Turtle Bay Resort Is Now The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay

The new owners of the North Shore’s largest hotel have rebranded the property The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay.
Photo credit: The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay/Kevin Ostajewski

The largest resort on Oahu’s North Shore has officially been rebranded The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay

Formerly Turtle Bay Resort, the property was officially reflagged under Ritz-Carlton management on July 31 after being purchased by Host Hotels & Resorts earlier this year for $630 million.

Ritz-Carlton has two other properties in Hawaii: the 552-room Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach and the 463-room Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. 

“We take great pride in our Hawaii portfolio, and we are confident that The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay will offer the unparalleled service guests have come to expect and love from a stay at one of our hotels,” said Jamie Kerr, vice president and global brand leader for Ritz-Carlton. “We look forward to welcoming back longstanding loyalists of Turtle Bay Resort and sharing this extraordinary destination with the world.”

What to Expect at The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay 

All 450 guestrooms at the Turtle Bay property were renovated as part of a $250 million upgrade that wrapped up at the resort in 2023. Other improvements were made to the resort’s public areas, spa and dining outlets, and a new club lounge and fitness center were added, as well.

What the Rebrand Means for Oahu

Former Starwood Hawaii executive Keith Vieira, who is now the principal at Honolulu-based KV & Associates Hospitality Consulting LLC, said the Ritz-Carlton rebranding at Turtle Bay will certainly help with Hawaii’s effort to maintain visitor spending revenue while reducing total arrivals, by attracting more luxury vacationers to the destination. 

“Everybody knows that we just can’t continue to grow arrivals,” Vieira explained. “We have to grow arrivals that match what the community needs, and the higher-spending traveler is going to spend more money on food, beverages and activities — not just at the hotel, but in the community.” 

Is Further Development Ahead?

In a May 29 statement, Host Hotels & Resorts noted that it also agreed to pay $50 million for a “49-acre land parcel entitled for development” as part of the Turtle Bay acquisition.

Turtle Bay has a fraught history of off-island ownership angering Oahu residents and North Shore community members with extensive resort expansion plans. But Hawaii hospitality consultant Vieira noted that Host Hotels has an established history in Hawaii as a longtime owner.

“They aren’t like a private equity company that needs to flip [properties] on a seven- to nine-year cycle,” Vieira said. “They’ve owned the Hyatt Regency Maui for about 20 years; they’re a long-term owner, and that benefits the employees and the community, because you have consistency in communication and consistency in plan.”

Along with Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa in Kaanapali and The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay, Host Hotels also owns Hyatt Place Waikiki Beach, Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui and Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. 

One thing I’ve always respected about Host is that they tend to respect the community or area they’re in, and then try to make it better.

“One thing I’ve always respected about Host is that they tend to respect the community or area they’re in, and then try to make it better,” Vieira said. “They’re a good owner. And I think anything that gets suggested or planned to be done — it’s going to be vetted by a lot of groups.” 

Vieira added that residents and community leaders up on the North Shore of Oahu appear to currently be in “a watch and see” phase concerning Host Hotels’ plans for Turtle Bay.

That sentiment was echoed by Kathleen Pahinui, chair of Oahu’s North Shore Neighborhood Board.

“The new hotel owners at Turtle Bay have just gotten into place, and I know a few people have met with them,” Pahinui said. “It’s really too early to tell. Of course, everyone is curious as to what’s going on, and everyone has lots of questions. So, we’re waiting to have more meetings with them and to find out what their long-term plans are.”

This article originally appeared in TravelAge West.