COVID-19 Safety Education
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Mahalo to the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort for providing these outstanding examples of COIVD-19 training materials for both associates and hotel guests!
October 15, 2020 - Trans-Pacific Travel Restored!
Mahalo to the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort for sending along these wonderful interviews from October 15!
May 15th, 2020
Mufi's Message May 15, 2020
A Call to Action
Aloha,
In my most recent update, I announced HLTA's latest initiative: A Time of Crisis - Stories from Hawa'i's Visitor Industry.
Through this video campaign, we are hoping to do multiple things. First and foremost, we want to put a human face on the COVID-19 crisis. So many of our brothers and sisters are hurting right now, and they deserve to be represented by more than an unemployment rate statistic. Additionally, this is a prime opportunity to really demonstrate the diversity of the tourism industry and the variety of people who form its workforce.
I really need your help to get the word out about this campaign.
Please share this with your staff and encourage them to participate. If they, or you, are uncomfortable sharing your property name, I completely understand. Instead of naming the property, please feel free to instead say something along the lines of: "My name is __________________ and I work as a ______________ at a hotel on O'ahu."
Below, I've also included a flyer that you can easily share via text or email. It includes a video release for anybody who participates and can also be downloaded here.
If you have any questions or concerns about this campaign, please feel free to contact Jared Ellis on my staff at any time.
COVID-19 Guidance UpdateWe have received further guidance regarding several COVID-19 policies that I would like to share with you. The first is in regards to the issuance of single-use room keys. More than 90% of open hotels are currently using this policy. However, there have been reports of quarantined visitors who have been given an "extra chance" after being caught breaking quarantine.
Please do not do this.
Earlier today, I sent out a memo to each of the hotels currently in operation requesting that any quarantine violators immediately be reported to local law enforcement. I have reproduced the body of the memo below for your reference.
Aloha,
We sincerely appreciate your assistance with monitoring and reporting violations of the required 14-day self-quarantine order. There have been rumors circulating that hotels are not abiding by the single-use key agreement and giving a “free pass” to guests. However, should you encounter a guest who has been locked out of their room due to the single-use key, or identify a guest that is not complying with the self-quarantine order, we ask that you immediately contact local law enforcement to report them.
Mahalo for your understanding and cooperation.
There have also been several instances where a visitor has shown up to check-in to a hotel and has produced a federal letter declaring them an essential worker and, therefore, exempt from the mandatory quarantine. HI-EMA and HTA have both confirmed that, if a visitor produces a letter from a federal authority, they are to be considered exempt. Moreover, any federal letter shall supersede any letter from the State or HI-EMA.
Finally, we have received clarification that working flight crews should operate on a limited quarantine basis after arriving in Hawai'i. They may leave their rooms to get food or to exercise, but should also be limiting contact and should not be frequenting common areas of their hotel.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these policy updates, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Have a great weekend,
-Mufi
A Call to Action
Aloha,
In my most recent update, I announced HLTA's latest initiative: A Time of Crisis - Stories from Hawa'i's Visitor Industry.
Through this video campaign, we are hoping to do multiple things. First and foremost, we want to put a human face on the COVID-19 crisis. So many of our brothers and sisters are hurting right now, and they deserve to be represented by more than an unemployment rate statistic. Additionally, this is a prime opportunity to really demonstrate the diversity of the tourism industry and the variety of people who form its workforce.
I really need your help to get the word out about this campaign.
Please share this with your staff and encourage them to participate. If they, or you, are uncomfortable sharing your property name, I completely understand. Instead of naming the property, please feel free to instead say something along the lines of: "My name is __________________ and I work as a ______________ at a hotel on O'ahu."
Below, I've also included a flyer that you can easily share via text or email. It includes a video release for anybody who participates and can also be downloaded here.
If you have any questions or concerns about this campaign, please feel free to contact Jared Ellis on my staff at any time.
COVID-19 Guidance UpdateWe have received further guidance regarding several COVID-19 policies that I would like to share with you. The first is in regards to the issuance of single-use room keys. More than 90% of open hotels are currently using this policy. However, there have been reports of quarantined visitors who have been given an "extra chance" after being caught breaking quarantine.
Please do not do this.
Earlier today, I sent out a memo to each of the hotels currently in operation requesting that any quarantine violators immediately be reported to local law enforcement. I have reproduced the body of the memo below for your reference.
Aloha,
We sincerely appreciate your assistance with monitoring and reporting violations of the required 14-day self-quarantine order. There have been rumors circulating that hotels are not abiding by the single-use key agreement and giving a “free pass” to guests. However, should you encounter a guest who has been locked out of their room due to the single-use key, or identify a guest that is not complying with the self-quarantine order, we ask that you immediately contact local law enforcement to report them.
Mahalo for your understanding and cooperation.
There have also been several instances where a visitor has shown up to check-in to a hotel and has produced a federal letter declaring them an essential worker and, therefore, exempt from the mandatory quarantine. HI-EMA and HTA have both confirmed that, if a visitor produces a letter from a federal authority, they are to be considered exempt. Moreover, any federal letter shall supersede any letter from the State or HI-EMA.
Finally, we have received clarification that working flight crews should operate on a limited quarantine basis after arriving in Hawai'i. They may leave their rooms to get food or to exercise, but should also be limiting contact and should not be frequenting common areas of their hotel.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these policy updates, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Have a great weekend,
-Mufi
May 14th, 2o20
A Time of Crisis: Stories from Hawai'i's Tourism Industry
Aloha,
As you are well aware, our local tourism industry is in the midst of an unprecedented economic downturn as a result of COVID-19. People from all walks of life, in all types of careers are hurting in ways that we have never experienced before and hope to never experience again.
As we begin the transition to recovery, we at HLTA want to hear and share these stories. All too often, local tourism is thought of as this juggernaut of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. But the truth is that all of these things are made possible by the thousands of Hawai'i residents who comprise our local workforce.
Here's how you can help us change this misconception.
We are asking anybody who is a part of the visitor industry workforce to please record a 30-second video on your phone in which you share the following information:
Once these are both complete, please email to [email protected].
Finally, if you are a general manager, hotelier, or similar, please share this with your furloughed workers. Urge them to submit a video and encourage them to share this with any of their friends or families who are part of our community.
Please send in your submission no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Jared Ellis at [email protected].
New Zealand: A Case Study For Hawai'i
Below, I've reproduced my latest Island Matters column from MidWeek. New Zealand is leading the way and setting a high bar for countries that are currently navigating the re-opening process. My column details what the island nation is doing well and how these policies could be utilized here in Hawai'i.
Aotearoa (aka New Zealand) has always held a special place in my heart, and I have had a deep affinity for the nation and its people since my time there as a 22-year-old Fulbright Scholar.
