Hotel:
As you may know, Kauai’s Princeville Resort is getting a facelift and rebranding in 2009. We were up there recently to check on the start of construction.
The rooms are being gutted and the furnishings sold by liquidators. Everything looked gaudy and tacky with ridiculous sale prices. We resisted the urge to take home a used towel, bathrobe or plate.
In 2009 we’ll see what a modest 40 million dollars in renovations bring. Can a higher end, and presumably more expensive hotel product find a home during a recessionary economy? And whether Princeville’s timing turns out to be good or not.
The Princeville Hotel was showing significant signs of wear and tear and suffered from chronic mildew, in large part due to its proximity to the ocean. It will be rebranded as the St. Regis Princeville Resort and is due to open next summer.
Starwood, the hotel’s management company, is expanding its brand in Hawaii beyond the traditional Sheraton logo, in order to achieve a more wide-spread appeal. Maui’s Renaissance Wailea Beach Hotel is simultaneously being rebranded as St. Regis.
Golf Course:
The legendary 18 hole Prince course continues to operate as usual during the remodel while the Makai course is undergoing major renovation through most of 2009.
The Makai course consists of a clubhouse and three unique 9-hole courses spread over 200 acres. The Woods course will remain open with reduced 18-hole rates of $59. The Lakes and Ocean courses are now closed. Robert Trent Jones, its original developer, is doing the update of the Makai Golf Course, which first opened in 1971.
Brings back memories… we visited the Maui Ritz Carlton sale before their redo a few years ago. Actually a lot of great stuff at good prices, though not so handy for folks who had to fly home.
Some locals bought enough to totally furnish homes.
I was grateful to find a soft pillow for a couple of bucks, since our resort featured the rock hard kind.
We also nabbed the only pair of leaded crystal bedside lamps for about $10 each, including nice shades. Everybody was envious of that find as we stood in the long line to pay. They grace our guestroom now.
Daniel, thanks for the correction on the Renaissance Wailea, which was to be rebranded as a St. Regis or W, but which was later changed and is being rebuilt as Baccarat. When completed, it will be only the second Baccarat branded Starwood property. The work is being done by the same company that did the Four Seasons Hualalai on the Big Island.
Interestingly, the Baccarat brand (of French crystal fame) is now controlled by Starwood Capital, whose CEO was former Starwood Hotels CEO. They are the primary owners of French champagne brand Taittinger, which through a subsidiary owns Baccarat.
Bill, the latest information I’ve found is that the Baccarat Wailea is scheduled to open in 2010.
Aloha, Jeff
Hi Rob,
When will the St. Regis in Maui look to open?
Thanks for your work.
Bill
Honestly, they have a long way to go to make that place great again. The mold/mildew issue actually seems to stem more from the fact that the bathrooms have no ventilation, so that stuff loves to live there. As for the restaurants, I hope they improve their food offerings.
As for the former Renaissance Wailea, it is being completely demolished and rebuilt as a Baccarat Resort, which is controlled by Starwood Capital but not part of the Starwood Resorts family.