WAIKIKI BEACH MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA COMPLETES
$22 MILLION TRANSFORMATION
Featuring Innovative Touches for the Millennial Traveler
Honolulu, Hawaii – January 29, 2016 – After a $22 million transformation, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa revealed a refreshed interior and new Hawaiian artwork commissioned for the hotel. Highlights of the renovation include:
· The newly named Nanea Lobby with multimedia technology and flatscreen televisions
· Porte cochere with bronze artwork accents
· Ka Maka Hinu artwork
· Front desk registration featuring Marriott Mobile Check-in
· New contemporary interior design, furniture, water feature and lighting
· New event spaces, including the Kona Moku Ballroom
Ka Maka Hinu
The crowning touch of the multi-million dollar transformation is the 60 x 20 foot carved wooden artwork Ka Maka Hinu or The Bright Face by artist Kaiwi Nui Yoon of Honolulu, Hawaii. Located in the center of the Nanea Lobby, the artwork’s concept is intended to reflect Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani’s love for the people of her kingdom.
The land on which the resort now stands was once the site of the Kuekaunahi Stream, which ran through Queen Liliuokalani’s Hamohamo estate. This Hawaiian sense of place and feeling is carried throughout the resort, where friendly associates welcome guests and residents alike in the true tradition of the Queen’s gracious hospitality. Ka Maka Hinu is a dramatic piece that differentiates the guest arrival experience. Designed to interpret and encapsulate Hawaiian values and honor the property’s heritage, Ka Maka Hinu’s overarching concept leaves feelings of hope for a bright future.
Resort Improvements and Remodeled Event Spaces
“Full of light, full of life, and full of energy: this exemplifies Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa’s beautification project,” said Chris Tatum, Vice President & Market General Manager. “Every aspect of the transformation was made to keep in mind the next generation of travelers, the millennials. We are agile in adapting to new travel trends,” added Tatum.
In the remodeled Kona Moku Ballroom, a stunning blown glass chandelier in a kaleidoscope of color defines this sophisticated refresh. Custom lighting, new technology, and a lanai overlooking the Nanea Lobby’s new water feature make this an ideal location for meetings and events. The 6993 square foot ballroom accommodates 800 guests theater-style and 610 banquet-style. The hotel was recently named Convene Magazine’s “Best Place for Small Meetings 2015” by the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).
In the Nanea Lobby, the hotel has created dynamic areas for groups to mingle, and intimate spaces for solo travelers to work in comfort. As a vibrant gathering place, the lobby features new charging stations, flatscreen televisions and communal tables for Hawaiian crafts and activities.
“We are proud welcome our guests to a resort with new amenities for the modern day traveler, and deliver the same gracious hospitality and aloha our associates have always offered. Our hotel product today is the best there is in Waikiki,” said Tatum.
Editor’s Note: High resolution images and interviews available upon request.
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About Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort
WAIKIKI BEACH MARRIOTT RESORT fronts the best stretch of Waikiki Beach. Conveniently located in the heart of Waikiki, the hotel offers 1,310 guest rooms and suites with private lanai providing spectacular views of world-famous Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach. Other amenities include Kuhio Beach Grill, featuring the best in Pacific Rim cuisine; Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar and d.k Steak House; Arancino di Mare Italian Restaurant; Moana Terrace, offering live Hawaiian entertainment nightly; Seattle’s Best Coffee; two freshwater, heated swimming pools; 10-person whirlpool; Royal Kaila Spa; 24-hour fitness facility; 24-hour business center; high-speed and wireless Internet access throughout the resort’s guest rooms and public spaces; shops and boutiques; and Hawaiian cultural activities. For more information, visit www.marriottwaikiki.com. Follow Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Twitter @marriottwaikiki or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MarriottWaikiki. Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.
Media Contacts:
Pattie V. Herman
Director of Sales & Marketing, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Email: pattie.herman@marriott.com
Steven Caires
Island Creative – PR Representative, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Email: scaires@islandcreative.net