What's Sizzlin' at Hawaii's Big Island Accommodations? (Nov. 2009)

Come to the Big Island and explore Hawai‘i’s Island of Adventure

Hawai‘i’s Big Island (Nov. 2, 2009) – As the year winds down, the fun begins on Hawai‘i’s Big Island: the humpbacks are back, a new direct flight from Oakland to Kona ramps up service, Pele continues her mesmerizing show, and next year’s specials are exploding like fireworks.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Prince 2010 Free Night Promotion makes a getaway to Mauna Kea Beach Hotel or Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel a dream come true for beach lovers! At Hapuna, your third night is free with two paid consecutive nights, from $299/night. At the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, the fourth night is free with three consecutive paid nights, from $450/night. Book now through Jan. 31, 2010 and travel from Jan. 3, 2010 through June 13, 2010. Hawaiian Miles and Prince Preferred members enjoy bonus miles. Visit www.PrinceResortsHawaii.com, or call toll-free, (866) 774-6236.

Two for One. Reserve a room at The Fairmont Orchid, Hawai‘i on the sunny Kohala Coast and receive a second room absolutely free! This special offer is available for new bookings through Dec. 20, 2009 and includes guaranteed connecting rooms in the same category booked for garden view, partial ocean view and ocean view categories – perfect for friends and families. For more information contact your preferred travel professional, visit www.fairmont.com/orchid, or call (800) 845-9905.

Travelers have made Kona Village’s “Fare Deal” package so successful that the iconic oceanfront resort of thatched-roof bungalows and Hawai‘i’s only almost-all-inclusive resort is extending Fare Deal’s $800 airfare credit* to qualified bookings *through much of 2010. The package also includes a room category upgrade. Air credit is applied at time of departure. Visit www.KonaVillage.com or call toll-free, (800) 367-5290.

Four Seasons Resort Hual?lai, which recently completed a $40 million property enhancement, has a new chef at Pahu ‘ia, its fine-dining beachside restaurant. Chef Jacob Anaya was chef at the Ritz-Carlton San Francisco and has cooked in restaurants including Silk at the San Francisco Mandarin Oriental and the esteemed Wildfire in Sydney, Australia. In November, Chef Anaya will introduce new dishes to Pahu ‘ia, which focuses on fresh, sustainable local Big Island seafood and produce. www.fourseasons.com/hualalai

Art & Orchids Bed and Breakfast is located in the Puna district, conveniently close to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hilo, and the Kalapana Lava Viewing Area. A new swimming pool features beautiful inlaid turtles and other sea life mosaics as well as a waterfall guests can sit behind. Rates range from $90 to $115 per night. Call toll-free (877) 393-1894 or go to www.artandorchids.com.

Keauhou Beach Resort will continue to offer all guests a complimentary self-service full breakfast buffet daily through 2010. With rates starting at just $139/night for a partial ocean view room in 2010, this is a valuable amenity for visitors. The popular oceanfront property overlooks tidepools sheltering sea turtles and reef fish, and is adjacent to Kahalu‘u Beach Park, one of the island’s most popular snorkeling and surfing beaches. Call toll free (877) 532-8468 or visit www.keauhoubeachresort.com.

Start the new year off with a bang at the newly renovated King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Book by Dec. 19 and save 25 percent off one or two nights, or get your third night free, for stays in 2010. Enjoy luxurious, Hawaiian-inspired rooms, the only white sand beach in Kailua Village, the history and culture of the area and resort, and its sparkling new pool. Visit www.konabeachhotel.com, or call (800) 367-2111.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts® and American Airlines Group & Meeting TravelSM have partnered together to create an exclusive meetings offer. At Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Sp, this means every meeting booked by Dec. 31, 2009 for arrival by June 30, 2010 receives four percent off master billed charges and DMC services through select partners, one complimentary room and one complimentary air ticket for every 25 booked, and special group rates with American Airlines® plus 2,500 Starpoint signing bonus for every 25 room nights (100,000 Starpoint maximum). Visit www.SheratonKeauhou.com.

After awarding 25 Hawaiian vacations in its “Tweet Yourself to Hawai‘i” sweepstakes, Marriott Resorts Hawai‘i is offering a video contest for a bigger prize – a trip for 12 to Hawai‘i with seven nights at up to two participating resorts of their choice including the oceanfront Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa! Create a video that best showcases why you deserve this amazing Hawai‘i trip and submit your YouTube video link to www.marriotthawaiitweets.com by Dec. 20, 2009 to enter.

Cool Pool. Hawaii Island Retreat’s beautiful new infinity pool is finished, and overlooks the serene valley below, reflecting the blue North Kohala sky. The infinity design lends a feeling of spacious expanse beyond its 50 ft. x 16 ft. dimensions, and adds to the tranquility of Hawaii Island Retreat. Visit www.hawaiiislandretreat.com or email info@hawaiiislandretreat.com

Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows re-opened Nov.1 after brief refreshment. Guests will enjoy an exciting new menu at the legendary CanoeHouse as Chef James Ortiaga presents extraordinarily fresh cuisine with a contemporary flair. No resort fees and myriad complimentary activities make Mauna Lani the perfect destination for a winter vacation. The 2010 Book Early Bonus Offer is valid until Dec. 31, 2009. Call (800) 367-2323 and visit www.maunalani.com.

A Salute To Our Nation’s Military. Ocean View’s Bougainvillea Bed & Breakfast offers a Big Island “Sizzlin’ Special Double Experience” at a 20 percent discount to military personnel. Includes three nights at Bougainvillea B&B and three nights in a one-bedroom oceanfront Kona condominium. Owner Martie Nitsche is a certified travel agent who can also book rental cars and activities for inbound guests. Call (800) 688-1763 or (808) 929-7089 or visit www.bougainvilleabedandbreakfast.com.

KUDOS
Yum! Away.com picked its top culinary travel destinations, and Hawai‘i’s Big Island was listed as the world’s #3 “Hidden Gems” culinary destination. tinyurl.com/yl6ae7t. Whet your appetite on Big Island culinary and agricultural story ideas here: tinyurl.com/yjuywe3

For BIVB’s press kit, photo gallery, press releases and industry news, visit media.bigisland.org

Special note to media: The Big Island Visitors Bureau (BIVB) recognizes the use of the ‘okina [‘] or glottal stop, one of the eight consonants of the modern Hawaiian language; and the kahak? [?] or macron (e.g., in place names of Hawai‘i such as K?lauea). However, BIVB respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses.

Big Island Visitors Bureau Media Contact:
Jessica Ferracane, Irondog Communications, (808) 895-5740, jessica@irondogpr.com