Aqua Resort celebrates 26 years on the island

Aqua Resort Club is turning 26 on Sunday and although Saipan’s piece of paradise doesn’t have anything big planned as a celebration, they have actually been busy renovating and upgrading for their guests and customers.

Aqua Resort Club’s general manager Kevin Tsurui, left, and F&B operation manager Rom Manzon pose at Vino’s renovated bar area. The now tapa-style bar will be open to the public this month. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)

Aqua Resort, which has been on the island since 1989, is special, according to general manager Kevin Tsurui.

“This is the first hotel that our company purchased in the Marianas,” Tsurui said, “This means a lot to our president. This is very special.”

Asked, what their secret is on staying long in the market, Tsurui said it’s the fact that they don’t give up.

“As a policy, we are not ‘flippers.’ We don’t flip real estate. Our policy is to hold on to the real estate as long as we can and in doing so, we have a very strong intention to contribute to the local market,” Tsurui said.

He added that even though sometimes the market is not good, they never thought of giving up.

“We take the hotel business as a longer term investment so we just don’t get impacted by those short-term things,” Tsurui said.

And with 26 years under their belt, Aqua Resort still hopes to stay in the island for a longer period of time.

“If I’m not mistaken, we have more than 20 or 30 years in our lease,” Tsurui said, “I am so much looking forward to do business here for more years to come.”

Changes
And as they move on to another chapter in the market, Aqua Resort made some changes, all in the hopes of providing a great place where tourists and locals alike can unwind and relax.

They are now upgrading their 91 rooms and suits’ bathrooms, a move Tsurui deems only fitting as they have been operating for a quarter of a century already.

“We have done major work on that. We have eight clusters, and we have done six so far. By 26th of this month, every cluster will be finished,” Tsurui said “About 80 percent of the renovation is done.”

Aside from rooms, Aqua Resort also made changes in some of their facility.

Once you enter their lobby, you can now have a clear, uninterrupted view of the pool, the beach, and the sky as they have moved their barbecue tent to one side of the property.

They have also placed a beach bar where guests can lounge around and drink while enjoying the relaxing, serene view of Achugao Beach.

Spanish-style, tapa-style Vino Bar
But another major work that they have been busy with is the renovation of their bar.

From being a contemporary style bar, they are now making Vino a true-to-its-name, Spanish-style bar—something new not only for the resort but for the island as well.

“We have some work on the Vino Bar. It used to be just a plain, nothing-to-mention bar but we are turning it into a Spanish-style bar,” Tsurui said.

“It’s an old-fashion style but cozy and relaxing,” food and beverage operation manager Rom Manzon, “There’s no other Spanish bar on the island.”

According to Manzon, they will be getting vino or wines and cava or champagne-like drinks straight from Spain. Their selection will include wines like crianza and tempranillo.

“Spain is the third leading producer of wine in the world. It is very competitive now in France and Italy,” Manzon said.

What makes Spanish wines different, according to Manzon, is their grape mixing.

“Spanish wine is more on the bouquet that you can taste. And also, Spanish wines are best in mixing two or three kinds of grapes,” he said.

Manzon said he is also looking for Spanish beers to add to their menu.

They will still be offering their trademark wines from other regions such as Robert Mondavi wines from Napa Valley, California.

But of course, a Spanish bar won’t be complete without its tapas.

“It’s a Spanish bar, of course it comes with tapas which is the most widely known in Spain. Tapas are like an appetizer but you can create small dishes out of them,” Manzon said.

Just some of their offerings are lengua estofado con chorizo and paella. They will also have cheese platters.

“That’s always good with wines,” Manzon said.

Their menu will also offer suggestion on which wines are best paired with which tapa or cheese.

Not only are they focusing on the menu, the ambiance of the place will make you feel like you are in Spain as they are adding in Spanish-style entertainment. The first-ever white piano in the island will be moved to their main dining in Raraina, and will be replaced with a guitar that an entertainer will play.

Manzon said they will have a soft opening for invitees only on July 17, but they will be open to the public starting the 18th. He added that they will be having Happy Hour every day from 4:30pm to 7:30pm.

Celebrate with Aqua Resort
While we all wait on Vino Bar’s reopening, Aqua Resort’s Costa terrace restaurant and Raraina main dining will be offering buffets on July 5 from 11am to 2pm. They will have food offerings such as shawarmas and fajitas, sashimi, tempura, roasted ribeye beef, baby back ribs, and many more.

Guests will have a chance to win surprise gifts to be raffled away when they dine.