A team led by the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau and Hawai'i Convention Center is in Washington, D.C., this week to promote the state's meetings and convention business.

The highlight of the team's visit will be attending Thursday's 2010 Springtime Expo, the largest one-day trade show for the business meetings sector of the tourism industry. The event is expected to draw more than 4,000 meeting planners and industry professionals from the surrounding Washington, D.C., region.

"We are working hard to sell the business advantages of the Hawai'i meeting experience in the critically important Washington, D.C., market," said Michael Murray, vice president of sales and marketing for HVCB's corporate meetings and incentives division. "We're confident that planners will be very receptive to our message and that new sales leads will be generated for Hawai'i's meetings industry."

ARMY AWARDS CONTRACT TO KAI MEDICAL

Kai Medical, a Kaimukī-based company developing wireless monitoring of vital signs, said it had won a $100,000 U.S. Army contract to develop a wireless sleep monitor.

The firm said the new product would provide sleep quality data that could be used to identify affected or at-risk individuals. It also could be used to monitor changes during treatment.

Kai Medical's first product is a wireless monitor that can monitor respiratory rates. The device has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance.

BUSINESSES SOUGHT FOR COMMISSARY SHOW

The Defense Commissary Agency is seeking local businesses to participate in the American Logistics Association Hawai'i Show Aug. 19 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel.

The show is a chance for the businesses to get their products on commissary shelves around the world.

A booth costs $425, and registrations will be accepted until June 30. Meetings on doing business with the DCA will be held in June and July. For information, contact Sharon Zambo-Fan at sharonzambofan@hawaii.rr.com.