Hotels & Resorts
Honua Kai earns Four Diamond rating by AAA
The Honua Kai Resort & Spa -- Maui's newest luxury resort -- has received the 2012 American Automobile Association (AAA) Four Diamond Award, after just two years of operation. This ranks the property as a premier establishment as determined by professional inspectors, hospitality industry members and 53 million-plus AAA members. Only 4.5% of the 31,000 lodgings approved by AAA make the Four Diamond list. The Honua Kai Resort is an all-suite resort with full kitchens in each suite, and separate living and sleeping areas. Adventure is steps away with access to ziplining, hiking, surfing,...
Stay Hilton. Go Out.’
As the 2012 Gay Pride travel season begins, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) travellers, friends of the LGBT community and others travelling to Pride Season celebrations can take advantage of a special offer at more than 140 Hilton properties worldwide. The "Stay Hilton. Go Out."is part of a wider campaign that includes sponsorship of major LGBT events and a sweepstakes offering travellers a chance to win a VIP experience at Gay Days Orlando. The new package offers reduced room rates, double Hilton HHonors points, free high-speed Internet, late checkout when available and a free...
The Whaler celebrates
Discounted rates for stays at the The Whaler on Kaanapali Beach are now being offered by Aston Hotels & Resorts, to celebrate completion of The Whaler's $14 million exterior renovations. These include enhanced lanais with new tiles, railings and planter boxes and a contemporary earth tone colour palette. This recent reno project was preceded by major pool, garden courtyard and porte cochere improvement initiatives in 2009. With its two classic, 12-storey towers, the luxury condo resort on Kaanapali Beach is located across from two championship golf courses and adjacent to Whalers Village...
Guests at BC resort may return home healthier
Two BC resorts, Predator Ridge and Sparkling Hill, have announced a partnership. Located minutes apart, the new relationship gives guests of Predator Ridge access to the KurSpa at Sparkling Hill. Combined with Predator Ridge's 36-hole golf facility, fitness centre and 12 km of linked hiking and biking trails, the affiliation positions the Okanagan among top wellness destinations. In addition to accessing spa treatments at Sparkling Hill, Predator Ridge guests will enjoy a special day rate for use of spa saunas and pools. Guests can book starting April 11 through Predator Ridge's central...
Aloft continues global expansion
Starwood Hotels' design-led Aloft brand continues its global expansion and is expected to bring its total number of properties to 70 around the world in 2013. Aloft recently announced its first conversion project, Aloft San Francisco Airport; once a Clarion, it will undergo significant renovation before opening as an Aloft in the fall. A new adaptive-reuse project, Aloft Detroit Downtown, is slated to open July 2014; it will transform part of Detroit's majestic David Whitney Building into a singular Aloft property. Aloft's first adaptive-reuse project, Aloft Dallas Downtown, won acclaim and...
Sandals set to host cross-Canada workshops
As part of its commitment to support travel agents, Sandals Resorts will tour the country to provide sales and marketing training available to agents - both those who are seeking to become Certified Sandals Specialists and current CSS agents who need to maintain their status. The workshops will cover a range of topics, including educational sessions across three brands - Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts; new product and partnership updates; sales tips and techniques; marketing tools and co-branding opportunities. All participants will receive a workbook and...
HAC urges government to address labour shortages
The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) and the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) met with the Alberta Conservative Caucus and the All Party Federal Tourism Caucus yesterday in two separate sessions to address current labour shortages. In total, more than 60 Ministers, MPs and Senators heard from the lodging industry. HAC president, Tony Pollard congratulated the Members for the Federal Tourism Strategy announced in October 2011. One of the four pillars of the Federal Strategy is to ensure the availability of human resources for the tourism sector. "This is a critical issue for the...
Fairmont restaurant recalls the Hawaii of yesteryear
After nearly nine months and an investment of over US$5.1 million, the complete rebuild of...