Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.
A crimson sunset heralded my arrival to the newly renovated
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa on Hawaii’s Big Island. As I
stepped outside to watch the spectacle, time seemed to stand still.
Guests around the 17-acre resort were savoring the moment as well.
Friends were posing for photos, families were enjoying a last dip
in the pool and couples were toasting their love in the
late-afternoon rosy glow.
That sense of timelessness plays a key role in the Waikoloa
Beach Marriott experience. While other Kohala Coast hotels may
offer more luxury, this relaxed 555-room resort stands apart with
its ancient Hawaiian fishponds and petroglyphs (rock carvings),
natural lava landscapes and beautiful palm-fringed beach fronting
Anaehoomalu Bay. Happily, Marriott officials understand the
importance of this legendary setting and have renovated the hotel
in a way that pays tribute to the area’s natural and cultural
gifts.
The $50 million transformation of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott
makes itself known right away. Previously, arriving clients drove
up under an overhang, but now the entrance feels open and airy like
a plaza or promenade. The lobby’s vaulted ceilings, soft tradewinds
and seascape create an appealing sense of place. Guestrooms further
that mood with beach- and ocean-inspired artworks and views of the
water to one side and dramatic lava fields and volcanic mountains
to the other. On the guestroom lanais, glass railings add a subtle
glow to the exterior, particularly at sunset.
The infinity-edged pool at Waikoloa
Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.
The new 5,750-square-foot Mandara Spa has been constructed on two
levels to take advantage of the sweeping ocean vistas, while its
interiors boast tropical decor and hardwood flooring. The outdoor
seating area of Hawaii Calls Restaurants has been enlarged, and a
longtime poolside bar has been removed to provide hotel diners with
unhindered views of the sea from their tables.
In such a special environment, clients are naturally drawn
outdoors. It’s only fitting, then, that the Waikoloa Beach Marriott
built a new infinity-edged swimming pool. Designed for adults, it’s
near the older manatee-shaped pool boasting a slide and a
sand-bottom area for kids. Just off the pool deck is the new
fitness room, featuring state-of-the-art exercise equipment, weight
machines and flat-screen televisions.
Marriott officials are particularly excited about the resort’s
new 12,000-square-foot Naupaka Ballroom. Crafted to complement
existing meeting space which has also been renovated it seats up to
1,000 guests banquet-style and offers several configurations for
smaller gatherings. Impressive with its high ceilings and lack of
pillars or other obstacles, it opens up to an outdoor pre-function
space rivaling any on the island with one-of-a-kind lava landscape
views.
While clients can lose themselves in the ageless ambience of the
resort and its surroundings, at the same time they can plug into
the present with greater ease than ever. Each guestroom features a
27-inch high-definition LCD flat-screen television, cordless phone
and bedside remote control. High-speed wireless Internet access is
now available in every guestroom as well as in meeting spaces and
throughout the grounds.
The new guestroom experience includes Marriott’s new Revive bed
and a screen separating the bathroom vanity from the sleeping area.
Other perks are Kona coffee and tea, yukata robes and a
refrigerator.
In a destination known for its many fine resorts, the Waikoloa
Beach Marriott clearly recognizes its strengths, and its new look
is making the most of them.
| THE DETAILS Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa
800-922-5533
www.marriott.com Nightly Room Rates: Garden-view $425, oceanview
$495, oceanfront $565. Through July 15, the Discover Waikoloa rate
is $199 for stays through Dec. 15 (garden-view). Resort Fee: All guests pay this $15 charge,
which covers overnight parking, daily mai tais for two, one child
meal (age 11 and under) from the Hawaii Calls keiki dinner menu
with the purchase of an adult entree, half-day snorkel rental for
two, daily one-hour tennis court time and unlimited high-speed
Internet. Packages: Paradise Plus (daily buffet breakfast
or a rental car) from $309. Hawaiian Sand Dollar (daily buffet
breakfast and the fourth night free) from $425. Romance (champagne,
keepsake and daily buffet breakfast) from $323. Spa (two treatments
per day) from $489. Golf (unlimited play) from $344. Travel Agents: The travel agent rate is $179
per night. For agents who have passed the Marriott Hotel Excellence
exam, the Fam-Tastic rate is $89 www.marriott.com/travelagents. Commission: 10 percent |