Accor’s popular Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra is getting a major makeover this year, including the upgrade of 1176 rooms across two towers that will position the hotel well in a competitive market. To find out more, James Wilkinson spoke to Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra General Manager, Daniel Barnard.

The Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra is popular on so many levels, from the location to the rooms, pool and food and beverage on offer. Tell us about your favourite things of the property.

There is so much to love about the property and its unique location which makes people want to come back time and time again.

Staying at the Ala Moana hotel by Mantra you have the advantage of great amenities in the hotel as well as being ideally located just a few blocks outside of Waikiki.

For instance, the world’s largest open-air mall is connected to the hotel by a foot bridge while Magic Island and Ala Moana beach park are a 5-minute walk from the hotel.

We are also close enough to walk into Waikiki yet far enough away to escape the hustle, bustle and traffic of Waikiki so you can really relax.

Tell us about the stylish rooms and suites on offer, which are now in the midst of a major makeover.

The hotel boasts 1176 rooms across 2 towers, many of the rooms and suites provide great views of the Pacific Ocean, Diamond Head and the Honolulu skyline.

Room types range from Queen bedded rooms in our Kona tower, perfect for couples or people looking for a base whilst exploring the island of Oahu, and a large inventory of rooms in our Waikiki Tower with either King beds or two double beds, ideal for friends and families.

We also have one- and two-bedroom suites with great views looking out over the mountains or the ocean.

The public areas and pool deck of the hotel were fully refurbished in 2021 and we are really excited to be taking the rooms and guest corridors through an upgrade which started in January 2025.

The refresh will include a beautiful feature wall, all new furniture, cabinetry, carpet and painting, we anticipate to be finished in Q4 2025 and cannot wait to showcase the new product.

Tell us about the fantastic food and beverage on offer, which is some of the best in Honolulu.

Over the past few years, we have really focused on the food and beverage offering at the hotel and having a great selection of venues for guests to enjoy.

You can start your day off at Café 410 where you can enjoy a great buffet breakfast with all your favourites or in the main lobby you will find our Starbucks restaurant which is a perfect place to meet before heading out for the day.

If you are looking for a casual meal, on level three we have Fusion Café at DADA serving gourmet espresso drinks in the morning and the flavours of Hawaii from breakfast through dinner.

We are proud to also have two of Oahu’s most popular restaurant venues. Up on level 36 boasting 270-degree views from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean you will find Signature Prime Steak and Seafood restaurant, consistently voted one of the best steak and seafood restaurants on the island, serving perfectly aged steaks, fresh seafood and complimented by an extensive wine cellar.

In late 2022 we welcomed another local favourite, Pint and Jigger gastropub, which can be found on level one in the Kona Tower lobby. Pint and Jigger boasts an exceptional cocktail list and their famous “whiskey wall” featuring over 500 whiskeys.

What’s your x-factor at the Ala Moana Hotel?

It is twofold, we have exceptional dining options right here in the hotel and our physical location combining convenience and accessibility with direct access to the Ala Moana Mall and close proximity to Ala Moana Beach Park. It truly is a place to eat, shop and stay on Oahu.

How important is the loyalty, particularly given the global popularity of ALL?

Loyalty is vitally important. It builds trust with a company or brand which is key and keeps guests coming back.

We are the only Accor hotel currently on the island of Oahu which is a good for us in one way as members of Accor Live Limitless (ALL) will often choose the Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra and we enjoy welcoming them to Hawaii, often offering little extras to make their stay even more enjoyable.

We are focused at the hotel on driving awareness of Accor, our great brands globally and the extensive benefits of the ALL program, as is not as well known here compared to the big US hotel chains programs.

We have enjoyed a steady increase in loyalty stays and pleasingly we were able to grow new enrolments into the ALL program at the property by over 250% last year.

What are some of your favourite things to do in the local area?

If you like to shop then you will be in heaven, Ala Moana Shopping Centre has everything featuring over 350 stores from luxury brands to unique Hawaiian boutiques.

Personally, having two young children I love to go down to Ala Moana beach park, the shoreline is protected by the reef so you always have calm and shallow water which is perfect for swimming and paddle boarding, it is also very common to spot Hawaiian green sea turtles in that area.

ESSENTIALS: GETTING TO HONOLULU

The best way of getting to Honolulu in comfort and style.

Qantas’ brilliant Business Class ‘Suite’

QANTAS BUSINESS CLASS

Qantas operates direct flights to Honolulu from Sydney, Australia, with Airbus A330s that feature the airline’s latest Business Class cabin.

Qantas’ Business Class cabin is headlined by a ‘suite’ seat – now available on all the Boeing 787-9, Airbus A330-200 and Airbus A330-300 jets in the fleet and select Airbus A380-800s – that has been popular with executive and leisure travellers since it first arrived on the scene in 2016.

This next-generation Business Class seat from the Flying Kangaroo can be reclined for take-off and landing, and the cabin offering also includes top Australian food and wine and world-class entertainment.

Wayfarer Host and Editor-In-Chief, James Gregory Wilkinson, experienced the new Business Class ‘Suite’ and click on the YouTube below to find out what you can expect onboard.