Hawaii

Shiels: How a Hawaii native found a home, and career, at Loews Miami Beach Hotel

Published

12 months ago

January 15, 2025

Shiels: How a Hawaii native found a home, and career, at Loews Miami Beach Hotel

Michael Patrick Shiels
| For the Lansing State Journal

Students in the Michigan State University School of Hospitality and Business may want to meet Mutlu Kucuk, who studied in Hawaii and works in Miami.

Standing behind a hotel front desk recently, Kucuk watched a family push a stroller toward the pool; a stylish young couple in cleavage and linen gliding out into the South Beach scene; and a mustachioed South American businessman, who just enjoyed VIP check-in, heading toward the elevator with his room key in one hand and a glass of champagne in the other.

Such is life at Loews Miami Beach Hotel, an oceanfront property that is a buzzing hub of haute couture, cuisine, music, and art in the heart of Florida’s famous neon, art deco playground.

Grateful, Kucuk takes it all in as his mind takes him back in time to the day when he took a job working behind the desk. But now, 23 years into his career, he is managing director of Loews Miami Beach Hotel and the Loews Coral Gables Hotel across town.

He stops by the desk to remind himself of his fortune.

“So many opportunities Loews, as a brand, has given me and allowed me to provide for my family and loved ones.”

As a young man, he studied business in Hawaii and never expected to be in Miami…or even the hotel business.

“I wanted to be a business consultant for Meryll Lynch, so I applied there. I figured a hotel front desk job could hold me over until they called,” recalled Kucuk, who didn’t want a career as a hotel industry. “I left Hawaii and moved to the mainland because if I stayed in Hawaii all the opportunities there were tourism-related.”

In retrospect, Kucuk said was lucky Loews hired him with no experience…and then trained him.

“I have come so far, and if had to go back, I would not change a thing. Starting at the front desk and the doing every position including housekeeping, VIP, and food and beverage, made me a much-better and well-rounded general manager.”

Kucuk is, therefore, a leader and mentor.

“In truth, some young people with a degree think they should start their career as a general manager. But if you want to learn the business, you need to start from the bottom, so you can learn each step of the way,” he maintained, as we talked in the hotel’s chic Bar Collins off Loews’ lobby. “If you have the right attitude, and the right business mind, and you are hospitable – as in ‘hospitality’ – and friendly, this industry can provide a lot of opportunities. The key is continuing to work hard. There are going to be some failures. You fall and you stand back up and remember what you are trying to accomplish and go for it.”

I tested Kucuk’s theory when I descended the palm tree-shaded walkway heading to the beach through the Loews Hotel’s pleasing swimming and sunning area just after sunrise.

In the glamorous setting amidst the luxury cabanas and chase lounges, I found young, uniformed attendants already preparing the zero-entry pool and waterfall.

“You’re all here so early! What’s the matter, none of you could sleep?” I joked. The attendants folding towels and straightening chairs laughed.

“I have been looking at that jacuzzi wishing I could jump in there,” one of the staffers admitted. “But the crowds are coming.”

“Don’t take any guff from the guests,” I implored.

“Sometimes we have to, sir. It’s our job,” one fellow said with a smile and a shrug.

Soon after, diners on the veranda overlooking the pool began enjoying elaborate breakfasts in Preston’s Market – including Florida fresh fruits; guava and cheese French toast; and arepa benedict. By noon a steel drum Caribbean musician would serenade the swimmers and those enjoying mini cones from the colorful dolce vita gelato Fiat Italian car. (Save some appetite for dinner at Rao’s – the resort’s rare rendition of New York’s exclusive enclave eatery.)

Loews oceanfront location in the heart of South Beach means it is a party for everyone, and Kucuk, a father himself, exhibits a heartwarming affection for families.

“You can come and party, and when it comes to family programming, we lead the market. We have activities parents can do with their children, or they can have them participate in our SoBe Kids Club while they’re sharing a drink the bar.”

Sushi or pizza making classes; cupcake and cookie decorating; and a Smile and Snap photography class, are some choices.

I like the Loews “footprint” because while it is a bigtime resort hotel with event and convention space, it has a cozy, stylish boutique feel.

“You can enjoy the cultural experiences of Miami Beach because Loews is partnered with museums that bring the art component here to the hotel in activations,” said Kucuk.

That makes him part curator and docent, too!

Contact Michael Patrick Shiels at MShiels@aol.com His new book: Travel Tattler – Not So Torrid Tales, may be purchased via Amazon.com Hear his radio talk show on WJIM AM 1240 in Lansing weekdays from 9 am – noon.

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Hawaii

Hawaii Pacific basketball teams split with Menlo | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

24 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

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Hawaii

Hawaii County accepting applications for Summer Fun employees

Published

13 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Hawaii County accepting applications for Summer Fun employees

HAWAII ISLAND (HawaiiNewsNow) – The County of Hawaii Department of Parks and Recreation is now accepting applications for temporary positions in its 2026 Summer Fun program.