Although there to further my studies at Victoria University of Wellington, I was present when my uncle Fred Betham was appointed High Commissioner from Western Samoa to New Zealand, which provided me an opportunity to experience the diplomatic culture of this Pacific island nation. I also took advantage of my passion for basketball to travel around the country to do clinics and play hoops at a time when the sport was just emerging from under the shadow of rugby. And, of course, I became an instant fan of the fabled All-Blacks, which remains intact till today and have returned on a number of occasions.
Whether through the obvious similarities between the Maori and Hawaiian cultures or the generous and amiable spirit of my "mates," I left the country with a sense that there is a genuine connectivity between us. Both Hawai'i and Aotearoa share a rich Polynesian kinship; they count tourism among their top economic drivers, where in Hawai'i it is No. 1, and in recent years, have emphasized commitments to eco-conscious policies with New Zealand a bit ahead.
These things considered, I have been injecting in my discussions with government and tourism officials, that Hawai'i should emulate New Zealand on how it handled COVID-19.
New Zealand quickly declared a state of emergency and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's "go hard go early" philosophy put the island nation into a Level 3 lockdown as early as March 23. Just 48 hours later, the lockdown was increased to level 4, which urged residents to "stay in your bubble to save lives." By April 27, Ardern had announced that the country had stopped community transmission of COVID-19 and began a strict and consistent process of re-opening the country's businesses. At the time of this writing, they actually experienced days with no incidence of new cases.
Ardern has set a high bar for leaders through her decisive style. She has held those around her accountable to the same rules as her constituents, even going so far as to demote a member of her cabinet who was witnessed breaking lockdown rules.
She has also made clear that the path forward will depend on strategic timely decisions. New Zealand is poised to reconsider travel with Australia, and the two Tasmanian Sea nations seem anxious yet deliberative.
We should tap into some Hawai'i-based Kiwis with deep understandings of both Hawai'i and New Zealand — people like East-West Center vice president Karena Lyons, who is the former New Zealand ambassador to several Micronesian countries, or Polynesian Cultural Center president Alfred Grace, first Maori head of PCC, and director Seamus Fitzgerald, Maori cultural specialist and BYU-Hawai'i lecturer, among others. This would help us identify cues from New Zealand on how to smartly navigate our reopening process.
As always, if I may be of assistance to you in any way, please feel free to contact me at any time.
Aloha,
As you are well aware, our local tourism industry is in the midst of an unprecedented economic downturn as a result of COVID-19. People from all walks of life, in all types of careers are hurting in ways that we have never experienced before and hope to never experience again.
As we begin the transition to recovery, we at HLTA want to hear and share these stories. All too often, local tourism is thought of as this juggernaut of hotels, restaurants, and attractions. But the truth is that all of these things are made possible by the thousands of Hawai'i residents who comprise our local workforce.
Here's how you can help us change this misconception.
We are asking anybody who is a part of the visitor industry workforce to please record a 30-second video on your phone in which you share the following information:
- Who you are
- Where you work
- What you do
- How COVID-19 has affected you
Once these are both complete, please email to [email protected].
Finally, if you are a general manager, hotelier, or similar, please share this with your furloughed workers. Urge them to submit a video and encourage them to share this with any of their friends or families who are part of our community.
Please send in your submission no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Jared Ellis at [email protected].
New Zealand: A Case Study For Hawai'i
Below, I've reproduced my latest Island Matters column from MidWeek. New Zealand is leading the way and setting a high bar for countries that are currently navigating the re-opening process. My column details what the island nation is doing well and how these policies could be utilized here in Hawai'i.
Aotearoa (aka New Zealand) has always held a special place in my heart, and I have had a deep affinity for the nation and its people since my time there as a 22-year-old Fulbright Scholar.
Although there to further my studies at Victoria University of Wellington, I was present when my uncle Fred Betham was appointed High Commissioner from Western Samoa to New Zealand, which provided me an opportunity to experience the diplomatic culture of this Pacific island nation. I also took advantage of my passion for basketball to travel around the country to do clinics and play hoops at a time when the sport was just emerging from under the shadow of rugby. And, of course, I became an instant fan of the fabled All-Blacks, which remains intact till today and have returned on a number of occasions.
Whether through the obvious similarities between the Maori and Hawaiian cultures or the generous and amiable spirit of my "mates," I left the country with a sense that there is a genuine connectivity between us. Both Hawai'i and Aotearoa share a rich Polynesian kinship; they count tourism among their top economic drivers, where in Hawai'i it is No. 1, and in recent years, have emphasized commitments to eco-conscious policies with New Zealand a bit ahead.
These things considered, I have been injecting in my discussions with government and tourism officials, that Hawai'i should emulate New Zealand on how it handled COVID-19.
New Zealand quickly declared a state of emergency and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's "go hard go early" philosophy put the island nation into a Level 3 lockdown as early as March 23. Just 48 hours later, the lockdown was increased to level 4, which urged residents to "stay in your bubble to save lives." By April 27, Ardern had announced that the country had stopped community transmission of COVID-19 and began a strict and consistent process of re-opening the country's businesses. At the time of this writing, they actually experienced days with no incidence of new cases.
Ardern has set a high bar for leaders through her decisive style. She has held those around her accountable to the same rules as her constituents, even going so far as to demote a member of her cabinet who was witnessed breaking lockdown rules.
She has also made clear that the path forward will depend on strategic timely decisions. New Zealand is poised to reconsider travel with Australia, and the two Tasmanian Sea nations seem anxious yet deliberative.
We should tap into some Hawai'i-based Kiwis with deep understandings of both Hawai'i and New Zealand — people like East-West Center vice president Karena Lyons, who is the former New Zealand ambassador to several Micronesian countries, or Polynesian Cultural Center president Alfred Grace, first Maori head of PCC, and director Seamus Fitzgerald, Maori cultural specialist and BYU-Hawai'i lecturer, among others. This would help us identify cues from New Zealand on how to smartly navigate our reopening process.
As always, if I may be of assistance to you in any way, please feel free to contact me at any time.
May 10th, 2020
As I noted in previous communications, we have completed a proposed set of health, safety, and security standards that we hope will help to establish Hawai'i as one of the safest and cleanest places in the world to work, live, play, visit, relax, and enjoy. After reviewing feedback and comments from many industry stakeholders, we have submitted an initial draft to HI-EMA and the State Department of Health for their approval.
I want to quickly share with you portions of the three areas of focus on which our standards focus.
