HLTA debuts mentoring program

A visitor industry mentorship program will pair some of Hawaii’s best hospitality students with tourism leaders.

The Hawai‘i Lodging and Tourism Association program will link 12 general managers from across the state with 12 students from travel industry management programs at the University of Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific University and Brigham Young University.

“Generational mentoring is another logical step in the HLTA’s efforts to support young people who are pursuing careers in the hospitality industry,” said Mufi Hannemann, president and CEO of HLTA, which is partnering with Here and Now Consulting to launch the training program.

Mentoring the next generation of hospitality leaders in Hawaii is critical, said Art Sarkissian, Here and Now Consulting founder and CEO.

Verizon cuts jobs across U.S.

Verizon has cut jobs in stores across the country as it deals with increasing competition in the wireless industry.

Union representative Tim Dubnau estimates that Verizon has cut hundreds or even thousands of jobs.

Verizon spokeswoman Kim Ancin said Friday that stores will have fewer employees but refused to specify the size of Thursday’s layoff. She says estimates of thousands of cuts are “an exaggeration.”

ON THE MOVE

Outrigger Hotels and Resorts has named the following management appointments:

Niel Mason to area general manager from OHANA group manager. He will now oversee Holiday Inn Resort Waikiki Beachcomber in addition to the OHANA Waikiki Malia by Outrigger, and continue to serve as general manager of OHANA Waikiki East by Outrigger.

Will Caraway to director of sales and marketing. His experience includes Shell Vacations Resort on Hawaii island, Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Canada, where he managed its visitor exit program, and Embassy Vacation Resorts on Kauai as director of owner services, escrow officer and exit program manager.

Central Pacific Bank has promoted Arleen Ho to senior vice president and division manager of compliance from deposit and general compliance manager. She has 40 years with the bank, also serving previously as BSA officer and during the bank’s mergers with International Savings and City Bank.