The speaker for Friday. July 15 is Catherine Orlans. The O‘ahu Visitors Bureau (OVB) appointed Catherine Orlans as destination manager in September 2021 where she will be responsible for implementation and oversight of the O‘ahu Destination Management Action Plan (DMAP), as well as O‘ahu’s Community Enrichment Program (CEP). Orlans lends extensive experience in the hospitality industry, sales and marketing, as well as sustainability to the position.
The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu and OVB, developed the O‘ahu DMAP with a 23-member steering committee and input from O‘ahu residents through community presentations and an online feedback form. With the goal of rebuilding, redefining and resetting the direction of tourism over a three-year period, the DMAP identifies areas of need and actionable solutions for enhancing the residents’ quality of life as well as improving the visitor experience.
Catherine is in charge of facilitating, implementing and managing the O‘ahu DMAP actions. Her role includes leading meetings and discussions with organizations and agencies involved in the DMAP, as well as engaging with the wider community on DMAP activities and updates.
Orlans holds a B.S. in travel industry management from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with an emphasis in sustainable tourism and transportation management focusing on impacts to indigenous host cultures of destinations. Orlans, an O‘ahu native, is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion as a mother of a son with autism.