Mākaukau - Preparation
This section details the steps that must be taken before our local hotels resume business operations. Proper training, education and communications are a critical component in going forward in the "new normal". It requires the establishment of a property-wide policy in the following areas:
Hana Pono - Proper Procedure
The second area of focus for our standards requires that properties establish clear, comprehensive cleaning practices for all common areas, staff areas, and guest rooms. In researching the latest best practices for this section, we referred to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention as well as the Occupational Safety & Health Administration to determine everything from best practices to the cleaning products that should be used. A high degree of priority is the constant need to always have the workforce in the hotels operating in a healthy and safe environment.
Pane - Answer
The final area of focus covers the need for hotel properties to have established action plans that will go into effect in the event of a suspected case of COVID-19 or any other communicable disease. In this section, we laid out a proposed plan that includes designating an isolated bloc of rooms or other area of the hotel to house possibly ill guests. We are cognizant of the fact that we are not hospitals or a place where medical experts reside and work. Therefore, our plan is to have clear communication and dialogue with the state Department of Health and law enforcement officials should the need arise to handle an emergency.
The impetus for these standards, besides protecting our local population as well as our visitors, is to slowly restore public trust in our industry. This is not possible if we begin to ostracize individuals who may be ill. We are all in this crusade together and, for us to proceed down this the path of recovery, everything we do must come from a place of aloha.
I want to quickly share with you portions of the three areas of focus on which our standards focus.
Mākaukau - Preparation
This section details the steps that must be taken before our local hotels resume business operations. Proper training, education and communications are a critical component in going forward in the "new normal". It requires the establishment of a property-wide policy in the following areas:
- Clear, non-punitive employee health guidance
- Social-distancing
- Food & Beverage operations
Hana Pono - Proper Procedure
The second area of focus for our standards requires that properties establish clear, comprehensive cleaning practices for all common areas, staff areas, and guest rooms. In researching the latest best practices for this section, we referred to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention as well as the Occupational Safety & Health Administration to determine everything from best practices to the cleaning products that should be used. A high degree of priority is the constant need to always have the workforce in the hotels operating in a healthy and safe environment.
Pane - Answer
The final area of focus covers the need for hotel properties to have established action plans that will go into effect in the event of a suspected case of COVID-19 or any other communicable disease. In this section, we laid out a proposed plan that includes designating an isolated bloc of rooms or other area of the hotel to house possibly ill guests. We are cognizant of the fact that we are not hospitals or a place where medical experts reside and work. Therefore, our plan is to have clear communication and dialogue with the state Department of Health and law enforcement officials should the need arise to handle an emergency.
The impetus for these standards, besides protecting our local population as well as our visitors, is to slowly restore public trust in our industry. This is not possible if we begin to ostracize individuals who may be ill. We are all in this crusade together and, for us to proceed down this the path of recovery, everything we do must come from a place of aloha.
May 7th, 2020
Aloha,
As we begin the arduous, deliberate process of restoring our economy and our way of life, special attention must be paid to our industry and the standards to which we hold ourselves and our businesses. As such, HLTA has completed an initial draft of new health and safety standards that has been submitted to the State Department of Health for their review and input. By submitting this draft, we have not only made clear how deeply committed we are to establishing Hawai'i as among the safest places in the world to which one could travel, but we have also ensured that we will be at the table for any discussions on new standards or practices that may be asked of us.
"Rogue tourists arrested as Hawaii tries to curb virus spread," Associated Press, May 7, 2020
In additional steps to rein in visitors who may be tempted to break quarantine, Gov. Ige's 7th emergency supplemental proclamation includes language that prohibits visitors who are subject to quarantine from renting vehicles.
COVID Aware Challenge
Please click here to watch a short video announcing the COVID Aware Video Challenge.
HLTA is excited to announce the COVID Aware Video Challenge, a contest for the Class of 2020 which has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This challenge is open to all DOE schools and tasks students with creating a 30-second video message with a COVID-19 awareness theme. The top 10 submissions will be aired on KHON2, social media, as well as on all Salem Media radio stations prior to a public voting process to select the overall winner.
Additionally, the valedictorian from each of the finalists will be invited to give a two-minute commencement address on Salem Media's morning radio shows.
The winning submission will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize which will be donated to the winning school as a gift from the Class of 2020.
For more information, and the complete set of rules, please visit the 'Contests' page on KHON2.
As we begin the arduous, deliberate process of restoring our economy and our way of life, special attention must be paid to our industry and the standards to which we hold ourselves and our businesses. As such, HLTA has completed an initial draft of new health and safety standards that has been submitted to the State Department of Health for their review and input. By submitting this draft, we have not only made clear how deeply committed we are to establishing Hawai'i as among the safest places in the world to which one could travel, but we have also ensured that we will be at the table for any discussions on new standards or practices that may be asked of us.
"Rogue tourists arrested as Hawaii tries to curb virus spread," Associated Press, May 7, 2020
In additional steps to rein in visitors who may be tempted to break quarantine, Gov. Ige's 7th emergency supplemental proclamation includes language that prohibits visitors who are subject to quarantine from renting vehicles.
COVID Aware Challenge
Please click here to watch a short video announcing the COVID Aware Video Challenge.
HLTA is excited to announce the COVID Aware Video Challenge, a contest for the Class of 2020 which has been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This challenge is open to all DOE schools and tasks students with creating a 30-second video message with a COVID-19 awareness theme. The top 10 submissions will be aired on KHON2, social media, as well as on all Salem Media radio stations prior to a public voting process to select the overall winner.
Additionally, the valedictorian from each of the finalists will be invited to give a two-minute commencement address on Salem Media's morning radio shows.
The winning submission will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize which will be donated to the winning school as a gift from the Class of 2020.
For more information, and the complete set of rules, please visit the 'Contests' page on KHON2.
May 6th, 2020
Aloha,
This afternoon, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the Honolulu City Council made an announcement that property owners on O'ahu will now have the option to defer the August installment of their Real Property Tax payments over the course of four months. All property owners will be issued "coupons" that will allow them to make portions of their bi-annual payment on August 20, September 20, October 20, and November 18.
"Mayor Caldwell announces plan to allow for deferral of Oahu property taxes," May 6, 2020
Perhaps more importantly, City Budget Director Nelson Koyanagi stated today that this deferral plan will be available to all property owners, and that proof of financial burden will not be required to receive the coupons.
As you may remember, HLTA approached each of our county mayors for a waiver regarding the next payment of RPT due in August. As properties in the Hotel and Resort class, we are often not given a break when it comes to RPT. Although the deferral proposed today by the City is a step in the right direction, it will still be challenging for hotels to hire back their entire staffs in an efficient manner while also upgrading their properties to meet new health and safety standards and absorbing the losses they have incurred thus far. We look forward to seeing what Maui, Kaua'i, and Hawai'i County will propose in regards to Real Property Tax relief.
