This year has been an eventful year for Hawaii's hospitality industry. There's been a number of renovations, ownership shakeups, and new property openings. As we near the end of the year, however, things continue to show no sign of slowing down. So here's the Hawaii hotel news December 2016 edition. Wailea Beach Marriott One of the oldest resorts in Maui's … [Read more...] about Hawaii Hotel News December 2016
Marriott
Marriott Reveals More About the Merger
Yesterday Bloomberg posted an article from an interview with Marriott's global brand officer, Tina Edmundson. In the article, Marriott reveals more about the merger with Starwood. While the article answers some questions about the future of the two hospitality giants, some important questions remain. In the article, Marriott's Tina Edmundson states that Marriott will … [Read more...] about Marriott Reveals More About the Merger
Marriott Reciprocal Benefits Revealed
The Marriott-Starwood merger officially closed on September 23. A lot of questions and concerns came up about Marriott Rewards and SPG. The two programs are really different, and concerns abound. But, a few answers have now been answered, as Marriott reciprocal benefits revealed right at the merger close. A special webpage has been launched introducing the various … [Read more...] about Marriott Reciprocal Benefits Revealed
Marriott-Starwood Merger Approved
The Marriott's acquisition of its smaller rival, Starwood, has been in limbo as they waited out approval from Chinese regulators. However, the wait is no more, as news broke yesterday that Chinese regulators decided to give Marriott the green light. What this means in the near-term, obviously, is that with the Marriott-Starwood merger approved, the two companies will now work … [Read more...] about Marriott-Starwood Merger Approved
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Conversion
Rumors have circulated among the Marriott loyalist about a possible Waikoloa Beach Marriott conversion. Supposedly Marriott Vacation Club sales people, some of them anyway, have been telling prospective buyers and/or current owners about plans to flip the property. It appears that these rumors are true, at least in part. In an article ran earlier this week, the Pacific … [Read more...] about Waikoloa Beach Marriott Conversion
Waikiki Select-Service Hotel Comparison
Select-service hotels, such as Courtyard & Hyatt Place are quickly spreading around the world. They're supposed to be a cheaper alternative to full-service properties like Hyatt Regency, Sheraton, etc. And as the category name suggests, these hotels typically offer just basic services. You definitely will not find room service or concierges' at these properties, for … [Read more...] about Waikiki Select-Service Hotel Comparison
Residence Inn Maui Wailea is Now Open
The Residence Inn Maui Wailea is now open, with its grand opening ceremony occurring today. Granted the hotel has been open for a little while, but now it's official! As its name suggests, the Residence Inn Maui Wailea is located in the Wailea Resort on Maui's southeast coast. It is the first Residence Inn by Marriott in the State of Hawaii. Like other properties in this … [Read more...] about Residence Inn Maui Wailea is Now Open
Wailea Beach Marriott
A couple of years ago spent a week on Maui for our anniversary. We split our time between the Courtyard Maui Kahului Airport and the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort. We chose to split our time between the two properties as a way to save money, while also saving points. As I've said before, the Courtyard Maui has a central location that's great for treks to Haleakala and Hana. … [Read more...] about Wailea Beach Marriott
Review: Portland Marriott City Center
Our Uber dropped us off right in front of our hotel in Portland, the Portland Marriott City Center. Because it was already around 11:30pm, the door to the hotel was secured. It took us a little while to figure out that there was a doorbell, and once we rang it, a member of the staff rushed out to welcome us in. The small front desk is to the right of the … [Read more...] about Review: Portland Marriott City Center
Maximize Marriott Rewards Earnings
Marriott Rewards has long been my hotel loyalty program of choice. While often ignored by hardcore points/miles collectors because of it's difficult to attain elite status with weak benefits, I grew to be a fan of the program because it's the best earn and burn option around. In my opinion, Marriott Rewards strikes a great balance compared to it's peers, allowing for … [Read more...] about Maximize Marriott Rewards Earnings