Corporate Incentive Program Destination – Maui

By April I. Torrisi

Known as the Magic Isle, Maui features pristine white beaches and lush, green mountains. It is the ideal place for humpback whale sightings, waterfalls, relaxing, surfing, snorkeling, and golfing. Maui is presently experiencing many luxury resort transformations in Wailea, Kaanapali, and Kapalua, where multimillion-dollar renovations are taking place in hotel guest rooms, and new golf courses and residential condos are being constructed making it perfect corporate incentive program destination.

Essential Tool Box For Corporate Incentive Program In Maui

Meeting Facilities: Hotels with meeting facilities comprise a room inventory of approximately 18,000. Off-site venues include the Maui Ocean Center and the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, as well as the islands of Lanai and Molokai.

For More Information:
Maui VB www.mauimeetings.net
Hawaii VCB www.meethawaii.com
Hawaii Tourism Authority www.hawaiitourismauthority.org
For complete facilities listings, visit Facility Quick Search at
www.mimegasite.com

The Big News

Groups of 100 to 3,000 can now enjoy movies, under the stars, from the Maui Film Festival, which takes place this year from June 13-17 at diverse venues around the island, including the Wailea Gold and Emerald golf courses and the beaches. Optional enhancements: Hire a famous actor, director, film critic, or celebrity look-alike to attend the screening; have an astronomer present for a pre-film tour of the night sky; or provide a pre-film hula performance.

The 380-room Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea began a comprehensive hard- and soft-goods makeover of rooms and suites in August 2006 that is scheduled for completion near June. The resort will remain open.
The Royal Lahaina Resort located on Kaanapali Beach is nearing the completion of a $30 million room renovation in its 330 room Lahaina Kai Tower.
The 473 room Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is undergoing a $60-million renovation. All guest rooms and suites have been completely redesigned, and now include Marriott’s new Revive Bedding and high-speed Internet.
At Kapalua Resort, the Village Course is expected to close in 2007 to make way for a members-only golf course designed by Tom Fazio.
The Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort will close April 14, 2007 and will reopen in fall 2008 as a Starwood St. Regis Resort.
In August, the Maui Ocean Center, home of the largest collection of live coral in the nation, opened the 3,000-sf Marine Mammal Discovery Center. For 40 to 850 guests, the Center offers private events exclusive use of the aquarium, a tour at leisure of the exhibits, dinner with an outdoor or open-air setting, and entertainment.
Tihati Productions and Maui Tropical Plantation recently introduced the Waikapu Village Luau, held every Fri and Sun. The package includes a welcome, a tram tour of the plantation, Hawaiian games, a traditional cooking experience, canoe procession, open bar, all-you-can-eat buffet, and Kololio, a musical journey. The Plantation accommodates groups up to 800.

Groups Should Consider

Groups should consider these recommendations from the Successful Meetings Home Team experts: Top choices include the 548 room Ritz Carlton, Kapalua; the 450 room Fairmont Kea Lani, the 380 room Four Seasons; the 473 room Marriott Wailea; the 510-room Sheraton Maui; the 806 room Hyatt Regency Maui; and the 310 room Maui Prince. Contributors to this section include Home Team members Michelle DeClerck, CMP; Christy Lamagna CMP, CMM, CTSM; and Donna Turner. Contact them at siteseditor@successfulmeetings.com

From Good to Po’okela

In the Hawaiian culture, po’okela (the Hawaiian word for excellence) is achieved through hard work, patience, and quality. Clifford Nae’ole, cultural advisor at the The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, has created five unique cultural programs that can be customized to a group’s specific needs in their quest for po’okela as well as to help planners bring a sense of the true Hawaii to their meetings. The programs include an introductory chant to commence the program followed by a conch shell whistle and a speaker invoking a successful meeting with a Hawaiian chant.

Located on a historic pineapple plantation and surrounded by the ocean and 54 holes of championship golf, the 548 room Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua offers 30,000 sf of indoor meeting space; a 23,000-sf lawn area; the Plantation Grove, an outdoor amphitheater offering 130,000 sf of space; and the Aloha Outdoor Ballroom, a permanent, open-air structure that can accommodate 50 to 1,000 people. The property will begin a $95 million renovation in July that will refurbish and add Wi-Fi capability to all guest rooms and meeting space by spring 2008 (a new spa renovation and expansion is also planned).

Po’okela’s three attributes are represented by a traditional Hawaiian fishhook. As a meeting reminder, a fishhook pendant may be given as an amenity to the attendees as a sign of accomplishment, responsibility, and leadership.

Tags: Corporate Incentive Program Destination – Maui, Maui, Maui Island, The Island Of Maui, Maui Events, Event Planning, Event Planners, Strategic Planners, Strategic Events, Corporate Events, Corporate Meetings, Successful Meetings