Lessons Learned From Maui's Disaster Response and Recovery

Northstar Meetings Group's Destination Hawaii event, which took place Nov. 7-9 at the Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui, marked the first MICE-industry gathering held on the island of Maui since the tragic wildfires in August. Produced in partnership with the Hawaii Visitors and Conventions Bureau/Meet Hawaii, Destination Hawaii was held three months to the day after the wildfires swept through West Maui and the historic Hawaiian village of Lahaina. The event recognized Maui hospitality workers who were affected by the tragedy, and included a panel discussion on the island's disaster response and recovery efforts.

Over the course of three days, Destination Hawaii brought together leading meeting and incentive planners looking to book near-term business for Hawaii with prospective hospitality providers. Attendees participated in one-to-one meetings, networking opportunities, education sessions and unique Hawaiian island experiences.

As part of the event, Northstar's executive vice president and group publisher David Blansfield moderated a panel discussion focused on how the hospitality industry prepared for and responded to the wildfires. The expert panel included Angela Vento, general manager of the Wailea Beach Resort — Marriott Maui; Leanne Pletcher, director of public relations and marketing for the Maui Visitors Bureau; Jonnie Torres, director of sales and marketing for the Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa; and John Reyes, senior vice president and chief meetings, conventions and incentives sales officer for the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau.

The group discussed on-the-ground lessons learned from the wildfires, and shared insights on the challenges and successes they experienced in managing a disaster in a tourism-dependent destination. To view excerpts of their discussion and the takeaways gleaned from their experiences, please register to view the online version of the session.

Supporting Maui's Vital Tourism Workers

Employee sensitivity and support was a key topic of the panel discussion. To help provide direct support to local workers impacted by the fires, Northstar Meetings Group partnered with The Above and Beyond Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to recognize, reward and support outstanding individuals employed on the frontlines of the hospitality industry. Immediately after the wildfires, TAABF awarded 30 Helping Hospitality Urgent Aid Grant Visa gift cards — each totaling $500 — to hospitality staff who were chosen by their management as being the most in need.

In addition, during Destination Hawaii, TAABF awarded a $5,000 "Heart of Hospitality Award," which is given to frontline workers who demonstrate the organization's core values and "embody the heart of hospitality through an extraordinary single act of service and/or consistent job performance that is truly above and beyond."

Brandon Kotter, lead banquet bartender at the Wailea Beach Resort – Marriott, Maui, was awarded the $5,000 grant and given a standing ovation by the event's attendees and his resort colleagues at the close of Destination Hawaii's final education session. 

In the application supporting Brandon's nomination for the award, he was recognized for his "commitment and passion for service excellence that has had a lasting impact in elevating all guest and client experiences," as well as for the innumerable ways he has demonstrated "a steadfast commitment to supporting the Maui community" before, during and after the Maui wildfires.

TAABF is accepting prize donations to support their annual online fundraiser auction, which begins Nov. 20 and ends Dec. 14. Everyone is invited to participate either by donating prizes or bidding on them. Auction donations can take the form of airline tickets, hotel and resort stays, golf and spa packages, entertainment and sporting events tickets, restaurant certificates, and incentive gift merchandise. All funds raised at the auction will be used to distribute grants and awards in 2024, such as the ones that provided much-needed support to Maui's hospitality workers.

"We've had a phenomenal year awarding many grants to our frontline workers, and our Helping Hospitality Maui urgent-aid program has helped give immediate assistance to our colleagues on Maui affected by the fires," said Mary Jo Valentine Blythe, founder and CEO of TAABF. "Any and all contributions are welcome, and we're taking them now."