In other news, visitors have continued to fly into the state, and State and county officials have been considering options to both stem the influx of visitors and also better enforce the mandatory two-week quarantine period.
"Over 200 out-of-state visitors came to Hawaii by air Tuesday," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 6, 2020
This morning, I sent a memo to each of the hotels that are currently accepting quarantine guests and requested that they begin to issue single-use room keys to all quarantined individuals. These keys would allow the guest to access their room to enter it, but would require them to visit the front desk should they leave their room. If the guest is caught breaking quarantine, hotel management is encouraged to immediately report the violation to local authorities.
If travelers still want to come here despite our continued message that this is not the right time, that is their prerogative. This added policy should make breaking quarantine highly inconvenient and will likely discourage visitors who think that they will be able to skirt our quarantine mandate.
Finally, today is National Nurses Day and I would like to send a special note of aloha and mahalo to the thousands of nurses who are working to keep our community safe during these times. We are truly grateful.
This afternoon, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the Honolulu City Council made an announcement that property owners on O'ahu will now have the option to defer the August installment of their Real Property Tax payments over the course of four months. All property owners will be issued "coupons" that will allow them to make portions of their bi-annual payment on August 20, September 20, October 20, and November 18.
"Mayor Caldwell announces plan to allow for deferral of Oahu property taxes," May 6, 2020
Perhaps more importantly, City Budget Director Nelson Koyanagi stated today that this deferral plan will be available to all property owners, and that proof of financial burden will not be required to receive the coupons.
As you may remember, HLTA approached each of our county mayors for a waiver regarding the next payment of RPT due in August. As properties in the Hotel and Resort class, we are often not given a break when it comes to RPT. Although the deferral proposed today by the City is a step in the right direction, it will still be challenging for hotels to hire back their entire staffs in an efficient manner while also upgrading their properties to meet new health and safety standards and absorbing the losses they have incurred thus far. We look forward to seeing what Maui, Kaua'i, and Hawai'i County will propose in regards to Real Property Tax relief.
In other news, visitors have continued to fly into the state, and State and county officials have been considering options to both stem the influx of visitors and also better enforce the mandatory two-week quarantine period.
"Over 200 out-of-state visitors came to Hawaii by air Tuesday," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 6, 2020
This morning, I sent a memo to each of the hotels that are currently accepting quarantine guests and requested that they begin to issue single-use room keys to all quarantined individuals. These keys would allow the guest to access their room to enter it, but would require them to visit the front desk should they leave their room. If the guest is caught breaking quarantine, hotel management is encouraged to immediately report the violation to local authorities.
If travelers still want to come here despite our continued message that this is not the right time, that is their prerogative. This added policy should make breaking quarantine highly inconvenient and will likely discourage visitors who think that they will be able to skirt our quarantine mandate.
Finally, today is National Nurses Day and I would like to send a special note of aloha and mahalo to the thousands of nurses who are working to keep our community safe during these times. We are truly grateful.
May 4th, 2020
Progress continues to be made in Hawai'i's fight to eradicate COVID-19. We have seen lower and lower infection rates, and we are slowly inching our way toward a time where we can focus on recovery rather than response. As we do so, HLTA has been working to install the necessary policies to offer the safest, cleanest, and healthiest experience for not only our visitors, but also the 250,000 local residents who comprise our sector's workforce.
"Chad Blair: Nothing Screams 'Aloha' Like An Ankle Monitor," Honolulu Civil Beat, May 2, 2020
While the policies we are considering are stringent and thorough, one thing remains certain: whatever path we take going forward, it must come from a place of aloha. We are all living in uncertain times and undoubtedly headed for a 'new normal' in the ways that we dine, shop, and do business. There is no better way that I can think of for us to address this than by continuing to treat each other with compassion and, of course, aloha.
"Chad Blair: Nothing Screams 'Aloha' Like An Ankle Monitor," Honolulu Civil Beat, May 2, 2020
While the policies we are considering are stringent and thorough, one thing remains certain: whatever path we take going forward, it must come from a place of aloha. We are all living in uncertain times and undoubtedly headed for a 'new normal' in the ways that we dine, shop, and do business. There is no better way that I can think of for us to address this than by continuing to treat each other with compassion and, of course, aloha.
May 1st, 2020
Hawai'i continues to see lower and lower COVID-19 infection rates and noticeable progress in our fight against this public health emergency. It is now more critical than ever that we focus on the details of a recovery plan that will help our local economy rebound from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 when the green light is given to us by the governor and the mayors.
"Plans in the works to market Hawaii as the 'safest place in the world'," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 1, 2020
There is a prevailing thought that the COVID-19 outbreak is a clear indicator that Hawai'i must begin to diversify its economy away from the tourism industry. I do believe that diversification can be a positive thing for our community. But, seeing as tourism is, and always will be, our core competence, perhaps now is the time to explore what I stated in the 90's as the State's DBEDT director that we can diversify within the tourism sector rather than looking outside of it. This is one of the concepts that I shared in recent comments during a discussion panel hosted by Hawaii News Now.
"Every crisis presents an opportunity to see how we can diversify the economy beyond tourism. I've been involved in state, local, federal government for many years and I've seen all the great ideas and initiatives that have come forth to diversify the economy. And, unfortunately, it always comes back to this one big basket called tourism. Nothing will immediately replace what we have brought to the economy. $17 billion that we contribute. $2 billion in taxes. 250 thousand people employed. So we have to recognize that and try to diversify from within. Our core competence is tourism, so let's talk about science tourism, educational tourism, health tourism, and cultural tourism."
-Mufi Hannemann, HNN COVID-19 Discussion Panel
Moreover, we know that the attitudes of travelers have changed in the wake of COVID-19. Potential visitors will have new considerations to take into account when they are deciding when and where to travel again. Chief among these will be the level of confidence that a destination can give them when it comes to their health and safety, two things for which Hawai'i has always been known.
"We want to make sure the trust and confidence is going to be there, especially if we are going to start opening our businesses on an incremental basis. So, I have been advocating, and our industry has been responding big time, to the need for all of us to put into place cleanliness and hygiene safety standards so that, when we are going to open, people can be confident- whether they patronize restaurants, small businesses, or come to our hotels, that these will be in place."
-Mufi Hannemann, HNN COVID-19 Discussion Panel
As such, HLTA is currently working with industry stakeholders to create new, industry wide practices in regards to hygiene, cleanliness, public safety, and how to respond to a possible public health emergency. I have also encouraged other industry partners to join with us to form a broad coalition of business leaders in Hawai'i who have publicly vowed to put the health and safety of not only visitors, but also our employees and 'ohana, as our top priority.
