Previous Story
Westin Resort developer told to begin construction
|
Posted on Jul 27 1999
Nikko Kikaku Saipan Company has until November 30, 1999 to begin construction of the $65 million Westin Resort Saipan otherwise it would have to pay 50 percent of the original permit fee again.
CRM acting Director Martin B. Castro has earlier approved the first extension of the multimillion resort complex when the company paid $48,740. The CRM administration can waive the fee if there has been substantial completion of the project or over 75 percent structurally complete as certified by a CNMI registered architect or engineer.
Based on CRM Rules and Regulations, the company shall have a maximum of three years to complete the project. However, an extension can still be granted if Nikko Kikaku can prove that additional time is needed to complete the resort hotel in Chalan Piao.
Construction of the 17-story Westin Resort, which has 510 guest rooms and suites, has been delayed due to the plunge in the island’s tourism economy brought about by Asia’s financial crisis.
Tourism officials have been hoping that the project would still push through since it will attract conventions and meetings, a niche market which would open the CNMI to a new type of visitors.
Some 350 workers will be employed in the actual construction period which is expected to last for 24 months.
Based on the plan, the hotel will provide amenities like three indoor and three pool-side restaurants and two bars, ballroom and meeting halls, commercial space for gift shops, beauty/barber, business center, wedding chapel and tennis courts.
Westin Hotels & Resorts is the oldest and most experienced hotel management company in North America, with over 65 years of service. Currently, it has 103 hotels in 24 countries and 17 properties under development and has 40,000 employees. Neighboring Westin Resort Guam began operations in 1997.
Founded as Western Hotels in 1930, the company has grown from a regional hotel operator of an initial 17 hotels in the northwest United States to a global hospitality company with over 41,000 hotel rooms and combined revenues of over $2.6 billion.
Nikko Kikaku Saipan Co., Ltd., is a development subsidiary of Japanese firm Nihon Kensetsu.
