Northstar Meetings Group's Destination Hawaii hosted-buyer event, scheduled for Nov. 7-9 at the Wailea Beach Resort in Maui, is helping to bring business back to the island. Not only is the event one of the first to take place in Maui since the early-August fires, but Destination Hawaii will bring together nearly 100 meeting professionals, half of whom are professional planners.
Additionally, Northstar is collaborating with the Above and Beyond Foundation on its mission to recognize local hospitality standouts. A Hero of Hospitality Award, which includes a $5,000 grant, will be presented to a local frontline worker during the conference.
The Above and Beyond Foundation — which relies on donations to fund its programs — recognizes, rewards and supports outstanding individuals employed on the frontlines of the hospitality industry. The Helping Maui Urgent Aid Grant Program, a new initiative launched to recognize workers in the aftermath of Maui's devastating fires, is already awarding $500 gift cards to industry workers on the island who have gone above and beyond during this trying time.
For that program, the organization put out a call for Maui hospitality-industry managers to nominate 10 frontline employees deserving of the recognition. "We want to celebrate these workers without creating a lot of fanfare, due to the magnitude of what's going on in Maui right now," explained Mary Jo Blythe, president of Masterplan, and the founder and CEO of the foundation. "But this can go a long way for someone who could be struggling in that situation."
The incentive firm Motivation Excellence is donating time and labor to process and administer the grants.
Planners interested in participating in the Destination Hawaii event can apply here.