Page 4 - MidWeek Kauai - June 7, 2023

4 KAUA‘I MIDWEEK JUNE 7, 2023
S T O R Y B Y Karen Iwamoto P H O T O B Y Lawrence Tabudlo
From a new hotel-condo to buzzworthy dining experiences, big things are on the horizon for Hawai‘i’s hotel scene — and hospitality industry
Kveteran Kelly Sanders is at the forefront.
elly Sanders is a familiar staycation promotion at the ‘Alohi- face in the visitor industry. lani Resort Waikīkī — Highgate’s Before joining hotel man- flagship property in the islands. Ka-
college and when he graduated, he got a job in hotel management.
agement firm Highgate as executive ma‘aina got a discount on their stay
Then, he says, he and a couple of friends decided to open a restaurant in California. They were successful enough to expand to Texas and were planning to open a location in Utah when, through a series of unfor- tunate events, they lost all of the restaurants.
vice president of Hawai‘i properties in 2018, he spent 21 years at Star- wood/Marriott, where he oversaw several of its resorts in the Aloha State.
and $10 from each booking went to nonprofits such as Aloha United Way, Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i and other organizations supporting the community during unprecedented times.
It was his idea to bring large-scale sand sculptures to the lobby of the Sheraton Waikīkī. The “Sandsa- tional” displays continue to be a hit among visitors and locals alike.
“I think we generated over $200,000 for those different organi- zations,” says Sanders, who priori- tizes service in his personal life, too, serving on the board of Diamond Head Theatre, and working with Adult Friends for Youth, Make-A- Wish Hawai‘i and March of Dimes, among others.
Sanders describes that period as one of the toughest in his life.
“And had I not signed an exclu- sive back then I would have it in (Highgate) hotels today,” he says. “It is spectacular and a great signa- ture piece.”
“Losing that business and the challenges we experienced at the time redefined me as a person,” he says.
In 2014, former Gov. David Ige appointed Sanders to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority board. He served two terms before stepping down in 2020.
Sanders’ connection to the hotel industry actually stretches back to his teenage years, when he was a busboy at a hotel restaurant on the mainland. From there, he was pro- moted to the front desk. Working the graveyard shift helped him pay for
“It’s been an incredible journey,” he says.
During the pandemic, he and his team launched the “Love Hawai‘i”
That journey continues. These days, he and his team are focused on the future. From renovations and rebrandings to new builds and partnerships, there’s a lot ahead for Highgate in Hawai‘i.
It also led him back to a success- ful career in hotels.
Slated to open early next year is AC Honolulu by Mar- riott — the second hotel in the downtown district, located at 111 Bishop St., in the former Remington College building.
Kitchen — Marriott’s mod- ern take on a café concept — as well as banquet space and a new speakeasy.
“I think we’re on the verge of really starting to see the downtown area emerge in a way that’s going to be more positive than in the past,” Sanders says. “I think we were on that trajectory be- fore the pandemic and then
during the pandemic things got worse for everyone and we’re starting on that journey again.”
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A rendering of the AC Honolulu by Marriott, which is under construction in downtown Honolulu. IMAGE COURTESY AC HONOLULU BY MARRIOTT
The hotel will feature about 112 rooms and an AC
Parking will be 100% va- let; the hotel has a partnership with a company that operates a nearby parking garage.
He hopes the property will add to the synergy of the dis- trict and drive foot traffic to surrounding businesses.