It seems to be what everyone is talking about. I am not exactly sure, but if reservations are few and hard to come by and hotel rooms are empty, the top industry people on Guam should do whatever it takes to make some money.
I also see very few people in the hotel restaurants. Friday used to be a good day for the restaurants and they used to have lots of local customers. Now you have staff being sent home because there aren’t enough guests to keep them on the job.
So I make this suggestion to the hoteliers on the island: Why not make an offer to tables with at least four people in their restaurants of a free hotel stay for one night? For every four meals eaten at regular price, the restaurant offers one room for one night. I know it may not seem like much, but it may keep a few more people on the job, rather than sending them home.
Some of our residents have never stayed in a local hotel and this would be a good opportunity for them to get that chance. Do this promotion for about a month until the middle of June or July 1.
Hotel occupancy is down and something has to be done. I give it a little more time until arrivals begin to pick up, because the world is traveling.
FELIX AGUON
Quezon City
and Guam for a while longer
