Windsurfing at Four Seasons Wailea
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, HI, is renovating its fall and winter attractions with new programs and camps to appeal to the athletically-inclined.
The "Unforgettable Event Series" houses programs that bring out the best aspects of the area . For a property that has excellent weather year-round, promoting offers during periods when other regions of the world suffer from cold obviously hits a nerve.
"The tennis and cycling events feature different pros each year, and that is the main difference," said Mark Simon, director of marketing at Four Seasons Resort Maui, HI.
"The other thing is that each year we introduce a new camp," he said. "Last year it was the windsurfing camp. And our next camp (under development) will be a 'waterman' camp where campers would join in with well-known professionals in the surfing world and participate in a variety of water events like surfing, paddleboarding, windsurfing, paddling, and maybe even throw in some land activities like cycling. It will be wild.
"The point of the camps is that each emphasizes a strength of the resort or the island."
Waves and backhands
The four events in this year's series include the Aloha Windsurfing Clinic Nov. 9-14, Wailea Tennis Fantasy Camp Nov. 19-23, Maui Cycling Camp Dec. 5-9, 11-15, or 5-15 and Vintage Wine Weekend through December.
Four Seasons Maui enlists top guides each year to mentor guests. For the athletic endeavors, coaches with proven experience in their respective sports are tapped.
Windsurf instruction by Matt Pritchard at Four Seasons Maui
The windsurfing champions Matt Prithcard and Shawna Cropas will introduce guests to the basics of the sport and lead them through small waves.
Four Seasons Maui wind surfing
Tennis enthusiasts will receive instruction from professionals and offer recreational and tournament formats. Previous instructors include Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport and Tom Gullikson.
Four Seasons Maui tennis
Cyclists will be given a taste of what a pro tour is structured like under the direction of former Olympian Ryder Hesjedal.
The final program in the series shifts from the athletic track onto the culinary circuit as guests are joined by master sommeliers and master executive chef Roger Stettler as the violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn performs.
You know best
Four Seasons Maui frequently backs creative projects with credible partners.
For instance, the property is inviting affluent consumers with a penchant for charity to participate in a range of community “voluntourism” offers.
The offers range from Habitat for Humanity to meal distribution services and present guests with results that they can see. Whether guests want to structure a trip around volunteering or integrate an event or two into their itinerary, the concierge team intends to meet preferences.
As a brand, Four Seasons devises many packages for those into fitness.
For example, Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, CA, is launching a triathlon program to give aspiring triathletes the guidance needed to continue and veteran triathletes new ways of perceiving challenges.
The “Ultimate Performance Triathlon Training Camp” is helmed by professional coaches and the on-site California Health and Longevity Institute team and features extensive training and educational components. The growing interest in extreme obstacle courses and other stamina-testing trials combined with a lack of adequate resources gives savvy hotel brands an easy opportunity to align themselves with the movement (see story).
To ensure that guests receive a rewarding experience, the brand prefers to bring in the experts.
"I would say the high level of interaction with the pros [is the most surprising aspect]," Mr. Simon said.
"The camps are purposely kept to a small size where you are really getting to know the elite pros in each sport on a personal level, learning their training tips and techniques," he said.
"All of our pros are pretty cool and approachable."
Final take
Joe McCarthy, editorial assistant on Luxury Daily, New York