Debuting a refreshed interior with new Hawaiian artwork commissioned just for the hotel, Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa recently unveiled its US$22 million transformation.
Highlights of the extensive renovation include the newly-named Nanea Lobby with multimedia technology and flatscreen televisions, porte-cochère with bronze artwork accents, front desk registration featuring Marriott Mobile Check-in, new cotemporary interior design, furniture, water feature and lighting and new event spaces that include the Kona Moku Ballroom.
The crowning touch of Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa’s 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.
Located in the centre 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 honour the property’s heritage, Ka Maka Hinu’s overarching concept leaves feelings of hope for a bright future.
“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 travellers, the millennials. We are agile in adapting to new travel trends.”
In the remodelled Kona Moku Ballroom, a blown-glass chandelier in a kaleidoscope of colour 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 6,993-square foot ballroom accommodates 80 guests theatre-style and 610 banquet-style. The hotel was recently named Convene Magazine’s “Best Place for Small Meetings 2015” by 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 to welcome our guests to a resort with new amenities for the modern day traveller, 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.
