With 2016 nearly in the books, Travel Agent breaks down the 12 most influential Hawaii tourism stories of the year.
In no particular order, we revisit the stories that will have the most impact on your Hawaii business in 2017.
Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina Officially Opens
Marking the fifth Hawaii property to the Four Seasons brand, Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, opened in May.
The 17-story Edward Killingsworth-designed hotel is situated on the coastline of Oahu’s rugged western coast in the community of Ko Olina. Nearly all of the 371 rooms and suites offer full ocean views with floor-to-ceiling windows and private lanais.
Additional features include five culinary options, a spa and fitness complex and a custom-built wedding chapel located within the gardens.
Visit www.fourseasons.com
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach Officially Opens
In July, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach recently opened its doors to a new wave of global travelers on the island of Oahu. Located in Waikiki, the much-anticipated residential resort marked its official opening with a Hawaiian blessing and ceremony that was attended by community leaders and dignitaries.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences are the latest addition to the Waikiki skyline, featuring resort-style experiences with ocean views from every residence. Construction of the residences started in the summer of 2013.
All residences face the ocean, providing guests with views of the Pacific, and include kitchens with premium appliances along with in-residence washers and dryers.
Other amenities include one of the highest infinity pools in Waikiki on the eighth floor with private cabanas, and a fitness center designed by celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak.
Visit www.ritzcarlton.com/waikiki.
Outrigger Hotels Sold to Denver-Based Private Equity Firm
In early November, the Star Advertiser reported that Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, which has been owned and operated by the Kelley family for 69 years, signed an agreement to sell the business to Denver-based KSL Capital Partners LLC.
The transaction, which was expected to close in 60 to 90 days for an undisclosed price, includes all 37 hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties operated, owned and managed by Outrigger. After the transaction closes, business is expected to continue as usual with the company’s name kept intact and its headquarters remaining in Waikiki, Hawaii.
However, according to the report, the deal does put the planned $100 million renovation of the Outrigger Reef on hold while KSL evaluates the best direction for the property, which Outrigger owned in fee simple.
David P. Carey, who is married to the former Kathy Kelley, the granddaughter of Outrigger founders Roy and Estelle Kelley, will continue as the company’s president and CEO, according to the report.
While the family-owned Outrigger Enterprises has deep Waikiki roots, over the last two decades it had emerged as one of the largest privately held hotel firms in the Pacific, according to the report.
Visit www.outrigger.com
Big Island Visitors Bureau Officially Announces Name Change
In September, as part of our coverage of the Hawaii Tourism Conference in Honolulu, Travel Agent brought you news that The Big Island Visitor’s Bureau had changed its name.
In October, the Bureau sent out an official release confirming the change to the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau (IHVB).
IHVB will continue to use the island's name, Hawaii, to help identify the destination accurately in its marketing communications and business operations.
To avoid confusion with the state name, IHVB is encouraging the use of "island of Hawaii" when referring to the destination. For shorter references, it also suggests the use of "Hawaii Island" to identify the island.
There will be no interruption in IHVB's operations during this naming transition. The Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau is an Island Chapter of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB).
Visit www.gohawaii.com
Four Seasons Resort Lanai's New Specialty Suites
The Four Seasons Resort Lanai got even swankier in October with its new Speciality Suites offering, a collection of one-, two- and three-bedroom suites that include exclusive services and amenities.
Located on the second floor, the lavish three-bedroom Alii (Royal) Suite offers views of Hulopoe Bay – a marine sanctuary home to spinner dolphins, beautiful coral reefs and a wide variety of colorful fish.
The large suite (5,000 feet with three bedrooms; 3,984 square feet with two bedrooms) has a formal living room with adjoining powder room, media room with 85-inch platinum bezel LED TV as well as a separate dining room seating six.
Sleek, contemporary decor crafted with exotic materials is present in all rooms, including artisan-produced Nepalese lokta wallpapers and Honduran mahogany floors laid with hand-woven wool area rugs complemented by rich furnishings and customized artwork to create an elegant, serene ambience.
