Some non-islanders will be staying as far away as Princeville and driving down to Po’ipu for next week’s PGA Grand Slam of Golf. And there is strong evidence to suggest that a sizable portion of timeshare owners schedule their Kaua’i
Some non-islanders will be staying as far away as Princeville and driving down to Po’ipu for next week’s PGA Grand Slam of Golf.
And there is strong evidence to suggest that a sizable portion of timeshare owners schedule their Kaua’i vacations around the annual competition pitting the winners of the four major men’s professional golf tournaments at Po’ipu Bay Golf Course.
Every year, south shore-area business owners virtually appeal to a higher authority for superstar Tiger Woods to win at least one of the majors (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open or PGA Championship) so he also wins a trip to Kaua’i for the tournament. And every year for the past five, the golfing gods – and Woods – have responded.
Immediately following a Woods win in one of the majors, reservation lines at airlines, hotels and rental car companies get active with requests for information about Kaua’i and Po’ipu, as golfing America makes plans to walk with Woods.
This year is no exception.
The Hyatt Regency Kaua’i Resort & Spa, where Jerry Gibson is general manager, is sold out next week. Hyatt reservations agents are referring golf fanatics suffering from incurable Tigermania to nearby hotels.
Gibson, who also is president of the Po’ipu Beach Resort Association and Hawai’i Hotel Association’s Kaua’i chapter, notes that the Grand Slam, while pumping up the south shore economy during a usually slow period (November and Thanksgiving week), is good for the entire island.
“There’s no doubt about it,” said Gibson, adding that the sight of sunny Po’ipu beamed live via television into millions of frigid mainland homes just days before Thanksgiving is advertising which would cost millions if the island had to pay for comparable exposure.
TNT (Turner Network Television) will air the action live Nov. 20-21, which during morning play at Po’ipu equates to prime time exposure on the East Coast.
For the past several years, Hyatt Regency reservation lines have gotten extremely busy immediately after each day’s telecast, with people planning their sojourns to paradise after seeing it live on TV, Gibson said.
The Sheraton Kaua’i Resort in Po’ipu is “almost sold out” up until Thanksgiving, which is traditionally a slow period for the property, said Charldon Thomas, general manager.
The Grand Slam has been “a tremendous plus for us,” Thomas said.
Some guests at the Sheraton for the Grand Slam – mostly young couples or retirees – may stay through Thanksgiving weekend, Thomas continued. But most who come for the golf will still try to get to loved ones and traditional holiday feasts back home, he added.
The 88-unit Aston at Po’ipu Kai condominiums are also sold out next week, said Sandi Kato-Klutke, general manager.
During tournament week, “a lot of the hotels pick up occupancy obviously because of the Grand Slam,” said Gibson, adding that a significant number of timeshare owners plan Kaua’i vacations around the event.
“We’re still gaining some new reservations” Grand Slam week, said Jay Furfaro, general manager of the Radisson Kaua’i Beach Resort near Hanama’ulu. He’s not sure whether they’re from golf fans.
“Since it’s become an annual event, I’m sure it’s become something that the timeshare owners are very interested in, because they can plan their vacation using their facilities and their units around the same time. Which is good for everybody, because they also eat in restaurants and they also rent cars,” said Furfaro.
Kaua’i car rental companies, though, haven’t reported sold-out days for next week.
Interisland airlines report business building toward this weekend and into Slam week, though as of yesterday no additional flights had been added to the regular schedules of either Aloha or Hawaiian.
Staff Writer Paul C. Curtis can be reached at mailto:pcurtis@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 224).
