The 14-year-old Trump International Hotel Waikiki is being rebranded as Wakea Waikiki Beach under Hilton's luxury LXR Hotels & Resorts brand. There will be a “monumental transformation” soon to be underway, according to developer Irongate and new designated manager LXR Hotels and Resorts.
The hotel will be renamed Wākea Waikiki Beach and managed by Hilton beginning in February 2024, after the owner Irongate and Trump Hotels came to a “mutual agreement” to sever ties after a “significant buyout of the hotel management and license agreements.”
In a statement from Eric Trump, EVP of the Trump Organization, said Irongate and Trump combined to set sales records with more than $700 million in residences sold in one day in 2006. "We are incredibly proud of our performance at Trump Waikiki since the opening of the iconic tower in November 2009," Trump said. "Since opening, we have achieved some of the highest ADRs in Waikiki year after year, we were the only Forbes five-star property on the island of Oahu for eight years, and were consistently ranked in the top three Waikiki hotels on Trip Advisor."
"We would like to thank the Trump Organization, Trump Hotels Group, and especially the team at Trump Waikiki for their commitment to excellence in the operation of the property," Irongate Chairman and CEO Jason Grosfeld said. "With the support of the Trump team, we have achieved great things in 14 years of operation, commencing with our initial real estate sales offering in 2006, and continuing with Trump Hotels' stewardship of the hotel program since 2009. We are proud of what we have accomplished together, and we are looking forward to the next chapter."
The 38-story property, home to 462 guestrooms and suites, will undergo a comprehensive interior architecture and design renovation by Bryan O’Sullivan Studio, set to begin in 2025. With offices in London and New York City, the design firm is known to create interiors that are timeless yet truly original, sophisticated yet irreverent, and always welcoming, according to Hilton. After participating in a multi-day cultural immersion program in Waikiki, the BOS Studio team defined the new design direction by encompassing both cultural integration and luxury enhancements to the overall aesthetic of the building.
Scheduled to start in early 2025 and slated to take place over several months, the renovation will be phased to minimize disruption to daily operations and will encompass upgrades to public areas, including lobbies, pool areas, spa, fitness center, residence corridors, landscaping, and residence interiors. In addition, Wai`olu and In-Yō Café will be reconceptualized, and the destination restaurant on the ground floor will soon be home to an internationally acclaimed restaurateur and chef.
Overall, the redesign will include new finish materials and a furniture collection that consists of pieces tailored specifically for Wākea, as well as updates to modernize building systems. The renovation will have a meaningful impact on the iconic Waikiki property.
“Hawaii has played an important role in Hilton’s history and growth strategy across the Pacific. With more than 20 hotels and resorts open and welcoming travelers across Hawaii, we are delighted to introduce the first LXR Hotels & Resorts property to the destination,” said Greg Hartmann, senior vice president, Luxury and Mixed-Use Development, Hilton. “The signing of Wākea Waikiki Beach complements our Hawaiian luxury portfolio and ensures we continue to meet the needs of our ever-evolving guests in destinations where they choose to be. We are excited about this new era for the resort and look forward to building upon its award-winning reputation.”
This is the second Trump International Hotel to rebrand with Hilton. In 2021, CGI Merchant Group acquired the lease rights to the Trump International Hotel Washington. D.C. for $375 million. The hotel was rebranded as Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C.