Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa

Beginning in September, the 780-room Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa will introduce private luxury town homes in a new developed gated community known as Ho'olei. These will be adjacent to Grand Wailea Resort on Maui's southwest shore, presenting the first opportunity for guests to stay in deluxe three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath town homes and still have access to the amenities of the Grand Wailea Resort. These include the Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, Spa Grande, various dining options, Camp Grande children's club, and privileged access to Wailea Golf Club.  Exterior of the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa

The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa also recently received a new managing director in Matthew Bailey. A veteran hospitality executive, Bailey brings more than 20 years of experience working with four- and five-star resorts and hotels. Bailey most recently served as senior vice president of operations at ResortQuest Hawaii, supervising its 27 properties on the four major Hawaiian islands. Prior to that, he was co-founder and chief operating officer of Fandango Resorts in Park City, Utah. Previous hospitality experience includes leadership positions at several luxury properties in Hawaii, including The Manele Bay Hotel on the Island of Lana'i and The Kapalua Bay Hotel & Villas in Kapalua.

The View from Napua Tower

The resort's recently renovated NapuaTower is a private club area situated at the center of the hotel, featuring dedicated check in and concierge services with upgraded guest room accommodations. In addition, NapuaTower has dedicated lounge areas, daily continental breakfast and afternoon cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. NapuaTower rooms have double vanities, soaking tubs, WiFi service, DVD player and surround sound.

 Exterior of the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa

Located in NapuaTower, the Grand Suites are the most luxurious accommodations at the Grand Wailea Resort. These measure 5,500 square feet with large lanai's having panoramic views of the Pacific and neighboring Islands of Molokini, Kahoolawe and Lanai. Grand Suite design features include a baby grand piano, master bath with Koa wood tub and sauna, two bedrooms with adjoining suite options and original works of art. Grand Suites also offer the option for a connecting or adjoining room. The resort has a total of 120 connecting rooms.

Premium accommodations that garner the most requests are the Deluxe Ocean View rooms, which are located throughout the resort. Aside from top-notch views from the Grand Suites, these rooms are known for their picturesque scopes of the Pacific.

Spa Grande

The resort's Spa Grande lives up to its name—at 50,000 square feet and 40 treatment rooms, it's the largest spa in Hawaii. The spa has Couples Spa Suites and a Family Spa Suite; and outdoor treatments are administered near the Hibiscus Pool.

A unique aspect of the spa is the Termé Wailea Hydrotherapy. Prior to treatments, guests relax in the termé, which includes a Roman Tub, saunas, cascading waterfalls, Swiss Jet Showers, a Japanese Furo, and five specialty baths including mud, limu (seaweed), aromatherapy, papaya enzyme, and Hawaiian mineral salt. The Termé also includes a complimentary invigorating loofah scrub.

The spa's signature treatment is a 6 Hands Lava Stone massage, during which three expert therapists perform a symphony of six hands moving in synchronization and composition over the entire body. Hot lava stones mixed with warm oil glide over the body reducing stress while increasing deep relaxation.

The top treatment is the Spa Grande Signature Massage, which offers an aromatic heated lotion combined with three different massage techniques.

The name your clients should know is Miryam Litch, who is a favorite masseuse at the spa. She's been on Maui for 27 years, and her specialty is Hawaiian healing arts.

Litch is a master in Lomi Lomi massage technique, and the use of healing Hawaiian herbs. She has extensive training in physiology, deep tissue techniques, shiatsu, and body therapies. Litch has also trained with some of the great yoga teachers in India and has been training in yoga and meditation for the past 40 years.

Not just a treat for adults, Spa Grande also offers a special menu for teens as well as children. The most popular children's spa treatment is the Chocolate Coconut Massage.

Booking spa treatments in advance is advisable. During holidays and summer, booking at least seven days prior to arrival is recommended. If you want to arrange treatments for your clients, this can be done via the resort's spa reservation agents or concierge. Cecilia Hercik is the director of spa sales & operations. She can be reached at 808-875-1234, ext. 2497, [email protected].

High season at the resort includes major holidays and summer (primarily June and July). The resort recommends booking a year in advance. The travel agent liaison is Patrick Ornellas (866-702-9182, [email protected]).