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Talk about topical and timely, Luxury Row at 2100 Kalakaua Ave. has launched a Chinese-language option for viewers within its website at www.luxuryrow.com.
Not only does the Chinese option mark the beginning of the Chinese New Year, but it also comes hot on the year-of-the-dragon tail of the Obama adminstration executive order that is expected to dramatically increase travel to Hawaii and the mainland by high-spending Chinese-language speakers.
The luxe location is home to high-end stores including Tiffany & Co., Coach, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Gucci, Tod’s, Bottega Veneta and Hugo Boss.
The bricks-and-mortar gathering of retail glitterati already had drawn affluent visitors from China, said Robert Siegel, CEO of Metropole Realty Advisors Inc., the building’s exclusive broker.
"We are honored to launch the Chinese-language edition of our website as part of our ongoing efforts to promote understanding and cultural exchange … on the occasion of the 2012 year of the dragon, and to assist our Chinese visitors in fulfilling all their luxury shopping expectations at Luxury Row."
The collection of stores is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Ikeda’s ‘changes’
ESPN 1420 General Manager Randal Ikeda will leave his position at the end of the month after eight years at the station, most of them as GM.
In an email, Ikeda cited unnamed changes in the Honolulu radio industry that "make this a good time" to move on.
"I leave the station in (the) very good hands of Chris Hart (programming), Kenny Harrison (sales) and Aaron Custodio (operations), who will continue in their current positions and will provide leadership for the station until my successor is named," he said.
Ikeda will transfer to an unspecified position with aio LLC, the radio station’s parent company, said aio’s Susan Eichor.
Aio is a holding company led by Duane Kurisu, who also is a minority investor in the Star-Advertiser.
Eichor anticipates that Ikeda’s successor will be named next month.
Social media’s tops
Travel + Leisure magazine is starting a new industry awards program to honor the most innovative and effective uses of social media in the travel industry.
The Social Media in Travel & Tourism Awards, or the SMITTYS — not sure where the "y" comes from — will be collected online through March 2.
"The travel industry has taken to social media in creative ways over the past year," Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, said in a statement. "The SMITTYS aim to spotlight those in our industry that are developing engaging campaigns that provide value to their consumers in this new landscape."
SMITTYS will be presented in three award categories: Best Use of a Social Media Platform, Best Single Social Media Promotion and Best Social Media Promotion of Travel Deals.
Campaigns and promotions must have been implemented on a social media outlet during the past calendar year — but those that continued past Dec. 31 are eligible.
Entries and nominations will be accepted from travel-related entities including hotels, cruise lines, airlines, airports, tour operators, convention and visitor bureaus, travel agencies, attractions and car rental agencies.
Entries will be judged by a panel of social media and travel experts, and winners will be announced in June and will be featured in the July issue of Travel + Leisure magazine as well as on its website.
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On the Net:
» www.travelandleisure.com/smittys
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Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.
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