And this path that lies ahead of us will not be an easy one. In some ways, the obstacles could be greater than what we are facing now as we work to restore the economy. However, by working to first address the most pressing concerns of public health and safety, we can make major strides towards a return to normalcy.
"So let's pull together to reestablish that brand that we've been known for throughout the years. We want to be the cleanest, safest, healthiest place in the world to live, work, play, and raise our families, and we can do it if we work together."
-Mufi Hannemann, HNN COVID-19 Discussion Panel
If you didn't get a chance to watch the discussion panel, I encourage you to do so as it covered a wide range of topics and brought out insights from myself as well as other local business leaders. You can see the segment in its entirety here.
"Plans in the works to market Hawaii as the 'safest place in the world'," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, May 1, 2020
There is a prevailing thought that the COVID-19 outbreak is a clear indicator that Hawai'i must begin to diversify its economy away from the tourism industry. I do believe that diversification can be a positive thing for our community. But, seeing as tourism is, and always will be, our core competence, perhaps now is the time to explore what I stated in the 90's as the State's DBEDT director that we can diversify within the tourism sector rather than looking outside of it. This is one of the concepts that I shared in recent comments during a discussion panel hosted by Hawaii News Now.
"Every crisis presents an opportunity to see how we can diversify the economy beyond tourism. I've been involved in state, local, federal government for many years and I've seen all the great ideas and initiatives that have come forth to diversify the economy. And, unfortunately, it always comes back to this one big basket called tourism. Nothing will immediately replace what we have brought to the economy. $17 billion that we contribute. $2 billion in taxes. 250 thousand people employed. So we have to recognize that and try to diversify from within. Our core competence is tourism, so let's talk about science tourism, educational tourism, health tourism, and cultural tourism."
-Mufi Hannemann, HNN COVID-19 Discussion Panel
Moreover, we know that the attitudes of travelers have changed in the wake of COVID-19. Potential visitors will have new considerations to take into account when they are deciding when and where to travel again. Chief among these will be the level of confidence that a destination can give them when it comes to their health and safety, two things for which Hawai'i has always been known.
"We want to make sure the trust and confidence is going to be there, especially if we are going to start opening our businesses on an incremental basis. So, I have been advocating, and our industry has been responding big time, to the need for all of us to put into place cleanliness and hygiene safety standards so that, when we are going to open, people can be confident- whether they patronize restaurants, small businesses, or come to our hotels, that these will be in place."
-Mufi Hannemann, HNN COVID-19 Discussion Panel
As such, HLTA is currently working with industry stakeholders to create new, industry wide practices in regards to hygiene, cleanliness, public safety, and how to respond to a possible public health emergency. I have also encouraged other industry partners to join with us to form a broad coalition of business leaders in Hawai'i who have publicly vowed to put the health and safety of not only visitors, but also our employees and 'ohana, as our top priority.
And this path that lies ahead of us will not be an easy one. In some ways, the obstacles could be greater than what we are facing now as we work to restore the economy. However, by working to first address the most pressing concerns of public health and safety, we can make major strides towards a return to normalcy.
"So let's pull together to reestablish that brand that we've been known for throughout the years. We want to be the cleanest, safest, healthiest place in the world to live, work, play, and raise our families, and we can do it if we work together."
-Mufi Hannemann, HNN COVID-19 Discussion Panel
If you didn't get a chance to watch the discussion panel, I encourage you to do so as it covered a wide range of topics and brought out insights from myself as well as other local business leaders. You can see the segment in its entirety here.
April 30, 2020
As April draws to a close, I just want to wish all of you the best as we continue on this journey together. We are making steady progress, the curve is flattening, and this is due to the sacrifices made by all.
I have reproduced my latest Island Matters column from MidWeek below. If you would like to read the article in print form, please click here to download.
Throughout the years, I have always maintained that besides our inimitable aloha spirit, the one thing that sets Hawai'i apart from other premier destinations is our commitment to public health and safety.
Our reputation has always preceded us in such a way that travelers the world over came to Hawai'i confident in the fact that they would be safe here with us. This confidence could change as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the most significant public health emergency that we have faced in decades.
In a recent study done locally, data suggested that COVID-19 has changed the way Americans travel in a way unlike any recent global event. In the future, travelers will be more cautious and hesitant than those during post-9/11 or during recent SARS or Ebola outbreaks. Health, safety and, to an extent, cleanliness will play an outsized role in people's decisions on where and when to travel for the foreseeable future, and we must embrace this new paradigm if we are to retain our place among the world's top destinations.
Discussions are already underway about how and when to reopen the local economy, and it should be clear that tourism must be featured as a core part of whatever plan that is being crafted either for the local economy or the hospitality industry.
As tourism plays such a central role to a variety of sectors, including agricultural, science and technology, environmental, small business and the service industries, it is vital that these symbiotic and synergistic relationships are considered and a complementary path forward is pursued.
Additionally, it will be imperative for us to be keenly focused on restoring travelers' trust in Hawai'i. New standards must be set, and it can be expected that these changes will extend to all aspects of our community as well.
Airlines will undoubtedly have new screening processes and hygiene standards before they board. Airports will be expected to undergo similar changes in enforcing a rule of thumb that only healthy people should travel except in cases of emergencies. And hotels will need to up their games and revamp and expand cleaning procedures for rooms and public areas to also protect their employees from sickness.
This will help reassure our residents that visitors coming here have been meticulously screened so as not to infect or endanger the lives of our local populace. Fastidious attention to these details will ultimately help underscore Hawai'i's long-standing reputation as a clean, healthy and safe place to live, work, play and visit. We are obviously not there yet to consider reopening all of Hawai'i's businesses despite the successes we have achieved thus far due to everybody's effort to stay at home, social distance and stop the spread.
More should be done in a measured way to guard against a second wave of COVID- 19 infections — we get that. At some point, however, a soft or an incrementally phased-in approach with a specific timeline is what is needed. It will be interesting to see who among the governor and the mayors will break out of the pack to lead the way in that regard.
Better yet, wouldn't it be great to see them all do it together?
Hawai'i News Now Panel
Yesterday, I took part in an in-depth discussion panel that was hosted by Hawaii News Now. The hour-long talk story included Stanford Carr, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Sherry Menor McNamara, and HMSA President & CEO Mark Mugiishi and covered a wide range of topics including Hawai'i's path forward after the COVID-19 crisis has subsided.
I have linked the entire broadcast which you can view here. It will also be re-aired today on KGMG at 4 p.m. and on K5 at 7 p.m. The segment is also available on the Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire.
April 29th, 2020
This morning I participated in a discussion panel with Hawaii News Now that included Stanford Carr of Stanford Carr Development, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii President & CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara, and HMSA President & CEO Mark Mugiishi. The topics included our economic path forward, how to revive tourism, and the future of business in Hawai'i, among others.
