I wonder if only 5 star hotels are available or FEMA and other are staying at a collective of 5,4,3,2 star hotels. But it's the ones at the 5 star who are getting the bad attention. I am assuming many hotels have burned down in Lahaina. IDK how far the drive is from Kahului or Wailuku, but it would be easer to be "on site". Then add in all the people who lost their homes who are paying or trying to pay for a cheap hotel to live. So 5 might be plausable as to what's available.
When Mrs.CMO was traveling for work, she had to stay at a 3 star or better hotel and not just the cheapest one. And during summer or spring break, only 5 star hotels had availabilities due to them being expensive. Tourist like cheap hotels. ALso she wasn't allowed to stay on the ground floor of any hotel. So if a 3 stary only had 1st floor availability, she had to look else where. Even if it was a 5 star.
If you're a government employee, you're provided a per diem amount for the area you're visiting. Some areas barely afford a Holiday Inn Express, while other per diem rates are massive. Hawaii has some of the highest per diem amounts.
As long as the visitors are within their per diem, we can't complain about how much they are spending. It's preset by the GSA lodging rates for the 48 states. AK, HI and overseas locations are set by the Dept of Defense.
Locality Seasons Lodging Meals Proport'l Meals Incidentals Maximum Effective
ISLE OF MAUI 01/01-12/31 354 122 70 31 507 02/01/2023
Many hotels/motels offer rates for government workers to spend within the per diem amounts. If the traveler exceeds the per diem amount, they have to have exceptions approved to get reimbursed. Otherwise, the differences are out of pocket.
Per diem covers lodging. meals and incidentals combined. For Maui, that's $507/day.
In cases like this one, I imagine they can submit receipts and be reimbursed over the maximum because of the emergency situation. if FEMA has that amount in their budget and the managers approve it, they can afford whatever they want, but it takes away funding for other travel.
Rental cars and air fare are also included in their travel funds. It takes additional approvals to fly business or 1st class unless you pay the difference or use your personal frequent flyer miles to upgrade. Same applies to rental cars. I always got a free 1-class upgrade, among other perks, for being a Hertz Gold Plus member. provided by my company. i liked having my name and space number on the electronic board -- no check-in lines. Just walk to your assigned space, load up your car and drive out. The security guard at the exit checked your ID, and you were gone.