Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s Fabled North Shore hosted travel industry leaders and media from throughout the Pacific Rim on October 3 for the official completion of its $45 million in resort-wide renovations and launch of its industry-leading lineup of new experiences and activities.
In December 2011, Turtle Bay Resort introduced a rebranding campaign to meet the evolving expectations of today’s travelers and the premium they now place on experiences. Under the guidance of Replay Resorts, Turtle Bay has embraced clients who are motivated by their desire to connect with still largely undiscovered places and the unspoiled culture, customs and cuisine of the region.
The recent celebration highlighted the resort’s six guiding principles, or pillars, designed to showcase how guests will experience the resort and distinguish it from all other resorts in Hawaii. The pillars – which focus on Oahu’s Fabled North Shore, events, watermen, agriculture, romanticism and talk story – also set apart the North Shore as a destination that exemplifies livability, as well as environmental and cultural sensitivity. More than four dozen media from the mainland U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii spanning coverage areas including golf, adventure travel, spa and wellness, hotels and resorts, and meetings, attended as part of a four-day event highlighting the resort’s new offerings.
Major renovations, which were completed earlier this year, include:
New rooms
All 410 main building guest rooms and hallways have been upgraded with a redesign of fixtures, furnishings, bedding and décor, as well as completely remodeled bathrooms with touches like new tile, vanities and walk-in showers. Every room offers ocean views – and with Turtle Bay’s location at the northernmost point on Oahu, both sunrise and sunset are visible.
The Green Roof
The resort’s recent green roof projects include the addition of 1,500 solar panels across more than 30,000 square feet that provide 8 percent of the resort’s daily average electricity demand. Turtle Bay is the first resort property in Hawaii to complete a major solar project that significantly reduces its carbon footprint. The lower rooftops have also been fully renovated with native plant and rock garden surfaces and wave designs that reduce heat gain and improve energy efficiency.
Local Foods Served Differently
The new North Shore Kula Grille and Pa‘akai restaurants keep pace with appetites hungry for Hawaiian flavors, especially when that means seafood, meats and produce sourced from local farms and waters. It doesn’t get any fresher than Kauai shrimp, Kona lobster salad and short rib Hawaiian beef hot pot, just to name a few. The chef will even prepare and serve fresh poke (cubed ahi seasoned with soy sauce and other ingredients) tableside.
The Nalu Kinetic Spa
This full-service, 11,000-square-foot spa features a movement studio; a fitness center with expansive ocean views; an array of innovative and traditional treatments; and organic products.
New Retail Outlets
Turtle Bay is now home to two coastal lifestyle retail outlets, The North Shore Water Shed and Oakley at Turtle Bay.
Surfer, The Bar
Surfer, The Bar brings surfing’s legends and their tall-but-true tales directly to you. The resort’s innovative Talk Story series always offers something new.
In addition, Turtle Bay is continuing to make improvements throughout the resort, including:
The Point
The former Hang Ten Bar & Grill has undergone a $1.5 million renovation and rebranding to The Point, Sunset & Pool Bar. This poolside area has been updated with fresh North Shore décor, a new bar and bar equipment, and a new layout featuring expanded seating, a stage and high-quality surround sound for live music and entertainment. Designed for kicking back and socializing near the pool and shoreline, The Point is one of the resort’s most-loved outdoor spaces, known for its expertly crafted Mai Tai cocktails, unrivaled sunset views and close proximity to Kuilima Point, the northernmost tip of Oahu and a popular surf break. The bar’s new name also recognizes Turtle Bay’s unique location at the starting point of the “7-mile miracle” of North Shore surf and beaches.
Cottages
Turtle Bay’s 42 luxury beachfront cottages will be renovated in spring 2015 with new furniture, kitchenettes, fixtures, finishes, lighting and equipment, and will include added sleeping space and a more functional layout. The resort is working with renowned designer Group 70 to create a luxurious Hawaiian sense of place.
Cultural Gallery
This fall, Turtle Bay will refresh the experience and feel of the Cultural Gallery and tell the unique story of Oahu’s Fabled North Shore. This will include the installation of seven light boxes with photos and descriptions along the walkway. A legends walk will include permanent artwork, and an additional area will host rotating displays from local artists.
Movement studio
This fall, the fitness center is expanding to include additional fitness rooms. This will help the resort meet an increasing demand for functional fitness classes, mindfulness programs, general dance sessions, and other types of wellness offerings in a central, easy-to-find location. The new rooms will include floor-to-ceiling mirrors, mat flooring, sound-padded walls and additional storage for fitness gear.
Lobby Upgrades
Flavors of fun and adventure have recently been weaved into a refresh of the lobby, the Lobby Lounge, and the new lobby Guidepost Experience Center to create an upscale casual Hawaiian living room feel.