RELEASE NUMBER 27 | 25
Pictured (l-r): OUTRIGGER’s Geri Harvey-Gundlach (Global Account Manager), Sean Dee (EVP & Chief Commercial Officer), Sarah McComas (OEA Advisory Council Member), Angela Murphy (Vice President Sales – The Americas), Bob Froio (Senior Director of Sales and Marketing – North America), Anne-Marie Kelley Brown, Lori Foster (OEA Advisory Council Member) and Rob Taylor (Global Account Manager).
HONOLULU – OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels took home two TravelAge West 2025 WAVE Awards in the categories of Best Hotel Brand, Hawai‘i and Best Resort for Cultural Immersion, Hawai‘i, at the star-studded Western Advisors’ Votes of Excellence Awards gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey, California on June 5, 2025.
This marks the fourth consecutive year, and an impressive eighth time overall, that OUTRIGGER has earned the title of Hawai‘i’s Best Hotel Brand, reaffirming its position as a leader in island hospitality. This year the company also celebrated a meaningful first with OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort’s recognition as Best Resort for Cultural Immersion, spotlighting the brand’s commitment to authentic, enriching guest experiences rooted in Hawaiian culture.
“We’re honored to be recognized once again by the travel advisor community,” said Sean Dee, EVP and chief commercial officer at OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels. “Receiving Best Hotel Brand in Hawai‘i for the fourth year in a row and seeing OUTRIGGER Kā‘anapali Beach Resort honored for cultural immersion underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional, culturally rich experiences that connect guests to the spirit of Hawai‘i.”
More than 7,200 travel advisor professionals throughout the U.S. and readers of TravelAge West voted on the best-of-the-best from a list of Editor’s Pick award recipients that were chosen after careful review by Ken Shapiro, Group Vice President and Editorial Director, Mindy Poder, Editor-in-Chief of TravelAge West and the editorial team of TravelAge West. Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of industry advisors and online research.
“This is the 20th anniversary of the WAVE Awards,” Shapiro said. “So, we are extra proud to be able to give travel advisors an opportunity to acknowledge the great supplier partners that help them make travel dream trips a reality.”
Honorees were recognized across 77 categories including airlines, hotels and resorts, destinations and technology companies. The annual awards give travel advisors the opportunity to recognize the outstanding qualities and services of their travel supplier partners. Visit the WAVE Awards website for a list of this year’s WAVE Award winners.
For more information or to book a stay at an award-winning OUTRIGGER property, visit www.outrigger.com.
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