‘Elele
~ the VOICE of MC&A ~
SPOTLIGHT
WELCOME TO THE TEAM!
Please give a warm MC&A welcome to our newest AE in Miami, Nickie De Vaal!
Having been a part of the events industry for 10 years, Nickie has been in various roles, providing insight from many perspectives in the industry. Beginning early in her career as a day-of support to a wedding planner which ultimately evolved into her becoming the Robin to her Batman. As the years passed, and her knowledge and connections grew, so did her footprint in events. Most recently, working very closely with large sporting events throughout the state of Florida, including the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix since its inaugural year!
Here’s a little insight from Nickie on her life, culture and history: I was born in Mexico and moved to Miami when I was 4 years old. When I was growing up, my parents’ rule was from the door in it was Mexico and from the door out, USA. Thanks to that I’ve managed to always keep my culture and native language near and dear to my heart. And as a single mom of two young kids, I have the same rule now. My oldest daughter, Olivia, is 6 going on 26 and my baby, Soleil, is a fearless 4-year-old. They’re my motor and forever motivation. All three of us are complete beach bums - as you would expect South Floridians to be - through and through! We love being outdoors and adventure forever stays calling our names! Which explains my passion for the event industry and my passion for creativity!
I’m excited to be a part of a company that prioritizes people and culture because there really isn’t more important than that and showing up authentically and consistently for ourselves, our passions, and our loved ones!
SEAN FEATURES IN MPI’S ORACLE NEWSLETTER
JOHAN RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF HAWAI‘I’S MOST ADMIRED LEADERS
Johan Marzuki recently achieved a milestone by being recognized as one of Hawai‘i’s Most Admired Leaders by Pacific Business News. This prestigious accolade highlights Johan’s exceptional leadership and the significant impact he’s made both within MC&A and throughout the broader community. His engagement in volunteer work and service on various industry boards exemplifies the kind of leader who truly makes a difference.
HEATHER WINS MPI AWARD
Last month, Heather Bailey was awarded the Dian J Lindsay Presidential Award from the MPI Oregon Chapter. The Award recognizes an outstanding individual in the chapter for their exceptional commitment.
According to the organization, Heather has been a powerhouse on the Oregon Chapter’s MPI Board and has made incredible contributions to the MPI Aloha Chapter in Hawai‘i, especially in Education, Finance, and the Office of the President. Her dedication to the industry shined through in her efforts to relaunch the MPI Aloha Chapter in 2025 and in her pivotal role in the Hawaii Events Coalition for live event recovery post-pandemic.
P.R.I.D.E. CORNER
P.R.I.D.E. EVENT – HOW TO TAKE GREAT PHOTOS USING YOUR PHONE
The P.R.I.D.E. Team is pleased to announce its very first Brown Bag talk in September!
Have you wanted to step up your smartphone photography skills? What about learning photo tricks your phone has that you’re completely unaware of? Cool smartphone apps? What’s the deal with 360 cameras? Or how about learning how you can sell photo education as part of corporate incentive packages?
Then mark your calendars for Sept. 26. Photographer Victor Goodpasture, a 26-year veteran of the corporate event and hospitality industry, will present a course in smart phone and travel photography. His 30-minute presentation will be packed with ideas, techniques and very cool apps to push your photography to the next level. The remaining 15-20 minutes will be for you to ask questions.
Victor promises three things:
1. He will not waste your time
2. You’ll learn real skills to significantly improve your photography
3. You’ll learn how to incorporate photo education into any event and how such services will elevate and enhance the guest experience
Finally, Victor has a surprise regarding the future of photography and how MC&A can capitalize on that future.
If you’ve ever wanted to ask a professional photographer a question, now is your chance. We encourage you to submit your questions now and Victor will have an answer for you during his presentation.
You’ll walk away from this presentation lamenting that you didn’t take the class before your last vacation!
Set your calendar for Monday, September 23, 2024, at 9:00 am Hawaii/ 12:00 pm PST/ 3:00 pm EST
BUSINESS TRENDS
Sharing the latest highlights and opportunities within our industry for MC&A and Island Partners Hawai‘i.
MC&A HAWAI‘I
• In June, we reached $32M in group business for the year. This is significantly lower compared to our 2023 performance. Our pipeline and demand for the balance of the year will continue to be slow, but they are highly representative of the year we are having nationally. Nevertheless, we anticipate, as per usual, that our customers will spend positively in the year for the year and because of the good work our Events and Operations teams always do to close out the year.
• We continue to receive ITY/FTY RFPs for smaller programs. 2 new requests, along with 4 other Tentative remain in the pipeline and are valued at $726K. As expected, we had positive up sells and scope changes that reinforced our revenues in June.
• Notable programs
Novartis: 640 Pax, $1.5M (+$400k)
Motorola: 270 Pax, $1.0M
• Our current RFP productivity is in line this time of the year due to summer vacations. We anticipate RFP volume to grow in the fall as clients prepare for 2025 and 2026.
