Outrigger Resorts Fiji fielded a strong team headed by Regional General Manager, Peter Hopgood to the Outrigger Enterprises Group’s 2014 Global Leadership Conference in Honolulu.
He was joined by Steven Andrews, Resort Manager of Castaway Island and Outrigger Resorts Fiji, Director of Sales & Marketing, Karen Marvell and Public Relations Consultant, Donna Parkin.
The theme of the five day conference was ‘Growing Together’ with speakers stressing the values which are a hallmark of the Outrigger brand and outlining the group’s plans for the future.
Chairman Emeritus of Outrigger Enterprises Group Dr Richard Kelley unveiled plans to revitalize the Outrigger Reef on the Beach hotel at Waikiki.
Dr Kelley said the plan was to increase the number of first-class hotel rooms and overall guest experience while providing much-needed additional meeting and function space.
This will include building a new tower that will provide new hotel rooms and incorporate materials, features and technologies that increase efficiency and sustainability of the property.
This tower will provide the first new beachfront hotel rooms to Waikīkī in 30 years, leading to a net increase of 204 rooms at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach an add 15,000 square feet of conference space.
A spectacular resort pool, dining and lounging areas with flowing water toward the ocean, blending the hotel with the beach and ocean beyond will replace the current beachside five-story Diamond Head tower and pool deck.
Dr Kelley said the updated Outrigger Reef on the Beach would be a model beachfront hotel that truly embraced the iconic destination of Waikiki Beach.
As well as Hawaii, conference discussions focused on the group’s properties in Guam, Fiji, Australia, Phuket, Mauritius and properties under development in China and Vietnam.
Dr Kelley said Outrigger Enterprises Group had 45 properties open or under development including one in the development pipeline in Hainan, China.
By comparison, he said, the Hilton chain had 183 open or under development in China, Marriott 178 and the Intercontinental Hotel Group 318.
“That speaks volumes about the kind of well-financed, experienced competition we at Outrigger face as we look for opportunities to grow and survive, not only in Asia, but everywhere in the world,” he said.
Doctor Kelley said while Outrigger Enterprises Group was not the largest resort company in the world, it strived to be the best.
OUTRIGGER ON THE LAGOON. FIJI