§201B-7  Tourism-related activities. (a)  The authority may enter into contracts and agreements that include thefollowing:

(1)  Tourism promotion, marketing, and development;

(2)  Market development-related research;

(3)  Product development and diversification issuesfocused on visitors;

(4)  Promotion, development, and coordination ofsports-related activities and events;

(5)  Promotion of Hawaii, through a coordinatedstatewide effort, as a place to do business, including high technologybusiness, and as a business destination;

(6)  Reduction of barriers to travel;

(7)  Marketing, management, use, operation, ormaintenance of the convention center facility, including the purchase or saleof goods or services, logo items, concessions, sponsorships, and licenseagreements, or any use of the convention center facility as a commercialenterprise; provided that effective January 1, 2003, and thereafter, thecontract for management of the convention center facility shall includemarketing for all uses of the facility;

(8)  Tourism research and statistics to:

(A)  Measure and analyze tourism trends;

(B)  Provide information and research to assistin the development and implementation of state tourism policy;

(C)  Provide tourism information on:

(i)  Visitor arrivals, visitor characteristics,and expenditures;

(ii)  The number of transient accommodation unitsavailable, occupancy rates, and room rates;

(iii)  Airline-related data including seatcapacity and number of flights;

(iv)  The economic, social, and physical impactsof tourism on the State; and

(v)  The impact of ongoing marketing programs ofthe authority on Hawaii's tourism industry, employment in Hawaii, state taxes,and the State's lesser known and underused destinations; and

(9)  Any and all other activities necessary to carryout the intent of this chapter;

provided that for any contract or agreement valuedat $25,000 and over, the authority shall provide notice to the speaker of thehouse of representatives and the president of the senate on the same day thatsuch notification is given to the governor.

(b)  The authority may delegate to staff theresponsibility for soliciting, awarding, and executing contracts, andmonitoring and facilitating any and all functions developed in accordance withsubsection (a). [L 1998, c 156, pt of §2; am L 2000, c 297, §20; am L 2002, c143, §4 and c 253, §8; am L Sp 2009, c 5, §7]