It’s certainly no secret that Hawaii is the perfect place to relax. On the islands you’re never too far away from those soothing ocean waves, amazing weather and welcoming culture. But it’s also a great place to do business, with an infrastructure that can handle the most modern of meetings and events.
I recently visited four Marriott Convention & Resort Network properties—across four Hawaiian Islands—that can work with planners to craft an unforgettable meetings experience. And much like the islands themselves, each property has a personality of its own. Following are some trip highlights.
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
After 10-plus hours of air time and flight transfers—getting to the islands from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, can take some doing, after all—Honolulu International Airport was a welcome site, and one that I would become very familiar with over the course of five days of island hopping.
Shortly after landing, our group of meetings industry writers was directed onto a shuttle to the 1,310-room Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Honolulu, offering 55,000 square feet of meeting space.
While touring the property with Pattie Herman, director of sales and marketing, we learned it would be undergoing an expansive renovation, which is currently ongoing and set for completion within the first quarter of 2016, modernizing its lobby, porte-cochere, restaurant/shops and meeting spaces.
We did have some time to get out and explore the surrounding area via the on-site Segway of Hawaii. While the majority of our group had never ridden a Segway before, we soon became acclimated to the rocking motions required to navigate the city’s streets and took in the scenic island views.
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Wisely deciding to never fully unpack on this trip, it was time to catch a flight over to the 555-room Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, providing 28,000 square feet of total meeting space. The Waikoloa Marriott is situated along the Kohala Coast of the Big Island amidst lava fields. Boasting a centralized outdoor lobby and easy-to-navigate hallways, there is a lot for planners to like, but the Farmers Market Experience with Executive Chef Jayson Kanekoa completely stole the show.
Kanekoa took us to one of several local farmers markets on the Big Island, where he purchased ingredients to use in our lunch later that day. We then went beyond the market to WOW Farm Inc., where Mike Hodson and his family cultivate highly sought-after organic tomatoes.
It was inspiring to learn about Hodson’s commitment to preserving the Big Island, while encouraging healthy eating habits. Added bonus: The tomatoes were delicious!
Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Next up was the 544-room Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on Maui, offering 27,500 square feet of total meeting space. If your group has a taste for luxury—think infinity pools, fine cuisine and a great nightlife—then this sprawling resort is a no-brainer for your next meeting or incentive trip.
We were treated to a celebrity-caliber sunset dining experience at the on-site Asian fusion restaurant MiGRANT, led by Chef Sheldon Simeon, a Top Chef: Seattle runner-up and rising culinary star.
Despite its flashy exterior, the Wailea Marriott still retains a strong sense of cultural pride. Our group met up with Kevin Hoke, owner of Beach Club Maui, which offers a number of group-friendly outdoor activities, including a Hawaiian outrigger canoe excursion. Hoke walked us through basic paddling technique while explaining the local customs and aloha spirit of the island.
Kauai Marriott Resort
The final stop of the trip was the 356-room Kauai Marriott Resort, with 20,230 square feet of total meeting space. This property had the most modern feel of the bunch next to the Wailea Beach Marriott, offering a jaw-dropping pool setup, a tropical garden setting and scenic views of Kalapaki Bay.
The Kauai Marriott also felt a little more incentive-oriented, but there’s no question it could provide the right environment to inspire creativity. While our minds (and bodies) were exhausted by this point, it didn’t stop us from taking a helicopter tour of Kauai—quite the scenic end to the trip!
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Slideshow
Check out an On the Scene slideshow from the trip highlighting some of the areas explored.