• Sales continues with client site inspections this fall for programs operating in 2025 and 2026. Sales also takes advantage of trade events and sales calls with our old friends at their ITA Partners Summit and popular trade event SITE Mountain Education Forum.
• 2025 continues its steady surge with now over 63 Definite programs valued at $16M, an increase of $2M over last month, and over 34 tentatives valued at $7M+.
• For the Leisure Traveler, our State ADRs are still high and discouraging the average traveler considering Hawaii. Summer travelers continue to consider alternate destinations due to more competitive return against the US currency. Ave Europe ADR $350 v. $530 USD. Despite this issue, confirmed bookings are trending upwards over the Summer but are still below where we were last year. Flight Centre and Westjet continue to struggle with low demand and with no immediate recovery date in place. Flight Centre is currently launching their new business Envoyage and we are eager to get the Hawaii business featured.
• Air Lift from Australia is still not back to the number of seats pre-covid, and we continue to struggle with a shortage of up to 40% of seat volume, limiting inbound pax. Air New Zealand has also been impacted by Hawaiian’s suspension of flights Apr – Nov.
• For our Cruise Services, June is start of the summer slow season with fewer ships in June/July but an increase in the number of port calls made. There were 13 port calls (up 62.5% when compared to 8 in June 2023.)
• Turnarounds were also up were up 25% when compared to 4 in June 2023 with NCL’s Pride of America being the only cruise ship in the islands and our ShoreEx team continues to work with NCL to add more tours to its Pride of America weekly itinerary.
ISLAND PARTNERS HAWAI‘I
Results From the 2023 Winter Edition of the FICP Survey
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Snapshot – DEI remains a significant focus for F&I (Financial & Insurance) organizations and the hospitality industry, with nearly three-quarters of F&I organizations highlighting increased attention in 2023. Both types of organizations considers DEI a Strategically Important Area and a Growing Focus. (This is right in line with JTB Group’s DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging) Initiatives, as presented at the B.E.O.F. seminar held on O‘ahu.)
• DEI Has Impact at Events — From the Stage to Suppliers – Speakers and content were the two ways in which F&I organizations are integrating DEI considerations at events — with an increased focus on diverse speaker selection and a change in content selection.
• A Rise in Minority Owned Business Usage – The leading change for HP (Hospitality Partner) organizations is also an increased use of minority-owned businesses as suppliers. So, even if supplier diversity isn’t one of the changes seen by meetings professionals, it is likely that events are being supported by more minority-owned businesses due to HP organizations prioritizing that change. We are also seeing a change to Procurement Intake Forms to reflect DEI considerations.
• HPs Look for Engagement and Belonging – Hospitality partners wish their organizations focused on improvement of employee engagement — especially of traditionally marginalized groups — or making a sense of belonging a top cultural priority.
• Sustainability Snapshot – Increased Focus on sustainability over the Past Year. The top sustainability action or approach for about half of F&I and HP organizations is having sustainability as part of its mission.
• The four leading sustainability-focused actions are all related to material usage and choices:
• Elimination of single use plastics
• Emphasis on recycling
• Reducing food waste in the organization and/or at events
• Reduced use of printers and paper
• Nearly 3 out of 10 HP organizations include sustainable businesses as suppliers for events as one of their top three ways to advance sustainability, while 12% of F&I companies include sustainability as part of the procurement selection process as a top three initiative; however, F&I events are likely being served by an increased number of sustainable suppliers given HP organizations’ increased use of them.
• 84% of organizations that broadly support sustainability have integrated sustainability considerations into its meetings and events. Far more than all other options, the top three areas of focus for meetings and events are: Elimination of single use plastics, Reduction in food waste, Increased use of sustainable businesses as suppliers.
• Changing Staffing Models: Meetings Professionals – Staffing was among the top issues for Meeting Planners coming out of the COVID pandemic, with meetings and events roaring back while experiencing reduced headcount on teams. We dug into how staffing models have adjusted over the past year and expectations for the future — both for internal teams and in the use of third parties and/or incentive houses.
• The number of MPs is expected to stay flat for two out of three F&I companies in 2024. About half of MPs use third parties or incentive houses to supplement the internal meetings and events team(s) to varying degrees. The top three meetings and event functions outsourced to third parties and/or incentive houses are: Sourcing, Registration and Gifting.
MC&A SALES STORIES
FROM CAROLYN
How often do you come into the HNL office? Always? Sometimes? Only when you must, LOL??
Regardless, you should know where the First Aid and AED kits are located, amiright??!!
Both are located on the FIT/Accounting/IT/HR Side.
We have two First Aid Kits.
One is mounted in the supply closet. The other is by HR, next to the AED kit on top of the file cabinets. BTW, a new and improved AED has been ordered and is on its way. ��
Supply Closet
Next to HR
FROM SEAN
JTB: MAHALO JTB for an amazing BEOF! It was great to see everyone!
