Aloha spirit was in the air as 40 planners and 38 suppliers gathered during Destination Hawaii last month. Hosted by Northstar Meetings Group (Successful Meetings' parent company), the event brought together qualified meeting planners and a variety of event suppliers for several days of networking, one-on-one meetings, and experiencing all that Maui has to offer.
A welcome reception at the recently renovated Wailea Beach Resort Marriott (pictured) featured music, fresh seafood, and delectable desserts. A complete $100 million renovation of the resort included all 547 rooms and suites, restaurants, and swimming pools. The group was able to experience all the property offers, including an arrival/departure lounge where travelers can unwind after a long flight; and celebrated chef Roy Yamaguchi's Humble Market Kitchin serving up dishes featuring Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian, and Japanese influences (plus the restaurant, with indoor and outdoor dining, overlooks the Pacific Ocean). Food trucks are part of the culinary cuisine here as well, with the Mo Bettah truck serving up local favorites such as poke.
Among the pools spreading across the property's 22 acres are two new Ohi pools, set beside the beach and boasting oceanfront cabanas. The adults-only Maluhia Serenity Pool includes an infinity edge and multi-level decks.
The next morning, following an open-air breakfast, Mickey Schaefer, CEO and founder of The Experience Institute among other roles, presented a session on "What Attendees Want," drawing on her original research.
After one-on-one appointments, lunch was enjoyed on a spacious lanai at Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar at The Shops at Wailea, followed by a shopping experience.
As the sun started to dip below the horizon, the group was transported with the help of Weil & Associates to Maui's Ka'anapali Beach, a three-mile stretch of crystal-blue water that once attracted Hawaiian royalty. After touring the 508-room Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, the highlight of a cocktail reception was watching the famous cliff-diving ceremony that takes place at Pu'u Keka'a (Black Rock) right next to the property.
A short stroll took the group to the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ka'anapali, next door, a 12-acre resort wrapped around a five-complex property that faces out over the Pacific for an impressive dinner function. The 759-room Westin Maui has 46,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space and lots of boutique shopping next door at Whalers Village.
The next morning started with a presentation by Keoki Sousa, a representative from Maui Nei Native Expeditions followed by an informative session led by Michael Dominguez, chief sales officer of MGM International, focused on the world of unprecedented change in which we live.
Lunch was served at Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui, a stunning property with 413 suites and 37 villas spread out on 22 magnificently landscaped acres. (In Hawaiian, Kea Lani means "heavenly white," an appropriate description of this property.)
After lunch, the Maui Jim custom-fitting and shopping station was a hit. The farewell dinner was held at the Grand Wailea Resort, set on 40 acres. The resort has 776 guest rooms, including 56 suites, a large pool with swim-in grotto and 19-foot waterfall, and exquisite artwork throughout. The Grand Wailea offers a total of 100,000 square feet of meeting space, including 22 banquet rooms, meeting spaces, board rooms, and function space, as well as the 26,700-square-foot Haleakala Ballroom, plus eight unique outdoor function facilities.
As Destination Hawaii came to a close, planners shared a heartfelt mahalo which is a Hawaiian word that not only means thanks but conveys appreciation for having shared knowledge.