Commission-Public-Records

From: Messina, Iris <Iris.Messina@hmshost.com>

Sent:

Tuesday, March 24, 2020 9:30 AM

To:

Commission-Public-Records

Subject:

[EXTERNAL] Port Commission meeting: Comments for Submission

Importance:

High

Categories:

Public Comment

WARNING:Thisisanexternalemail.Donotclickonlinksoropenattachmentsunlessyourecognizethesenderandexpectthe

contentofthisemailtobesafe.



EsteemedCommission ers,

Asyoucanimagine,theCovid‐19pandemichastakenanunforeseentollontheentireairportcommunity.At

HMSHost,aconcessionaireoperatingseveralRetailestablishmentsinSeattleInternationalAirport, thehealth

andwell‐beingofourassociates,aswellasourviabilityasacompanymovingforwardistantamount.



Asaresultofcontinueddecreasesinairporttrafficandsubsequentlossesinrevenue,wehavehadtotakethe

unfortunateactionoffurloughinganoverwhelmingnumberofassociates.

Sofar,theairporthasbeenatremendouspartner,allowingustoadjuststorehoursand,insomecases,close

locationsdown.

However,this,coupledwithcorporatepaycutsandfurloughs,isnotenoughtooffsetthecostof

maintainingassociatebenefitsandkeepingtheminimumamountofviablelocationsopen.



Wearenowrequestingthatcertainmeasuresbetaken,retroactivelyeffectiveonMarch1,2020,inorderforus

toremain

solventasabusiness:

SuspensionofMinimumAnnualGuarantees

SuspensionofVariableRents

SuspensionofOperatingCostsrelatedtostoreopenings(utilities,CAM,Marketingfees,etc.)

Youmayalreadyknowthatotherairportshavetakensimilaractions.

Weunderstandthesearetemporaryandlookforwardtothedaywhenwecanresumebusinessasusual.



Iris Messina

Vice President, Business Development

O 240.694.4758

M 617.445.2125

6905 Rockledge Drive

Bethesda, MD 20817

PROUD SPONSOR OF THE 2020 JAMES BEARD AWARDS