COVID-19 UpdateToday is the second day of Governor David Ige's mandatory, 14-day quarantine for all individuals who have flown into the State of Hawai'i. The final passenger counts from yesterday clearly indicate a staggering reduction in arrivals, especially in visitor arrivals. In short: this is working. 1589 passengers flew into Hawai'i yesterday. Of these, only 268 were visitors. This breaks down to roughly 15% of all statewide arrivals being visitors. To further contextualize this data, you can look back to March 2019 where you will see that, over the course of the entire month, Hawai'i tallied more than 927,000 visitor arrivals. This equates to roughly 30,000 visitor arrivals each day. To have reduced this number to 268 is clear evidence that the various measures enacted to slow COVID-19 are effective and must remain in place for the time being. In other news, HLTA staff has been reaching out to our members around the state. While the news that a property is suspending operations never sits well with any of us, I have been bolstered by the numerous reports of our members doing what they can to support their teams. From distributing care packages of groceries, to honoring scheduled promotions, to continuing to make payroll each week, to striving to maintain their benefits, I have never been more proud to see our industry, and our community, pull together and lift each other up as we face COVID-19 together. Each of these acts of compassion and kindness is a glaring reminder that the spirit of aloha is alive and well. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the HLTA staff if we may be of service to you during these uncertain times. Mahalo, -Mufi Links & ResourcesLocal COVID-19 Media Coverage
"Local healthcare workers fear they can't protect loved ones," KITV4, March 25, 2020 "Hawaii's visitor industry is ready to help with coronavirus crisis," March 26, 2020 "2 arrested, 70 cited for violating stay-at-home orders, Honolulu police say," March 26, 2020 "State: random calls can be made to make sure visitors who just arrived are quarantined in hotel rooms," KHON2, March 26, 2020 "Arriving passengers face 14 days of mandatory self-isolation, based on the honor system," March 27, 2020 HLTA Communications from this Week State Sets up Call Center to Provide Assistance for Unemployment Claimants - March 23, 2020 COVID-19 Update - March 23, 2020 COVID-19 Update - March 25, 2020 Hotel Quarantine Procedures - March 25, 2020 COVID-19 Update - March 26, 2020
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COVID-19 UpdateToday is the second day of Governor David Ige's mandatory, 14-day quarantine for all individuals who have flown into the State of Hawai'i. The final passenger counts from yesterday clearly indicate a staggering reduction in arrivals, especially in visitor arrivals. In short: this is working. 1589 passengers flew into Hawai'i yesterday. Of these, only 268 were visitors. This breaks down to roughly 15% of all statewide arrivals being visitors. To further contextualize this data, you can look back to March 2019 where you will see that, over the course of the entire month, Hawai'i tallied more than 927,000 visitor arrivals. This equates to roughly 30,000 visitor arrivals each day. To have reduced this number to 268 is clear evidence that the various measures enacted to slow COVID-19 are effective and must remain in place for the time being. In other news, HLTA staff has been reaching out to our members around the state. While the news that a property is suspending operations never sits well with any of us, I have been bolstered by the numerous reports of our members doing what they can to support their teams. From distributing care packages of groceries, to honoring scheduled promotions, to continuing to make payroll each week, to striving to maintain their benefits, I have never been more proud to see our industry, and our community, pull together and lift each other up as we face COVID-19 together. Each of these acts of compassion and kindness is a glaring reminder that the spirit of aloha is alive and well. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me or any of the HLTA staff if we may be of service to you during these uncertain times. Mahalo, Mufi Links & Resources Local COVID-19 Media Coverage
"Local healthcare workers fear they can't protect loved ones," KITV4, March 25, 2020 "Hawaii's visitor industry is ready to help with coronavirus crisis," March 26, 2020 "2 arrested, 70 cited for violating stay-at-home orders, Honolulu police say," March 26, 2020 "State: random calls can be made to make sure visitors who just arrived are quarantined in hotel rooms," KHON2, March 26, 2020 "Arriving passengers face 14 days of mandatory self-isolation, based on the honor system," March 27, 2020 HLTA Communications from this Week State Sets up Call Center to Provide Assistance for Unemployment Claimants - March 23, 2020 COVID-19 Update - March 23, 2020 COVID-19 Update - March 25, 2020 Hotel Quarantine Procedures - March 25, 2020 COVID-19 Update - March 26, 2020 COVID-19 UpdateAloha, As you all know, the past week has been a whirlwind of developments as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to take shape. In Hawai'i especially, the situation has begun to deteriorate with a spike in positive tests and stringent edicts called for by Governor David Ige as well as multiple county mayors. While I understand the impossible position that closures and dining restrictions put on our membership and the overall Hawai'i business community, I also believe it is critical that our government act decisively and prudently to slow the spread of COVID-19. As the former Mayor of Honolulu, I recognize the impossible decisions that many of our public officials have been forced to make, and I have always believed that the health and safety of our residents is of paramount importance. But what we want our public officials and the community to know is the aloha and compassion that we have towards all of our employees during these challenging times. They all have families and loved ones that are dependent on them so it is with a heavy heart that some of these decisions to cope with the “new normal" are being made. We, therefore, ask our federal, state, and county government officials as they announce their intentions and initiatives to contain and eradicate coronavirus in our state, that they share with us their plans to provide additional relief to our displaced co-workers in the short term and start revealing their plans to help businesses and employers rebound and recover as quickly as possible. We are prepared to do our part to partner with government to ensure that our economy will recover from this downturn so that we can return and be once again one of the largest employers of private sector jobs in Hawaii. Mahalo, Mufi Surgical Masks & Sanitizers |
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COVID-19 Update
On Friday morning, President Trump declared COVID-19 a national emergency which will accelerate the U.S.'s efforts to control the outbreak. This comes only a day after the World Health Organization formally declared COVID-19 a pandemic, and numerous closures, cancellations, and postponements were announced for a variety of events and institutions like the remainder of the NCAA calendar and the annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. Businesses around the state are beginning to feel the early effects that the pandemic will have on our economy.