EDWARD JONES FAMILY FAIRMONT KEA LANI Waves 1-6: Mahalo Elle, Heather, Richelle & Terrance for all support on the Edward Jones Buy in Website. This truly has been amazing to see over 600 guests + sign up! World record. ��
ITRON/ UNICARRIER SITE: Thank you, Seychelle, for planning flawless Site Inspections!
ALTERYX: Mahalo Jamie for your support on our initial call with Madison. Greg, so looking forward to teaming up with you again.
Carolyn/Ashely: Mahalo for opening my Job #s, I greatly appreciate you both!
FROM ASHLEY
The Sales Team Fam outing was an absolute delight! It was a wonderful opportunity to come together and for me to get to know our fantastic team members better, especially those I don’t see often. Spending the day with Captain Bruce’s team in Kaneohe Bay was a real treat, blessed with beautiful weather despite the rain during our drive. The highlight of the day was definitely their massive barge filled with fun water toys. However, the true joy was in bonding with the team under the Hawaiian sun, making it a truly special experience.
L to R: Jamie, Carolyn, Seychelle, Charity, Liz, Gina, Ashley, Josh Kaneohe Bay Sand Bar – Capt Bruce
Mana up grand opening at ward center – with my Kahala Ohana
FROM SEYCHELLE
This summer just flew by! I was able to experience the Kaneohe Sandbar twice with Captain Bruce. The first time was through the Mahalo Ohana program with my family and the second time was with our sales team! This was such a fun experience, kid-friendly and as relaxing or adventurous as you wanted it to be. The crew was so friendly and knowledgeable, and of course, the sandbar is always stunning! I truly enjoyed the day with our sales team! I got to spend time with everyone, the sun was out, we went snorkeling and had a great day. Then I got to see everyone again a few weeks later at the Mahalo Party at the Sheraton Waikiki!
FROM GINA
Thank you to KELLI, DAVID, TERILYN for your flexibility with Raising Cane’s.
Josh: Sales Sets Sail to the Sandbar.
Sean: Brighter Earth Break w/ my work hubby.
Trudy: Celebrating everything since we hardly see each other.
GROUP OPERATIONS NOTES
FROM ARIANE
‘APELILA (APRIL)
Sleepless in Seattle – Non-rev travel sometimes equals missed connections. So, what do you do? Make the best of it and have fun! My big kids and I spent the night in Seattle. We ran to get the last ticket at 10:15 pm to see the Seattle skyline from the top of the Space Needle, we added our DNA to the gum wall, and rode electric scooters around the empty pier at midnight. Spontaneous trips make the best memories!
Insight Summit Club at Kilohana Plantation – An exclusive buyout of the main home and lawn areas, complete with great food and entertainment. Little Fatties food shack was a big hit, and their tacos are to die for! A Mana Up gifting experience added to the fun. As usual, Tom Stanich did a beautiful job setting up the décor, sticking with Insight’s company color – PINK!
On April 29, my youngest son, Hunter, turned 11! We celebrated with a Yankee’s themed birthday party – his favorite player is Aaron Judge #99.
MEI (MAY)
On May 1, Heather, Gina, and I had the pleasure of attending the Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and Polynesian Adventures vendor event at Kilohana Plantation. We were able to connect with a handful of vendors, were fed Luau Kalamaku’s ‘ono luau dinner, and even experienced a 15-minute helicopter ride!
Polynesian Culture Center – I have not visited the center since I was a teenager! I finally had the opportunity to take my littles to experience the different Polynesian cultures. We all had a great time, and the Hā show was amazing.
On May 4, my youngest monkey, Ayvrie, turned 6! We spent the weekend at Aulani. We also said our final goodbye to our dear friend, Leo. We ended the night celebrating Star Wars Day at my sister’s house
Equinix President’s Club (May 6-10) – Another successful buyout of the Four Seasons Lanai! The “Tree Musketeers” (Jamie, Spencer & I) were at it again! From building dining canopies on the Tee Box, to lining the pathway to the Luau Gardens with rattan lanterns, to setting up picnic vignettes on each tier of the Amphitheatre, and everything in between; Spencer and the events team did an amazing job! Spencer! You still owe me a massage for ditching us! I have mad respect for our event staff! Striking the picnic until the wee hours of the morning is not for the faint of heart (aka Ariane)! Oh, and I finally got to meet Nicole (Precious Hawaii) in person!
