Japanese travel agents pose with 2016 Miss Asia Pacific International Guam
Audre Laguaña Dela Cruz and 2016 Miss World Guam 1st Runner Up Aiyana
Baker Shedd
The Guam Visitors Bureau, along with the Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association, the Japan Guam Travel Association, United Airlines, Japan Airlines, t’way, Korean Air, Jin Air and Cebu Pacific, teamed up to conduct the annual Håfa Adai Study mega familiarization tour from June 30 to July 3, 2017, to help travel trade professionals from the island’s various visitor markets learn more about Guam. HAST is a Guam familiarization tour specifically for travel agents, airline representatives and travel trade media that began in 1993. Participants from this year’s tour had opportunities to engage with travel industry participants from four of Guam’s core tourism market sources, including Japan, Korea, China and the Philippines. The tour focused on Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions, group planners and leisure travel product planners. “The Håfa Adai Study Tour Mega FAM had an all-day trade show event at Dusit Thani Guam Resort where participating industry partners conducted Business to Business meetings with over 80 travel planners, travel industry media and airline representatives from Japan, as well as over 50 travel planners and media from the markets,” said GVB President and CEO Nathan Denight. “We appreciate all of the delegates for taking the time out of their busy schedules to visit our island paradise and experience the hospitality of our people.” In addition to this trade show, the over 130 HAST delegates took part in hotel inspections and familiarization tours that showcase Guam’s offerings and tourist attractions during their stay. “The overall goal for this tour was to provide a Guam product update in terms of facilities, tours and culture. GVB is connecting overseas travel trade representatives with local stakeholders for product and future business development,” Denight added.