Post #574119 by Cammo on Tue, Feb 1, 2011 8:22 AM

"Because unless it's a resort destination with restaurants, golf, beach, marina etc., the bread and butter hotel business is with the work week business travelers. If a place has the resources, meetings and catered events are the next big money makers. Hanalei had a noisy location next to a freeway, terrible parking, no views and an aged concept and facilities. The Crown Plaza now has a noisy location next to a freeway, terrible parking, no views, but bland businessman type amenities, which is what brings in the bland businessmen with money."

This is getting close.

"Because individually operated hotels are no longer individually operated."

Not true, the Handlery next door to the Hanalei is family owned, they have a great chef and excellent facilities, and a sister location in San Francisco. Great place to work.

"Is there any reason to have a theme, tiki or otherwise?"

Sure there is, billions are at stake, look at Las Vegas, operating the biggest and most popular theme hotels on Earth! And theme restaurants have been enjoying a huge comeback in the last 10 years, much of it due to the Las Vegas and Disney Resort influence which are getting everybody else's clients!

*"Tiki is just not as big a deal as we think it is." *

But it is - the Tiki Oasis weekend is the BIGGEST EVENT the Hanalei HOLDS! Think about it, none of this really makes sense.

"Tiki style is seen as dated because there is no context to Polynesia left in everyday culture in today's America."

What, have tourists going to Hawaii? Nope. Hawaiian Airlines has popped back up from bankruptcy proceedings to being busy busy busy as heck, L&L Barbeque is the fastest growing retail food chain in the west, hula girls will NEVER be out. There is plenty of context, because in fact the Hanalei was never low on business and has a huge amount of repeat customers. It may be the busiest hotel in that section of San Diego, BECAUSE of it's South Seas theme, not despite it. And again, you can "update" a hotel without utterly destroying the look.

The Look is the Hook. It works.

Again, all of which is totally contrary to what the management did to the hotel.

WHY DID THEY DO IT?!?!??!