Pure Storage PPC (May 12-17) – As if we weren’t already sick of each other (just kidding), the “Tree Musketeers” headed to the Grand Hyatt Kauai. So many events! Once again, Spencer and his team did an amazing job! From building a “Pure Aloha” wall with hundreds of tiny little envelopes, each containing a piece of advice on how to “Live Aloha”, to custom Nick Kuchar inspired décor (with the help of Terrance’s creativity) at the welcome reception, to setting up a beautiful king’s table at Resolution Garden for Platinum winners, to creating a tropical atmosphere at Ilima Gardens complete with a live Banyan Tree character on stilts, to another successful buyout of Kilohana Plantation’s main home and lawns, to ending with a gorgeous final night dinner in the ballroom! I am always in awe of seeing our hard work come to life! The highlight of this program was the Pure Good Experience (aka CSR project) at Alaka’i O Kauai Public Charter School. Pure Good donated a total of $245K! This included a team of approximately 175 volunteers who selflessly gave their time to power wash, paint, build, and clean this deserving school.
Pure Good
It was so great having Carolyn on-site with us for a few days!
Spencer & I with our client and friend, Cara
Spencer, Ariane & Allana
Spencer & Carsten packing down the trash!
On May 16, my daughter, Mia, turned 9. She is obsessed with Stitch!
It was so good to see Jackie before she headed out on her 6-month respite! ��
My son, Hunter, was selected as the escort to represent Maui Island during Kapa'a Elementary School's May Day celebration.
As a thank you, Spencer and I were invited to attend Alaka’i O Kauai’s annual
We
Ho’ike.
are pictured with Po’o Kumu, DJ Adams.
Next stop, Middle School! My son, Hunter, is off to Middle School (grade 6) next year. As well, my youngest monkey, Ayvrie, completed her first year at the “big school” and is off to first grade!
IUNE (JUNE)
My son, Hunter, attended Kamehameha School’s Ho‘omāka‘ika‘i Summer Explorations Program. He is the 5th of mymonkeys to attend this weeklong program on Oahu Island. It was his first solo trip! It was fun to see all that the keiki had learned during their Ho‘ike performance on the last day.
VENDOR KUDOS
This is such a great example of partnership. One of our key Oahu vendor partners reached out to us with an SOS for a private tour at Kualoa. The hotel concierge wasn’t able to move the mountains of Kualoa to make it happen, but the MC&A dream team was able to tap into our vendor partner contact and leverage our relationship to get this billionaire onto a UTV with a personalized tour of the highlights of movies filmed at the ranch. Who you know matters!!
We love you guys!!! Thank you so much – I appreciate all of your help.
— Amanda Stein | Royalty Towncars
ISLAND PARTNERS HAWAI‘I INSIGHTS
‘ŌLELO NO‘EAU
Learn from the wisdom and culture of Hawai‘i through ‘Ōlelo No‘eau, which are short phrases that express a truth or principle.
HŌ‘ĀKEAHI,KŌ‘ALAKEOLA.‘ONĀHALEWALENŌKĀIHONOLULU;‘OKA‘AIAMEKAI‘A I NU‘UANU.
Light the fire for there is life-giving substance. Only the houses stand in Honolulu; the vegetable food and meat in Nu‘uanu.
(An expression of affection for Nu‘uanu. In olden days, much of the taro lands were found in Nu‘uanu, which supplied Honolulu with poi, taro greens, ‘o‘opu, and freshwater shrimp. So it is said that only houses stand in Honolulu. Food comes from Nu‘uanu.)
Mary Kawena Pukui, ‘Ōlelo No‘eau No. 1016
TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
FROM KANANI
Mahalo to JTB for allowing us to participate in this years BEOF held in Honolulu. The 2-day event was filled with meeting new people, learning about our company overall, and spending time with our team members. Alex De Ville always brings training to the table with excitement and keeps everyone engaged. Who remembers “The hen sees the snake’s feet and the snake sees the hen’s chest”
I got to partner with Gina from MC&A during our Kapiolani Park clean up, and we had so much fun and had good conversations and made new friends.
This summer I have been able to take some time off to enjoy the family. Fun Factory has been almost a weekly thing for us. The AC is always on high and the kids always have a blast (me too).
FROM KELLY
Spending time in Boise, Idaho with my son Sean, daughter-in-law Gabrielle, and grandson Elliott!
His whole face lights up when he smiles ��
Gabrielle, Elliott and Sean Elliott and Kelly
FROM RAYSHA
Catamaran
Our Island Partners Hawaii team connecting with some of our MC&A teams.
Diner En Blanc
As I reflect on what a magical evening we shared at this year’s Diner en Blanc event in Hawai‘i at Lanikuhonua, I’m filled with gratitude and joy for the memories that were created. The ambiance, the camaraderie, and the culinary delights all combined to make this year’s event truly exceptional.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
MDRT SITE
Flying to Kona
Shayne & Four Seasons Hualalai
Dinner at Meridia
Meridia restaurant at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort is known for its exquisite dining experience with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Here are some highlights of Meridia:
• Oceanfront Setting
• Pacific Rim Cuisine
• Fresh Seafood
• Farm-to-Table Approach
• Wine Selection
Overall, Meridia provides a memorable dining experience with its beautiful setting, exceptional cuisine, and dedication to showcasing the best flavors of the Pacific Rim region.
