A landmark on the beautiful island of Maui for the past two decades, Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, is announcing a $30 million rennovation – which includes all new guest room interiors as well as upgrades in the hotels meeting areas and it’s famous pools with a completion date set for early 2015. Known for reflecting a stunning blend of Hawaii’s culture and natural beauty, the upgrades are designed to further enhance the guest experience with a fresh, contemporary island look.
Since opening in 1991, this majestic, landmark resort consistently ranks among the world’s best in leading travel consumer reports and by industry peers. Nestled on 40 acres of lush, tropical gardens fronting Wailea Beach, this Waldorf Astoria Resort provides a range of vacation experiences: open spaces for the active vacationer, beauty and seclusion for romantic getaways and family fun – ranging from a fully equipped camp for children and a teen lounge to rope swings and a jungle-style river pool.
Just 35 minutes from the Kahului airport, this idyllic Hawaiian resort features 22 elegant outdoor function spaces, seven unique event facilities – including an elaborate seaside wedding chapel – for remarkable events, business conferences and destination weddings.
The overall design focuses on a clear but subtle sense of place, translated in a sleek, modern aesthetic. For instance, the color “story” for the room palette is derived from the island of Maui and its surroundings with: the green scheme from the lush landscape of Hana; the auburn/brown and gold scheme from the colors inside the Haleakala Crater and the coral scheme for the reefs that surround the island. The platform bed and wicker style furniture is fitting for the resort’s tropical setting.
The theme of the featured artwork – curated by Nancy Caslin Art & Design – is water and surfers, including a photograph of the Hawaiian native, Shane Dorian, who is in the Surfers Hall of Fame. The art is printed on canvas and stretched around wood without a frame, allowing the images to be quite large.
Research was also used to ensure that the room features appeal to today’s traveler who comes even on holiday equipped with cellphones, laptops and iPads – all of which need to be charged. The room has regular outlets and USB chargers built right into the desk and the nightstands, which is especially important since the mobile phone most often doubles as an alarm clock for this demographic. There are even USB ports on the flat screen TV’s for ease of viewing trip photos, accessing emails, music, etc.
Specific renovations to the 23-year-old Grand Wailea include:
- Updated guest rooms featuring:
- All new furniture:
- Sofa sleepers and chairs
- Headboard and night stands
- Desk, chair and lamp
- Fresh artwork – regional and local artists.
- 55” HD LCD flat screen television with USB connectors
- Power stations on the desk and bedsides
- All new carpeting with ceramic tile at entryways
- Bathrooms – new tile, vanity, lighting and flooring – including new trim in golden onyx and natural stone, new towel unit under the vanity and an electric, lighted mirror – making them comparable to the newest hotel offerings in the world.
- All new furniture:
- Pool upgrades:
- Retiled Hibiscus pool – Completed
- New pool deck at Wailea Canyon Activity Pool – Near Completion
- Improved bathrooms at both pools
- To Reduce Energy Consumption: Installation of 37 new variable-frequency drives and pump equipment to adjust water flow in the pools, requiring less electricity to operate.
- New carpet in the common areas of Spa Grande
- Fiber Optic WiFi Upgrade throughout the resort
Built to portray the riches of Hawaii’s culture, people and nature – especially via its $30 million art collection – Grand Wailea is the ultimate Hawaiian resort. For reservations and information, call 1-800-888-6100 or visit www.grandwailea.com
Mary in Vancity 