DINING AWARD FOR 17TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
- Maintains Distinction as Only Five Diamond Restaurant in Hawaii -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HONOLULU, HI - October 2006. For the 17th consecutive year, Halekulani’s La Mer has captured the Automobile Association of America’s (AAA) Five Diamond Award for dining, maintaining its superb standard as the only Five Diamond restaurant in Hawaii – and one of only 58 restaurants in North America and the Caribbean to earn Five-Diamond recognition from AAA this year. La Mer’s combination of impeccable French cuisine, exquisite oceanfront surroundings and elegant, gracious service ensure the finest dining experience found in the islands.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious Dining Award,” said Janis Clapoff, General Manager of Halekulani. “For La Mer to be recognized for the 17th consecutive year as the only AAA five diamond restaurant in Hawaii is a testament of our quality commitment to our patrons.”
La Mer’s sixteen years of excellence have been filled with accolades and remarkable reviews of its fine food. Since 1996, La Mer’s Chef de Cuisine, Yves Garnier, has perfected the culinary craft of marrying French cuisine with Hawaiian culture – a creation he calls "cuisine du soleil" or cuisine of the sun. The inspiration for such a unique blend stems from Chef Garnier’s impressive past in the restaurant industry, where he served as chef de cuisine at La Coupole in the Mirabeau Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton Hotels in San Francisco and Florida. Additionally, Garnier was recently bestowed the title of “Ordre Du Merite Agricole” by the state of France for his superior commitment to preserving traditional agricultural practices. As a Michelin-starred chef and expert of French cuisine, it is no doubt that Chef Garnier’s past experiences, dedication and culinary ingenuity have played a key role in La Mer’s reputation as one of the top restaurants in the world.
La Mer features an exquisite Degustation Menu available for $128 per person. The masterful experience includes a decadent nine-course array that begins with champagne and amuse bouche and offers a bounty of the finest ingredients available. Halekulani cuisine is trans-fat free.
La Mer has been bestowed an exclusive collection of Designer Wines the leading producers around the world. CUVEE “LACE” Chardonnay by Winemaker Gary Burk of Costa De Oro Vineyards, Santa Maria, California; CUVEE “JOY” Riesling by Dr. F. Weins-Prum, Mosel, Germany, Graacher Domprobst, Kabinett; CUVEE “SILK” Meritage-Red by Winemaker Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat Winery, Santa Maria, California; “CLOS WINDSBUHL” Chardonnay by Winemaker Olivier Humbrecht of Domaine Zindhumbrecht, Alsace, France and “CELEBRATE” Cabernet Sauvignon by Winemaker Jim Clendenon of Au Bon Climat Winery, Santa Maria, California.
Halekulani has received top honors from a vast array of top tier publications Most recently, La Mer was ranked by USA Today as the top hotel restaurant in Hawaii and in 2006 Food & Wine ranked the hotel as number one in “Hotel Pick.” Zagat’s Survey also ranked La Mer #8 of “America’s Top 100 Hotel Restaurants” in 2006.
Resorts & Great Hotels named Halekulani in its “Connoisseur’s Choice” this year, and Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. named SpaHalekulani as “A Leading Spa.” Halekulani was included in Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Awards Readers’ Poll where in 2006, the hotel was ranked as #1 “Best Business Hotel” in Hawaii; #2 of “World’s Best Hotels” in Hawaii; and #19 of “World’s Best Hotels” in Top 100 Overall. Condé Nast Traveler included Halekulani in its 2005 Hot List and Gold List, and in 2006, Halekulani was ranked “Best in the World” in Top 20 Australia/Pacific.
Additionally, Condé Nast Traveler ranked SpaHalekulani number one for “Best Resort Service” in North America in 2006
About AAA’s Five Diamond Rating
More than 55,000 hotels and restaurants are evaluated each year by AAA’s 65 full-time tourism editors. Only 0.26 percent (less than one half of one percent) earns the Five Diamond distinction. AAA’s Diamond Ratings is the only rating system that covers all of North America, including Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The AAA Diamond Rating database includes more hotels and restaurants than any other rating system in North America.
About Halekulani
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. Travel + Leisure ranked Halekulani as #1 hotel in Oahu and #19 worldwide in 2006; while naming the Vera Wang Suite at Halekulani one of the 50 most romantic destinations in the world. Also in 2006, the three year-old SpaHalekulani was named a “Leading Spa of the World” and the #2 best resort spa in North America by Conde Nast Traveler. In addition, Halekulani’s fine dining restaurant La Mer is Hawaii’s only AAA-Five Diamond Restaurant, holding this esteemed rating for 17-consecutive years, as well as being voted #8 of “America’s Top 100 Hotel Restaurants” by Zagat in 2006. The Leading Hotels of the World, ltd. has bestowed Halekulani with its annual Quality Award, making the Waikiki resort the only Leading Hotel to achieve this prestigious honor in either the United States or Canada.
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.
Director of Public Relations
Hotes & Resorts of Halekulani
diane.ako@halekulanicorp.com
Phone: (808) 535-0623
Fax: (808) 536-8794
Director
Evins Communication, Ltd.
maureen.gillespie@evins.com
212.377.3591
212.935-6730
www.evins.com