VENDOR UPDATES
ALII KAI
Sea House Restaurant
We enjoyed a delightful lunch at the Sea House Restaurant in the beautiful Napili Kai Hotel. (The Sea House is a multi-winner of Maui Magazine’s ‘Aipono Awards for Best Happy Hour, Most Maui-est Restaurant, and Best Breakfast.) The view of the ocean is absolutely stunning, and the food is simply amazing. Wish you all could be here with us to savor this wonderful experience. You should give it a try!
Fresh Catch – Kāne‘ohe Location
Reno Henriques’, Chef & Owner of Fresh Catch, dream of owning an “Island Style” Seafood & Meat Deli became a reality with the opening of this “one-stop” poke picnic & tailgating deli. Reno graduated from St. Louis H.S. and the Western Culinary Institute in Portland., Oregon. Growing up next to the ocean, fishing, diving, and preparing seafood dishes was his passion. Over the years, he’s worked to perfect his local style dishes. Fresh Catch offers residents and visitors seafood & meats prepared “Island Style”. Fresh Catch now has 3 locations at Kapahulu, Kāne‘ohe and Pearl City, with delicious local style meals and poke. Plate lunches and Platters are available.
New up an coming lunch or event venue in Kāne‘ohe:
Ritz Carlton
The Fire Lanai Collection is unrivaled in its ability to draw these into every aspect of your stay, with its sweeping ocean or golf views and a real sense of indoor-outdoor living. This room’s secluded outdoor fire pit is the perfect setting to drink in gorgeous Hawaiian sunsets as you unwind.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT MAUI NOW CURATES ‘GETAWAY’ EXCURSIONS AND EXPERIENCES FOR GUESTS
As travelers look ahead to the upcoming fall season, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea has launched a new way to experience the island through a variety of seasonal “Getaway” experiences.
Maui Undersea Adventures ocean activities, outrigger canoe paddling, complimentary cabanas and poolside amenities, oceanside yoga, and more will be offered by the resort from Sept. 1 through Nov. 22 — all with no resort fee.
“We look forward to welcoming guests to experience all the extras we have planned this fall. The team has put together a thoughtful calendar that offers something for everyone,” said Four Seasons Resort Maui General Manager Ben Shank. “Whether you’re seeking a deeper connection to the culture, culinary or wine experiences, or a light-hearted game of pickleball, our Getaway experiences provide opportunities for our guests to create lifelong memories, all with the backdrop of world-class Wailea Beach.”
Additionally, the Resort announces two wine dinners this fall:
• On Monday, Sept. 30, the recently reopened Ferraro’s Restaurant & Bar welcomes Champagne Laurent-Perrier for an evening, including a rare tasting of three consecutive releases of Grand Siècle, ending with the acclaimed Iteration No. 26.
• On Monday, Oct. 14, DUO Steak and Seafood welcomes Darioush and will highlight the 2014 signature cabernet sauvignon, among others, offering an opportunity to compare the decade-aged vintage with the current release.
Click here to read more.
EYE ON EVENTS
FROM THE EVENTS TEAM
As we hit the height of summer, July offered not only a few exciting events and opportunities but also a bit more time to relax and unwind. This month is all about balancing vibrant activities with moments of leisure, bringing us closer together as a community. From festive celebrations to community gatherings, July was packed with events that cater to a variety of interests, whether you’re looking for lively entertainment or peaceful days with family and friends. Our leisure time this month is the perfect chance to strengthen our bonds and create lasting connections.
FROM SPENCER AEGIS
I had another amazing opportunity to join our mainland ohana again but this time in Vancouver, Canada. We produced an event for Aegis at the top of Grouse Mountain that presented very unique logistic challenges. We could either load in using a gondola with a six-minute ride or drive up the mountain on a 45 minute journey one way. Although the gondola was much cooler on the coolness factor, everyone decided that it would be better and less labor intensive to take the mountain road route. We were able to bring up heavy equipment for production and many, many truckloads of décor in about a day and a half for the nearly 1000 pax event. The end product was absolutely stunning! Although we had Gavin DeGraw play, the highlight was 300 helium-filled balloons with an aerialist from Italy flying 100 feet above performing for us. Hats off to Holly Loulan for thinking way outside the box on this one. And another shoutout to Kate Perez for piecing it all together and managing how we did it all! When is the next one!
FROM ELIZABETH
MJH APPLE – USS MISSOURI
This was my first time on the USS Missouri let alone seeing an event setup on it. We squeezed in a self-guided tour before guests came aboard, getting some one on one time with vendors and the very kind Chef Chai!
MAHALO OHANA ACTIVITY – OCEAN JOY CRUISES
I highly recommend this activity if you enjoy snorkeling! Start to finish the check-in staff and boat crew were very friendly and professional. The ride out was very smooth, for those that get seasick. Snacks and lunch are served and cocktails after snorkeling. Overall, we had a great time!
