Gloriously Revitalised Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Set to Unveil USD 40-Million Enhancement. (United States)
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Gloriously Revitalised Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Set to Unveil USD 40-Million Enhancement. (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Industry economy -
Renovation / Addition
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-08-12
New suites, expanded spa and beachfront dining among the highlights.
The 15-month, USD 40-million enhancement at AAA Five Diamond Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is set to be unveiled in late July. Designed by Michael Booth, co-founder of the internationally acclaimed San Francisco-based design firm BAMO (formerly Babey Moulton Jue & Booth), the enhancement includes 20 new suites, a significant spa expansion, an expanded oceanfront pool deck, additional retail shops and a transformed open-air beachfront bar, lounge and restaurant.
“Because many guests return each year and view Hualalai as their home away from home, we wanted to create a sense of nostalgia by referencing Hawaii’s Golden Age, when an organic Hawaiian style of design and architecture emerged, but seen through a modern lens,” said Booth. “The design communicates tradition through island motifs and warm, natural finishes. It’s comfortable and luxurious, simple and soulful.”
“Since it opened in 1996, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai has enjoyed a reputation as best of the best,” said General Manager Robert Whitfield. “The design and ambience of the new enhancement will once again raise the bar for luxury hotels in Hawaii, and solidify the Resort’s reputation as a place to spend quality time celebrating life and connecting with friends and family.”
Ocean-View Suites
Twenty new one- and two-bedroom suites have been created, offering between 1,150 and 1,950 square feet (107 to 181 square metres) of indoor/outdoor living space and some of the best ocean views on the property. The new one-bedroom units suit couples who want a separate area for entertaining; the two-bedroom suites are perfect for families. All of the new suites offer spacious living rooms, bathrooms with steam showers, and expansive lanais with 180-degree views of the Pacific Ocean.
Mary Philpotts McGrath, founder of Philpotts & Associates, Hawaii’s premier interior design firm, consulted with BAMO on the design of the suites. McGrath carefully selected Hawaiian fabrics, stone and wood to introduce texture and depth to the clean-lined natural furniture. The Resort’s art consultant selected traditional and contemporary Hawaiian art pieces to grace the walls. With an easy flow between outside and in, both literally and visually, the suites exude a sense of comfort and style.
Hualalai Spa
The new spa, expanded to 28,000 square feet (2,600 square metres) from the original 13,000 square feet (1,200 square metres), seamlessly integrates open-air tropical gardens with dark, cool interior spaces, and feels uniquely Hawaiian. Guests are greeted at a burnished koa wood desk in the reception area, where custom bamboo screens create mellow light. Before their treatments, guests can enjoy complimentary neck and shoulder massages while trailing their toes in the stream that trickles through the tranquil Waiea garden. Kupuna (island elders) and wellness practitioners shared their wisdom to give the spa experience a genuine sense of place, using healing qualities of native plant and mineral resources incorporated into signature treatments. Guests may choose from more than 20 natural local ingredients, from Hawaiian sea salt and volcanic ash to coconut and crushed macadamia nuts, which are then custom-blended to create unique personalised spa treatments.
Beachfront Dining
With enhancements symbolic of the Resort’s unique style of “barefoot elegance,” Beach Tree – the Resort’s beachfront restaurant, bar and lounge – will reopen in late July with transformed interior and exterior spaces, a new menu and chef, and expansive ocean views. Sixteen-foot (5-metre) ceilings create an ambience of bringing the outside in. Richly textured wood tables, upholstered cushions and blue tones connect the restaurant with ocean and sky. Outside, awnings and comfortable seating invite casual al fresco dining; a thatched roof crafted from local trees lends a casual “Hawaiian beach house” feel to the bar. In the lounge, guests will relax on overstuffed sofas and chairs. New Chef de Cuisine Nick Mastrascusa, who joins Four Seasons Resort Hualalai from 57 at Four Seasons Hotel New York, will oversee a menu featuring fresh market-driven cuisine with Italian, Californian and tropical influences.
Boutique Shopping
Two boutiques have been added to the Resort to provide a wider range of on-site shopping selections for guests’ convenience.
Adjacent to the Hualalai Spa, the new Seaside Boutique features designers such as Allegra Hicks, Tory Burch, Vince, Tibi, Catherine Malandrino, Diane von Furstenberg, Irene Neuwirth and more. Accessories include light cashmere wraps, Kotur clutches, Mizuki jewellery and K. Jacques St. Tropez sandals.
Below the main lobby, Seaside Luxe offers high-fashion lines such as Pucci, Missoni, Lanvin, Zac Posen and Irene Neuwirth. In addition to fashion, Seaside Luxe features custom furniture pieces and home accessories from renowned designer Tim Clarke. Local artwork is highlighted, with proceeds from art sales benefiting the Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy in Waimea. Within Seaside Luxe is a melange of children’s gear – including beachwear, playful jewellery, toys, books and novelty items – with exclusive offerings from designers such as Nikki Cool, Calypso and Lacoste.
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