Incoming Halekulani chief exploring possibilities of expanding hotel

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Halekulani in Waikiki is one of Hawai'i's premier luxury accommodations and recently ranked fourth on Travel and Leisure magazine's list of the world's best hotels. Advertiser library photo

Peter Shaindlin, 45, won't take the helm of Halekulani Corp. from President and Chief Executive Yuri Giga, 55, until Sept. 1., but Shaindlin already has a sense of where Halekulani should grow.

"Paris, Rome, London — these are not the places for a Hawaiian hotel," Shaindlin said yesterday. But expanding within the Hawai'i region is one of the possibilities.

"There is no such plan at this point, but ... the company continues to view that possibility as an option of expanding the Halekulani experience over time," Shaindlin said. "If it does expand in the future, it should be where it's most tasteful and appropriate. It should be where it logically belongs."

Halekulani Corp., which owns and manages the Halekulani and Waikiki Parc hotels, raised the prospect of opening more Halekulani hotels three years ago by forming a new division for the development and expansion of the Halekulani brand.

It did not end up developing any more hotels as Japan's economy foundered and the tourism industry struggled in the aftermath of Sept. 11, the war in Iraq and SARS.

But Shaindlin thinks this could be a good time for Halekulani to grow.

"There are guests ... who say, 'This is amazing. Do you have any plans to take this further?' " Shaindlin said. "That's the question left on my desk to answer."

Another way to expand is to provide more programs like SpaHalekulani, which opened this year, offering spa treatments specializing in healing.

"The crazier the outer world becomes, and it sure is," Shaindlin said, "the more value this has as an oasis."

Before joining Halekulani, Shaindlin was founding principal of the Lotus Luxury Group, a Caribbean-based resort consulting firm. He also served as regional vice president in the Caribbean for Rosewood Hotels & Resorts Inc. and has managed luxury properties in the Caribbean including Little Dix Bay.

Shaindlin said the biggest challenge at Halekulani will be raising standards even higher than they already are. The hotel is recognized as a high-end luxury property, and most recently ranked fourth in Travel and Leisure magazine's list of the world's best hotels — making it the highest ranked U.S. property.

Halekulani said Shaindlin's appointment is the culmination of efforts to expand the brand and "evolve its management, operational and performance standards."

Giga is being reassigned to Tokyo to work with Halekulani Corp.'s parent company, Mitsui Fudosan.

Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470, or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.