Outrigger elevates profile with Cirque du Soleil deal

HONOLULU -- As tragic as the pandemic has been, it has also served as an impetus for change. In the case of Outrigger Hospitality Group, it served to accelerate a plan to reinvent the 20,000 sq. ft. showroom venue at Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.

Announced earlier this week and anticipated to open for the winter holidays in late 2024, the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel and Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group are teaming up as investment partners and in a multi-year agreement to reinvent that showroom and bring Honolulu locals and hotel guests a bespoke show exclusive to Hawai‘i.

This is perfectly in synch with our goal to elevate the Outrigger brand as a whole and provide guests with authentic live entertainment at every Outrigger property.

Jeff Wagoner

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The necessary permits for renovation work to commence and create the nearly 800-seat theater with state-of-the-art audio-visual system are now in the process of being submitted. The venue architect is Hawai‘i-based G70 with project estimating done by RLB in Honolulu.

Conversations actually started before the outbreak of the pandemic and quickly accelerated when the showroom went dark. While multiple other entertainment options were considered, Jeff Wagoner, president and CEO of Outrigger Hospitality Group told Hotel Investment Today that Cirque du Soleil made perfect sense to make a bold statement about the Outrigger brand.

“This is perfectly in synch with our goal to elevate the Outrigger brand as a whole and provide guests with authentic live entertainment at every Outrigger property – it doesn’t get much better than a custom Cirque show inspired by Hawai‘I,” Wagoner said. “We’ll also pull in one of our F&B partners into this arrangement. This will bring new jobs to the market – from construction to performers and everything in between. It’s exciting for both our hosts, guests to have world-famous Cirque inside the hotel that they are working/staying as well as for residents of Hawai‘i.”

He said the “why” behind the deal also ties back to Outrigger’s strategic plan goals: 1) be best in class 2) have exceptional partnerships 3) elevate our properties 4) growth 5) create brand value. “Cirque checks off all of these boxes,” he said.

Wagoner would not reveal terms of the deal, but he did say both parties are participating financially and will develop a revenue share model. He added that a significant investment to create the custom venue will push ROI out several years.

The show will fuse the acrobatics and innovation that Cirque du Soleil is known for with the natural beauty and unique culture of the islands. Native Hawaiian Aaron Salā, PhD, has been retained as the creative cultural producer to assist in developing the show’s storyline along with other prominent Hawaiian artists, musicians and dancers.