Yesterday, I participated in the first meeting of a state committee that was organized by Speaker of the House Scott Saiki to address the economic effects that COVID-19 stands to have on Hawai'i. The committee is comprised of 26 stakeholders from every facet of Hawai'i's business sector and will seek out ways to hopefully mitigate some of the effects that COVID-19 will undoubtedly have on our community. During my remarks, I reiterated that the tourism industry remains open for business and that Hawai'i is still a place where healthy adults should feel safe to visit.
You can watch the committee hearing in its entirety by clicking here.
Below you will find several other recent media items:
"Facts Not Fear: a panel of medical and travel experts discuss coronavirus," KHON2, March 10, 2020
"House Speaker Scott Saiki appoints members of Hawaii coronavirus committee," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 9, 2020
"Hawaii travel industry offers deals to offset impact of coronavirus anxiety," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 8, 2020
"Coronavirus Panel," Hawaii News Now Sunrise, March 9, 2020
Segment 1
Segment 2
Segment 3
Segment 4
Segment 5
"Salesperson of the Year: Mufi Hannemann," Hawaii Business Magazine, March 13, 2020
Yesterday, I participated in the first meeting of a state committee that was organized by Speaker of the House Scott Saiki to address the economic effects that COVID-19 stands to have on Hawai'i. The committee is comprised of 26 stakeholders from every facet of Hawai'i's business sector and will seek out ways to hopefully mitigate some of the effects that COVID-19 will undoubtedly have on our community. During my remarks, I reiterated that the tourism industry remains open for business and that Hawai'i is still a place where healthy adults should feel safe to visit.
You can watch the committee hearing in its entirety by clicking here.
Below you will find several other recent media items:
"Facts Not Fear: a panel of medical and travel experts discuss coronavirus," KHON2, March 10, 2020
"House Speaker Scott Saiki appoints members of Hawaii coronavirus committee," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 9, 2020
"Hawaii travel industry offers deals to offset impact of coronavirus anxiety," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 8, 2020
"Coronavirus Panel," Hawaii News Now Sunrise, March 9, 2020
Segment 1
Segment 2
Segment 3
Segment 4
Segment 5
"Salesperson of the Year: Mufi Hannemann," Hawaii Business Magazine, March 13, 2020
Visitor Public Safety Conference
Program
Opening Remarks and Keynote Speakers
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Mufi Hannemann - HLTA, President & CEO
Chris Tatum - HTA, President & CEO
Clare Connors - Attorney General, State of Hawai'i
Kenji Price - U.S. Attorney District of Hawai‘i, U.S. Department of Justice
Dwight Nadamoto - Acting Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
Deputy Chief John McCarthy - HPD, City & County of Honolulu
Sex Trafficking Panel
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Moderator: Jennifer Nakayama - President, WBIDA
Morgan Early - Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
Lynn Costales - Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
Kalei Grant - Assistant Coordinator, Missing Child Center of Hawai'i
-Break-
9:45 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Effective Prosecution & Reporting Panel
9:50 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.
Moderator: Rick Egged - President, WIA
Lieutenant Daniel Jacso - HPD, City & County of Honolulu
Kyle Dowd - Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
John Norris - Operations Asset Protection Manager, Macy's
COVID-19 Panel
10:35 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Moderator: Jerry Dolak - President, Hawai'i Hotel Visitor Industry Security Association
Dr. Sarah Park - State Epidemiologist, State of Hawai'i
Dr. James Ireland - Medical Director, State of Hawai'i
Guest Speaker
11:20 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Lt. Gov. Josh Green
Mental Health & Homelessness Panel
11:40 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.
Moderator: Keith Regan - HTA, Chief Administrative Officer
Connie Mitchell - Executive Director, Institute For Human Services
Captain Mike Lambert - HPD, City & County of Honolulu
Closing Remarks
12:25 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.
