Konrad Gstrein returns to Four Seasons Resort Maui as regional VP and GM, rejoining the property where he began in 2001, minus the White Lotus–level drama, but with plenty of real-world RevPAR to drive.
Pakalōlō Panic: Will Japan Ghost Us Over Ganja?
Hawaiʻi’s push for legal cannabis has some worried Japan will stay away, but despite loud concerns from retailers and tour operators, past examples like California and Colorado suggest Japanese visitors aren’t likely to “ghost” the Islands over ganja.
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Orange Chicken, OTA Creep, and a Hotel from 1890
A historic Kauaʻi inn lists for $26M, an unexpected endeavor for the Panda Express founders, PM Hotel Group keeps growing, OTAs move in on ChatGPT, and the travel economy takes another billion-dollar hit.
OTAs Just Took Over the Chat
OTA inventories are now powering hotel searches directly inside ChatGPT and Perplexity’s Comet browser, putting Booking.com and Expedia at the top of the AI planning funnel and pushing hotels even further from direct discovery.
Save Your Way (AKA Give your customer away)
Hotels.com’s new “Save Your Way” feature lets OTAs give big “loyalty” discounts funded by hotels—while keeping the customer, data, and relationship for themselves.
Shutdowns, Sick Days, and a Billion Bucks a Week
The federal shutdown is costing the U.S. travel sector $1B a week, and with Canadian and other international arrivals plunging, Hawaiʻi faces mounting headwinds despite parks and airports remaining open.
The Crowded Field of Hotel Management Companies
PM Hotel Group is expanding in Hawaiʻi, appointing Rodahl Leong-Lyons as Area DOSM and growing its portfolio with Queen Kapiʻolani, HIE Waikīkī, Hyatt Place, and new Oʻahu projects on the way.
From Orange Chicken to Extended Stay (sorry, I couldn’t help myself)
The former PBN building on Kalākaua is slated to become a Residence Inn by Marriott, backed by Panda Express founders, with a $53.5M renovation planned, but no construction underway yet.
Historic Kauaʻi Hotel Lists for $26M
Kauaʻi’s oldest hotel, the 48-room Kauaʻi Inn, has hit the market for $26M, offering rare condo-mapped units, redevelopment potential, and a prime 2.75-acre Niumalu location.
From Enshittification to Bifurcation
Two forces define today’s hotel scene: enshittification, the decline in value, and bifurcation, the widening gap between travelers. Which side is your property on?