FROM CARSTEN
MAHALO OHANA ACTIVITY – NOVA FIVE STAR DINNER CRUISE
If you enjoy romantic evening cruises with delicious food and drinks, this is the cruise for you! The top floor is elegant, with an unbeatable view of the Honolulu skyline. After finishing the 5 mouthwatering courses, you finish the night off with a live saxophone and piano player. I would recommend this cruise to anyone with a taste for the finer things!
WAREHOUSE INVENTORY
The Honolulu Event Coordinators take on the warehouse! Carsten, Elizabeth, and Julia made the journey to help the warehouse team with the 2024 inventory. It was mind blowing to see the sheer amount of décor we have in our inventory. We had a great time seeing a few of our coworkers that we typically only have the chance to see onsite. Some of the projects the warehouse team is working on include inventory of décor, trashing of damaged props, clearing of the mezzanine level, cleaning and emptying of the middle bay furniture, as well as clearing of the loft that will be torn down shortly. A lot left to do, but our team is working hard!
MAINLAND ‘OHANA
AEGIS PROGRAM IN VANCOUVER
AEGIS 2024 Policyholders’ Conference was held at Grouse Mountain, one of Vancouver’s most spectacular nature adventures at a breathtaking elevation of 4,000 feet. Guests were encouraged to explore their wildest dreams atop of this majestic mountain that overlooks beautiful Vancouver.
This evening was comprised of an array of enchanting experiences across over 12 different adventure zones – including local cuisine, lumberjack shows, ropes courses, close-up animal encounters with birds of prey and, of course, their famous grizzly bears, Coola and Grinder.
Guests were treated to an intimate concert by Gavin DeGraw and the most spectacular aerial balloon performance any has ever experienced. To top off the night, Dueling DJs had the crowd dancing the night away while fairy wands lit the dance floor and cascading flower petals dropped from the sky.
LAS VEGAS TEAM OUTING AT SPEEDVEGAS
The Las Vegas team took some time away from their desks and headed to the desert for some 4-wheel fun! Karl Fusco with SpeedVegas invited us out to experience the 3-hour guided tour in a Can-Am Maverick X3 Max DS Turbo off-road SSV/Buggy. This off-road experience includes adventures to the Seven Magic Mountains, Dry Lake beds, and the Mojave Desert. You might not think that off-road adventures in the middle of summer are the best idea, but on the way to our third stop we were hit with crazy monsoon weather in the desert and ended up drenched by the end of it. It was the best way to cool off in Las Vegas heat!
Some of the Western Region ML Ohana attending BEOF in Honolulu
HAPPY HOUR WITH THE DELOITTE PLANNING TEAM
Stacey and Ashlee spent 24 hours in Dallas hosting a fun happy hour for the Deloitte planning team. Happy hour was held at the HG Supply Co. two minutes away from Deloitte University where their events team meets once a month. Great turnout with 15 members of their planning team!
STARS OF COMEDY RESIDENCY SHOW AT HARRAH’S LAS VEGAS
Making its official debut at Harrah’s Las Vegas on June 30th, Stars of Comedy is a new comedy residency on the Las Vegas Strip. Hosted by Las Vegas’ own comedy king Gabe Lopez, this residency features comedy legend Carlos Mencia every Sunday and Monday through the remainder of 2024. Special guests featured on select weekends will include Ryan Hamilton, Jeremy Piven, and Paul Zerdin. My fiancé and I had the pleasure of attending this show on its opening weekend and it was worth it. Be prepared for the side-splitting laughter that Carlos and Gabe both bring to the comedy realm.
— Richelle Fichter
Paul (Richelle’s fiancé), Carlos Mencia, Gabe Lopez, and Richelle
Ashlee and Stacey
BMO SITE VISIT IN PHOENIX
Stacey and Ashlee spent 24 hours in Dallas hosting a fun happy hour for the Deloitte planning team. Happy hour was held at the HG Supply Co. two minutes away from Deloitte University where their events team meets once a month. Great turnout with 15 members of their planning team!
MIRAGE LAS VEGAS CLOSES ITS DOORS
The iconic Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas closed its doors on Wednesday, July 17 after being open for 34 years. Growing up in Las Vegas, the volcano show was one of the most memorable sights on the Strip and now it will be replaced by the 700-foot-tall guitar-shaped Hard Rock Hotel by 2027. If you’re ever in Las Vegas, the Mirage signs will be showcased at the Neon Museum alongside countless other signage and memorabilia from years past. Thanks for the memories, Mirage, farewell.
— Richelle Fichter
BMO Site Visit
Richelle’s Mirage
Jean Bar
SUMMER VACATIONS
VACAY IN HAWAII (THANKS TO BEOF!)