Mufi Hannemann - President & CEO, HLTA
Chris Tatum - President & CEO, HTA
Opening Remarks and Keynote Speakers
8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
Mufi Hannemann - HLTA, President & CEO
Chris Tatum - HTA, President & CEO
Clare Connors - Attorney General, State of Hawai'i
Kenji Price - U.S. Attorney District of Hawai‘i, U.S. Department of Justice
Dwight Nadamoto - Acting Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
Deputy Chief John McCarthy - HPD, City & County of Honolulu
Sex Trafficking Panel
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Moderator: Jennifer Nakayama - President, WBIDA
Morgan Early - Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
Lynn Costales - Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
Kalei Grant - Assistant Coordinator, Missing Child Center of Hawai'i
-Break-
9:45 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.
Effective Prosecution & Reporting Panel
9:50 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.
Moderator: Rick Egged - President, WIA
Lieutenant Daniel Jacso - HPD, City & County of Honolulu
Kyle Dowd - Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, City & County of Honolulu
John Norris - Operations Asset Protection Manager, Macy's
COVID-19 Panel
10:35 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Moderator: Jerry Dolak - President, Hawai'i Hotel Visitor Industry Security Association
Dr. Sarah Park - State Epidemiologist, State of Hawai'i
Dr. James Ireland - Medical Director, State of Hawai'i
Guest Speaker
11:20 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Lt. Gov. Josh Green
Mental Health & Homelessness Panel
11:40 a.m. - 12:25 p.m.
Moderator: Keith Regan - HTA, Chief Administrative Officer
Connie Mitchell - Executive Director, Institute For Human Services
Captain Mike Lambert - HPD, City & County of Honolulu
Closing Remarks
12:25 p.m. - 12:35 p.m.
Mufi Hannemann - President & CEO, HLTA
Chris Tatum - President & CEO, HTA
Ka Huina 2020
Yesterday, I attended Ka Huina, a conference hosted by the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, where I participated on a panel called "Cultural Values in Sports Marketing" along with Kevin Kaplan, far right, Chairman & CEO of Coaching Charities. Together, we spoke on the importance of using sport as a means to highlight cultural values and drive community engagement. In the past, HLTA along with HTA and other partners, has used this model successfully with a number of professional sports organizations such as the Los Angeles Rams and Clippers, as well as with other entities, especially the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. The moderator for our discussion was none other than NaHHA Executive Director John De Fries, far left.
Hawai'i Hotel & Restaurant Show
COVID-19 Update
First and foremost, at the time of writing, there are still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hawai'i. Six individuals have been tested for the coronavirus and all tests have come back negative. There are also 72 individuals who are currently self-monitoring at home with Department of Health supervision. Of these individuals, 65 are on O'ahu, two are on Hawai'i Island, three are on Maui, and two are on Kaua'i.
As you may have heard or read in the media, Governor David Ige has now issued an emergency proclamation in response to the threat of COVID-19 in Hawai'i. It is our position that the proclamation was the appropriate, emergency preparedness step that was taken to ensure that the State could act quickly and efficiently to access funding and support should an outbreak occur in Hawai'i. It must also be noted that the mayors in each county of Hawai'i have issued similar proclamations.
In the meantime, lodging industry stakeholders are continuing to meet and collaborate with State officials to ensure that we are well-aware of any updates to the situation. We continue to emphasize that Hawai'i is a safe place to visit and we are still very much open for business. The main thing at this time is to remain calm and to be proactive in our preparations for a possible future outbreak. This is not a time for panic, nor is it a time for complacency.
"Gov. Ige declares state of emergency after death of passenger on cruise ship that visited Hawaii," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 5, 2020
"Fear of travel heightens amid virus outbreak," KHON2, March 4, 2020
As you may have heard or read in the media, Governor David Ige has now issued an emergency proclamation in response to the threat of COVID-19 in Hawai'i. It is our position that the proclamation was the appropriate, emergency preparedness step that was taken to ensure that the State could act quickly and efficiently to access funding and support should an outbreak occur in Hawai'i. It must also be noted that the mayors in each county of Hawai'i have issued similar proclamations.
In the meantime, lodging industry stakeholders are continuing to meet and collaborate with State officials to ensure that we are well-aware of any updates to the situation. We continue to emphasize that Hawai'i is a safe place to visit and we are still very much open for business. The main thing at this time is to remain calm and to be proactive in our preparations for a possible future outbreak. This is not a time for panic, nor is it a time for complacency.
"Gov. Ige declares state of emergency after death of passenger on cruise ship that visited Hawaii," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, March 5, 2020
"Fear of travel heightens amid virus outbreak," KHON2, March 4, 2020
Visitor Public Safety Conference
Hawai'i Hotel & Restaurant Show
Waikiki Challenge
Stay in the know
Keep up with HLTA through our blog! Let us know what you think in the comment box below each post.
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