Disney To Open Hawaii Hotel

Disney has today announced it is initiating a project to create a family orientated holiday resort in Hawaii, which it expects to be completed and open for business by 2011 to join its resorts in Europe, the US and Asia.

The cartoon brand has become an internationally renouned travel business, providing vacations to millions of visitors each year throughout its themed holiday resorts, with flagship theme park villages in the US, Europe and China.

However, according to official announcements today, the Hawaii park will be standalone, rather than focusing round the traditional Disney model of theme parks, a move which many have thought could be potentially damaging for the company.

Unphased Disney executives spoke positively about the move today which will take its first customers around the summer of 2011 if construction goes to plan, which will include several nearby attractions like a golf course and tennis courts.

Despite the lack of initial entertainment like the other Disney-themed fairgrounds, it is thought that the Disney reputation for quality and reliability will help sell the new resort to existing and new customers from around the world.

The site for the resort alone cost $144m and comprises of a 21 acre plot overlooking the Hawaiian beach, which is designed to make for a more appealing holiday resort. Initial plans are suggesting the site could be opened for an 800-room strong hotel complex sprawling across the land.

At present the Disney brand owns and operates almost 40 hotels globally with a capacity in excess of 30,000 rooms, all of which have above industry standard occupancy rates. The opening of the new resort is likely to be followed by a media circus, which it is hoped will revive current interest in the Disney brand and its travel division.

Story link: Disney To Open Hawaii Hotel