BUSINESS BRIEFS
6 Hawaii hotels make top-100 list
Advertiser Staff
Six Hawai'i hotels qualify as being among the top 100 hotels worldwide, at least in the view of Travel + Leisure magazine's 2008 readers survey.
The Lodge at Koele, a hotel managed by Four Seasons, came in at No. 15, the highest Hawai'i hotel in the ranking.
Others on the list were the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (No. 26), the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (No. 27), the Halekulani (No. 44), the Hotel Hana-Maui (No. 68) and The Fairmont Kea Lani (No. 85).
Hawai'i also placed prominently in terms of top islands, with Maui ranking No. 3, Kaua'i No. 4 and the Big Island at No. 7.
Hawaiian Airlines was cited as the No. 5 best U.S. airline.
The magazine also asked readers to vote on hotel spas. The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa came in at No. 11 in the voting. The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea was No. 16.
STUDY: ISLES' 'ECONOMIC FREEDOM' LOW
Hawai'i ranks low among U.S. states in "economic freedom," according to a study from a Canadian think tank that has as its mission a freer world where individuals benefit from greater choice, competitive markets and personal responsibility.
The study by the Fraser Institute found the state ranks 45th among U.S. states in an index that attempts to quantify the impact of government on economic freedom. The study looked at the size of government, taxation and labor markets during 2005 to come up with its findings.
The top state in the study was Delaware; the worst was West Virginia, according to the study, which also looked at provinces in Canada.
HILTON MOVING REGION HEADQUARTERS
Hilton Grand Vacations is moving its Asia-Pacific region headquarters to the Pan-Am Building on Kapi'olani Boulevard, where it will house about 50 workers and have room for expansion of its operations.
The company said it signed a lease with Pacific Office Properties Trust Inc. for the 11th floor of the building. The company had operated in three different offices throughout Honolulu.
"As Hilton's timeshare business continues to thrive, this new space purpose-fitted out for us by Pacific Office Properties creates an excellent environment for the management of our growing operations throughout Hawai'i and Asia," said Bryan Klum, Hilton Grand Vacations executive vice president, Asia Pacific region.
MAUI CENTER GRAND OPENING AUG. 30
Lahaina Gateway shopping center has scheduled its grand opening ceremonies for Aug. 30.
Among the stores now open for business are Lahaina Farms grocery, Outback Steakhouse, Genki Sushi, The Melting Pot, Baskin-Robbins, Barnes & Noble, David's Happy Nails, Maui Dive Shop, Sunglass Icon, Hat Shack and Central Pacific Bank.
The center this week announced that the centerpiece of its plaza fountain is a bronze statue of a girl performing hula by Rio, a Maui resident sculptor since 1982.
FIRM GIVES HOSPITAL FREE RENOVATION
The Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation said Koga Engineering & Construction Inc. has donated a $15,000 upgrade project for the Honolulu hospital's outdated parking lot.
Other local companies including Concrete Coring of Hawaii Inc., B&C Trucking and Ameron Hawaii Inc. helped in reconstructing the opening to the hospital's old parking lot.
