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Planner's Perspective

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Joe Federl
President
CMX Travel
Pembroke, Mass.


Describe your event.

It was a continuing medical education conference at the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa, with close to 250 attendees. Why did you decide to host the meeting in Maui? They’ve gone there every other year for the past five years.

What surprised you the most about Maui?
Overall, value for what you pay and what you get. It’s a reliable product they have—you pretty much know what you pay for. I don’t have disappointed customers.

What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most?
The hotel itself is a destination. The Grand Wailea is first-class. And they enjoyed everything you think about when you think about Hawaii—great beaches, easy access. There’s something for the couples—the spa experience, the fine restaurants. It’s great for families—it has a fabulous pool area. The surrounding area has great shopping.

Was anybody particularly helpful?
Leigh Drewry, one of the sales managers at the Grand Wailea.

What other types of groups would fit well with the hotel?
Definitely an upscale crowd—someone willing to spend the money to enjoy the experience. What local suppliers did you utilize? We used Chris Chang of Royal Hawaiian Destinations and Tours. He handles all our stuff.

How does Maui compare to other destinations where you have hosted meetings?
Maui is real easy to sell because you can get there. They have the most flights in and out, besides Honolulu. You’re pretty close to the hotels, in terms of getting there from the airport. There’s a tremendous variety of hotels and condominiums in all price ranges. The beaches are great, the tourism infrastructure is extremely well developed. It’s probably the best nightlife outside of Waikiki.

Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to Maui?
If they are looking at bringing a good-sized group to Maui, it would be a good idea to do a site inspection before signing a hotel contract. For any planner who has not been to Hawaii, and their group requires them to do a site inspection, it’s money well spent. I would recommend working with airlines to block seats. The airfares get very expensive by the time attendees start thinking about reservations.