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| The JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort will soon become the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina. |
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts officially confirmed last week plans for Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, an integrated luxury beach resort and private residences that will be the jewel in the crown of the master-planned Ko Olina development.
And Travel Agent spoke to some luxury advisors about the impact they expect this resort to have on client demand.
"The arrival of the Four Seasons brings to Oahu the first true luxury brand name. Four Seasons has a standard of luxury and quality that people can
expect and rely on," says Andrey Zakharenko of Always Travel in San Francisco, CA. "Its arrival will bring with it many global luxury customers and Four Seasons loyalists that avoided the island or thought the island did not appeal to them. This will benefit everyone."
The resort will be located at the site of the existing JW Marriott Ihilani Ko Olina Resort. It will introduce the first Four Seasons-branded private residences in Hawaii.
"As an agent specializing in luxury tropical vacations, news of the new Four Seasons on Oahu is pretty exciting to me," says Caroline Fridley Bracewell of Easy Escapes Travel in Atlanta, GA. "It's a much-needed addition to the island, which has many beautiful hotels but far fewer full-service luxury resorts."
Isadore Sharp, founder and chairman of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, noted in a written release that island royalty and the world’s elite have long enjoyed Ko Olina, or “place of joy” in Hawaiian, as an exclusive gathering place.
"I expect that this property will encourage many visitors who otherwise may have chosen to go to Maui, Kauai or the Big Island to stay on, or spend more time on, Oahu, as well as giving Four Seasons junkies a great reason to book that vacation they've been putting off," says Bracewell.
With the reacquisition of Ihilani from Cornerstone Real Estate Advisors complete, Westbank will take the development lead on Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina. Westbank has assembled an internationally acclaimed team to transform Ihilani into one of Hawaii’s finest luxury resorts.
"With the arrival of Four Seasons Oahu, families, honeymooners and incentive groups have a perfect luxury setting," says Sharon Strelzer of Travel.Shop.Dine in Fairfield, CT. "Maui and the Big Island will have a perfect complement with this exciting arrival. The Luxury end market likes to enjoy at least two islands. Now clients have a perfect option and this builds renewed demand for Oahu."
Ko Olina is located on the sunny west side of Oahu. Originally conceived in the mid-1980s, the resort has been reaffirmed many times over the years, most recently by the notable success of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, which debuted in 2011.
"In many locations around the world the Four Seasons sets the luxury standard," says Zakharenko. "The current luxury kings of Oahu, The Halekulani and The Kahala Resort, will have to make that their hotel continues to meet and/or exceeds the standard that will be set by the Four Seasons when it arrives."
Visit www.gohawaii.com and www.fourseasons.com.