"We're still here." That's the message hospitality employees are sending amid Tourism Month. And those on the frontlines of the island's number one economic driver are raising awareness as the industry continues to recover from the pandemic and two super typhoons.

From the Hilton to Nikko Hotel, those on the frontlines of the island's hospitality sector lining the sidewalks of Pale San Vitores Road last Friday to kick off Tourism Month, sending the message "We're still here."

Pacific Islands Club HR Manager Liza Matanane said, "We have over 500 employees. All of our hotels right now, it's been a hard time for us because of the typhoon– from the pandemic to the typhoons. This is the little awareness that we are still here."

Tourism is the island's number one economic driver, with over 14,000 employees supporting it.

Matanane reminds us that includes those behind the scenes, saying, "It's from the kitchen staff to the front office. It's the people that you also don't see."

It's why she says showing up for the wave, which was hosted by the Guam Visitors Bureau, and celebrating Tourism Month matters.

"Because it's part of our people", she shared. "It's all about hospitality. If you want to know anything about Guam, we are very welcoming people and that's what we do. We work really hard and strive to not only provide jobs for our residents, we also want to share our culture and our traditions. We open our doors, our island, with open arms to everybody who would like to visit, from all the neighboring countries. So it's important for us to celebrate and remember why we are doing what we are doing."

And as the industry continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and two super typhoons, she says it's important to receive that same support back from the community and elected officials.

When asked what she would ask of those running in this year's elections, she replied, "How is it that you are going to help us with the airlines, with beautifying the entire island? We're in a state of emergency in our tourism industry really if you think about it. We want to make sure that when people come to our island, it's also clean for them and it's something that is welcoming for them."

A message she's sending loud and clear, that the island's "Hafa Adai" spirit of hospitality starts here.

"The entire island, we have so many of our own people, our residents, that are employed within the industry, and you're really supporting them. You're supporting the people, so how are you going to help us?" she said.