Visit www.fourseasons.com/lanai
Noelani Schilling-Wheeler Named New Executive Director of Oahu Visitors Bureau
In October, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) announced the appointment of Noelani Schilling-Wheeler as executive director of the Oahu Visitors Bureau (OVB). She succeeds Les Enderton, who is retiring at the end of this year, after nearly 20 years of leading the OVB.
Schilling-Wheeler is being promoted from her position as senior director of sales and marketing, a title she has held since January 2005. She joined OVB in December 1997 as director of sales and marketing.
She is credited with developing and executing creative marketing and sales programs that have elevated Oahu’s image as an attractive destination for romance, golf, outdoor adventure, culinary experiences and budget family travel.
Visit www.gohawaii.com
Inside Look at Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club’s Ongoing Renovations
As part of our recent coverage of the Hawaii Tourism Conference, Travel Agent checked out Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club’s recently renovated Diamondhead Tower, which is part of an ongoing $55.4 million renovation, and loved how modern this hotel has become.
After all, when we spoke to Darla Won, director of marketing for Prince Resorts Hawaii, she told us the biggest complaint from guests prior to the improvements was that the hotel was a tad outdated.
But as it approaches the half way point, Travel Agent can attest that the hotel’s first major overhaul in roughly 25 years is going to be home run amongst Millennials and all lovers of modern technology.
There was no shortage of USB ports and outlets from our oceanview suite. We also loved the Smart TV in our room and that the automatic switch for the curtains was located right next to the bed, allowing guests to open the curtains and greet the Waikiki sun without getting up.
We can go on about the subtle peaceful blue and white colors of the rooms, the tasteful mural on the wall and other features that made the decor really stand out, but the main reason you are staying in this room is for some of the best ocean views we have ever seen.
This is part of an overall renovation that began at the end of June and will be fully completed by December. The second portion will include a similar renovation of the hotel’s Ala Moana Tower and well as a refreshed lobby.
Visit www.princeresortshawaii.com
Hilton Expands in Hawaii With Four New Hotels
The Hilton Worldwide portfolio of hotels in Hawaii has grown by roughly 40 percent, nearly doubling its regional portfolio.
Expanding from six properties on three islands to 11 on four islands, the brand recently welcomed Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach, Grand Naniloa, a DoubleTree Hotel and Hampton Inn and Suites Kapolei. Each new property offers an industry “first” for Hawaii as a destination and Hilton Worldwide.
Hilton Garden Inn is now represented in all fifty states. DoubleTree is the first global brand to have a presence in the Hilo Bay in decades, according to a Hilton Worldwide news release. Also, Hawaii’s first-ever Hampton Inn and Suites opened in late September in the emerging West Oahu town of Kapolei.
Visit www.hilton.com
Travel Leaders Study Shows High Demand for Maui Travel
As part of Travel Leaders Group’s findings from its September nationwide survey of travel agents, Maui, Hawaii, attained its first top ranking as Travel Leaders Group’s Top U.S. Destination for the remainder of the year.
Maui ranked third last year. Orlando, New York City, Las Vegas, and Alaska cruises rounded out the top five domestic destinations.
“Domestically, Maui has long been among the most sought after destinations for American travelers, but had never surpassed Orlando, Las Vegas or New York City for the top spot,” said Ninan Chacko, Travel Leaders’ group CEO, in a written release. “Because the Zika virus has had an impact on some individuals’ travel decisions, particularly those who are pregnant, Maui’s positioning has been bolstered by having no cases of locally-transmitted Zika.”
This survey was conducted by Travel Leaders Group from July 28 - August 24 and includes responses from 1,145 U.S.-based travel agency owners, managers, and frontline travel agents from the flagship Travel Leaders brand, along with those affiliated with Travel Leaders Group’s Cruise Specialists, Nexion, Protravel International, Results! Travel, Travel Leaders Corporate, Tzell Travel Group and Vacation.com units.
