Waikiki resort mandates vaccination for workers, guests – KIRO 7 News Seattle

HONOLULU – (AP) – A resort in the famous tourist mecca of Waikiki will be the first in Hawaii to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all employees and guests.

From October 15th, ‘Alohilani Resort will require its staff, guests and guests to show that they are fully vaccinated. The requirement also applies to the six other Waikiki properties owned or operated by Highgate, a real estate investment and hospitality management company.

It’s doing the right thing as Hawaii is grappling with spikes in COVID-19 cases and hospital stays due to the highly contagious Delta variant, said Kelly Sanders, senior vice president of operations at Highgate Hawaii.

According to the Department of Health, there were an average of 706 newly confirmed cases of infection per day in Hawaii between August 30 and September 5. Hawaii’s vaccination rate was 64%.

“I think we will be the safest hotel in Hawaii, at least for now,” Sanders said ahead of a press conference on Wednesday to announce the mandate. “And hopefully that will help our business and not harm our business.”

John De Fries, President and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, called the move a step in the right direction and hoped other hotels would follow suit.

“What I love about it is that our community, our workforce, and our guests are all mutual beneficiaries of this Highgate decision,” he said. “And I expect it will get a lot of attention from others in the industry.”

Hawaii state workers and Honolulu city workers must provide proof of vaccination or undergo weekly COVID-19 tests. Honolulu requires guests at restaurants, gyms, bars, cinemas, museums, and other businesses to provide proof of vaccination or recent negative tests by September 13th.

Sanders said Waikiki hotels would not allow testing alternatives, but would allow medical or religious exemptions and exempt children under 12 who cannot be vaccinated.

“We want to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable when they come to work,” said Sanders. “And I don’t think you can do that from the staff’s point of view unless you ask all of your guests and guests to do the same, to be honest.”

There are about 1,000 employees among the seven shelters and an estimated 70% are already vaccinated, Sanders said.

Highgate’s decision on vaccinations comes as Hawaii’s tourism-dependent economy seeks to bounce back from earlier in the pandemic when the state placed mandatory quarantine on all arriving travelers.

Travelers can now bypass the quarantine by showing proof of vaccination. Others must have negative test results before leaving for Hawaii to avoid the 10-day quarantine.

The move sets “a high standard of what is expected of you when you come here, for your own well-being as a traveler and out of respect for the community you visit and the work environment …” said De Fries.

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