VIDEO: Real Talk with Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort Area Vice President and General Manager, Michael Jokovich

Tara Dugan, digital sales director of MauiNow interviewed Michael Jokovich, area vice president and general manager of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort.

Jokovich speaks about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected business operations and what they are doing to help their employees and community.

The Andaz Maui at Wailea and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa hotels have suspended operations on March 24th, 2020.

“Ramping up on operations and suspending it, it has been quite challenging. The visitor industry, it has not been easy but we are getting through it,” Jokovich said.

He encouraged employees to have hope in facing these challenging times and thanked employees for their patience.

“There is a light at the end of the tunnel…We have to have optimism, we have to have hope and we have to have the right attitude.”

Jokovich confirmed that there are still associates working across all Hyatt properties – maintaining guest rooms, facilities – including engineers, security personnel and housekeeping.

Planned construction across both Hyatt properties still continues – Mayor Michael Victorino deeming construction essential.

The Hyatt also announced the Hyatt Care Fund, a global fund to support over 900 hotels and 150,000 associates.

“Any full-time, part-time or on-call associates that find themselves financially strapped during these times could apply,” Jokovich said of the company initiatives they are doing during the pandemic, “…Our purpose is to care for people to be their best and this is another great initiative of our company caring for our colleagues around the world.”

Any colleague of the Hyatt can access the fund through the Hyatt website.

To learn more about what the Andaz Maui at Wailea and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa are doing to support the community, watch the interview above or visit their website.