Following the Brighter Earth program in Honolulu, my coworker and friend Lauren Grunewald and I, along with my bestie from birth Tracy Johnson, embarked on an adventure in Maui. Our time there was precious. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast followed by a very informative tram tour through the lush Maui Tropical Plantation. Along the coastline, we saw sea turtles napping in the sun. And we survived the legendary “Road to Hana”! Its infamous winding path led us through lush rainforests, past waterfalls, and over several narrow bridges until we reached the dramatic black sands of Wai’anapanapa State Park. It was beyond magical. We can’t wait for our next trip to the Islands. Thank you, MC&A, and JTB.
— Phylis Halls
Lauren, Tracy and Phylis in Hawaii
VACATION IN SINGAPORE
My sister has an internship in Singapore until mid-August. She is loving every minute. I can see why!!! Here are some of my favorite pictures from Singapore and our daytrip to Malaysia. — Alle Moscardini
Alle’s Adventures
BRITISH ISLES VACATION
I just returned to work after a 13-day British Isles vacation. We went to London, Dover, Holyhead, Caernarfon Castle, Glasgow, Edinburgh including the castle, Belfast, Dublin, Cobh, Cork, Chilham, Canterbury and Leeds Castle. — Shawndra Talaga
Shawndra’s British Isles Vacation
WINDY CITY VACATION
I spent the weekend in Chicago before heading to Minneapolis for SITE. This summer, I had the privilege of spending a weekend in the Windy City. I explored various parts of the city such as Millenium Park, indulging in meals at the renowned Gibson’s and RL (Ralph Lauren), and the pinnacle of my trip was watching a baseball game at Wrigley Stadium. Despite the Arizona Diamondbacks falling to the Chicago Cubs, it was a memorable day and an enjoyable weekend!
— Lisa Gonzalez
CONGRATULATIONS
After months of studying, hours of required course work, and too many late nights of study sessions to count, the time finally came to sit for the 4-hour exam. We are thrilled to announce that Kelley Bolender has received her CMP. As described by the Events Industry Council, “The designation of Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) is conferred upon candidates for having met high standards of proficiency in meetings management as demonstrated by substantial professional experience and successful examination performance.”
Congratulations, Kelley, on this awesome achievement!!
Lisa’s Windy City Adventures
PROUD UNCLE ALERT
Isaiah Arana became a first time Uncle this month! His sister gave birth to Amelia Anne on July 26th. Can she be any cuter??
— Proud Uncle Isaiah
HUMAN RESOURCES
THINGS TO DO ON SUNDAYS FOR A MORE PRODUCTIVE WEEK
• Do a big brain dump of all the things you need to do. Do any of the things that would take less than 15 minutes.
• Review your calendar for the week.
• Make a plan to work on any upcoming projects throughout the week.
• Plan your outfits for the week. (Check the weather first)
• Check your bank account
• Take a look at your budget (or make one if you don’t have one)
• Get to inbox zero (go through so you have zero unread emails)
• Make your Monday to do list
• Do your laundry
• Make a meal plan, meal prep
• Go grocery shopping
• Spend some time on self care
THE IT SYSTEM UPDATE
Hey, everyone,
We’re going to take a break from the usual question-of-the-month, pro-tip-of-the-month format to talk about one of the latest IT developments to affect the company and the security that applies to it. I’ve highlighted parts to summarize the topic for your convenience since it’s more reading than usual.
On July 29th, Kris from HR sent out an email about the “Cell phone reimbursement policy change – effective August 1, 2024”. (Please see that email for more detail.) As mentioned in that email, you have two choices, the second of which is to “utilize a company issued phone and the cost of the coverage and phone is covered by the company. Please keep in mind this is not a personal device and the company policy about the use of company provided equipment should be adhered to.”
If you opt for the company issued phone, it will have to be “MFA’d”. If you don’t and stick with your personal phone that you also use for work, it has to be MFA’d. Basically, all phones used for work must be MFA’d as soon as possible.
WHAT IS MFA?
MFA stands for multi-factor authentication. What does that mean? It means an extra layer of security. If the password that you use to log on to your computer and sign in to your Microsoft apps is your primary layer of security, MC&A requires you and everyone else to have a secondary or extra layer to help make our devices extra secure. That secondary/extra security layer is a randomized two-digit number, a password, that Microsoft sends to you to authenticate yourself or confirm that you are, in fact, [insert your name here]@mcadmc.com trying to sign in as you. Two passwords, two layers of security, two (multiple) factors—multi-factor authentication/MFA. The form of MFA that MC&A requires on all devices used for work is a two-factor authentication. For example, you enter your log-on/sign-in password (factor 1), then the ## (factor 2), in order to sign in to, namely, your Microsoft apps. (That’s if you’re signed out, of course. If you’re already signed in, there’s no need to authenticate.)
WHAT IS AUTHENTICATOR?
