Hawaii’s emerging luxury-first tourism strategy faces a significant inventory disconnect, as the narrow focus on high-spending travelers ignores the midscale properties that comprise the vast majority of the state’s hotel market.
Convention Center Cost Overruns? Who Could Have Imagined?
Escalating repair costs and budget cuts at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center highlight the consequences of deferred maintenance, threatening meeting planner confidence and the state’s ability to compete for future group business.
Some Recent Renovation News
A surge of property refreshes across Waikīkī illustrates a competitive push to modernize aging inventory, yet varying levels of investment highlight the industry’s struggle to balance capital expenditure with rising guest expectations.
Big Shoes to Fill on Kauai
Samira Siale’s appointment as executive director of the Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau marks a pivotal transition for the island, as she balances community-centric management with the challenge of maintaining long-term tourism health.
New GM at Hilton Waikoloa Village
Nicholas Kuhns’ appointment as general manager at Hilton Waikoloa Village brings veteran luxury leadership to the Big Island, signaling a focus on operational excellence within one of Hawaii’s most complex resort environments.
Asset-Light Is Great… If You’re Not the One Holding the Asset
The widening performance gap between asset-light brands and property owners highlights a growing structural tension in hospitality, as rising capital costs and squeezed margins challenge the long-term viability of the traditional ownership model.
Half Doors, Half Showers, Full Regret
The industry trend toward open-concept bathrooms and partial shower enclosures highlights a growing disconnect between cost-saving design and guest comfort, raising questions about the long-term impact on brand loyalty and satisfaction.
$1 Billion Into Hospitality Tech. Now What?
Recent billion-dollar hospitality tech investments, heavily skewed toward PMS and guest experience platforms, underscore a strategic shift toward digital infrastructure while raising questions about the relative underfunding of revenue management tools.
Hawaiʻi’s Luxury Myth, $1B in Tech, and the Asset-Light Reality
Luxury vs reality, a closer look at where the tech money is going, and who’s really holding the risk.
Montage Out, St. Regis In… Same Old Condo Challenge at Kapalua Bay
The shift from Montage to St. Regis at Kapalua Bay highlights the persistent challenges of condo-hotel ownership, where fragmented inventory and inconsistent participation complicate efforts to deliver a true luxury resort experience.
