Outrigger’s newly acquired Maldives resort reflects ongoing expansion plans

The acquisition of a five-star, 81-room luxurious seashore resort within the Maldives by Hawaii-­headquartered Outrigger Hospitality Group is a part of an ongoing international
enlargement technique that features Hawaii, in line with President and CEO Jeff Wagoner.

“We’re a world firm however our roots are in Hawaii,” he stated Monday, “and we wish to proceed to develop and renovate properties and develop our footprint right here.”

Wagoner famous that Outrigger has, inside the previous eight months, acquired the Outrigger Kona Resort and three resorts in Thailand, plus its newest addition, renamed the Outrigger Maldives Maafushivaru Resort, which occupies a non-public island within the South Ari Atoll area of the Republic of Maldives, an archipelago within the Indian Ocean about
450 miles southwest of Sri Lanka and India.

The corporate didn’t disclose the price of the acquisition, which was introduced Thursday.

He stated having Outrigger luxurious seashore resorts within the Maldives, the place the group
is different doable acquisitions, wouldn’t dilute the customer pool for its
Hawaii properties as a result of customer markets for the far-flung island chains are traditionally separate.

“A number of these resort locations have (guests of) completely different geography,” Wagoner stated. “The Maldives get a big quantity of journey that comes out of China, India and Europe, simply based mostly on its location on this planet and since it (attracts) a distinct buyer.”

In distinction, he stated, 60% of journey to Hawaii comes from the U.S. mainland, primarily from the West Coast.

“Definitely any international main vacation spot is competitors for Hawaii,” stated Keith Vieira, principal of KV &Associates, a hospitality consulting agency.

Nevertheless, he stated
Maldives guests “are far more Europe-based,” and Outrigger’s international enlargement would possibly assist market Hawaii to a broader viewers.

“They’re rising their model,” Vieira stated of Outrigger Hospitality Group, including, “Outrigger is related to Hawaii and shall be spreading the Hawaii model world wide.”

Wagoner stated the corporate has had properties
internationally “for a few years now, together with two properties in Fiji and a property in Mauritius.”

Now, he stated, Outrigger is properties in California and on the west coast of Mexico, in addition to within the Pacific and Indian oceans, and different locations in Hawaii as nicely.

A newly accomplished Hawaiian cultural heart on the Outrigger Reef Resort in Waikiki, and plans to renovate the Outrigger East and Outrigger Kona properties, illustrate the corporate’s dedication to investing “$200-plus-million throughout lots of our properties in Hawaii that’s in all probability going to finish up much more,” Wagoner stated.

On the identical time, Outrigger’s Fiji resorts are common locations for Hawaii residents, together with surfers and their companions, he stated, and likewise see “a variety of vacationers from Australia and New Zealand, who come to
Hawaii, as nicely.”

Whereas not as radical as
Fiji’s famed Cloudbreak and different huge breaks, the numerous point-break waves of the Maldives are additionally celebrated in surf publications.

“The Maldives are nice for high-end spenders, in order that’s good for Outrigger,” Vieira stated. “And the stronger the Outrigger model is, the higher off they’ll be in Hawaii.”

Trying forward, “we’re very bullish on Hawaii,” Wagoner stated.