Hawaii Hospitality - July/August 2014 - (Page 28)

NEWS BRIEFS Outrigger Plans $100M Renovation Outrigger Enterprises Group will invest $100 million to revitalize Outrigger Reef on the Beach in Waikiki. The plans include razing an existing five-story structure on the beach and replacing it with 34,000 square feet of open recreation space, enhanced swimming pools, landscaped lounging areas and open-air dining facilities. A new tower, set back from the shoreline along Kalia Road, will add more than 200 full-service hotel rooms to the property. Construction is expected to begin in 2017 and be completed in 2019. The revitalization is estimated to result in 400 new construction-related jobs, 100 new hotel operations jobs, $235 million in new spending and $700,000 in additional real property taxes for the City and County of Honolulu. The yellow arrow indicates the planned renovation area. Manzo Joins Aqua Kauai Beach Resort Stacy Manzo has been named director of sales for the oceanfront Aqua Kauai Beach Resort by Aqua Hotels and Resorts, a division of Aqua Hospitality. "We're very excited to have Stacy on board leading our sales efforts," says David Sosner, general manager. "Her extensive experience in the hospitality industry as a resourceful revenue producer is exactly what we are Stacy Manzo looking for, so we couldn't be happier." Among her responsibilities, Manzo creates special promotional packages, develops partnerships and cultivates relationships with meeting planners, corporate clients, key wholesalers and consortia accounts. Most recently she was account director of leisure sales at Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas and Sheraton Kauai. HLTA Selects Board of Directors The Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, headed by president and CEO George Szigeti, has selected its 2014-2015 Board of Directors. Key positions include Kelly Hoen, The Royal Hawaiian, chairperson; Ben Rafter, Aqua Hospitality/Aston Hotels & Resorts, chairperson elect; Dean Nakasone, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, vice chairperson; and Stephen Kaaa, First Hawaiian Bank, treasurer. Jule Arigo, Waikiki Parc Hotel, is the immediate past chairperson. 28 Hawaii Hospitality July/August 2014 ■ Rafter Named CEO at Aston Ben Rafter has been named president of Aston Hotels & Resorts. He will continue as president and CEO of Aqua Hospitality and Aqua Hotels and Resorts in Hawaii, according to Vacation Holdings Hawaii, the parent of both companies. He has been president and CEO of Aqua since 2008. Ben Rafter The Buzz Is Bees at Hyatt The buzz is at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, where in July 80,000 bees will have their honey harvested for the first time. The bees live in a house built last November on the resort rooftop and typically dine on local lehua and kiawe blossoms. The hive is part of Hyatt's focus on bringing the freshness of natural products to guests. "It's important that we provide organic alternatives for our guests and the public," says Executive Chef Sven Ullrich. The resort will incorporate honey or honeycomb into everything from spa hand cream to signature drinks. Why so many critters? "A single bee only produces one quarter of a teaspoon of honey," notes Ullrich. With 80,000 Hyatt will include honeycomb in its bees, Hyatt will harvest only 10 poolside cocktail service. gallons of honey per year.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hawaii Hospitality - July/August 2014

Women at the Top
Halekulani Celebrates 30 Years
Digital Pursuit
It's Expo Time!
Technology in the Kitchen
Meet Chef Sheldon Simeon
News Briefs
Talk Story with George Szigeti
Clean Talk with Rose Galera
At the Table with Roger Morey

Hawaii Hospitality - July/August 2014