Visit www.travelleadersgroup.com
Travel Impressions President Says Group Travel to Hawaii Is “Catching On”
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| Scott Wiseman, president of Travel Impressions, presents during the General Session of the "Best of the Best" awards in Cancun, Mexico. // Photo by Joe Pike |
As part of Travel Agent’s recent coverage of Travel Impressions’ “Best of the Best” awards, we sat in on a press conference hosted by Scott Wiseman, president of Travel Impressions, who told us Hawaii and Mexico are both hot destinations for group travel.
And that doesn’t just include destination weddings.
Wiseman says Travel Impressions is seeing a lot of group business to both Mexico and Hawaii and that it isn’t just romance focused, but also involves other celebratory vacations such as anniversaries, birthdays and bachelor/bachelorette parties. In fact, Wiseman told media that about 25 percent of Travel Impressions’ overall business for 2016 has been group travel, including weddings.
Also, Wiseman told media that Travel Impressions, for the first time, is in the process of rolling out group packages that don’t solely focus on weddings and honeymoons.
“We built out our tools for the travel agents to include more celebration travel in general, to give (clients) more reasons than just a wedding to get together for a vacation," he says. "We are giving them the ability to customize more non-wedding type of business.”
Wiseman says the threat of the Zika mosquito virus impacted group travel to Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean last year, when people were still learning about the rare virus that has been linked to birth defects.
“From an FIT standpoint, we didn’t’ really seeing many people avoiding (destinations that had cases of the virus), but we were seeing some impact on the group business and the wedding business,” says Wiseman. “But that was more so last year. Now, Mexico continues to see huge growth, perhaps more than the Caribbean at this point, and Hawaii is really catching on too.”
And since Hawaii is doing so well, Wiseman says Travel Impressions recently picked up additional flights to the Hawaiian Islands to increase the operator’s business there from the West Coast.
Wiseman told us that Travel Impressions now has daily flights to Hawaii Island, Oahu and Maui, as well as flights to Kauai on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. All of the flights are on Alaska Airlines out of Oakland, CA.
Visit www.travelimpressions.com
Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach to Open in December
Scheduled to open this December in the former Waikiki Trade Center, Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach will have 230 rooms and suites.
The lobby is centered around a six-foot tall custom green sculpture resembling circular drift wood with local vegetation adorning the piece. This is set against an accent wall resembling rough lava to set the tone for the relaxed Hawaiian ambiance that is incorporated throughout the hotel.
A range of blue and green colors are used throughout the rooms and are inspired by the colors of the ocean and sky. The rooms also include floor-to-ceiling windows, offering sweeping views of Waikiki.
The hotel’s eighth floor includes the main lobby, the pool deck, a restaurant and bar. The outdoor area includes green walls and bamboo trees amongst Hawaiian plants.
The hotel will also have organic art reminiscent of sea creatures and an abundance of tropical wood and teak used in furniture pieces throughout.
Visit www.waikikibeach.centric.hyatt.com
Maui's Newest Resort Now Confirming Reservations
The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, which will become Maui's newest resort when it opens in summer 2017, has begun confirming reservations.
The 390-villa resort is situated on 16 oceanfront acres of North Kaanapali Beach.
Comprised of one-, two- and three-bedroom villas, The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas' amenities will include an expansive lagoon-style swimming pool, children's beach pool and play area, oceanfront cabanas and a WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio.
Mauka Makai, the resort's full-service restaurant, will pay tribute to the farming and fishing cultures of ancient Hawaii. With an emphasis on farm-to-table cuisine, Mauka Makai will utilize indigenous plants and vegetables grown on-site and from local farms to complement popular local dishes.
It will also feature the Westin brand's signature SuperFoodsRXTM menu with nutrient-rich and delicious options. Additionally, the Inu Pool Bar will provide a setting to enjoy oceanfront views, cocktails and lighter fare. Guests will also enjoy access to resort amenities at The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas located next door, including Spa Helani, a Heavenly Spa by Westin.
Visit www.vistana.com and keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for all your latest Hawaii travel news. And be sure to follow Travel Agent’s Joe Pike on Twitter @TravelPike.