Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced Tuesday that its largest brand, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, and its owners invested more than $230 million to refurbish its four Hawaiian properties.
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The large-scale, multi-year project was completed with the recent unveiling of the Sheraton Kona Resort and meets the increased demand for high-quality accommodations as business and leisure travel to the Hawaiian Islands continues to grow.
The revitalization projects include the $188 million renewal of the Sheraton Waikiki, the $6.5 million renovation of the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, a $16 million upgrade to the Sheraton Kauai Resort and a $20 million refresh of the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay.
Starwood has spent the last few years renovating and rebuilding one of the hotel industry's most iconic brands and the Sheraton brand now stands taller than ever with the strongest portfolio in its history. The Sheraton recently completion of its nearly $188 million renovation of 1,636 rooms with a theme of "contemporary Hawaiian sophistication."
The renewal starts at beach level and reaches to the top of the 31-floor structure, offering new guest rooms and suites, redesigned public areas with new landscaping and pools, renewed convention facilities, new and exhilarating restaurants and bars, and new back-of-house equipment to increase service efficiency.
The Sheraton Waikiki resort introduced to Waikiki the first infinity-edge pool and the only oceanfront adult-only pool complete with a swim-up bar. Clients can enjoy family fun at the Helumoa Playground, which offers a 70-foot-long waterslide, two large whirlpools, and chaise water sunning benches spread around a 12,500-square-foot area. With the recent grand opening of the million-dollar Leahi Club, Sheraton Waikiki is home to Hawaii's only Sheraton Club Lounge. It offers views of Diamond Head and the Pacific, first-class service, and culinary creations with matchless local flair.
In December 2011, the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, anchored by the Pu'u Keka'a (Black Rock), introduced a new sense of Hawaiian luxury to the Ka'anapali Resort with the redesign and renovation of its guest rooms. The $6.5 million renewal introduced warm Hawaiian colors, textiles and prints to the legendary location of the 508-room resort. Incorporating traditional Hawaiian artwork, light hues, plush carpeting and drapery, and new tropical furnishings the resort has created a comfortable setting for guests. With wireless Internet now in every guest room, the resort now offers an elevated in-room experience that enables guests to remain connected with what matters most. The Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa has also taken several steps toward sustainability with the installation of electric vehicle charging stations in the parking structure.
Sheraton Kauai Resort, located on 20 acres along Kauai's world-renowned Poipu Beach, recently completed a $16 million revitalization in April. Upon arriving at the 394-room resort - Poipu's newest playground - guests are greeted by a refurbished and modern porte-cochere and the beautifully upgraded Ocean Lobby. The lobby opens into a new, open-air Ocean Courtyard that is elegantly landscaped and adorned with tiki torches. It features six intimate seating areas, three of which have fire pits.
An added breezeway provides direct access to the resort's newly expanded and tiered Ocean Pool, lined with eight private, vibrant bungalows sitting just above the pristine shore. The hotel's Rum Fire restaurant is the island's newest hotspot and offers 180-degree ocean views from its 240-seat restaurant and lounge. For those seeking the consummate venue for meetings, banquets or special celebrations, the new Luana Kai room overlooks Poipu Beach and is the only oceanfront indoor function space on Kauai.
The newly renamed Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa (formerly Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa) completed a $20 million resort renewal in September 2012. The resort is well on its way to re-establishing itself as the crown jewel of the community. Considerable resources have been invested not only in physical revitalization but also into efforts to better connect guests with Keauhou's rich history by offering more meaningful, culturally authentic experiences.
Significant enhancements to guestrooms, public areas and meeting spaces include culturally inspired designs by Hawaii designer Sig Zane. A new lobby arrival experience and flying fish activity outfitters complement and add to the fun, excitement and ultimate experience that many already enjoy. New oceanfront dining concepts include Rays on the Bay, touted as the only restaurant in the world with manta ray viewing. With panoramic oceanfront sunset dinners, Rays on the Bay highlights dishes embodying the best farm-and-ocean-to-table tradition.
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