Last week the Mayors Council of Guam's monthly meeting was held. One of the guest speakers was Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association president Mary Rhodes who offered to provide insight to the mayors.

Last month the GHRA held its general membership meeting and invited was a panel of island leaders such as the Department of Parks and Recreation director,  the chief of the Guam Police Department, and even Mayors Council of Guam president Jesse Alig. It was here when discussions occurred. "About how the mayors could be involved. One of the things I was really pushing was equity and how every village deserves something in tourism recovery. Whatever it is, everyone deserves something," Alig said.

Alig also shared how she was instrumental in working with former mayors to develop their festivals. 

Rhodes says doing this is something GHRA has been looking  to do when it comes to recovery efforts for tourism. "One of the things  which has been a mission for GVB and GHRA is to work with the mayors because tourism effects the whole community and tourism should include every village mayor in that," she stated.

Over 12 years ago, she says she conducted training for the mayors for the Hotel and Restaurant Expo in partnership with the Guam Visitors Bureau, noting, "In order to be eligible for a grant - and in order to  for this community grant from GVB, you had to attend this training. And certain monies were set aside...back then we only had the Mango Festival."

It was such opportunities that made the Banana Festival in Talofofo and even Mangilao's Donne Festival possible. And Rhodes says although there were other villages at the time that tried to make their festivals a reality, it was not sustainable. "It would be really good for us to revisit this - you have to develop a plan," she added.

Rhodes said with new mayor and vice mayors, this would be a great workshop for them to take part in, saying, "To make sure you are all suited to submit for these community grants...so you can really offer that."

Many of the mayors in attendance look forward to speaking further with GHRA as several had ideas for their respective villages.