UH School of Travel Industry Management to hold painting bee

Travel industry partners combine efforts to lend support for school on Jan. 21

HONOLULU — A team of volunteers from the travel industry have generously offered their time and talent to improve and upgrade the appearance of the School of Travel Industry Management (TIM) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. On Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the TIM School will host a "painting bee" where students and faculty will work alongside travel industry professionals to paint and apply graphics in the interior walls of the TIM School‘s George Hall.

Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts LP., owners of the four Sheraton Hotels in Waikīkī and the Sheraton Maui, serves as the major financial sponsor for the event. "We see this as another way for our industry to come together and to give back to the community," said Ernest Nishizaki, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts LP. "The TIM School has been instrumental in developing the future leaders of our industry and we want to make sure that we are here to support them."

Other companies participating in the event that are providing either funding and/or volunteer support include: the Hawaiʻi Hotel & Lodging Association, Hawaiʻi Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club, Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa, Hyatt Regency Waikīkī, Marriott International, Inc., New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, Outrigger & OHANA Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Ilikai Waikīkī Hotel, ResortQuest Hawaii, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo.

Special guests expected to attend include Denise Konan, UH Mānoa Interim Chancellor; Walter Jamieson, TIM School Dean; Marsha Wienert, State Tourism Liaison; Murray Towill, Hawaiʻi Hospitality Association President; among others.

The painting bee kicks off the first of a series of planned events to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the TIM School. "This is indeed a unique opportunity for the community to join the School in ensuring that the School meets the necessary physical standards for a world-class teaching and research program," says the School‘s Dean, Walter Jamieson.

For additional information, call Kristi Bates at (808) 956-4885 or kbates@hawaii.edu.

ABOUT THE TIM SCHOOL

The School of Travel Industry Management (TIM School) is a leading professional institution in the development and dissemination of knowledge on all aspects of the travel industry in the Pacific. The School specializes in the Asia-Pacific region; however its student body and faculty come from all over the world. The School offers quality degree and professional educational programs including a Bachelor of Science Degree with emphasis on hospitality management, tourism management or transportation management, a Master of Science Degree and the e-TIM On-line Graduate Certificate Program. The School also offers the Executive Development Institute for Tourism (EDIT) and the Hawaiʻi International Hotel Institute (HIHI), professional training programs for travel industry executives and professionals. The School is accredited through 2007 by the ACPHA (Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration) and has received the TedQual (Tourism Education Quality) certificate designation by the WTO (World Tourism Organization).

Note to media:

There will be an opportunity for photos and acknowledgements, including a message from Governor Lingle read by Marsha Wienert, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.