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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:49 p.m., Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Major upgrade to Grand Wailea Resort completed

The Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa said it is done with roughly $50 million in upgrades to the Maui resort begun early last year.

The work, most of which was completed last month, included room renovations, spa enhancements, updated food and beverage venues and the first overhaul to the resort's pool complex since it opened in 1991.

Though not part of the renovation, the resort affiliated with the Waldorf Astoria Collection continues to expand its inventory of accommodations with more luxury townhomes being developed next to the resort and bought by private owners, some of whom agree to rent them out to Grand Wailea guests.

At the end of last year, about 60 townhomes in the gated Ho'olei community were available to Grand Wailea customers, up from 14 and the end of 2007. The 120-townhome project is still under development.

Matt Bailey, Grand Wailea managing director, said the renovation work concentrated on heightening six elements that originally inspired development of the resort: water, light, sound, flowers, trees and art.

Work on the resort's complex of seven pools cost $1.6 million. Changes made to rooms included frameless shower enclosures, upgraded lighting, new artwork, carpet, paint, dark wood furnishings and 37-inch flat-screen televisions.