HONOLULU (Dec. 8, 2016) - Global travelers and modern explorers can now experience the newHyatt Centric Waikīkī Beach which officially opened its doors to guests today. Located in the former Waikīkī Trade Center, the hotel is the first Hyatt Centric hotel in the state of Hawai'i, introducing 230 contemporary guestrooms and suites in the heart of the world-famous destination. To commemorate its opening, the hotel will host a grand opening celebration on Jan. 19, 2017, that will kick-off with Hawai'i's first-ever Walk For Wishes® event, benefitting Make-A-Wish® Hawaii.
"The revitalization of this property has been an incredible journey, and our entire Hyatt Centric Waikīkī Beach 'ohana is overjoyed to welcome guests," said Charles Young, general manager of Hyatt Centric Waikīkī Beach. "We are proud to play a role in the renaissance of Kuhio Avenue. Our hotel is a true launch pad for guests to explore and discover the best of Waikīkī's urban setting."
Developed by Chartres Lodging Group and CoastWood Capital Group, Hyatt Centric Waikīkī Beach offers a modern guestroom design, including floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views of the ocean and Diamond Head, spa-like bathrooms with Drybar Buttercup blow dryers, and spacious floorplans, enhance the guest experience. The hotel boasts a variety of upscale amenities including a lounge pool, outdoor seating with circular fire pits, a 24/7 fitness facility and a 400-stall parking garage. The hotel's bar and restaurant, The Lānai, will be led by Chef Yoshi Ohata. The 1,900-square-foot eatery is set in a modern, island-inspired space and will introduce creative Pacific fusion dishes to Waikīkī's culinary scene.
Several popular retailers also join the property in re-energized storefronts, including a two-level Nordstrom Rack, which opened in September 2016, Starbucks offering craft beers, wines and gourmet appetizers in the evening hours, Jamba Juice, and American Savings Bank.
"Our vision for this hotel was to create a unique, forward-looking offering for travelers that seek to incorporate exploration into their international experience," said Maki Nakamura Bara, president and co-founder of Chartres Lodging Group. "Hyatt Centric Waikīkī Beach reflects the spirit of exploration and discovery that is at the core of the Hyatt Centric brand and is a fantastic addition to the thriving tourism market."
Construction on the property began in summer 2015, with renovations led by Swinerton Builders, local architecture firm Group 70 and California design firm DESIGN360unlimited. Throughout the transformation, the project created approximately 600 construction jobs and 100 full-time and part-time positions.
In partnership with Make-A-Wish® Hawaii, the hotel's grand opening celebration on Jan. 19, 2017will feature the state's first Walk For Wishes® fundraiser. At the walk event, key stakeholders, community members and Hyatt Centric Waikīkī Beach colleagues will come together to celebrate the legacy of the nonprofit organization and raise funds to grant wishes to local children battling life-threatening medical conditions.
A valuable land asset of Queen Emma Land Company, the redeveloped Waikīkī Trade Center will directly support The Queen's Medical Center, the state's largest private, nonprofit hospital.
Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach will be the 12th hotel in the Hyatt Centric brand's portfolio, joining hotels in North America and Latin America destinations including New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Key West, Montevideo, Uruguay, among others.
For more information, visit waikikibeach.centric.hyatt.com. Rates start at $229.
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ABOUT COASTWOOD CAPITAL GROUP, LLC
CoastWood Capital Group, LLC is a specialized real estate investment firm based in San Francisco. Founded by Cordell Lietz in 2003, the company acquires, manages and develops real estate in the United States with an emphasis on retail and other property types with unique operational characteristics. CoastWood has been actively investing in Hawaii for over a decade and holds interests in several properties throughout Hawai'i including International Market Place, Kings' Shops and Queens' Marketplace.
ABOUT CHARTRES LODGING GROUP, LLC
The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, is an investment and advisory firm founded by Robert Kline and Maki Nakamura Bara to focus on the acquisition, asset management, renovation and development, and property management of lodging assets. Chartres Lodging has been responsible for approximately $8 billion of investments and its principals have asset managed over 100 upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and conference centers. Chartres Lodging's principals and employees are direct investors in 90 percent of the portfolio.
ABOUT QUEEN EMMA LAND COMPANY
Queen Emma Land Company (QEL) is a local nonprofit organization established to support and advance health care in Hawai'i, primarily through The Queen's Medical Center and its affiliates. QEL accomplishes this by managing and enhancing the income-generating potential of the lands left to The Queen's Hospital by Queen Emma in 1885, and additional properties owned by The Queen's Health Systems.
ABOUT THE QUEEN'S MEDICAL CENTER
The Queen's Medical Center (Queen's), a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation established in 1859 by Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV, is an acute care medical facility accredited by The Joint Commission. The facility is licensed for 535 acute beds and serves as the major tertiary and quaternary referral center for cancer, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, orthopedics, surgery, emergency medicine and behavioral health medicine. It is the state's designated trauma center verified as Level II by the American College of Surgeons. It has the only organ transplantation program in Hawaii. Queen's is a major teaching hospital, serving as a clinical training site for the residency programs sponsored by the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii. Queen's is the only hospital in Hawaii to achieve Magnet® status - the highest institutional honor for hospital excellence - from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
ABOUT THE HYATT CENTRIC EXPERIENCEHyatt Centric is a brand of full-service lifestyle hotels located in prime destinations. Created for millennial-minded travelers who want to be in the middle of the action, Hyatt Centric hotels are thoughtfully designed to enable exploration and discovery. The lobby lounge is a launch pad providing guests with information about the most sought after food, nightlife and activities the destination has to offer. The bar and restaurant are local hot spots where great conversations, locally inspired food and signature cocktails can be enjoyed. Streamlined modern rooms focus on delivering everything guests want and nothing they don't, including Beekind's environmentally conscious bath products, Bluetooth-enabled electronics and salon-grade blow dryers. A team of colleagues is always available to recommend local hidden gems to launch guests' discovery of the destination.
CONTACT:
Jorian Weiner
Hyatt
312-780-3004
jorian.weiner@hyatt.com