As a founding member and president of Maui Wedding and Event Association, I am testifying to our dire need of your assistance. We have been working in collaboration with MHLA, HTA, MVB, Mayor's office and all or any vested associations or organizations benefiting from tourism. Our association in under two years has grown to encompass over one hundred companies, representing thousands of employees. We, THEY, need your help. Our industry is in urgent peril. Since covid we are only retaining a fraction of our market share for events. A majority of our clientele are unsure if they can travel here or even if they are welcome. Our industry, at one point, was a leader in the destination event space and now we are losing our talent to the mainland. The companies are folding, employees are leaving and this will have far reaching implications for our economy as a whole and health of our community. I understand the need for housing and this is of great importance, our community also needs good paying jobs to be able to afford to live here. We are part of the ecosystem. Our "small" industry has traced back 1.5 to 2.5 billion dollars annually of taxable revenue to our islands. We do not have the expertise nor finances to execute an effective media campaign to welcome back our high value clientele. Those clients are mini marketing machines for Maui, pushing out professional and organic content to their families, friends and followers. They have substantially higher average guest spend per day. They develop emotional connection with Maui and destination loyalty returning for decades to come. They are also more pono stewards of our islands, attending ceremonies and gatherings with respect and reverence.
Not only does this industry increase the flow of high value tourists, we provide countless jobs and opportunities for our multi generational families to stay and prosper in our challenging economic environment. Our global competition is winning at showing up, marketing, enticing OUR talent to join them in expanding their economic future, not ours. If we do not act to mitigate the attrition of our workforce, we will no longer have an events industry on Maui.
Maui was once one of the top luxury destination wedding markets in the world. Now we are barely making the list. I can promise you that every one of our members is scared for their future and most of them are planning their evacuation route. We cannot trust our rich historical reputation and trust that eventually the wedding and event economy will come back because every other destination is fighting for this business, OUR business. They are showing up, funding marketing initiatives and they will win. We won't have jobs and our talented craftspeople, some of the best in the world, will leave for more economic opportunity elsewhere. We all love Maui AND we all have to feed our families.
A true plan for Maui's economic recovery needs to include job opportunity. We are pleading for your support. We need your help before it is too late.
Aloha and thank you for your consideration today.
As a founding member and president of Maui Wedding and Event Association, I am testifying to our dire need of your assistance. We have been working in collaboration with MHLA, HTA, MVB, Mayor's office and all or any vested associations or organizations benefiting from tourism. Our association in under two years has grown to encompass over one hundred companies, representing thousands of employees. We, THEY, need your help. Our industry is in urgent peril. Since covid we are only retaining a fraction of our market share for events. A majority of our clientele are unsure if they can travel here or even if they are welcome. Our industry, at one point, was a leader in the destination event space and now we are losing our talent to the mainland. The companies are folding, employees are leaving and this will have far reaching implications for our economy as a whole and health of our community. I understand the need for housing and this is of great importance, our community also needs good paying jobs to be able to afford to live here. We are part of the ecosystem. Our "small" industry has traced back 1.5 to 2.5 billion dollars annually of taxable revenue to our islands. We do not have the expertise nor finances to execute an effective media campaign to welcome back our high value clientele. Those clients are mini marketing machines for Maui, pushing out professional and organic content to their families, friends and followers. They have substantially higher average guest spend per day. They develop emotional connection with Maui and destination loyalty returning for decades to come. They are also more pono stewards of our islands, attending ceremonies and gatherings with respect and reverence.
Not only does this industry increase the flow of high value tourists, we provide countless jobs and opportunities for our multi generational families to stay and prosper in our challenging economic environment. Our global competition is winning at showing up, marketing, enticing OUR talent to join them in expanding their economic future, not ours. If we do not act to mitigate the attrition of our workforce, we will no longer have an events industry on Maui.
Maui was once one of the top luxury destination wedding markets in the world. Now we are barely making the list. I can promise you that every one of our members is scared for their future and most of them are planning their evacuation route. We cannot trust our rich historical reputation and trust that eventually the wedding and event economy will come back because every other destination is fighting for this business, OUR business. They are showing up, funding marketing initiatives and they will win. We won't have jobs and our talented craftspeople, some of the best in the world, will leave for more economic opportunity elsewhere. We all love Maui AND we all have to feed our families.
A true plan for Maui's economic recovery needs to include job opportunity. We are pleading for your support. We need your help before it is too late.
With Aloha,
Chef Brian Etheredge
MWEA