HONOLULU The turndown amenity on my Waikiki Parc Hotel pillow
piqued my curiosity. It was a little envelope that said “Sleep
Well.” When I opened it, I found about one teaspoon’s worth of body
lotion, supposedly a tension reliever. I rubbed some into my
knotted shoulders, and within seconds a warm glow spread across
them. I slept through the night like a baby.
Stress relief is one of the many perks that busy corporate
travelers can enjoy at the Waikiki Parc. While the 297-room
high-rise is located in the heart of touristy Waikiki, I found it
to be especially well-equipped to meet my professional needs.
Open since 1987, Waikiki Parc is part of the Halekulani Corp.,
which owns and manages the luxurious Halekulani Resort across the
street. But while Halekulani tends to attract a more upscale
clientele, the boutique-style Waikiki Parc stands on its own merits
when it comes to hosting the corporate traveler.
On the lobby level, for instance, the hotel’s business center is
well-equipped with computers, a conference room and such services
as mailing, faxing and secretarial support.
My Waikiki Parc guest room provided just the right mood for me
to focus on my work. There was no distracting art on the clean
white walls, and the white-and-blue furnishings created a soothing
atmosphere. Now and then I looked up from my laptop and saw
expansive stretches of sea, the perfect inspiration for a writer. I
peeked into a mountainview room and discovered equally stimulating
views.
Accommodations at Waikiki Parc help business guests get the job
done with such features as voice mail, a writing desk, computer
modem capability, international direct dialing, two telephones and
a cordless keyboard programmed to interact with the television for
Internet and e-mail access.
For classy business meals, Waikiki Parc guests have signing
privileges at Halekulani’s award-winning restaurants, which offer
ocean views. Waikiki Parc lays claim to its own pair of casual
on-property restaurants as well. The 98-seat Parc Cafe serves
American and island-style cuisine. Kacho, a 42-seat dining room,
features traditional Japanese fare and a sushi counter. Both
restaurants are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
When I’m traveling on business, a hotel workout room is a must.
Waikiki Parc responded to my needs in style with its small but
efficient fitness center, which opened in June 2001. It has two
treadmills, one stair-climber, one stationary bike and
state-of-the-art weight training equipment. My 45-minute workout
flew by, thanks to the distractions of the room’s television,
stereo system and floor-to-ceiling views of the pool deck and its
sun worshippers.
Another nice touch for business travelers is the hotel’s
eighth-floor laundry center, with two washers, two dryers and
coin-operated soap machines. Dry-cleaning and pressing services are
also available.
While it’s footsteps away from the area’s visitor attractions,
Waikiki Parc is quite convenient to downtown Honolulu. After
driving a few short blocks along pedestrian-busy streets, I found
myself on the main thoroughfare of Ala Moana Boulevard, leading
directly to the city center.
With its quality facilities and high level of personal attention
from the staff, Waikiki Parc provided just the right combination of
services this business traveler needed, straight through until I
turned out the light and went to sleep.