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.

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.

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.

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