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The Honolulu Star Bulletin reports that the only Wyland-themed hotel will be rebranded by Marriott International this summer. The conversion of the 404-room Wyland Waikiki Resort & Spa into Marriott's midpriced Courtyard by Marriott brand will include renaming the hotel the Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach. The property will operate under a franchise agreement with Marriott, while Outrigger Hotels & Resorts will continue managing the property.
This came as a surprise to the conservation-minded marine-life artist Wyland, who helped design and inspire his namesake hotel. "It is news to me," said Wyland, who is a minority stakeholder and owner of the hotel's penthouse, where he has a studio. "I certainly don't want them taking my name and art off of it. I certainly want to have it stay a Wyland boutique."
Steve Kisielica, a principal of the hotel's Chicago-based owner Lodging Capital Partners LLC, confirmed that Wyland's name will no longer be on the property, though much of his artwork will continue to be featured throughout the hotel.
"During hard economic times like what we're going through now, a lot of standalone hotels prefer having globally well-known brand names," said June Farrell, Marriott's vice president for international public relations. "The power of our distribution system is so strong that it tends to bring a lot of people to the hotel, which is a lot more powerful than trying to market in the marketplace by yourself or as a small brand out there."