HONOLULU -- Marriott hotels plan to expand the concept of using a "bus tour" to entice people to fly to Hawaii, but this time, from Japan.

They took the show on the road. What started out as a U.S. West Coast bus tour grew to include the East Coast and the Midwest.

The eye popping spirit of Aloha Bus got so much attention and boosted bookings at Marriott's five Hawaii properties.

"So in September we will take the bus tour to Japan, Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo and share with them about the destination and get them excited," Waikiki Beach Marriott General Manager Chris Tatum said.

The company tapped American Idol contestant Camille Valasco to help promote the tour.

Marriott will partner with Japan Airlines this fall instead of Hawaiian as it did with the mainland city tour.

It will again feature performers with the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Marriott said it was able to track the traffic to a Web site it created specifically for the tour offering promotions that translated to bookings that picked up not long after the big bus campaign.

"Business has been steady. Hotel staff expects the hotel to be completely sold out this weekend an enviable position given the economy," Tatum said. "We've been very fortunate but business is a challenge now and we have to keep at it so we can't let up."

Room rates are lower then a year ago, but value is part of the promotion and the idea now is to spread the word.

"In January we'll go back to the U.S. and hit the southwest -- go to Phoenix, Atlanta, St. Louis, Omaha and Salt Lake City," Tatum said.

Judging from what the hotel said is dramatically increased numbers over last year; the chain is feeling pretty good that it's not just a fluke, but a hit formula.