HONOLULU – September 05 – SpaHalekulani, the luxurious oasis at Honolulu’s acclaimed Halekulani resort, has named Gloria Williams-Ah Sam as its new Spa Director. Overseeing all  aspects of the world-renowned spa’s day-to-day operations, Ms. Williams-Ah Sam will also design and implement new, exotic and rejuvenating spa experiences. SpaHalekulani is known for its indulgent service standards and array of distinctive island healing experiences, such as the full-body Polynesian Nonu and Ton Ton Amma and spa expressions including Elegant Passage and Heavenly Journey, among others.

“Ms. Willams-Ah Sam is an esteemed industry professional and brings a wealth of knowledge, innovative thinking and thoughtful customer service to SpaHalekulani. We look forward to unveiling her fresh, new spa-treatment ideas, destined to enhance an already exquisite spa experience at Halekulani,” said Janis Clapoff, General Manager of Halekulani.

 Ms. Williams-Ah Sam has more than 13-years of experience in spa management and luxury hospitality. Most recently she served as Spa Manager for Abhasa Waikiki Spa at The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Honolulu. Prior experience also includes Malama Salon and Spa, Frederic Fekkai Company, and Liberty House at Macy’s, Honolulu.  Ms. William-Ah Sam is known for her excellent operational skills, knowledge of spa, health and wellness industry trends, and personable clientele rapport. 

Gray’s Beach, which fronts Halekulani, was known to early Hawaiians for its healing waters or “kawehewehe,” and this legacy continues with SpaHalekulani, which opened its oasis in 2003. The first spa to fully explore the healing traditions of the Pacific Islands, SpaHalekulani provides guests with an all-enveloping experience appealing to the inner self and creating a harmonious fusion of senses that promotes well being beyond skin deep…a respite that is elegantly spiritual, cultural and emotional. 

Consistently ranked among the world’s best hotels, Halekulani is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and Okura Hotels & Resorts, two exclusive organizations pursuing service excellence and standards of the highest quality. This year, readers of Travel + Leisure ranked Halekulani as one of the top 25 hotels in the world, while the Vera Wang Suite at Halekulani was named one of the 50 most romantic places in the world. Readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine named Halekulani one of the “World’s Best Places to Stay” in the publication’s 2005 “Reader’s Choice Awards.”  In 2004, Halekulani also received top honors from Condé Nast Traveler, scoring higher than any other U.S. resort in the publication’s 2004 “Gold List,” which ranked Halekulani the number one resort in the U.S. for location and the number three resort in the U.S. for food. In addition, the two year-old SpaHalekulani earned the coveted Mobil Four-Star rating in 2004 and 2005 – the highest rating bestowed upon any spa in the new guidebook from America’s most trusted travel advisor, Mobil Travel Guide, titled America’s Best Hotel & Resort Spas. SpaHalekulani was named a Leading Spa for 2005 by The Leading Hotels of the World.  The spa pays homage to the healing cultures of Hawaii, Asia and the South Pacific by creating a serene environment to soothe the senses. In keeping with Halekulani’s tradition of gracious hospitality and timeless elegance, SpaHalekulani provides guests with an all-enveloping experience, appealing to their innermost senses and creating a spa experience that promotes well being; it is a cultural, emotional and spiritual experience. Its fine dining restaurant La Mer is Hawaii’s only AAA Five Diamond Restaurant and has held this esteemed rating for 15 consecutive years.

Halekulani is managed by the Hotels and Resorts of Halekulani, a brand management division of the Honolulu-based Halekulani Corporation, which also manages Waikiki Parc Hotel.  For reservations and information contact your travel planner or the hotel at (800) 367-2343 or (808) 923-2311.  Reservations can also be made through Halekulani’s website at www.halekulani.com