While I plan a menu for Thanksgiving-lite, I’m really just daydreaming of jetting off to a tv-free island with oceanfront suites and spa treatments. Within the last couple of weeks, Hawaii has made this possible with the announcement that travelers are now welcome to visit the islands of Hawaii freely upon providing a negative COVID-19 test. And some pretty sweet deals at one of my favorite Hawaiian resorts. Consider my Google Flights search set.
The storied Fairmont Orchid resort on Hawaii Island’s Kohala Coast has announced that it will reopen to all visitors beginning tomorrow, November 13, 2020.
When the property reopens, the guest experience will feel much the same to guests, though the property has implemented new health and safety protocols developed in partnership with experts from Johns Hopkins University Center for Health & Security, Ecolab and Bureau Veritas, including wearing masks while on-property. While indoor restaurant dining will remain closed at opening, guests will be able to dine al fresco at Fairmont Orchid’s eateries.
As part of the reopening, in December Fairmont Orchid will launch a new outdoor lounge space and Veuve Clicquot pop-up bar called Pau Hana. Translating loosely to “Work is done. It’s time to relax and have fun with family and friends,” Pau Hana is an apres beach bar overlooking Pauoa Bay. Serving both vintage and non-vintage glasses of Veuve Clicquot wines by the glass, the pop-up will also serve specialty champagne cocktails such as the Queen Bee, made with kiawe honey mixed with Kuleana rum and topped with Veuve Cliquot’s renowned La Grande Dame 2008 vintage champagne.
Fairmont Orchid’s spa experiences are also moving outdoors, with its Spa Without Walls program temporarily taking the place of traditional, indoor spa treatments. As part of Spa Without Walls, guests can receive massage and facial therapy treatments at one of the property’s oceanfront cabanas or waterfall hales (huts) built above streams and ponds.
To welcome guests back to the resort, Fairmont Orchid is offering a ‘buy one get one’ rate called Stay Close. For every night booked between reopening and April 30, 2021, every second night is ‘on us’, according to the resort. Stay Close reservations require booking before November 30,2020. For those looking for an extended getaway, the property is also offering a Work, Stay & Play package for those interested in posting up at the luxury resort. For guests booking a 30-day remote-work stay, Fairmont Orchid is offering waived resort fees, complimentary Wi-fi, 20% off of all food and beverage, 25% off of oceanfront cabana rentals, 10% off of laundry services and access to the Executive Board Room.
On the reopening, General Manager Charles Head shares that, “We’ve missed our guests and are excited to welcome our friends, family and community back to Fairmont Orchid. Hawaii is a unique destination with such a rich cultural heritage. Our long-time guests have respectfully honored our state mandates to be pono and refrain from traveling to the Hawaiian Islands until it was considered safe to do so. But now that they’ve got the green light to travel, we hope they’ll be as eager to visit us as we are to welcome them!”