Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Completes Major Repositioning

Multi-year renovation position the resort as an option for high-impact, culturally grounded programs

With its recent multi-million-dollar renovation and transition to the Royal Sonesta brand, one of Kaua‘i’s best-known beachfront resorts has officially reopened with renewed ambition—and a clear focus on the meetings and incentive market.

Formerly operating under the Marriott flag, the Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort completed a multi-year transformation that blends elevated guest experiences with a strong sense of local culture and place. The investment comes as demand for Hawai‘i-based group travel steadily rebounds, with planners prioritizing destinations that can deliver not only luxury and logistics but also meaning, memory, and measurable impact.

Infrastructure Upgrades

Located minutes from Līhuʻe Airport on Kalapakī Beach, the resort now offers a portfolio of indoor and outdoor venues designed for flexibility. Meeting space enhancements include refreshed interiors, upgraded audiovisual capabilities, and improved flow between event zones—ideal for multi-day programs, executive retreats, and incentive reward experiences.

For larger gatherings, the resort’s outdoor areas provide high visual impact. The signature 26,000-square-foot swimming pool—the largest single-level pool in Hawai‘i—can serve as a dynamic focal point for welcome receptions, wellness activations, or informal networking sessions.

“Planners are looking for venues that feel distinctive but still operate smoothly,” says General Manager Jim Pedone. “We’ve rebuilt this property around that idea—preserving what people loved, while modernizing for today’s expectations.”

Dining Concepts

The renovation introduces three distinct food and beverage venues, each with group integration in mind:

Kukui’s features an expanded, locally inspired menu suitable for private dining or hosted group meals.

Kai’s Bar, a new addition, offers an open-air space for relaxed receptions or post-agenda gatherings.

The Royal Lanai now operates as a hybrid venue—serving grab-and-go breakfast for early programming days, then transitioning into Sushi & Spirits in the evening, ideal for small-group socializing or dine-arounds.

Menus across venues emphasize fresh, seasonal ingredients and can be adapted for dietary requirements or themed culinary experiences.

Cultural Programming Adds Experiential Value

To meet growing demand for meaningful local experiences, the resort has launched Drums & Dances of Polynesia, a weekly luau that combines immersive entertainment with turnkey production value for planners. Held Thursday nights on-site, the program includes a lei greeting, Polynesian buffet, open bar, and live performance—a ready-made cultural activation that can serve as a standalone evening event or closing celebration.

The property also incorporates curated Hawaiian art, local design elements, and opportunities for cultural engagement throughout the guest journey—providing built-in storytelling touchpoints for incentive and leadership programs.

Any thoughts, opinions, or news? Please share them with me at vince@meetingsevents.com.

Photo by Sonesta

Digital Tipping 101

Once upon a time, tipping while attending an offsite meeting or event was easy: slip a few bills to the bellman, leave something on the pillow for housekeeping, and hand off a discreet envelope at checkout. But as hotel and event services increasingly shift to digital and cashless systems, the simple act of saying “thank you” has gotten more complex.

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