Maui
The Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa recently completed a $15 million renovation of its guest rooms, which now have a contemporary Hawaiian design. In addition, the 806-room property welcomed Japengo, a new Asian-fusion restaurant. The resort offers more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space.
The 310-room Makena Beach & Golf Resort celebrated its 25th anniversary with a multi-million-dollar renovation. Guest rooms now feature new carpeting, granite counter tops and 37-inch HD flat-screen TVs, while the lobby area sports new furniture and a café. The property has 80,000 square feet of meeting space.
Travaasa Hana, a new incarnation of the former Hotel Hana-Maui, opened in June on Maui's eastern shore. The property is comprised of 70 cottages and suites and includes a spa and on-site dining options. Although there are no dedicated meeting facilities, outdoor areas can be used for events and gatherings.
The Fairmont Kea Lani has revamped all of its 413 suites and 37 villas as part of an ongoing $16 million resortwide project. At press time, signature restaurant Ko is getting a new look that will recall the island's sugarcane plantation era. The hotel has about 36,000 square feet of meeting space.
Meeting Hotels
Properties include the 806-room Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa; 780-room Grand Wailea; 759-room Westin Maui Resort & Spa; 719-room Marriott's Maui Ocean Club; 546-room Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; 516-room Royal Lahaina Resort; 510-room Sheraton Maui Resort; 463-room Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; 450-room Fairmont Kea Lani Maui; 432-room Kaanapali Beach Hotel; 359-room Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, and 310-room Makena Beach & Golf Resort.
Airport Transit
Kahului Airport, about 35 miles east of Kapalua, 30 miles east of Kaanapali and 15 miles north of Wailea-Makena. Transfer cost by taxi, $100 to Kapalua, $85 to Kaanapali and $60 to Wailea-Makena.
Taxes
Room tax, 9.25%; sales tax, 4.16%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13.42%
Group Venue
Rising 600 feet above the ocean, the stunning Makena Vista at the Makena Beach & Golf Resort Maui features impressive views of the Pacific Ocean from the 14th hole of the Makena Golf Course. Isolated from the hum of nearby towns, the 8,876-square-foot alfresco venue offers a unique space for groups of up to 350 people. (808) 874-1111
Contact
Maui Visitors Bureau, (888) 918-8444
Video Overview
M&C sat down with industry veteran and Hawaii resident
Patricia Coughlan, president of Aloha Holidays, to discuss the
characteristics of Hawaii's four main islands. View the video at
mcmag.com/videos.aspx. Oahu
The 359-room Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, opened in August in Ko Olina. The resort's copious meeting space includes the 4,689-square-foot Kaiona Ballroom, the 3,300-square-foot Kipuka Courtyard and the 4,756-square-foot event lawn.
The 528-room Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort (aka the Pink Palace of the Pacific), completed a $70 million renovation this past March. Work included a redesign of the Royal Beach Tower rooms and suites. The resort has 12,000 square feet of indoor meeting space and 66,000 square feet of outdoor function space.
The JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina recently completed a renovation that gave all 387 guest rooms new furnishings and 42-inch flat-screen TVs, while the Ihilani Spa now includes a larger women's lounge with a zen garden. The resort offers approximately 28,000 square feet of meeting space.
The 426-room Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach opens this month with 4,200 square feet of meeting space.
The Leahi Club Lounge at the 1,636-room Sheraton Waikiki recently opened, marking the completion of the hotel's $188 million renovation. The 30th-floor lounge provides views of Diamond Head Crater as well as Waikiki Beach and the Waikiki skyline. The property has 46,000 square feet of meeting space.
The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa has finished a $13 million renovation of its third-floor common areas. The project included the addition of two new restaurants -- the Shor American Seafood Grill and Japengo Restaurant -- a poolside bar, and a new Regency Club Lounge. The resort features 19,500 square feet of meeting space.
The Doubletree by Hilton Alana Waikiki has completed a $16 million renovation of its 317 guest rooms, which now include HD TVs. The hotel has 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Meeting Hotels
Properties in Honolulu include the 3,385-room HGVClub-Hilton Hawaiian Village; 2,860-room Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort; 1,695-room Sheraton Waikiki; 1,310-room Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; 1,229-room Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa; 876-room Aston at the Waikiki Banyan; 839-room Pacific Beach Hotel; 601-room Hilton Waikiki Beach; 426-room Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach; 359-room Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa; 358-room Miramar at Waikiki; 338-room Kahala Hotel & Resort, and 311-room Ambassador Hotel of Waikiki.
Convention Center
Hawaii Convention Center; exhibit space, 204,249 square feet; meeting rooms, 49; (808) 943-3500
Airport Transit
Honolulu International Airport, eight miles west of the Hawaii Convention Center. Transfer cost by taxi, $35
Taxes
Room tax, 9.25%; sales tax, 4.712%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13.96%
Contact
Oahu Visitors Bureau, (877) 525-6248