Maui: The Island Paradise Has More Variety and New Product Than Ever Before

This year, planners will see a number of new updates, renovations, and additions to some of Maui's best meeting properties, only adding to the number of options available for meetings groups of all sizes and types.

"In a word, what makes Maui so different from the other Hawaiian Islands, and other meeting destinations as a whole, are 'choices,'" says Sherry Duong, director of meetings, conventions, incentives and international sales for the Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau. "You have so many choices in property type, service levels (as much or as little as you want), large to small meeting spaces with breakout capabilities, food and cuisine choices, in addition to the Hawaiian norm -- beauty, environment, culture, history, and our people."

She says that when you look at all of these different elements and put them together, Maui makes an ideal and relaxed backdrop for meetings. "When attendees are relaxed, they can take in everything the company or organization has to offer during their business day," she explains. Maui's value proposition, too, is a major factor for bringing meetings to the island. "Our resorts offer great group rates if groups are flexible with their travel dates," Duong adds.

The variety of available choices will only grow this year, as many of the isle's properties have recently undergone, or are scheduled to begin, major renovations. Here's a closer look at a few major developments and additions.

Wailea Wows
The 22-acre, all-suite and -villa Fairmont Kea Lani recently completed a three-year $70 million renovation project that included a $5.1 million complete rebuild of Ko restaurant, the addition of a $9 million Willow Stream Spa (opened in 2014), and complete renovations of all 413 suites and 37 villas, and public spaces. The property's Pacific Boardroom, which can accommodate up to 14, was also upgraded to feature an interactive touchscreen smart TV with video conferencing capabilities, and a premium sound system, making it the only permanent video conference room in all of Wailea.

Also in Wailea, the 40-acre Grand Wailea Resort, a Waldorf Astoria Resort, is undergoing a major refreshment of its guest rooms, pools, and meeting spaces. The 23-year-old property's guest rooms will have brand-new furniture, as well as upgraded high-speed Internet. The property is also home to the largest ballroom on the island, the 28,000-square-foot Haleakala Ballroom.

Last fall saw the opening of Hotel Wailea. Formerly built as a private Japanese members club and closed off to the general public, it received a $15 million makeover as a luxury 72-suite resort perched some 300 feet above sea level with ocean views. Last month, the property also made history as the first Hawaiin property to gain entry into the prestigious Relais & Châteaux association, a collection of luxury hotels and restaurants from around the world. A spa is slated for completion this spring.

At the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, the 380-room property is offering wellness-focused experiences for guests and groups. Its newest program, called Wellness Your Way, includes special spa treatments, fitness classes such as oceanview yoga, and healthier food-and-beverage options. The program was developed by the resort's award-winning spa and is led by a team of wellness experts, and can be customized for individuals and groups alike. The property also recently finished a $3 million renovation of its Maile Suite and its new Lokelani presidential/residential three-bedroom, which can be used by meeting groups.

The 297-room Andaz Maui, which opened in 2013, recently debuted seven new villas that range in size from 1,800 to 4,890 square feet. The residential-style accommodations feature kitchens, spacious lounges, and private lanais and lawns, and can be booked by meeting and incentive groups for events.

Kapalua and Kaanapali Update
In Kapalua, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, is updating its property as well. This includes new signature Ritz-Carlton mattresses in all 463 guest rooms, upgraded wireless Internet to accommodate up to 10 devices per room, and the reopening of The Banyan Tree Restaurant, which will have a brand-new farm-to-fork menu following its $500,000 renovation. The 19,200-square-foot outdoor Aloha Garden Pavilion meeting space is undergoing a soft goods renovation, and the lawn near the Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors Center is being expanded to increase outdoor function space.

Last June, the Montage Kapalua Bay debuted on the former site of the Kapalua Bay Hotel. It has a total of 50 residences that range in size from one-bedroom to four-bedrooms, each with private balconies. The resort is home to a 30,000-square-foot spa spread out over five acres, and is near two championship golf courses (The Bay and The Plantation courses).

In Kaanapali, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali, recently completed $70 million in renovations to 553 of its Ocean Tower guest rooms and suites in March 2014. The new rooms have redesigned furniture, new bathrooms, and new balconies with impressive views of the ocean. The property's Beach Tower guest rooms and suites recently received new carpeting. The 759-room Westin is also slated to receive brand-new solar installations as part of a new partnership formed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and NRG Energy, making the property more sustainable and energy efficient (see page 76 for more information).

The Westin's sister property to the north, the 26-acre Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas completed a multimillion-dollar renewal project of its guest rooms in December.  It recently debuted a full-service food truck, the first one to be wholly owned and operated by a Maui hotel. The truck is the centerpiece of the resort's Pailolo Bar & Grill, an open-air oceanfront restaurant and bar.

At the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, which is located between The Westin Kaanapali and The Westin Maui, groups can enjoy a number of new dining experiences. The property recently partnered with the Maui Dragon Fruit Farm to debut an interactive "table-to-farm" dining experience that meeting groups may book as a private event. As part of the experience, the resort's executive chef, sous chef, and executive sous chef will prepare a five-course dinner for groups using Maui-grown ingredients, with wine pairings and discussions with the chefs themselves. The next morning, attendees can take a private tour of a local farm to see how those ingredients are harvested and developed for consumption. The Sheraton also recently added two new dining venues: the Black Rock Kitchen, a gastro pub and late-night lounge spot, and Hank's Haute Dogs, an award-winning gourmet hot dog eatery.  

The Sheraton Maui also offers meeting groups a selection of pre-packaged experiences called Creative Ways to Connect. One of the experiences allows a group to take over the property's 12,000-square-foot Ocean Lawn for a day of teambuilding and networking with activities that include a beachside barbecue, snorkeling, group hula lessons, a beach party, or a field day. Another experience includes a scavenger hunt spread out across all 23 acres of the resort. Corporate social responsibility activities are also available.

At the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, which is a little further south of The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, renovations are underway for its 4,800-square-foot Lahaina Ballroom on the property's lobby level. The ballroom renovation is expected to be completed this winter.

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This article appears in the February 2015 issue of Successful Meetings.