The panel will air this evening at 7 p.m. on KHNL and will then run again tomorrow on KGMB at 4 p.m. and on K5 at 7 p.m. The segment will also be posted on the HNN website, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire. I hope that you'll be able to tune in!
ThinkTech Hawaii - Community Matters
Mahalo to Jay Fidel and ThinkTech Hawaii for having me on yesterday to discuss when and how to re-open Hawai'i's economy, and what role tourism will need to play in this process. This is topic of critical importance as we continue to flatten the curve and begin to shift our attention to recovering from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.
The panel will air this evening at 7 p.m. on KHNL and will then run again tomorrow on KGMB at 4 p.m. and on K5 at 7 p.m. The segment will also be posted on the HNN website, Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire. I hope that you'll be able to tune in!
ThinkTech Hawaii - Community Matters
Mahalo to Jay Fidel and ThinkTech Hawaii for having me on yesterday to discuss when and how to re-open Hawai'i's economy, and what role tourism will need to play in this process. This is topic of critical importance as we continue to flatten the curve and begin to shift our attention to recovering from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19.
April 14th Update:
Aloha,
I hope you had a wonderful Easter.
I wanted to share with you a brief update on the Hotel For Heroes program which launched just over a week ago. To date, the program has provided nearly 1,000 room nights for local medical professionals and first responders. The vast majority of rooms that have been allocated thus far have gone to doctors, nurses, and other frontline medical professionals. Our local police and fire departments, as well as EMS have also started to request rooms with more frequency. Hotels For Heroes is certainly finding a foothold during the COVID-19 outbreak, and I am pleased that this initiative has been able to help so many people in such a short amount of time.
Given that Hotels For Heroes is a new program, a lot of questions have been raised regarding eligibility and criteria. On Saturday, I did an interview on Facebook Live with KITV to offer some clarity on the situation and really provide an accurate picture of what this program is all about. The station aired a short clip of the interview on Good Morning Hawai'i on Sunday as well. Meanwhile, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser had a great article this morning that featured some of the key players in this initiative, and I hope that this will give further context as to our program and its benefits.
Yesterday, we experienced a slight uptick in visitor arrivals when 164 individuals flew into Hawai'i statewide. Over the weekend, our daily visitor arrival counts saw a slight decrease. It is becoming clear that there is no apparent rhyme or reason as to what makes individuals travel to our state right now. However, we will continue our efforts to reduce the total number of visitor arrivals as we move forward. It should be noted that nine individuals who arrived in Hawai'i without the necessary funds to facilitate a two-week quarantine period were sent back to their home states, and county police forces have ramped up their enforcement of the various stay at home/work from home orders around the state. I am optimistic that these recent events, coupled with our continuous messaging that Hawai'i is currently closed for business, will have a strong impact on the number of unnecessary visitor arrivals.
COVID-19 Media Items
"Hotels across the state offer free rooms to health care workers, first responders," Pacific Business News, April 7, 2020
"Couple reminded twice, later arrested on Kauai for violating 14-day quarantine," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 11, 2020
I hope you had a wonderful Easter.
I wanted to share with you a brief update on the Hotel For Heroes program which launched just over a week ago. To date, the program has provided nearly 1,000 room nights for local medical professionals and first responders. The vast majority of rooms that have been allocated thus far have gone to doctors, nurses, and other frontline medical professionals. Our local police and fire departments, as well as EMS have also started to request rooms with more frequency. Hotels For Heroes is certainly finding a foothold during the COVID-19 outbreak, and I am pleased that this initiative has been able to help so many people in such a short amount of time.
Given that Hotels For Heroes is a new program, a lot of questions have been raised regarding eligibility and criteria. On Saturday, I did an interview on Facebook Live with KITV to offer some clarity on the situation and really provide an accurate picture of what this program is all about. The station aired a short clip of the interview on Good Morning Hawai'i on Sunday as well. Meanwhile, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser had a great article this morning that featured some of the key players in this initiative, and I hope that this will give further context as to our program and its benefits.
Yesterday, we experienced a slight uptick in visitor arrivals when 164 individuals flew into Hawai'i statewide. Over the weekend, our daily visitor arrival counts saw a slight decrease. It is becoming clear that there is no apparent rhyme or reason as to what makes individuals travel to our state right now. However, we will continue our efforts to reduce the total number of visitor arrivals as we move forward. It should be noted that nine individuals who arrived in Hawai'i without the necessary funds to facilitate a two-week quarantine period were sent back to their home states, and county police forces have ramped up their enforcement of the various stay at home/work from home orders around the state. I am optimistic that these recent events, coupled with our continuous messaging that Hawai'i is currently closed for business, will have a strong impact on the number of unnecessary visitor arrivals.
COVID-19 Media Items
"Hotels across the state offer free rooms to health care workers, first responders," Pacific Business News, April 7, 2020
"Couple reminded twice, later arrested on Kauai for violating 14-day quarantine," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 11, 2020
Hygiene Best Practices
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann President & CEO Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association |
To visit the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's Best Practices homepage, please click the infographic.
The State Department of Health Food Safety Branch has shared with us a resource guide from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration that details best hygiene practices for food service establishments. In addition to clicking the infographic above to visit the website, you can also download the PDF here, and a one-page summary here. As always, please look out for yourself and your loved ones. If there is any way that I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time. |
April 10th Update:
Aloha,
Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Caldwell and Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard announced a pilot program that will establish a night-time curfew for the Easter holiday weekend. Under the program, Honolulu residents must remain in their homes between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. from this evening through Monday night. While you may leave your home in the case of an emergency, going out to eat or to pick up food will not be allowed during the curfew.
The neighbor islands have also instituted new policies. Maui Mayor Mike Victorino has established curfew hours for the Easter weekend similar to O'ahu. Meanwhile on Kaua'i, Mayor Derek Kawakami amended the Mayor's Emergency Rule #5 to close all vacation rental operations and golf courses, and to require food service, grocery, and pharmacy employees to wear cloth masks beginning on Saturday, and Hawai'i Island Mayor Harry Kim has announced that all vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts and time shares must shut down and stop advertising beginning Monday.
In other news, Hotels for Heroes is wrapping up its first week. While there have certainly been challenges, the overall response has been wonderful. In addition to more and more people signing up to participate - over 650 reservations were made in four days, we have also had numerous people, organizations, and businesses offer their services to the program. Mahalo to Hawaiian Paradise Coffee, Domino's Pizza, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, each of whom contacted us this week with offers on how they could help support Hotels for Heroes.
