Press Release: Ko Olina
June 4, 2002
KO OLINA, HI -- John J. Toner has been named vice president of Ko Olina Resort Association (KORA), an affiliation
of resort-wide businesses within Ko Olina Resort & Marina, effective this month. His responsibilities include
supervising the operations of the resort management, directing the branding and marketing of the resort's collective
entities, and pursuing new development within the resort.
Toner was formerly with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company for 18 years and spent nearly the last decade as the general
manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui. During his tenure there, he opened the 548-room luxury hotel and
brought it to AAA Five-Diamond rating status. He and his team earned every accolade as the largest property in
the Ritz-Carlton collection, making it one of the company's most applauded hotels by guests and publications such
as Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure. And perhaps most important, Toner encouraged Hawaiian programs
and traditions to flourish at the property, making it one of the most beloved and respected hotels in the islands.
In addition, Toner traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia developing a wide base of international business
for Ritz-Carlton while simultaneously managing the resort's award-winning, day-to-day operations.
Toner's Ritz-Carlton career also included positions as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage in Southern
California, general manager at
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, and hotel manager The Ritz-Carlton, Boston. Prior to that, he was based in Los Angeles
as the western regional director of sales and marketing for the company. He joined the company in 1983 as director
of sales and marketing at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel.
Toner brings to Ko Olina 25 years of travel and hospitality industry experience including sales and marketing positions
with the Hyatt Regency Waikiki, as pre-opening team member of the Hyatt Regency Maui, and conference services manager
of the Ilikai Hotel.
He attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio where he studied marketing and business administration. He is
on the Board of Directors for the Pacific Region Institute for Service Excellence; KALIMA O MAUI; Maui Visitors
Bureau; Maui Hotel Association, the former Bailli for the Maui Chapter of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, and Kapalua,
Maui Charities.
Ko Olina Resort & Marina is a master-planned resort community on
Ko Olina Resort & Marina
the western shore of Oahu. In addition to the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina and the 18-hole
Ted Robinson-designed Ko Olina Golf Club, the resort is home to seven pristine lagoons connected over 1.5 miles
of seaside pathways.
There is also a full-service Ko Olina Wedding Chapel, the multi-purpose Ko Olina Ocean Club, the Fairways at Ko
Olina townhome development and the Paradise Cove luau and cultural center.
The marina complements plans for future oceanside and golf course communities that include the Coconut Plantation
by Brookfield Homes and Kai Lani by Armstrong Builders, Ltd. A vacation ownership at the Ko Olina beach Club, a
Marriott Vacation Club International resort, and additional hotels are also in the resort's near future.
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Contact:
Molly Shackett Sheila Donnelly & Associates 1600 Kapiolani Blvd., #800 Honolulu, HI 96814 Phone (808) 949-4131 Fax (808) 946-5607 mshackett@sheiladonnelly.com