|
Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire services
|
FAST FACTS HAWAII
Hilton tops off Grand Waikikian
Hilton Grand Vacations' Grand Waikikian project held a topping-off event yesterday to mark completion of major construction on the tower, which broke ground in summer 2006.
The 38-story tower is Hilton's fourth timeshare development in Hawaii. It will have 331 one- and two-bedroom timeshare units and three-bedroom penthouses.
Upon completion, the project will include a retail shopping arcade, beachside restaurant and large pool with three slides and a "lazy river" theme. Penthouse owners also will have access to exclusive concierge and lounge facilities.
Honolulu Prince to fly Aqua flag
Aqua Hotels & Resorts will take over management of the Honolulu Prince hotel later this month expanding its inventory of Waikiki hotels to one dozen.
The 121-room hotel, formerly managed by ResortQuest Hawaii, will be marketed as an Aqua Lite hotel effective March 26. The Honolulu Prince is owned by a unit of New York-based Ramsfield Hospitality Finance.
Aqua Lite is the company's entry category, said Mike Paulin, Aqua's owner and chief executive officer. Rooms at the hotel, which will be renamed Aqua Honolulu Prince, will start at $94 a night.
Outrigger to run Australia resort
Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Hawaii's largest kamaaina hotel chain, will be expanding its presence Down Under.
The hotel chain has been selected to manage a new $80 million multi-level resort condominium and residential building in Townsville, Australia. The Townsville project marks the third of Outrigger's most current ventures in Australia and is part of its overall Asia Pacific expansion strategy.
Construction on the project, which is being developed by Laing O'Rourke, is slated to begin in mid-2008 with completion set for late 2009. The project is located along Australia's north-eastern coast in North Queensland's largest city. Plans for the 2,600 square-meter project include 120 condominium apartments and 24 private residence units over the upper three levels of the building.
BRIEF CASE
NO SIGNAL: Motorola Inc. said yesterday that Stu Reed, formerly president of its troubled mobile device business, has left the company effective immediately. A spokeswoman said Reed had been preparing for his departure after Motorola announced last month that Chief Executive Greg Brown would take direct control of the division, which saw sales and margins fall last year.
LEANER DESIGN: Chrysler LLC is closing its 20-employee Carlsbad, Calif., vehicle design studio to reduce expenses and "become leaner." Southern California is home to more than 14 automotive design studios operated by every major vehicle brand. Chrysler said it will consolidate design work at its Auburn Hills, Mich., headquarters.
BUSINESS PULSE
