Business Briefs

Microsoft to open Ala Moana Center store

A Microsoft retail store will open in Ala Moana Center by this summer.

"Look out, Honolulu. We’re headed to Ala Moana Center soon," Microsoft said on its website. "Although we can’t reveal too much now, we can promise a lot of fun — and dancing — during our grand opening."

Microsoft has 64 stores, which look similar to Apple stores, including T-shirt-clad clerks wearing lanyards, minimalist design and products displayed on wood tables.

Expedia profit hurt by Hawaii hotel tax

Soaring hotel bookings pushed revenue higher at Expedia Inc., but the online travel agency’s fourth-quarter profit fell 90 percent because of money it set aside to appeal a tax dispute in Hawaii.

Nights booked for hotel stays jumped 33 percent as demand grew for a second straight quarter in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

The results included $111 million that Expedia expects to pay to appeal a ruling on the way that hotel-occupancy taxes are calculated in Hawaii. Expedia could get back some or all of the money if it wins on appeal.

Hawaii officials are pursuing several online travel companies that they say owe the state $170 million in unpaid hotel room taxes.

ON THE MOVE

Maryknoll School has announced Darcie Kawa­mura has been selected as principal of the high school. She had served as interim principal since last fall. Kawa­mura has been with Maryknoll School for 18 years, serving as a teacher for 10 years in the social studies department and as a high school vice principal since 2005.

Outrigger Enterprises Group has announced the promotion of John Neeley to vice president of information technology for the lodging and hospitality company. He started with the company as a programmer analyst in 1991 and previously served as Outrigger’s director of systems and programming for eight years.