Maui continues to be the most popular, and most expensive, of Hawaii’s Neighbor Islands: January’s hotel occupancy was 76.5%, and its average daily room rate was $255, the highest in the state. It’s undoubtedly a profitable destination for hoteliers and those marketing condominiums and timeshares. While there has been some rebranding of inventory on Maui, most properties have retained long-established identities, thanks to high occupancies and a steady stream of repeat visitors.
Maui also offers a wide range of accommodations options, including inventory priced at less than $150 per night. Travelers get the best bargains during the spring and autumn shoulder seasons.
After three decades of continuous expansion, Maui suffers from daily traffic jams as development continues to outpace infrastructure.
Now there’s growing resistance from residents to further expansion of tourism-related developments and infrastructure, although long-existing plans for expansion at Kapalua and Makena will move forward, with resort owners saying they will address environmental concerns.
“Maui’s combination of things to do and varied accommodations options continues to attract a wide range of visitors,” said Terryl Vencl, executive director of the Maui Visitors Bureau.
“Golf, romance and milestone events are all strong niche markets for us. We’ve seen a significant growth in the events like weddings, births and family reunions that draw 20 people and more. Now we’re looking at developing top-of-mind awareness of Maui as a destination in secondary markets on the mainland.”
By Allan Seiden
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Courtesy of travelweekly.com
