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Hafadai Hotel returns to HANMI
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Posted on Sep 11 2005
After over a year of non-membership, Hafadai Beach Hotel has rejoined the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands.
The hotel’s return to the organization was announced at HANMI’s well-attended 20th anniversary celebration at the World Resort Saipan on Saturday.
“We believe that HANMI is a very important organization. Now that we are under new management, we have decided to again be a member of HANMI,” said Hafadai Beach Hotel general manager Hidemitsu Taguchi.
HANMI chairwoman Lynn Knight welcomed the hotel’s move. “I am so happy about their decision. Hafadai Beach Hotel is a significant part of the tourism industry. It is one of the biggest hotels we have in the island,” she said.
A member since HANMI’s inception in 1983, Hafadai withdrew from the association effective Feb. 28, 2004. The hotel’s then general manager, Toshihiko Iwasa, did not provide an on-the-record explanation for the pullout.
Several months later, Kinki Nippon Tourist Co. disclosed plans to withdraw from hotel operation on Saipan, as well as to sell Hotel Sunflower Sapporo and a Tokyo-based real estate leasing firm.
According to a Nikkei Net Interactive report dated Sept. 23, 2004, Kinki Nippon expected to incur a Y13-billion loss by end of December 2004.
Hafadai was subsequently sold and a management transition ensued.
With 434 rooms, Hafadai is Saipan’s largest hotel in terms of number of rooms. It is also one of the first hotels built on Saipan; it was originally located on Navy Hill and then relocated to Beach Road about 30 years ago.
HANMI is a professional organization started by 20 leading hotels, with a total room inventory of over 3,500.
The group’s goal is to support the tourism industry and encourage cooperation among member hotels by providing a forum for the sharing of ideas.
The association’s membership is made up of the general managers of the various hotels, who meet every month to discuss issues faced by the tourism industry, as well as concerns that are of importance to the hotel sector.
