Few places encourage visitors to let their guard down and open themselves up to new opportunities and experiences quite like the beach. Kaanapali Beach, a mile-long stretch of Maui sand that is home to seven resorts, top-notch shopping and dining options, and activities galore is famous for having just that relaxing effect. Smart Meetings spoke to the experts at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali about best practices for taking your meeting to the oceanfront.
Meet with a View
Gorgeous views have a calming effect that is worlds above meeting in your traditional four-walled room. The Westin Maui features the 4,560-square-foot oceanfront lawn, which rests alongside Kaanapali Beach, ideal for intimate groups that will appreciate the gorgeous views of the Molokai and Lanai islands, as well as the beautiful sunsets that accompany it.
Planners can take their pick from the 20 meeting rooms and a total of 56,340 sq. ft. of indoor-outdoor space that The Westin Maui offers, many of which provide breathtaking ocean views, such as Ocean Lanai Terrace and Garden Lani Terrace. All this and an executive meeting specialist at your side during the event will make it all flow seamlessly for both you and your attendees.
Dine, Shop and Explore
Attendees will most-definitely want to take some of that island feeling back home with them. The town of Lahaina is home to Whaler’s Village—Hawaii’s only oceanfront shopping destination—which features stores, restaurants, a whaling museum and more activities. Take attendees here before or after the meeting for quality shopping, assisted by a remarkable sight of the Pacific.
No trip to Hawaii is complete until you attend a luau, an experience which Wailele Luau, The Westin Maui’s Hawaiian and Polynesian buffet, offers at their secondary outdoor location every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evening year-round, and Wednesdays during the summer and holiday season. Attendees looking for a seafood fix can check out Lahaina Grill, which also serves steak and more Hawaiian specialties.
Consider adding time in the agenda for exploration as Maui has opportunities for it in spades. Hana, a section of east Maui that is isolated from the rest of the island and is considered as one of the last unspoiled areas in the world is a must-see. Honolua Bay could serve as a location for adventure as well, offering snorkeling, scuba diving tours and incredible hiking trails throughout Honolua Valley.
