NEW YORK — OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group President and CEO Jeff Wagoner believes there’s still loads of room and potential for growth in the resort brands in Hawaii, but he also sees potential across the globe in leisure-based beach destinations.
Speaking with Hotel News Now at the recent NYU International Hospitality Industry Investment Conference, Wagoner said Outrigger is looking at growth opportunities around the Pacific and beyond.
“We think in Asia-Pacific we have a significant opportunity,” he said. “There are a lot of resort destinations across the the islands in Asia-Pacific, and we really are bullish on that market. But we’re also looking heavily into Southern California, into South Florida, into Mexico. Cabo is a destination that we’ve always been very interested in. So we’re a global resort company, and we want to continue to reach out across the globe.”
Outrigger is wrapping up a wave of renovations and improvements across its portfolio in Hawaii, Wagoner said, and the company recently expanded its entertainment options in Waikiki by bringing in a new Cirque du Soleil show at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel. But beyond new investments and programming, Wagoner believes there’s still organic growth opportunities for travel, especially with more travelers understanding West Maui has reopened to travel a year after devastating wildfires.
“West Maui is open for leisure travel again, and we’re really driving or pushing to drive business hard back into the West Maui markets,” he said. “It’s important from a jobs perspective that we’ve got occupancy and that we are able to keep all of our employees gainfully employed. And so we’re working hard with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau to be able to ensure that business comes back strong into the West Maui market.”
Click, HERE, to watch the full interview video on Hotel News Now.