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Ritz-Carlton is taking over a famed resort on the North Shore of Oahu

May 29, 2024
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3 min read
Turtle Bay
Ritz-Carlton is taking over a famed resort on the North Shore of Oahu
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The North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii is about to look a lot better for points and miles enthusiasts, specifically Marriott Bonvoy fans: The legendary Turtle Bay Resort is transforming into a Ritz-Carlton.

Dubbed "Oahu's North Shore gem" by TPG's own Summer Hull, Turtle Bay Resort is well known for its stunning scenery, beautiful grounds and rooms, incredible pool and awesome swells that attract surfers from around the world (or people who like to watch surfers from a safe distance). All of that helped the property earn a spot on our list of the best resorts and hotels in Hawaii.

Now, Host Hotels & Resorts has entered into an agreement to purchase the 450-room resort and 49 acres of undeveloped land that could be used for future development for about $680 million, according to a company statement.

Once the deal is completed (early July of this year is expected), Turtle Bay will be reflagged as a Ritz-Carlton and Marriott will take over managing the property.

SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY

While we'll have to wait and see what changes will be made to transform the property into a Ritz-Carlton, our guess is that not too much will be required since Turtle Bay remodeled while closed during the early parts of the COVID-19 pandemic (from March 2020 until June 2021).

The Ritz-Carlton flag is also likely to make the already pricey property much more expensive.

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What's more interesting is what Host Hotels & Resorts might do with the nearly 50 acres of land it also acquired — and if we might see another luxury resort in the near future. Host Hotels & Resorts isn't new to Hawaii, luxury hospitality or the Ritz-Carlton brand; in fact, the company's portfolio includes the Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui; The Ritz-Carlton, Naples in Florida; the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort and even the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.

Stay tuned as we learn more about Turtle Bay's exciting transition into a Ritz-Carlton.

Related reading:

Featured image by SUMMER HULL/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.