16-month closure planned for Princeville Resort

PRINCEVILLE — Starwood Capitol Group announced The Princeville Resort will be closed for at least 16 months for renovations.

The Princeville Resort, expected to close for renovations on May 1, has announced it plans to reopen as 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in November 2021.

That’s according to a recent announcement by SH Hotels &Resorts, a subsidiary of the global investment firm Starwood Capital Group, announcing a planned multimillion-dollar renovation of the resort, and the rebranding.

News of the planned closure on Kaua‘i came in early January, according to a Jan. 13 article in The Garden Island, when staff members taking reservations were surprised the resort’s website wasn’t accepting bookings for summer 2020.

In January, project representatives did not share information about the length of the planned closure or about how many people the closure would affect. The Princeville Resort is one of Kaua‘i’s larger employers.

Thursday, a project spokesperson still declined to release the number of employees that would be affected, and simply said “we do not have a final head count at this time.”

That spokesperson did confirm “plans are currently being worked on in conjunction with the local government and union” for employees during the period of the closure.

After the renovation, the resort will become 1 Hotels’ flagship property, advertised as a “wellness resort” and a “sanctuary” with plenty of greenscape, access to Kaua‘i’s natural surroundings and farm-to-table food that’s sourced locally and sustainably — some from on-site gardens.

Its design outlines 252 rooms, including 51 suites, a wellness center, an 18,000 square-foot spa and fitness center, and five food and beverage outlets.

According to the news release, the resort will be operated by SH Hotels &Resorts, the hotel management company that manages Starwood Capital’s 1 Hotels brand.

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Jessica Else, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or jelse@thegardenisland.com.