The two positions available are Activity Aide I ($17.50 per hour) and Activity Aide II ($19 per hour).

To be considered for employment, applicants must possess a valid first-aid certification, attend mandatory training June 2–5, and be available to work June 8–July 17.

Applications are available online on the Parks and Recreation website, and must be submitted to the Recreation Division Office at 799 Pi‘ilani St., Hilo, HI 96720, postmarked by Saturday, Feb. 28.

For more information, call the Recreation Division Office at (808) 961-8740.

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Hawaii

Hawaii’s jobless rate remains second lowest in U.S. – Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

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Hawaii’s jobless rate remains second lowest in U.S. – Hawaii Tribune-Herald

Hawaii’s labor market
continues to rank among the best
in the country.

The state’s seasonally adjusted rate plunged three-tenths of a point to 2.2% in November from September and now has fallen by a half-percentage point over the last three reporting periods, according to data released Tuesday from the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

There was no unemployment data for October due to the federal government shutdown.

The 2.2% rate maintained Hawaii’s ranking as the second lowest in the country, according to state data released Wednesday — a day later — by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Only South Dakota was lower in November at 2.1%.

The last time Hawaii’s rate dropped below 2.2% was in March 2020 when it hit 2.1% just before the pandemic started.

Hawaii’s low number caught Eugene Tian, DBEDT’s former state chief economist, by surprise.

“I was surprised to see the unemployment rate dropped to 2.2% in November,” said Tian, who retired at the end of May. “It is close to the historical low of 2.0% Hawaii experienced during the last four months of 2017. Hawaii ranks as one of the best labor markets in the nation.”

Hawaii’s rate has dropped from 2.7% in August to 2.5% in September to 2.2% in November.

Nationally, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.6% in November, up by two-tenths of a point from September.

Tian said Hawaii’s unemployment rate fell sharply mainly due to a large increase in the number of people employed. Between September and November, the state’s labor force jumped by 1,000, or 0.15%, but the number of people employed increased by 2,800, or 0.42%.

“The faster increase in employment, with a slower increase in the labor force, made the unemployment rate low,” Tian said. “The increase in employment was due to the increase in payroll jobs (1,700 between September and November) and self-employment at 1,100.”

The state’s labor force, which is compiled from a telephone survey of households, edged up in November to 688,000 from 687,000 in September. The labor force includes those who are employed, those who are unemployed but actively seeking work and those who are self-employed. The number of people employed rose to 672,650 from 669,850 while those unemployed fell to 15,350 from 17,200.

In a separate survey, an increase in nonfarm payroll jobs in November from September was mainly driven by a 1,000 increase in construction jobs and a 1,000 gain in professional and business services.

Nonfarm payroll jobs are calculated from a mail survey of employers and are considered a better indicator of job growth due to a larger sample size than the labor force data, which is compiled from a telephone survey of households. In the payroll count, one person might be counted multiple times if that person has multiple jobs.

Tian said construction jobs continued their ascent in 2025 with the November number at a historical high of 42,000, while the values of completed construction, as measured by the contracting tax base, decreased every month between May and September 2025 (the latest data available is September), and the value of private building permits issued decreased every month between August and November 2025 (latest data available is November).

Tian said Hawaii’s unemployment numbers could rise in March when the Bureau of Labor Statistics benchmarks data of the previous year based on complete survey data. He noted that monthly data is based on sample data.

“Due to sampling errors for the monthly data, it is possible that the labor statistics may overstate the current conditions and the corrections will be released in March this year,” he said. “The lagging effect of new hires and activities may also contribute to the distortion of the labor statistics. I expect the unemployment rates will be adjusted toward higher levels when the numbers are benchmarked in March.”

Tian said if more people join the labor force, the state’s unemployment rate will rise when the number of employed people stabilizes.

“In the last few months, the labor force participation rate was stable at 60.4% (August-November),” he said. “Hawaii’s current labor force participation rate is lower than the U.S. at 62.5% (November 2025) and lower than the Hawaii monthly average of 61.1% in 2019. If labor force participation goes higher, the unemployment rate is likely to rise.”

While the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell, all of the state’s four major counties saw increases. State and national labor force data are adjusted for seasonal factors, but the county jobs data are not seasonally adjusted and thus do not take into account variations such as the winter holiday and summer vacation seasons.

Honolulu County’s rate rose to 2.3% from 2.2%. Hawaii County’s rate increased to 2.7% from 2.5%. Kauai County’s rate rose to 2.3% from 2.2%. And Maui County’s rate increased to 2.6% from 2.5%. Within Maui County, Maui island’s rate rose to 2.6% from 2.3%, Molokai’s rate fell to 4.0% from 5.9% and Lanai’s rate dropped to 1.1% from 2.2%.

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