Millennial travelers know what they want. They appreciate extras such as free breakfasts and Wi-Fi access, but they also crave more innovative opportunities for adventuring, socializing and sharing selfies.
As Hawaii hotels recognize the importance of courting millennials, the following six properties are doing a particularly good job of luring this influential market niche their way.
Alii Tower, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Oahu
Generally speaking, Hilton Hawaiian Village appeals more to families, but its rebranded Alii Tower makes a play for millennials. With digital check-in, check-out and room access, clients can bypass the front desk. The tower’s private, oceanview, second-floor deck has an exclusive pool, a fitness area, lounges and MixBar, where guests chat over cocktails.
Handsome leather bracelets identify Alii Tower guests, who get exclusive perks such as access to MixBar.
Credit: 2018 Hilton Hawaiian Village
Clients post you-are-there pictures while watching Hilton’s Friday night fireworks, trying yoga on stand-up paddleboards in the lagoon and joining a snorkel cruise to a turtle sanctuary. By wearing their Alii Tower bracelets, they enjoy priority entry to certain resort restaurants.
www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com
Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort
The layout of this southwest Maui resort gives millennials loads of Instagram-worthy memories from the get-go. Arrivals cross a bridge to the breezy lobby, where they can start to feel beachy as they wiggle their toes in a sand feature.
Guests get free use of a GoPro so they can document their doings, from specialty cocktails by the four-tier infinity swimming pool, to an outrigger canoe ride led by locals with stories to tell. They can also satisfy their love of learning through experiential programs such as lei-making sessions, ukulele lessons and Bitters & Bites, an interactive dinner with handcrafted drinks.
maui.andaz.hyatt.com
Grand Naniloa Hotel, Hawaii Island
A front desk is old hat for tech-savvy travelers. At Grand Naniloa, thanks to an e-check-in process and digital room keys, they head straight to their accommodations, which were pre-selected on their smartphones.
When it’s time for personal connections, the hotel’s staff offers the scoop on nearby highlights and happenings. Its shoreline perch is another big plus. From there, guests get going courtesy of on-site rental equipment such as paddleboards, snorkel gear, kayaks and inner tubes. Adjacent to the lobby, KapohoKine Adventures coordinates the type of tours — such as ziplining, stargazing and hiking — that entice millennials.
www.grandnaniloahilo.com
The ISO, Kauai
From complimentary outdoor yoga classes to bikes for the borrowing, The Iso resonates with millennials. Clients trade ideas over their free continental breakfast. They snap photos of each other around the property, whether they’re by the pool, in a hammock, on the seaside cocktail patio or next to the firepit.
Rates at The ISO include freebies such as yoga classes by the sea.
Credit: 2018 Dana EdmundsEvery guestroom provides an oceanview lanai, refillable water bottles and yoga mats. A handy location — central to north and south Kauai attractions and activities — and value-added rates augment the allure of The ISO, which takes hotel traditions in clever new directions.
www.castleresorts.com
Shoreline Hotel Waikiki, Oahu
In this recently reinvented Waikiki charmer, the open-air foyer embodies hospitality with its glowing “aloha” sign and playful kinetic art. Fluctuating lights and colors transform the lobby ambiance by day and night. The rooftop pool deck presents more photo opportunities with its bold, bright wall murals and neon-lit evening swims.
Shoreline Hotel lists an intriguing calendar of guest pastimes, such as live entertainment, hobnobbing with Hawaii artisans, a shave-ice cart and the afternoon “relax & refresh” hour. Add to that its enviable setting — close to the beach, restaurants, stores and shows — and it’s a must for millennials.
www.shorelinehotelwaikiki.com
Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, Oahu
Sociable 20- and 30-somethings find a lot to like at this unique hideaway. Sometimes Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club hosts pool parties blending music, art and cocktails. Other times, it runs filmmaker screenings or do-it-yourself craft workshops. Fitness fans like its sunset Pilates on the penthouse lanai and its free cruiser bikes.
Surfjack Hotel’s pool is a popular place for millennials to mingle.
Credit: 2018 Desmond CentroProjecting a hip retro vibe, the design-driven hotel boasts plenty of made-for-Instagram touches. Splashy local art enlivens the public spaces. Rooms have surf-inspired, north-shore bungalow decor, while the “Wish You Were Here” message on the bottom of the pool jives with millennial mentality.
www.surfjack.com
