SCR 61: requesting the department of business, economic development, and tourism to review and evaluate the COST-BENEFIT AND return on investment of a possible sponsorship of a michelin guide for restaurants across the state.

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of business, economic development, and tourism to review and evaluate the COST-BENEFIT AND return on investment of a possible sponsorship of a michelin guide for restaurants across the state.

     WHEREAS, the Michelin Guide for restaurants, with its star‑based evaluations, has become a world standard; and

     WHEREAS, since publishing its first American guide to New York City in 2005, Michelin has released guides for Atlanta; California; Colorado; Chicago; Florida; and Washington, D.C.; and

     WHEREAS, the State's culinary scene has been rapidly evolving, attracting multiple Michelin-starred chefs and restaurants and becoming a destination for foodies; and

     WHEREAS, the Michelin Guide, however, does not send its inspectors to Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, a 2022 Visitor Industry Workforce Needs Assessment by the Hawaii Tourism Authority identified culinary staff as among the most in-demand and difficult-to-fill positions in Hawaii's workforce; and

     WHEREAS, the award of one or more Michelin stars can offer a steady supply of diners, eager sous chefs, and endless publicity for a chef or restaurant, and having a Michelin star to strive for can increase restaurant standards; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to review and evaluate the cost-benefit and return on investment of a possible sponsorship of a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Report Title: 

Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Tourism; Restaurants; Michelin Guide

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of business, economic development, and tourism to sponsor a michelin guide for restaurants across the state.

     WHEREAS, the Michelin Guide for restaurants, with its star‑based evaluations, has become a world standard; and

     WHEREAS, since publishing its first American guide to New York City in 2005, Michelin has released guides for Atlanta; California; Colorado; Chicago; Florida; and Washington, D.C.; and

     WHEREAS, the State's culinary scene has been rapidly evolving, attracting multiple Michelin-starred chefs and restaurants and becoming a destination for foodies; and

     WHEREAS, the Michelin Guide, however, does not send its inspectors to Hawaii; and

     WHEREAS, a 2022 Visitor Industry Workforce Needs Assessment by the Hawaii Tourism Authority identified culinary staff as among the most in-demand and difficult-to-fill positions in Hawaii's workforce; and

     WHEREAS, the award of one or more Michelin stars can offer a steady supply of diners, eager sous chefs, and endless publicity for a chef or restaurant, and having a Michelin star to strive for can increase restaurant standards; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism is requested to sponsor a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Report Title: 

Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Tourism; Restaurants; Michelin Guide

STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1450

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 61

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Economic Development and Tourism, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 61 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND TOURISM TO SPONSOR A MICHELIN GUIDE FOR RESTAURANTS ACROSS THE STATE,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to sponsor a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the State.

     Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual.

     Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority.

     Your Committee finds that the Michelin Guide for restaurants, with its star-based evaluations, has become a world standard.  Your Committee further finds that while the State's culinary scene has been rapidly evolving, attracting multiple Michelin-starred chefs and restaurants, the Michelin Guide does not send its inspectors to Hawaii.  Your Committee believes that the award of one or more Michelin stars can offer a steady supply of diners, eager sous chefs, and endless publicity for a chef or restaurant.  Your Committee concludes that sponsoring a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the State will allow the State's restaurant industry to flourish.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requesting the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism to review and evaluate the cost-benefit and return on investment of a possible sponsorship of a Michelin Guide for restaurants across the State, rather than requesting the Department to sponsor; and

     (2)  Amending its title accordingly.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Economic Development and Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 61, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 61, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism,