Organizers say the Honolulu Marathon, which generated a record $132.8 million in visitor spending and $6.18 million in taxes in 2012, is on pace to carry that momentum into this year.
The race, which took place Dec. 9, drew 31,083 entries, or 37 percent more participants than in 2011, said Jerome Agrusa, chairman of Hawaii Pacific University’s Travel Industry Management program, who released his annual marathon economic impact study Tuesday.
"The economic impact of the Honolulu Marathon is quite significant and gives a much-needed boost to the Honolulu economy," Agrusa said.
Early-registration discounts for locals, efforts by the Japanese government to improve the economy by encouraging travel, favorable exchange rates from international markets, improved air lift and the race’s milestone 40th anniversary contributed to the gains, he said.
Last year’s event boasted the best economic impact since 2007, when the race generated $108.9 million. It also was the best year for tax revenue generation since 2010, when the event brought in $5.4 million.
The 2012 marathon set a record for spending but not for entrants. The record for entrants was set in 1995 with 34,434, including 27,022 from Japan. December’s race drew 16,283 entrants from Japan, which represented a 31.7 percent increase from the prior year.
Since about 85 percent of the runners who live outside of Hawaii came from Japan, the Japanese arrivals and spending increases accounted for a big jump in economic impact, Agrusa said.
The 2012 race also brought 1,883 runners from the mainland and 793 from countries outside of Japan.
Jerry Gibson, area vice president for Hilton Hawaii, said the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the Doubletree sold out during the marathon, which brought the chain record numbers from Japan.
"It was a tremendous year," Gibson said. "We offered various promotions ranging from a carbo-loading buffet to specific spa treatments. The restaurants and our 100 retail outlets were extremely busy. Our tenants were extremely pleased with the numbers."
Keith Vieira, senior vice president and director of operations for Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Hawaii and French Polynesia, called the marathon "the most significant sporting event in terms of direct consumer spending" and said its timing couldn’t be better.
"Post-Thanksgiving until Christmas used to be soft, but the marathon has strengthened early December," Vieira said.
Honolulu Marathon President Jim Barahal said there are signs this year’s marathon could surpass last year’s results.
"Our early-entry numbers for North America and Hawaii are up 25 percent," he said. "We’ve already got 13,037 people registered. At this time last year we only had 10,463. That’s a pretty good indication that the popularity will continue."
With continued interest from Japan and other international markets, Barahal said 2013’s entries could top 33,000.
"We think we’ll stay pretty strong this year," he said.
