The United States is the host country for the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference. However, leading up to the conference, Hawaii will host APEC meetings in December 2022.
Way back in 2011, Hawaii hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference. It was a big moment for our state, as it propelled us onto the international stage in a way we haven’t been for quite some time. I remember that a lot of beautification work was done leading up to it, including repairing what was then (and is now again) the pothole-ridden Nimitz Highway and Ala Moana Boulevard. And while that work was disruptive, it’s nothing compared to the actual event, which shut down large swaths of Waikiki. Thankfully, this event won’t be quite as disruptive.
Hawaii Will Host APEC Meetings in December 2022
The U.S. is kicking off the 2023 APEC conference with precursor meetings for ambassadors from the 21 member nations to have more informal discussions. These meetings are said to involve about 150 individuals and will take place at the East-West Center in Manoa. Thanks to the small size of the group, disruption should be minimal. However, I’d imagine that rooms at higher-end properties in Waikiki – such as the Ritz-Carlton Residence, Halekulani, and, perhaps, Kahala – will be snatched up by these delegations, limiting inventory and driving rates up. There is also the potential for heightened security around attendees’ hotels and meeting sites, which may cause further disruptions.
No firm dates have been announced yet, so if you’re planning on visiting during December and haven’t already secured your room, you may want to do so NOW.
More to Come?
Apparently, several of these meetings are held throughout the year leading up to the main conference and leader summit in November. And guess what? The U.S. hasn’t chosen a host city yet. Unsurprisingly, Honolulu is on a “short list” of cities under consideration. So, who knows, we very well could see the APEC conference return to the islands in November 2023.
Final Thoughts
Why am I letting you all know that Hawaii will host APEC meetings in December 2022 and, possibly, the conference in November 2023? Because now is the time to either firm up your accommodations during these dates or, perhaps, reschedule your plans. If it were me? I’d want to avoid as many disruptions as possible.