Starwood redo to give Moana new branding
The move is part of major renovation plans for four hotels owned by Kyo-ya Co. Ltd.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts yesterday said its plans to overhaul its Waikiki properties include rebranding the Moana Surfrider hotel as a Westin and shifting the entrance to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
The moves would be part of Starwood's refurbishment plans, announced in September, for its four Kyo-ya Co. Ltd.-owned hotels in Waikiki.
The renovation project, which will include the Sheraton Waikiki, the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, will cost some $400 million and run through 2009, said Cheryl Williams, Starwood regional vice president of sales and marketing for Hawaii and French Polynesia.
Starwood's project joins a wave of Waikiki renovations that includes the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Walk project the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center refurbishment.
"While Outrigger is reaching the end of their journey, Starwood is just beginning," Williams told attendees at the 2007 Tourism Forecast for the Travel & Tourism Research & Marketing Professionals as well as the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
The June 1 rebranding of the historic Sheraton Moana Surfrider into the Westin Moana Surfrider will coincide with guest-room renovations, a lobby facelift and other upgrades.
A full-service spa will go into the Surfrider Tower and a Westin Kids Club will be added to guest offerings.
The historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel also will undergo extensive renovations.
The entrance of the hotel will be moved mauka to accommodate the expansion of the resort's Royal Gardens and a new porte cochere will be added to welcome guests.
Starwood also is considering renovating the hotel's pool deck and beach region as well as its Surf Room Restaurant, Mai Tai Bar and Monarch Room.
The expansion of the Abhasa Waikiki Spa's outdoor treatment rooms also is among the planned renovations.
"There will be dramatic upgrades to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel to restore it to its original grace and beauty," Williams said.
Meanwhile, the 1,400-room Sheraton Waikiki is in the process of getting upgrades to its porte cochere, lobby and check-in area. Shopping and food and beverage venues also will be improved. Starwood also is working on designs for a fantasy pool and open air-recreation center that will utilize the open space freed up between the Sheraton Waikiki and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel as a result of other renovations.
Changes to the Princess Kaiulani are still tentative, but owners have discussed creating a multi-level shopping village and elevated pool.
Other plans under development include the possible demolition of the hotel's Princess and Kaiulani wings, its pool and retail building fronting Kalakaua Avenue to make way for a 240-unit timeshare.
The remaining parts of the Kaiulani hotel, including the completely renovated guest rooms in the Ainahau Tower, would remain a free-standing Sheraton hotel.
