Why here?
As attendees seek more authentic, immersive experiences, Hawaii has much to offer, from heritage tours to explorations along dramatic coastlines. At day's end, guests can return to newly renovated properties like the Sheraton Waikiki (pictured), which has completed a $188 million room upgrade.
NATURE AT NIGHT
• At the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay, guests can stroll over to an observation deck just past Rays on the Bay restaurant and watch manta rays feed beneath the stars.
• Lava illuminates the night sky over Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is open 24 hours a day (though park facilities may be closed off-hours). An ongoing mountain eruption dates from 1983 and shows no signs of stopping.
COMING SOON
The 258-room Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Big Island has begun a $4.5 million renovation that will add a 4,000-square-foot ballroom. The project will be completed in January 2016.
OAHU
Local Update
• The 1,636-room Sheraton Waikiki has completed a $188 million renovation with a theme of "contemporary Hawaiian sophistication." The project included upgrades to guest rooms and suites, public areas and convention facilities and also added two new restaurants. Guest rooms now offer HD TVs, Hawaiian artwork and custom-designed furnishings. The hotel has more than 40,000 square feet of function space, including the nearly 26,000-square-foot Hawaii Ballroom.
• The 1,310-room Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is wrapping up an $18 million renovation this month that includes a redesign of the porte cochere, main lobby and front-desk area. The hotel has a total of more than 50,000 square feet of function space.
• The 2,860-room Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has completed a $21 million renovation of its 17-story Diamond Head Tower. The tower's 380 guest rooms now feature a new color scheme, Hawaiian-inspired furnishings, flat-screen TVs and more. The property offers more than 150,000 square feet of function space.
• The 528-room Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, which opened in 1927 on Waikiki Beach, recently finished a multimillion-dollar renovation of its Mailani Beach Tower, whose 179 guest rooms now sport revamped lanais (balcony terraces) with ocean or pool views. The resort has 16,436 square feet of function space.
Meeting Hotels: Properties include the 2,860-room Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort; 1,636-room Sheraton Waikiki; 1,310-room Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa; 601-room Hilton Waikiki Beach; 426-room Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach; 359-room Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa; and 311-room Ambassador Hotel Waikiki.
To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit mcvenues.com.
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%
Group Venue: Nestled in the hills high above Honolulu, the 22-acre Honolulu Ridge is a vintage 1920s estate featuring panoramic views of Oahu's South Shore, including Diamond Head Crater, the Pacific Ocean and the Honolulu skyline. The venue can accommodate up to 200 guests and includes a garden area with Banyan trees and exotic tropical flowers. (808) 589-0456
Contact: Oahu Visitors Bureau, (877) 525-6248
On Land And Sea In Kauai
With some 30 years of experience on the island, Kauai Sea Tours offers a variety of excursions along the dramatic Napali Coast, an area known for its high cliffs and deep valleys that are inaccessible by car. For the adventurous, ocean rafts can take groups of up to 14 (per raft) along the rugged coastline, into sea caves and under waterfalls. The tours make a pit stop at the ancient
Nualolo Kai archaeological village for a history briefing and snorkeling session. The outfitter also offers catamaran tours. All programs launch from Port Allen. (800) 733-7997
Graceful hula dancers, authentic Polynesian cuisine and traditional live music are the highlights of the Luau Kalamaku in Lihue. The theatrical performance recounts the story of the original Tahitian voyage to the Hawaiian Islands. Dinner includes lomi lomi salmon, mahi mahi, kalua pork cooked in a traditional underground oven and more. (808) 245-5608
MAUI
Local Update
• The Travaasa Hana, Maui, with 70 bungalows and suites, will complete a $12 million refresh by the end of this year. Renovations to the resort's Ocean Bungalows include new décor, furnishings and revamped lanais with new chaise lounges. The entire resort, which has 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space, is available for group buyouts.
• The 759-room Westin Maui Resort & Spa Ka'anapali recently completed a more than $70 million renovation of the 553 guest rooms in the Ocean Tower. New furnishings include island-inspired décor, glass-enclosed showers and transparent balcony railings. The property has 46,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor function space, several dining options and a spa. The hotel offers a Botanical Tour within its 87,000-square-foot garden, which showcases almost 50 species of flora and fauna.
Renovated and resplendent:
The Westin Maui Resort
& Spa Ka'anapali Meeting Hotels: Among Maui's largest properties are the 806-room Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa; 780-room Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort; 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; 508-room Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa; 463-room Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; 450-room Fairmont Kea Lani Maui; 432-room Kaanapali Beach Hotel; 413-room Kaanapali Beach Club; 359-room Whaler on Kaanapali Beach, and 310-room Makena Beach & Golf Resort.
To find and compare properties, and send RFPs, go to mcvenues.com.
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: The 8.5-acre O'o Farm on the slope of the Haleakala volcano features coffee and fruit trees; greenhouses with tomatoes, herbs and flowers; and bicoastal views of the island below. Group events can include customized tours, garden and food workshops, wine dinners or corporate functions for up to 100 guests. (808) 667-4341
Contact: Maui Visitors Bureau, (888) 918-8444