Hotel Room Prices in Waikiki Going Through The Roof!!!

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by whtviper1

You pay about 14% of the rate in taxes on Oahu - not exactly a small amount.

No, but comparatively not as much as many other leading destination cities charge for hotel accommodations:

Honolulu 13.692%
Kailua-Kona 13.962%
San Francisco 15 - 15.5%
Chicago 15.39%
Seattle 15.6%
Boston 17.45%
Vancouver 17%
San Antonio 16.75%
Kansas City 15.73%

per San Francisco Tourism Improvement District www.sftid.com/faq

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by OpenD

No, but comparatively not as much as many other leading destination cities charge for hotel accommodations:

Honolulu 13.692%
Kailua-Kona 13.962%
San Francisco 15 - 15.5%
Chicago 15.39%
Seattle 15.6%
Boston 17.45%
Vancouver 17%
San Antonio 16.75%
Kansas City 15.73%

per San Francisco Tourism Improvement District www.sftid.com/faq

Yes, but the biggest difference between Honolulu and Kailua-Kona and the rest of those cities is that they are almost exclusively seasonal tourist destinations versus the other cities have a robust convention and corporate visitor market all year around with people paying from expense accounts.

[WaikikiBoy]

Originally Posted by VanHa

WaikikiBoy has a point...If we take the following to be true:

1. Tourism is the backbone of the Hawaiian economy
2. Waikiki is the economic engine of the Hawaii
3. Hotel vacancy rates is a primary economic indicator

Then my question is simple...and it goes back to the title of the thread...since we are having record rates (revenues) why is it not showing on the street (in the middle class)...are we feeling good about the vacancy rate and the associated revenues....but nothing will really change for the majority of taxpayers-the middle class?

This is a very valid point. For most people in the middle class, the improving economy is not directly felt in terms of day to day living. For those on the lower end, they may feel the improvement just in terms of seeing more opportunities for employment. But if you are in the middle of he middle class or lower middle class and did not lose your job during the recession, then you probably did not see much change in the downturn or the upturn in the economy.

I do know that many companies cut benefits and did not increase for several years during the downturn and are only now beginning to give some smaller sized raises again (generally speaking).

But there is way more money flowing into the government through taxes today than several years ago. And I think it should be spent on various infrastructure improvements and schools around the islands. And that is the most tangible way it would show up to middle class. But if it's not being seen, then find out where and how the government is spending the money and hold them accountable.

[hawaiian by heart]

^^^^^

@WaikikiBoy

I believe the reason is the same reason on the mainland. Two general things.

1) Is wealth gap keeps getting bigger, those who are rich are getting richer, those poor getting poorer. The trickle down economic model isn't working. Then you also have the issue of the US Dollor not being as valuable today as say 30 years ago. 1970 = $5.92; 1980 = $2.79; 1990 = $1.76; todays its a fifth it was. Thus reflecting on prices

2) Then you also have the "its not enough wealth mentality" Some like alcoholics can't get enough wealth, after having enough wealth to finance a country lol they strive for more. Wealth isn't bad, its the methods thay use to get wealth that sometimes is really bad.

Hawaii also has the paradise tax which really equals to, just charge as high as possible and what we can get away with.

Please try to remember with the last economic depression recently the only ones who got rich was the top of the top and corporate america with record historic profits. Same 4 hawaii