Big numbers, local realities, and what actually matters to Hawaiʻi hotels.
The Escape Hatch Opens
Maui County Council nominated over 2,000 short-term rentals for hotel rezoning under Resolution 26-111, creating a legislative carve-out that raises questions about the phase-out’s ability to return units to local housing.
Help Wanted: HTA CEO
The Hawaii Tourism Authority’s CEO search has drawn a small applicant pool due to governance and salary concerns, underscoring how political volatility continues to deter top executive talent from tourism leadership.
Did you know an octopus has Nine Brains? I didn’t.
Nine Brains acquired the fee-simple interest in Pacific 19 Kona for $23 million, completing a leasehold buyout and underscoring the scarcity of fee-simple hospitality assets in Hawaiʻi.
Turtle Bay’s Tiniest Residents Win a Round
A Hawaiʻi court has halted permits for Host Hotels’ Turtle Bay expansion until a new environmental review is completed, highlighting the regulatory risks of relying on legacy entitlements for resort development.
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Two Hilton Stories Made Me Go, “Hmm…”
Hilton is introducing owner relief initiatives while defending its 28-brand portfolio, highlighting the tension between corporate brand expansion and franchisee margin pressures in a high-cost environment.
They’re Not Buying Resorts. They’re Buying Owners
Travel + Leisure Co.’s $343 million acquisition of Spinnaker Resorts expands its Maui footprint by prioritizing owner relationships, highlighting how M&A offers a faster pathway than ground-up resort development in Hawaiʻi.
The End of Clicks as We Know Them
Google and Amadeus are shifting travel marketing toward AI-driven automation and unified commerce protocols, signaling a fundamental evolution in how hotels must optimize content for search and discovery.
Bees Beat a $50M Bet, Nine Brains in Kona, and Free Dried Mango
Bees, brains, and brand bloat. HTA’s political pitfall, Pacific 19’s fee-simple flip, and why Hilton’s crowded swim lanes are squeezing hotel owner margins.
HLTA Is Hiring. The Bigger Question Is Why.
HLTA has launched an executive search following Mufi Hannemann’s retirement and appointed Dean Nakasone as interim director, raising broader questions about the association’s strategic identity and future advocacy role in Hawaiʻi.
