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 he recently released survey by Travel + Leisure Magazine and America Online that lists Honolulu as the Top Honeymoon Destination in America comes as no surprise to Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, Hawaii's largest hotel company.
Over
the last six months, Outrigger and its economy brand OHANA Hotels,
which operate 16 properties in Honolulu, have unveiled a series of
creative packages and newly renovated properties that have enhanced
Waikiki's positioning as the premiere romantic destination for honeymooners.
For
example, four months ago the Outrigger Reef introduced the first
complimentary Vow Renewal Ceremony in Waikiki, performed every Friday
on the beach in front of the Outrigger Reef. Since that time, 217
couples have restated their "I do's" in the presence of a Kahu
(Hawaiian Priest) and hula dancer as waves lapped at the shore with
Diamond Head bearing witness in the background. Now, the property is
seeing bookings made for honeymoons and anniversaries specifically
because of the vow renewal ceremony.
Other
examples of enhancing Waikiki's image among the romantics includes the
January completion of an $18-million renovation of the Outrigger
Waikiki hotel, which included creating the only ocean view whirlpool
bathtubs (big enough for two) in Waikiki. In April, Outrigger unveiled
the Outrigger Luana Waikiki, a new luxury condominium resort with some
of the most stylishly appointed accommodations on the island, each with
full service kitchens or kitchenettes so honeymooners can have romantic
dinners in their home-away-from-home with views of the ocean and 66
acres of swaying palms surrounding the hotel.
Creating a memorable honeymoon is what the Outrigger Reef's Romance Packages is all about. Starting
with a lei greeting and chilled champagne in the room, the package
offers a distinctive Waikiki flair by including a couples lomi lomi
massage and a private couples surf lesson in the very waves the
honeymooners see from their ocean view room.
For
romantics on a budget, OHANA Hotels, Outrigger's economy-branded chain,
offers 12 properties in Waikiki with Simple Saver rates that start as
low as $69 per night. Outrigger's two beach front hotels offer Best
Value Rates that start as low as $156 per night.
New
in 2004, and extremely popular among young honeymooners, is the Catch a
Wave value-added offer available at all Outrigger and OHANA Hotels in
Waikiki. Guests staying five nights or more are given a voucher upon
arrival good for a choice of a surfboard rental and surf lesson, an
outrigger canoe ride for two or one free 90-minute catamaran ride for
one person ($30 charge for additional person).
Nearly a half-million people responded to the online Travel + Leisure Magazine/AOL Travel "America's Favorite Cities" Survey 2004, which asked Americans to rate 25 cities in 12 different
categories. Honolulu beat out San Francisco and San Juan, Puerto Rico
for the top Honeymoon city. Hawaii's capital ranked second in
"cleanliness," "friendliest people" and "most attractive people."
Complete results are available online at www.travelandleisure.com/afc
and was published in T+L's April issue.
For
hotel reservations or information on Outrigger, call your preferred
travel professional or Outrigger Hotels & Resorts toll-free at
1-800-OUTRIGGER (688-7444) within the U.S., Guam and Canada. Elsewhere
call 303-369-7777. For online information or reservations, Internet
users can log onto www.outrigger.com or view and book on our Places to Stay pages. Outrigger's email address is reservations@outrigger.com.
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