Hawaii Hotels Hope To Lure Locals With Deals
HONOLULU — With occupancy rates in Hawaii hotels at a 10-year low many resorts are lowering their prices or throwing in discounted or free services, trying to entice Hawaii residents.
Waikiki Beach has been relatively empty. That means fewer tourists in Waikiki hotels, so they are lowering their prices for Hawaii residents.
You could pay as little as $105 a night for the Sheraton Waikiki or the Moana Surfrider.
“The greatest thing about the promotion is that they’re offering the room rates at almost 80 percent off, up to 80 percent off the rack rates. So, it’s a really great deal, a fabulous getaway for Hawaii residents,” said Candice Kraughto, of Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts is auctioning off 1,000 two-night packages at 10 of its resorts statewide starting Thursday. It is going to be like eBay. People can bid online for the packages for hotel stays from Dec. 9 to the end of January.
The hotel company plans to donate 20 percent of the proceeds will to food banks statewide.
“It just felt like a great time to not only fill our hotel room space,” Kraughto said. “But also to help benefit a really worthy cause.”
Resort Quest Hawaii’s Ilikai Hotel is offering kama’aina rates as low as $124 a night — up to 65 percent off regular rates. Resort Quest is also providing Hawaii residents free parking, 2 p.m. late checkouts and free room upgrades when available.
“The deals out there change on a daily basis. What was there last week may not be there this week,” said Wendy Goodenow, of HNL Travel.
At the Outrigger Reef, the rates are as low as $160 a night, with a $25 dining or shopping credit and free parking.
“It’s still costing them on their bottom line, but they feel it’s an advantageous way rather than dropping the price, because then in the future everybody’s going to expect the prices to drop,” Goodenow said.
Local residents can stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village for as little as $149 a night with 20 percent off spa services, 15 percent off restaurant food, $10 a day parking and 4 p.m. late checkout.
Travel agents suggest you do comparison shopping because there are lots of deals out there. The room price is not the only thing to check, also ask about other promotions and free offers hotels are adding for kama’aina customers, agents said.