Saturday Briefing

By Dr. Richard Kelley  

Dietrich Mayring

It is with sadness that I must report that a long-time member of the Outrigger ‘ohana, Dietrich Mayring, died on October 26, at his home in Flagstaff, Arizona, at the age of 68. The cause of death was not revealed in the obituary published in the Flagstaff Daily Sun.

Dietrich served as Executive Vice President of Outrigger Hotels & Resorts from 1986 through 1991. At that time, our company was based primarily on Oahu, with 19 mid-priced properties, mostly located in Waikiki.

While with Outrigger, Dietrich learned how our company truly values each member of our ‘ohana. When he first arrived, departing Vice President Steen Weinold introduced him at a reception in the Main Showroom of the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel. A note in the April 5, 1986, edition of Saturday Briefing reports that after Steen introduced each manager and department in the receiving line by name, Dietrich leaned over and asked Steen how he was able to remember each and every employee’s name.

Dietrich quickly adapted and became a hands-on manager who personally visited many of our Waikiki properties every day. He wrote in the April 26, 1986, edition of Saturday Briefing, “Checking the physical appearance of the buildings, the cleanliness of the garage, the overall look of the lobby, the elevator, the lighting of the hallways, and the professional housekeeping of the guest rooms are all part of the routine. But, there is one element that is far more important than mere bricks and mortar and that is the human element. One normally can sense the atmosphere of hospitality and human warmth, or lack thereof, almost immediately after entering a particular property. I am happy to say that I am constantly impressed with the friendly and helpful attitudes displayed by our daily contacts with our guests.”

His assistant, Candace Reinhardt, recalls some light moments with Dietrich shortly after he arrived in Hawaii. “He was new to the Islands and did not know the landmarks. Often, I became his GPS (global positioning system), ‘steering’ him by phone as he drove to his appointments. He would call and ask me, ‘Where am I?’ To find out, I had to do the Twenty Questions routine. ‘What street are you on? What’s on your right? What’s on your left? Are you coming to an intersection? What’s the cross street?’ Etc., etc.”

Dietrich Mayring, Kathy Foley, and David Carey at the President’s Awards January, 1991

Born and raised in Munich, Germany, Dietrich started his career in the hospitality and gaming industry in his late teens, working first for his family’s business. His work ethic and perseverance led him to London, Bermuda, Scottsdale, Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, New York, Hawaii, Louisiana, and finally Flagstaff, where he was General Manager of the luxurious, 247-room Little America Hotel.

Dietrich was quite active in the Flagstaff community. He served as a board member of the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association and the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce. Recently, the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association named him Hotelier of the Year.

A well-read adventurer and epicure, in Arizona Dietrich enjoyed piloting gliders, racing down the slopes of Arizona Snowbowl, and Heavenly Mountain Resort, playing tennis with friends, completing The New York Times crossword puzzle, inspiring people to erupt with laughter, and constantly learning new things from those around him.

Dietrich is survived by three adoring children, Angela Wold, Christopher Mayring, and Skye Mayring, and by two grandchildren.

A service was held for him last week in the Little America Hotel ballroom. The Dietrich Mayring Memorial Scholarship Fund, a charitable scholarship program, was established in his honor by the Arizona Hotel Foundation.

Aloha, Dietrich.