Hawaii hotel tax legislation draws industry fire

The Hawaii legislature approved bills to allow counties to impose a new hotel tax of up to 3%, while cutting funding for the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Hawaii Convention Center. Tourism industry leaders objected strongly to the measures, with former Starwood Hotels & Resorts executive Keith Vieira saying, “I just think legislators are being greedy, and taking the easy route, and like always, it’s ‘screw the visitor’ — always.”