in full.
Farmers Market Reopens
The Haleiwa Farmers’ Market has reopened at Waimea Valley on Oahu’s North Shore. Visitors can support the local community while enjoying fresh local food, produce, and music every Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Waimea Valley’s Pikake Pavilion and main lawn.