President and CEO of the Hawai`i Lodging & Tourism Association, voice for the hospitality industry

 With the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, is working on long-term plans to focus on sustainability in travel, including greater investments in culture and natural resources

 Successfully lobbied Congress to prevent closure of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, saving 4,000 jobs

 Led the US Conference of Mayors, as trustee and committee head, in securing visa waivers for foreign travelers and making tourism top-10 national priority

 Partnered with East West Center, State, and other entities to secure 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Honolulu by committing police and first-responders to event.

 As mayor, met with Disney executives to pave the way for the Aulani resort development in Ko Olina

 Negotiated extensions of Pro Bowl with the National Football League—annual game that attracted 20,000 visitors and generated millions of dollars in revenues

 As State’s economic development director, was pointman for loan guarantee to assist financially troubled Hawaiian Airlines, preventing the loss of as many as 3,500 jobs; successfully lobbied the Legislature for the single largest increase in State support for tourism to combat industry slump

As councilmember, backed the redevelopment of Waikiki’s aging Beachwalk district

Chaired the Governor’s Home Porting Task Force to support Pearl Harbor as site for U.S.S. Missouri