Dive Brief:

• Outrigger Hospitality Group plans to acquire the newly renovated 11-acre, 432-room Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel on the Hawaiian island of Maui, the company announced Tuesday.
• As part of the acquisition, expected to close July 26, Outrigger also will take ownership of The Plantation Inn, an 18-room bed and breakfast in Maui’s historic Lahaina Town. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. 
• The acquisition is part of Outrigger’s strategy to add complementary resort products to its global portfolio and elevate its current assets in an effort to be the “premier beach resort company in the world,” Jeff Wagoner, president and CEO of Outrigger, said in the announcement.

Dive Insight:

Upon the acquisition closing, Outrigger will add Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel to a portfolio of 16 hotels and resorts across five destinations. In the last two years alone, the hospitality brand has added five beach resorts to its portfolio, including Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa on Hawai‘i Island, three properties in Southern Thailand and a five-star resort in the Maldives.

Outrigger’s strategy includes investment both in new assets and its current holdings. In December, as part of a comprehensive brand revitalization, the company earmarked $250 million to reinvest in its Hawaii assets, including the flagship Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa, Waikiki Malia by Outrigger and Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. 

According to Wagoner, the company’s planned acquisition of the full-service Kā‘anapali Beach resort underscores its confidence in the “iconic” Hawaii destination of Maui. It currently owns one other Maui property, Outrigger Honua Kai Resort & Spa. 

Furthermore, Outrigger plans to invest additional capital into Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel, Wagoner said. “Our intention, once the sale is finalized, is to craft a thoughtful plan to further enhance the resort grounds while retaining unique attributes that guests have cherished for years.”

The resort, to be rebranded as Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort, recently completed a $75 million property-wide renovation spanning two of its guest room wings. Solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations and water refill stations have also been implemented at the property. 

Under the helm of General Manager Mike White since the 1980s, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel has received numerous state and national awards for its focus on culture, community service and creating a model of sustainability for the Hawaii tourism industry at large, according to Outrigger.