I am also pleased to report that we were able to secure an additional 500 room nights thanks - thanks to HTA, which were provided to the Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH) to support Maui Memorial Medical Center. Moreover, we were notified by HAH today that an organization has returned unneeded rooms which we were able to make available to Kaiser Permanente, the only hospital that was not a participant in Hotels for Heroes from the outset because they missed the deadline.
In closing, my best wishes to you and your family as we head into the Easter weekend. I hope that you are able to spend a safe, relaxing weekend together.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my staff if we can be of assistance in any way. Happy Easter!
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
This Week's Media Items
"'Hotels for Heroes' program kicks off today," The Garden Island, April 6, 2020
"Hotels for Heroes kicks off across the state," KITV4, April 6, 2020
"Hotels across the state offer free rooms to health care workers, first responders," Pacific Business News, April 7, 2020
"New program helps visitors go back home if they can't quarantine for 14 days in Hawaii," KHON2, April 7, 2020
Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Caldwell and Honolulu Police Chief Susan Ballard announced a pilot program that will establish a night-time curfew for the Easter holiday weekend. Under the program, Honolulu residents must remain in their homes between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. from this evening through Monday night. While you may leave your home in the case of an emergency, going out to eat or to pick up food will not be allowed during the curfew.
The neighbor islands have also instituted new policies. Maui Mayor Mike Victorino has established curfew hours for the Easter weekend similar to O'ahu. Meanwhile on Kaua'i, Mayor Derek Kawakami amended the Mayor's Emergency Rule #5 to close all vacation rental operations and golf courses, and to require food service, grocery, and pharmacy employees to wear cloth masks beginning on Saturday, and Hawai'i Island Mayor Harry Kim has announced that all vacation rentals, bed and breakfasts and time shares must shut down and stop advertising beginning Monday.
In other news, Hotels for Heroes is wrapping up its first week. While there have certainly been challenges, the overall response has been wonderful. In addition to more and more people signing up to participate - over 650 reservations were made in four days, we have also had numerous people, organizations, and businesses offer their services to the program. Mahalo to Hawaiian Paradise Coffee, Domino's Pizza, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, each of whom contacted us this week with offers on how they could help support Hotels for Heroes.
I am also pleased to report that we were able to secure an additional 500 room nights thanks - thanks to HTA, which were provided to the Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH) to support Maui Memorial Medical Center. Moreover, we were notified by HAH today that an organization has returned unneeded rooms which we were able to make available to Kaiser Permanente, the only hospital that was not a participant in Hotels for Heroes from the outset because they missed the deadline.
In closing, my best wishes to you and your family as we head into the Easter weekend. I hope that you are able to spend a safe, relaxing weekend together.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or my staff if we can be of assistance in any way. Happy Easter!
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
This Week's Media Items
"'Hotels for Heroes' program kicks off today," The Garden Island, April 6, 2020
"Hotels for Heroes kicks off across the state," KITV4, April 6, 2020
"Hotels across the state offer free rooms to health care workers, first responders," Pacific Business News, April 7, 2020
"New program helps visitors go back home if they can't quarantine for 14 days in Hawaii," KHON2, April 7, 2020
April 7th Update:
Aloha,
I hope this update finds you well.
Recently, there have been several media items that have reported slight increases in the number of visitor arrivals across the state. As was reported in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today, yesterday saw 513 individuals travel to Hawai'i by air with 133 of these being self-declared visitors. The visitor arrival count was 126 on Sunday, 106 on Saturday, 94 on Friday, and 89 on Thursday. While this increase is definitely worthy of our concern, it should be kept in perspective that, at this time last year, Hawai'i still averaged approximately 30,000 visitor arrivals overall on a daily basis. Although we are currently seeing far less, these final 100 daily tourists may be the most critical in our fight against COVID-19.
"New program helps visitors go back home if they can't quarantine for 14 days in Hawaii," KHON2, April 7, 2020
HLTA, HTA, and HVCB have continued to be clear in our messaging: Hawai'i is not currently open for business, and visitors cannot expect to have the normal Hawai'i experience should they choose to come here. Interestingly, a small number of people are still flying in on a daily basis.
HVCB is still alerting all hotels of incoming individuals who must be quarantined and we have advised the hotels to contact county police should visitors not comply with the quarantine order. In speaking with HVCB and some local hotels, it is becoming clear that at least a portion of new visitor arrivals are utilizing short-term rental units outside of resort zones and outside of our kuleana. We believe, therefore, that our county governments need to ensure that those who are opting to stay at short-term rentals are adhering to the same quarantine policies that we are all subjected to.
At this time, we are doing all that we can to effectively close our doors to incoming visitors. I am proud of the job that we have done thus far, and we will continue to work with HTA and HVCB to improve the quarantine monitoring system.
I hope this update finds you well.
Recently, there have been several media items that have reported slight increases in the number of visitor arrivals across the state. As was reported in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today, yesterday saw 513 individuals travel to Hawai'i by air with 133 of these being self-declared visitors. The visitor arrival count was 126 on Sunday, 106 on Saturday, 94 on Friday, and 89 on Thursday. While this increase is definitely worthy of our concern, it should be kept in perspective that, at this time last year, Hawai'i still averaged approximately 30,000 visitor arrivals overall on a daily basis. Although we are currently seeing far less, these final 100 daily tourists may be the most critical in our fight against COVID-19.
"New program helps visitors go back home if they can't quarantine for 14 days in Hawaii," KHON2, April 7, 2020
HLTA, HTA, and HVCB have continued to be clear in our messaging: Hawai'i is not currently open for business, and visitors cannot expect to have the normal Hawai'i experience should they choose to come here. Interestingly, a small number of people are still flying in on a daily basis.
HVCB is still alerting all hotels of incoming individuals who must be quarantined and we have advised the hotels to contact county police should visitors not comply with the quarantine order. In speaking with HVCB and some local hotels, it is becoming clear that at least a portion of new visitor arrivals are utilizing short-term rental units outside of resort zones and outside of our kuleana. We believe, therefore, that our county governments need to ensure that those who are opting to stay at short-term rentals are adhering to the same quarantine policies that we are all subjected to.
At this time, we are doing all that we can to effectively close our doors to incoming visitors. I am proud of the job that we have done thus far, and we will continue to work with HTA and HVCB to improve the quarantine monitoring system.
This morning, I was joined on Tourism Tuesday by Healthcare Association of Hawaii President & CEO Hilton Raethel and Hawaii Nautical co-owner Doug Ewalt, and we had a great conversation that covered Hotels for Heroes as well as the recent partnership between HLTA and Hawaii Nautical to collect and distribute essential items in support of O'ahu's homeless population.
You can listen to the episode in its entirety by clicking the banner above or following this link.
You can listen to the episode in its entirety by clicking the banner above or following this link.
