Romer House Waikiki, the first adults-only hotel on Hawaii’s Oahu Island, is officially open.
Hotel management company Highgate unveiled the 179-key boutique hotel, set to appeal to Waikiki’s “thriving leisure market,” Highgate Hawaii President Kelly Sanders said in a statement obtained by Hotel Dive.
Sister property to Romer Waikiki at the Ambassador, the reimagined hotel features guest rooms with design elements that “channel the island’s urban-beach chic aesthetic,” according to Highgate. The company’s in-house design and construction studio, Lucid, led project management for the hotel.
The property offers on-site amenities like a pool area with cabana daybeds and a full-service bar. The hotel also features the reimagined Izakaya 855-Aloha Japanese restaurant and bar, inspired by Oahu’s storied sky-blue pay phones that tell visitors to dial 1-855-ALOHA-00.
Guests’ key cards double as “preferred access to the neighborhood,” unlocking exclusive experiences and offerings at local businesses around the island, according to Highgate. These benefits include poolside wellness classes, spa packages and complimentary bike rentals, among others.
The property aims to cater to the “interests, needs and spend” of travelers without kids, according to Sanders.
“As Oahu did not offer an adults-only comprehensive segment, we knew Romer was the idyllic partner to meet the select needs of an adult niche, while creating an immersive hotel experience that serves as an extension of community, culture, care and, above all, connection,” Sanders said. “Its location in the heart of Waikiki, with accessibility to the neighborhood’s vibrancy, will appeal to this growing leisure market.
While Highgate bets on adults-only travel, parents nationwide are more likely to travel this year than non-parents, and they’re prepared to spend more as well, according to a recent Forbes Advisor survey. The study found that 26% of parents anticipate spending more than $5,000 on travel, while only 17% of non-parents expect to do so.
Hospitality experts also previously told Hotel Dive that, at least when traveling for business, parents are becoming more inclined to bring their children along and look for family-friendly accommodations.
With Romer House, Highgate grows its Oahu portfolio, which includes the AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu.
Across the island, other hotel management companies are expanding as well, including Pyramid Global Hospitality, which recently assumed management of Wayfinder Waikiki.
Host Hotels & Resorts made a significant investment in the island earlier this month by acquiring Turtle Bay Resort for $725 million, which will be rebranded under Marriott’s Ritz-Carlton flag.
