Fa la la la, we've got some concrete proof that the Andaz Hotel brand is coming to paradise aka Wailea, Maui, thanks to this traditional Hawaiian Blessing ceremony photo op from Wednesday. And there's another little surprise in our hotel news stocking as the Andaz Wailea Resort and Residences will open in the Spring of 2013, not 2014 as we first heard.

The hotel will have 255-rooms, 35 suites and 19 villas located along Mokapu Beach which is a little bit further north from the Grand Wailea-Four Seasons-Marriott hotel cluster that most people frequent in Wailea. ]]> juliana 2011-12-23T12:17:05-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/9/22/152735/332

We thought the unsettling news about NASA's rogue satellite might be cause for a quick spa getaway to Maui—you know, to ease your mind. After all, if you're going to be pummeled by a 6.5 ton defunct spacecraft, you might as well be enjoying your last few moments in style. Even if your pampering session becomes a twenty-man operation.

It turns out that the Spa Grande at Grand Wailea Resort is experimenting with a "20 Hands Duo Massage," meaning (you guessed it) a two-and-a-half hour massage treatment for couples by ten people, twenty hands, and 100 fingers. We're not sure if this should be considered relaxing or merciless, but we're curious nonetheless. ]]> ASchechter 2011-09-23T08:45:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/6/7/11826/11540

While some people raise money with bikini car washes, like Octomom and some fame-hungry celebrity mistresses, Grand Wailea's Managing Director Matt Bailey really gave something of himself for charity—his hair.

To inspire the Maui resort workers to donate money to the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, which aids Hawaii nonprofits, he vowed in the beginning of the year to shave his hair if they hit a fund-raising goal of $32,000. Not only did they raise the money, they exceeded it, with donations totaling $50,000—the most raised in the state.]]> Jennifer Kester 2011-06-07T13:48:37-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/3/11/95125/3395 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/tsunamialert.jpg" class="top"><p><b>UPDATE: Scroll down for more updates from Hawaii hotels</b><p>After last night's devastating earthquake in Japan was followed by a terrifying tsunami, hotels in Hawaii were on full alert as the tsunami continued its path across the Pacific Ocean. Several hotels began implementing "vertical evacuation", urging guests to move to higher floors.<p> HotelChatter's own contributor <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/user/chanize">Chanize</a> is currently at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Grand+Wailea+Resort/local/486"><b>Grand Wailea Maui</b></a> where she <a href="http://www.twitter.com/chanize">twittered</a> that the hotel had evacuated guests from their rooms, no doubt giving sleeping vacationers a terrifying jolt during a supposedly chill island stay. <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FairmontOrchidHawaii">Fairmont Hotels</a> also Facebooked that their guests were "safely evacuated" starting at midnight.<p>Fortunately when the tsunami did hit Hawaii about an hour ago, <a href="http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2011/03/hawaii-on-tsunami-alert--hotels-evcuate-to-higher-floors/147223/1?csp=hf">early reports</a> juliana 2011-03-11T10:16:14-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/2/15/123441/446 <![CDATA[<P><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6193/IrinaShaykIllustrated.jpg" class="top"> <P>The <b><a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Grand+Wailea+Resort/local/486">Grand Wailea Resort</a></b> in Maui is having quite the turbulent February. First, it filed bankruptcy and was bought by new owners, despite its almost $2 <i>billion</i> in debts, and then it was featured in the movie <i>Just Go With It</i>. There's even a <a href="http://www.jaunted.com/story/2011/2/11/121859/584/travel/%27Just+Go+With+It%27+like+Jennifer+Aniston+to+Win+Maui+Trips+and+a+Kajillion+Hilton+Points">contest</a> open now to win a good vacation stay at the resort as a tie-in with the movie. <P>Finally, the Grand Wailea is again the center of attention, as today it was announced that it was the temporary Hawaii home of the <i><b>Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue</b></i>'s bevy of models, stylists and photographers when they stayed in Maui to shoot the 2011 issue, hitting newsstands today. We've visited the Grand Wailea before JetSetCD 2011-02-15T13:26:44-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/