The Hawaii Tourism Authority selected Los Angeles-based AEG Facilities to manage the Hawai‘i Convention Center, marking the second recent U.S.-based venue contract win for AEG.

AEG Facilities, which manages six overseas convention centers, also scored the new management contract for the Los Angeles Convention Center in June.

SMG holds the current venue management contract at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, which will expire at the end of 2013. 

AEG Facilities will be responsible for the management and operation of the HCC, as well as working collaboratively with the HTA’s “Meet Hawai‘i” team in marketing the convention center and the Hawaiian Islands as a premier business destination, according to HTA officials.

“This announcement represents the rebirth of the convention center for a new era in Hawaii,” said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the HTA.

He added, “Our three priorities are to focus on further strengthening our “Meet Hawai‘i” sales and marketing strategies, realigning HCC’s operations and management to elevate the facility’s global presence and enhancing and expanding the function, use and service beyond a traditional convention center.”

Reasons cited by the HTA for choosing AEG Facilities, a division of AEG Worldwide, as the new venue management company for the Hawai‘i CC included AEG’s 20 years of experience in the management of convention centers: they offer a network of elite worldwide convention centers, all of which have a similar look and feel to Hawai‘i’s convention center; and AEG’s more than 100 venues on five continents that will give Hawai‘i more of a foothold in the Asia/Pacific region.

The HTA also said it believes the center, while covered in the past by tax revenue, could perform at a more “optimal level” under AEG facilities.

“We are honored to have been selected by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority to manage the Hawai‘i Convention Center,” said Bob Newman, president, AEG Facilities. 

He added, “We are truly excited to partner with the HTA and all of the hospitality stakeholders to build on the foundation in place and attract new and diverse events to the facility. We also believe that the unique cultural attributes of the region will truly be another asset that will set the Hawai‘i Convention Center above all others.”

SMG Hawai‘i will manage the center through December 2013, with AEG Facilities’ contract beginning Jan. 1.

SMG Hawai‘i has managed the HCC since its opening in 1998, and, according to AEG Facilities’ officials, they plan to try and retain the majority of SMG’s staff of 70.

Besides, AEG Facilities’ new Los Angeles and Hawai‘i CC contracts, the company also manages Australia-based convention centers in Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin, as well as other centers in Oman, Malaysia and Qatar.