If you’re currently using your personal phone for work, it should have an app on it called “Authenticator”. If you don’t, you’ll need it. If you opt for the company issued phone, you’ll need it. Like I said above, all phones used for work must have Authenticator. It’s a Microsoft app that can be found in the iPhone’s App Store or similar store for the other types of smart phones. Authenticator, the iOS version, looks like this: You can get it, but be careful. There are other authenticator apps out there. If what you download doesn’t look like this icon on your phone’s main screen, it’s the wrong app. Opening the app, it’ll look something like this but without all the accounts you see listed below. Your Authenticator, used for work, will need a work account, specifically an @mcadmc.com account. Through Authenticator, you are authenticated or MFA’d.
HOW CAN AUTHENTICATOR BE SET UP?
There are two ways:
1. You can set up Authenticator on your own. If you want to DIY, use these instructions, which can be found by going to https://mcahawaii.sharepoint.com/SitePages/IT-Learning.aspx and clicking on the button “New Phone – MS365 Authenticator App”.
2. You can have IT walk you through it. If you prefer a walk-through or if Authenticator is not working properly for whatever reason, put in a ticket (email: MCAITSupport@mcadmc.com) and IT will assist you.
Either way, it’s a relatively straightforward process, but the visuals are too many to fit into this section of the newsletter. Once it’s set up properly, meaning there is an @mcadmc.com account in Authenticator and the two factors are in place and working, you’re good to go.
HOW DOES THE AUTHENTICATION PROCESS ACTUALLY WORK?
The MFA process works basically like this:
1. You want to sign in to a Microsoft app, you click and get a pop-up window, it’s asking you for your password (factor 1)
2. You successfully enter your password, thus factor 1 is authenticated
3. You get another pop-up window, it’s giving you a random number like 83 or 67 or a ## (factor 2) that only Microsoft and you would know
• It’s telling you to enter the ## into your Authenticator app
• It’s not going to tell you this, but you have about 30 seconds to enter it into a pop-up window that will appear in the app
4. You open/unlock the Authenticator app, the pop-up window appears, it’s showing you a map of your location, e.g., Oahu
5. You make sure it is your present location and then you successfully enter the ##, thus factor 2 is authenticated
6. You are now signed in to that Microsoft app
BUT WHY MFA?
Why is MFA the way we do things? Because there are multiple layers of security, yes, but also, in part, because it’s phone-specific and location-specific, and because of the randomness and time-sensitivity of the ## that must be entered into the secure and central location that is Authenticator. If you think about it, someone, let’s say a hacker, gets your password, and if that’s the only layer of security you have, then they can easily sign in by just entering your password. With a two-factor MFA, they’ll enter the password, get the ## pop-up and the ##, but even if they have the Authenticator app, they cannot enter the ## into their Authenticator because there’s no @mcadmc.com account for them to enter it into. That account, when being set up, becomes specific to your Authenticator on your phone, and only you have your phone on you, right? So, unless the hacker also has your phone, they’re stopped from completing the MFA process. Which brings up the last and final point: Always have the phone you use for work on you if you’re working. If you don’t have it with you and need to sign in, you can’t because you can’t authenticate factor 2. Even if the hacker somehow could break into your Authenticator on your phone — and who knows how long that would take, if that’s even possible — they’d have about 30 seconds to enter the random number, which expires after time expires — not a big window of hacking opportunity. The point is, having just a password is but one gate for someone to get through, which, depending on the number of password characters, may not be impossible for a good hacker; an MFA, on the other hand, is many gates, some that appear at random and close quickly, which makes it virtually impossible for any intruder. MC&A uses MFA because it adds and tightens security. Thank you for reading, may all systems be normal, Your IT Team
Your IT Team would like to know what other questions you have. What would you like to know? Please feel free to submit a question to IT Support MCAITSupport@mcadmc.com and we will turn it into our Question (and answer) of the Month.
MC&A BULLETIN BOARD
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES –PREFERRED AFFILIATE PROGRAM
OFFERED TO HAWAIIAN’S MOST LOYAL PARTNERS, THE PROGRAM OFFERS THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL BENEFITS
6. Credit card payment required at check out (mileage not allowed for payment)
Booking a reservation is quick and simple using our personalized company Hotlink in Sharepoint (the Hawaiian Airlines logo). Clicking the link will take you to our Preferred Affiliate booking home page. Or you can access the site here
Note: you cannot be logged into ANY account or else the promotional code won’t work. Click the link and look for your flight itinerary. The code will automatically be applied if the route is valid for the code (North America & International flights only). Your HA miles number is input during the booking process.
MAHALO TO EVERYONE FOR MAKING MC&A HAWAI‘I’S BEST DMC!!!
If you would like to get to the MC&A Mahalo ‘Ohana Program website, click here. (Available to MC&A Hawai‘i staff only)
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE?
Click on this Suggestion Hot Link or scan the QR code. The name of the person submitting and their responses will be anonymous. Submissions will be addressed privately at the end of every quarter.
JTB Hawaii offers employee discounts for Hawaii tours, dinner discounts, Hi Bus 7-day tickets, and hotel rooms. Please see the following flyer and click here to view the website. Please follow the instructions on the JTB Hawaii Employee Benefits to receive the benefit.
