Last week I wrote about Ko Olina's latest development possibly beginning construction next year. At the time, all we knew was the name of the landowner: China Oceanwide Holdings. The company paid $280 million for the 26 acres of land on Ko Olina's Lagoon 2. This plot of land is next-door to Disney's Aulani. However, earlier this week Ko Olina's master developer, Jeff Stone … [Read more...] about Atlantis Resort Ko Olina Confirmed
Jeffsetter Blog (featuring Island Miler)
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
Hawaiian Considering London Flights and A380s
Hawaiian Airlines' CEO Mark Dunkerley dropped some shocking news yesterday in an interview with Bloomberg. In short, Hawaiian considering London flights and A380s! Ok, so flights to London aren't really a shocker. They've been on Hawaiian's radar for some time now. Unfortunately, Hawaiian's current fleet of A330-200's don't have the legs to fly the route non-stop. In the … [Read more...] about Hawaiian Considering London Flights and A380s
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
Chase Adjusts UltimateRewards Dining Earnings
Chase has made a change to the Sapphire Reserve. No, benefits haven't change so far, a change to UltimateRewards earning rates have changed. Chase adjusts UltimateRewards dining earnings a little. Rather than being broadly defined, with just about any dining establishment earning 3x points, they've decided to narrow the category down a little. According to Dan's … [Read more...] about Chase Adjusts UltimateRewards Dining Earnings
Does Fear Affect Your Travels?
The world is not what it used to be. Terrorism, from radicalized groups and homegrown, seems to be regular events now days. This is especially true of big cities like Paris, New York, Boston, London, Los Angeles, Orlando etc. Sometimes the event is simply a scare, while other times a few people get injured, and others are serious events with mass casualties. Given this, … [Read more...] about Does Fear Affect Your Travels?