KAILUA, KONA, Hawai'i — Meeting planners and incentive travel organizers from the Asia-Pacific region and North America have committed to bringing 35 groups to the Big Island over the next three years, generating some $135 million in revenue.

The 11th annual Pacific Rim Incentives & Meetings Exchange meeting this weekend on the Kohala Coast connects Hawai'i industry suppliers with more than 100 planners and organizers from the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, China and Japan.

"PRIME2008 is an important opportunity we worked hard to bring back to the island since it debuted here in 1999," said George Applegate, Big Island Visitors Bureau's executive director. "It is a privilege to be the host island, but one we deserve.

"The Big Island offers an excellent experience unmatched elsewhere," he said. "I'm pleased to offer our Hawai'i Island businesses this immeasurable networking opportunity."

The Big Island welcomes approximately 100,000 convention, meeting and incentive visitors per year.

"Hawai'i provides an ideal gathering place between North America, Asia and Oceania," said Priscilla Texeira, managing director of PRIME2008.

Representatives from Amway Japan Ltd., Toyota Motor Philippines, Kuo Hua Insurance from Taiwan, South Korea's Hyundai Dream Tour and New Shanghai CITS from China are attending the meeting.

More than 80 Mainland companies also are attending, including Kaiser Permanente, University of California San Francisco, Microsoft and FTD.

"What makes PRIME Business Exchange different than other industry events is that you don't go from booth to booth to talk to people, it's all prescheduled one-on-one business meetings," Texeira said.

The four-day itinerary includes PRIME Business Exchange meetings and site tours of Big Island accommodations and meeting venues from Keauhou to the Kohala Coast.

Also on the agenda are helicopter flights over erupting Kilauea volcano, paniolo ranch tours, dolphin swims and sunset sailing trips.