When wildfires hit Lahaina, Maui, on Aug. 8, 2023, the Maui Invitational college basketball tournament faced a huge challenge. The fires were close to the event's location, and while the venue was intact, it was being used as a disaster recovery center, making it impossible to hold the tournament there as planned. KemperSports LIVE, a leading sports, entertainment and hospitality company, needed a solution to keep the tournament in Hawaii but to move it from Maui to Oahu. That's where long-time partner MCI USA stepped in, demonstrating their expertise in efficiently managing major changes.
The Challenge
With the original venue deemed unusable for the event, there was little time to find a new one. The tournament was set for November, over Thanksgiving week, leaving only two months to organize the move. It was important to find new hotel accommodations for everyone involved (over 2,000 fans, players and their families, coaching staff, etc.) without raising the cost for attendees.
The Strategy
Having an established, strong partnership with KemperSports LIVE since 2016, the company trusted MCI USA’s housing and sourcing team to handle the matter. Leveraging extensive relationships in hospitality across Hawaii, MCI USA quickly identified accommodations comparable to what was available in Maui.
▪️ Quick and effective planning: The MCI USA team visited 11 hotel properties in Honolulu in just two days, selecting the top options with the right quality, size and features for the event.
▪️ Smooth coordination: MCI USA made significant contributions with moving the event to a new city. This included updating websites and fan packages, communicating with guests and negotiating hotel contracts. MCI USA also managed transportation, providing on-site shuttles from the hotel to the games for fans/attendees, players, coaching staff and others. Inside connections, particularly a 20-year relationship with the Honolulu Convention and Visitors Bureau, played a key role.
▪️ Keeping costs steady: MCI USA’s negotiating kept package pricing the same, even with the event date quickly approaching.
The Results
Despite the big move, MCI USA managed to retain most of the tournament’s attendees, booking over 1,000 hotel rooms on peak, with a total of over 6,400 room nights.
“Relocating the Maui Invitational in less than 90 days was no easy task,” said Nelson Taylor, the tournament’s vice president, sports and events. “It was made easier through our partnership with MCI USA. Their team helped us with a strategic vision and execution of the relocation that made it a seamless experience for our fans and team.”
The 2023 Maui Invitational is a prime example of turning a difficult situation into a success story. MCI USA’s strategic thinking, innovative problem solving, strong relationships, and detailed planning made sure the tournament not only went ahead but remained a memorable event for everyone involved.
