The big news in the world of travel this week was undoubtedly Hyatt's loyalty program change. The change, though, comes at an interesting time, in my opinion. So let's talk about the World of Hyatt a little. For those not already familiar with the situation, Gold Passport is going away. Hyatt's new program, the World of Hyatt, will be replacing Gold Passport come … [Read more...] about My Thoughts on World of Hyatt
Hotels
Trump’s New Hotel Brand Doesn’t Include His Name
Forget politics for a minute, if you can. Donald Trump is releasing a new hotel brand, and interestingly it doesn't include his name in it. Trump's new hotel brand, however, is still a head scratcher. Care to take a guess at what the new hotel brand's name is? Go ahead. I'll wait. In fact, here's a hint! That's right, Trump's new hotel brand will be named Scion. … [Read more...] about Trump’s New Hotel Brand Doesn’t Include His Name
Great Winter Rates at Turtle Bay
Winter is approaching here in Hawaii. And while we may not have seasons in the traditional sense, we do see seasonal variations. Winter in Hawaii is rainier and colder than the rest of the year, but still great! When I say cold, by the way, I mean low 70's... sometimes. Daytime temperatures are still in the mid-80's, but nighttime lows can get down into the low 70's to high … [Read more...] about Great Winter Rates at Turtle Bay
Outrigger Joins Global Hotel Alliance Discovery
Hawaii is home to a variety of different hotels and hotel operators. It's an interesting mix of local companies, foreign investors, and large global brands. Some local companies and foreign investors use large global brands for property management, while some go at it on their own. The Courtyard Waikiki Beach was an example of this before. It one time it was owned by a … [Read more...] about Outrigger Joins Global Hotel Alliance Discovery
Hyatt Centric Waikiki is Opening on December 8
The Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach, as previously reported, is the first Hyatt Centric property in Hawaii. The property's page initially listed the opening date as "Winter 2016." Reservations then opened up for March 15, 2017, and beyond last month. Now we've learned that the Hyatt Centric Waikiki is Opening on December 8, 2016. The new opening date was reported in an … [Read more...] about Hyatt Centric Waikiki is Opening on December 8
Hampton Inn and Suites Kapolei Now Open
Hilton has been growing its Hawaii portfolio rather aggressively lately. Yes, Hyatt has received a lot of press over it's upcoming Unbound Collection Coco Palms (Kahai) and Hyatt Centric Waikiki (Oahu). But Hilton has been far more active in new property openings, it just hasn't received as much attention. This is likely because that growth has been focused on mid to lower … [Read more...] about Hampton Inn and Suites Kapolei Now Open
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
Airbnb Launches City Hosts
Airbnb, the loved and hated marketplace for sharing space across the globe, continues its launch of City Hosts. This new website offers a unique localized perspective of the city. In other words, Airbnb is trying to tap a trending tourist market, where tourists don't want to be tourists. Currently, City Hosts is under beta testing. This means you have to be invited … [Read more...] about Airbnb Launches City Hosts