As always, please take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
April 6th Update:
Aloha,
I hope that you all had a safe weekend spent with your families and loved ones. I understand how difficult these times can be. We are all struggling against our natural propensities for human contact and interaction. In our local culture, where everybody gets a hug and a honi, social distancing can be especially difficult. During these times, please consider the greater good and refrain from close contact with others. In the long run, we will all be better for it.
Today, the Hotels for Heroes program kicked off and we are so grateful to all of the hotels who have opted to participate in this program. We have received numerous calls and emails over the weekend from additional properties looking to join in, and the response from the eligible participants has been fantastic. Mahalo to everyone involved in bringing this wonderful initiative to fruition!
Tomorrow on Tourism Tuesday, we will be featuring two guests - Healthcare Association of Hawaii President & CEO Hilton Raethel will be calling in to discuss public health issues in light of COVID-19, including Hotels for Heroes, and Hawaii Nautical co-owner Doug Ewalt will be joining us to chat about the recent partnership between his company and HLTA to collect donations in support of Hawai'i's homeless population.
You can tune in to the show at 7 a.m. on AM690 or 94.3 FM.
"'Hotels for Heroes' safe stay for essential personnel," KHON2, April 1, 2020
"'Hotels for Heroes program to house medical workers, first responders," Hawaii News Now, April 3, 2020
"'Hotels for Heroes' program kicks off today," The Garden Island, April 6, 2020
I hope that you all had a safe weekend spent with your families and loved ones. I understand how difficult these times can be. We are all struggling against our natural propensities for human contact and interaction. In our local culture, where everybody gets a hug and a honi, social distancing can be especially difficult. During these times, please consider the greater good and refrain from close contact with others. In the long run, we will all be better for it.
Today, the Hotels for Heroes program kicked off and we are so grateful to all of the hotels who have opted to participate in this program. We have received numerous calls and emails over the weekend from additional properties looking to join in, and the response from the eligible participants has been fantastic. Mahalo to everyone involved in bringing this wonderful initiative to fruition!
Tomorrow on Tourism Tuesday, we will be featuring two guests - Healthcare Association of Hawaii President & CEO Hilton Raethel will be calling in to discuss public health issues in light of COVID-19, including Hotels for Heroes, and Hawaii Nautical co-owner Doug Ewalt will be joining us to chat about the recent partnership between his company and HLTA to collect donations in support of Hawai'i's homeless population.
You can tune in to the show at 7 a.m. on AM690 or 94.3 FM.
"'Hotels for Heroes' safe stay for essential personnel," KHON2, April 1, 2020
"'Hotels for Heroes program to house medical workers, first responders," Hawaii News Now, April 3, 2020
"'Hotels for Heroes' program kicks off today," The Garden Island, April 6, 2020
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
April 3rd Update:
from Mufi's Message, 04.03.2020 - read the full Message and all Mufi's Messages here.
Hawai'i's visitor industry has a long history of community service and charitable efforts. The businesses and people that make up our tourism sector truly embody the aloha spirit, and it has been uplifting to see these traditions carried on, especially in the face of COVID-19.
Hotels For Heroes
Earlier this week, we announced our Hotels for Heroes initiative. This program, which offers complimentary hotel rooms for individuals on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak, was made possible through the partnership between HLTA, HTA, and HVCB. Through this program, which is funded by state tourism dollars, we have established points-of-contact with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, the Hawaii Medical Association, police and fire departments in all counties, State law enforcement with the Attorney General’s Office, DLNR, DPS, and DOT, as well as EMTs and paramedics on all major islands. Each of the sectors was personally contacted by HLTA and will book reservations for their participants through HVCB. To date, we have had 35 hotels sign up to participate in this program and continue to add to our list of participating hotels on a daily basis. The positive reaction from the aforementioned organizations that we are working with to enable individuals to participate in this program has been overwhelming!
"'Hotel for Heroes' safe stay for essential personnel," KHON 2, April 2, 2020
"Interisland quarantine order empties Hawaii airports," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 2, 2020
Hotels For Heroes
Earlier this week, we announced our Hotels for Heroes initiative. This program, which offers complimentary hotel rooms for individuals on the front lines of the COVID-19 outbreak, was made possible through the partnership between HLTA, HTA, and HVCB. Through this program, which is funded by state tourism dollars, we have established points-of-contact with the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, the Hawaii Medical Association, police and fire departments in all counties, State law enforcement with the Attorney General’s Office, DLNR, DPS, and DOT, as well as EMTs and paramedics on all major islands. Each of the sectors was personally contacted by HLTA and will book reservations for their participants through HVCB. To date, we have had 35 hotels sign up to participate in this program and continue to add to our list of participating hotels on a daily basis. The positive reaction from the aforementioned organizations that we are working with to enable individuals to participate in this program has been overwhelming!
"'Hotel for Heroes' safe stay for essential personnel," KHON 2, April 2, 2020
"Interisland quarantine order empties Hawaii airports," Honolulu Star-Advertiser, April 2, 2020
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
April 1 Update:
Aloha,
As I noted in yesterday's update, HLTA has partnered with HTA and HVCB to launch a new initiative to house health care workers and first responders in local hotels. The program, Hotels for Heroes, has already had 30 hotels across all major islands sign up to participate. Hawai'i's lodging industry has a long history of stepping up in times of need and it is beyond encouraging to see so many of our people continuing this tradition in these uncertain times.
Below, I've linked my most recent Island Matters column from MidWeek that highlights how vital it is for all of us to do our part during this time. Hawai'i is uniquely situated in that we are unreachable except by air or water. With cruise ship and air travel at all time lows across the state, the responsibility now falls on each of us to abide by the stay at home, work from home orders, limit our contact with others, and put public health above our own personal comforts. By contributing to this statewide effort now, we ensure that the COVID-19 outbreak will be contained as quickly as possible. We can do it!
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
As I noted in yesterday's update, HLTA has partnered with HTA and HVCB to launch a new initiative to house health care workers and first responders in local hotels. The program, Hotels for Heroes, has already had 30 hotels across all major islands sign up to participate. Hawai'i's lodging industry has a long history of stepping up in times of need and it is beyond encouraging to see so many of our people continuing this tradition in these uncertain times.
Below, I've linked my most recent Island Matters column from MidWeek that highlights how vital it is for all of us to do our part during this time. Hawai'i is uniquely situated in that we are unreachable except by air or water. With cruise ship and air travel at all time lows across the state, the responsibility now falls on each of us to abide by the stay at home, work from home orders, limit our contact with others, and put public health above our own personal comforts. By contributing to this statewide effort now, we ensure that the COVID-19 outbreak will be contained as quickly as possible. We can do it!
Mahalo,
Mufi Hannemann
President & CEO
Hawai'i Lodging & Tourism Association
