JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina

Oahu’s sunny western shore, home to white-sand beaches and tranquil lagoons provides a spectacular backdrop for oceanfront meetings at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina. The 640-acre retreat welcomes groups with gracious Hawaiian hospitality, as evidenced by its recognition for excellent service and overall guest experience on Expedia.com’s 2007 Insiders’ Select List.

Of the resort’s 387 rooms and suites, most feature views of the ocean and lagoons. Thoughtful amenities include residential-style marble baths, plus spacious lanais, and high-speed Internet access. Accommodations on the seventeenth floor offer a breath of fresh air for travelers sensitive to allergens. The hotel invested in Pure brand’s high-tech air filters and special surface treatments to greatly reduce irritants and maximize guests’ comfort.

The meeting facilities’ crown jewel remains The Pavilion at Ihilani, Oahu’s largest covered outdoor venue with 18,000 square feet of space with unobstructed views. Surrounded by tropical gardens, the site lends itself to incentive and trade shows, as well as dinner events and live performances in a quintessentially Hawaiian setting. Smaller meetings and receptions take place in nine indoor function rooms ranging from 461 to 5,530 square feet.

When relaxation tops the agenda, the Ihilani Spa obliges with a host of Hawaiian treatments. Next door, Ko Olina Golf Club boasts an 18-hole Ted Robinson–designed course that Golf Digest rates as one of America’s top resort courses. Additionally, a private marina for sailing excursions and the “Reef and Ray Adventure” program allow guests to appreciate the marine life. The wealth of offerings and the picture-perfect setting make it easy to see how Ihilani, meaning “heavenly splendor,” got its name. There are no packages available at this time. There are no hot dates at this time. Posted Oct 8, 2008 by markb
Subscribe - RSS Feed HONOLULU, Hawaii - April 22, 2008 - Marriott International, Inc. (MAR: NYSE) has announced the appointment of Dan Banchiu as general manager of JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina. JW Marriott is Marriott International's sophisticated hotel brand that appeals to consumers with a preference for understated luxury, authenticity, and where indulgences have a purpose and where its guests can truly be themselves.

In his position, Banchiu oversees all aspects of the day-to-day management and operations of the 387-room beachfront resort, renowned for the award-winning Ihilani Spa, championship Ko Olina Golf Club and exceptional dining experiences at the signature Azul Restaurant.

"Dan offers a wealth of lodging hospitality experience to the resort and is a great addition to my senior management executive team," said Ed Hubennette, vice president for North Asia, Hawaii and South Pacific - Marriott International. "I am confident that Dan will continue to ensure the highest standards of the JW Marriott brand are implemented," added Hubennette.

Banchiu has 30 years of hospitality management experience. He recently relocated to Hawaii from Washington as the opening general manager of the 358-room Seattle Marriott Waterfront in 2003 and area general manager for the three hotels: Seattle Marriott Waterfront, 459-room Marriott Sea-Tac and 262-room Redmond Marriott.

Prior to his assignment in Seattle, Banchiu was senior vice president of room operations for Marriott International. He was responsible for the development and implementation of brand standards and initiatives such as the launch of the "Marriott Bed," high-speed (STSN) Internet connectivity and "At Your Service" concept for Marriott's full-service hotels.

Banchiu has received many hospitality recognitions, including Corporate Hotelier of the Year for the State of Maryland and Resident Manager of the Year, Marriott International.

In his spare time, Banchiu loves to golf and travel.

The JW MARRIOTT IHILANI RESORT & SPA AT KO OLINA offers 387 guest rooms and 36 suites and is the only Hawaii resort to offer allergy-friendly PURE rooms on the entire 17th floor. The award winning resort fronts the first of four lagoons on Oahu's sunny western shore. Part of the 640-acre Ko Olina Resort & Marina and offering the island's most complete resort experience, the hotel features luxuriously appointed rooms; relaxed Hawaiian elegance; gracious, warm personalized service; secluded beaches; professional tennis courts; 18 holes of challenging championship play at Ko Olina Golf Club; and a variety of restaurants showcasing unique and distinctive international cuisine. The world-class Ihilani Spa, voted one of the "Top Spas in the World" by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure magazines, is internationally renowned for its full complement of invigorating body treatments and massages, using products harvested from the honua (earth) and the moana (ocean) here in the islands. The resort recently ranked as one of the "Top 100 Golf Resorts" by Conde Nast Traveler, as well as Editor's Pick in TravelAge West's 2006 WAVE Awards. Heralded as the "Best Luxury Hotel" and "Best Place to Get a Massage" in the islands by readers of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa is home to NFL's crme de la crme during the annual all-star Pro Bowl game in Hawaii.