In late June, Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa recently opened its ʻOhana <a href="https://comicvibe.com/nine-<a href="https://comicvibe.com/flutter-entertainment-flut-stock-faces-margin-squeeze-despite-steady-revenue/” title=”Flutter Entertainment (FLUT) Stock Faces Margin Squeeze Despite Steady Revenue”>entertainment-co-holdings-asxnec-shares-rise-as-nrl-rights-deal-extends-sports-portfolio/” title=”Nine Entertainment Co. Holdings (ASX:NEC) Shares Rise as NRL Rights Deal Extends Sports Portfolio”>Entertainment Center, a 6,000-square-foot space that includes bowling, virtual reality attractions, sports simulators and more than 60 arcade games.
The space, which is located near the lobby, is open to resort guests, visitors staying at other places in Waikīkī andkamaʻāina.
Since the venue opened recently, data on visitation trends was not immediately available, Mark Weatherill, general manager of Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, told Aloha State Daily
“What we are seeing is a healthy mix of resort guests, island visitors and local residents, which is exactly the outcome we were hoping for when the project was envisioned,” he said.
Representatives of the resort declined to comment on the cost of the project. It was developed in partnership with Family Entertainment Group.
Weatherill considers the bowling lanes his favorite part of the center, he said.
“While the virtual reality attractions and arcade games are incredibly popular, bowling has a unique way of bringing people together,” Weatherill shared via email. “Whether it’s grandparents, parents, teenagers or younger children, everyone can participate. Every time I walk through the venue, I see families laughing, cheering each other on and creating memorable experiences together. That really captures the spirit of ʻohana and what we hoped to achieve when we created the entertainment center.”
Prior to becoming an entertainment center, the area included administrative and back-of-house space.
“The planning, design and development process began approximately a year before the official opening, with our teams working closely with Family Entertainment Group to bring the vision to life,” Weatherill told ASD.
Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort & Spa spans more than five acres and features more than 1,300 guest rooms and suites, plus a one-acre pool and cabana deck with panoramic ocean views.
“The inspiration was simple, in that we wanted to create a place where families, friends and groups could come together and create lasting memories,” he wrote. “Today’s travelers are looking for more than just accommodations; they’re seeking shared experiences, and we saw an opportunity to add a unique indoor attraction that could be enjoyed by both our resort guests and the local community.”
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Katie Helland can be reached atkatie@alohastatedaily.com.
