COP renovation begins

The Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort that has been closed indefinitely since the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yutu last October has started the first stage of renovation—demolition. There is still no set date for when the resort will resume operations or when construction will begin. 
(KIMBERLY A. BAUTISTA)

Some seven months after Super Typhoon Yutu wreaked havoc on Saipan, the Coral Ocean Point Golf Resort has finally started the process of renovation, which involves tearing down the damaged parts.

In an interview with Gloria Cavanagh, who leads the Hotel Association of the Northern Marianas Islands as chairwoman, she said that demolition has already started at COP.

Because damage to some areas of the resort were so severe, they have to demolish many of the structures and build them from the ground up, she explained. However, areas like the lobby will not be demolished and will be brought back to its state prior to Yutu.

“We are going bring it back to where it was originally, It was newly renovated in 2011 and it was still pretty new and it was gorgeous, especially the lobby area, so we’re planning to bring it back to that,” said Cavanagh, who is the general manager of Pacific Islands Club Saipan, a sister-hotel of Coral Ocean Point.

After the renovations, Cavanagh said that Coral Ocean Point will still be seeing the 200 additional rooms that were in the works before Yutu hit.

“We have to look at doing the other 200 rooms. We were at the point where it was already in the planning stages but, after the storm, we had to work on putting everything back in order first,” she said.

Cavanagh said the only challenge now is finding the manpower to carry out the construction as the number of construction workers on island continue to decline due to work permit issues.

“Of course, like everyone else, there’s going to be an issue as far as bringing in the construction workers. …We have gone to other countries…to bring in H-2Bs from there. We’ll see how it goes and there’s also some workers from the construction companies here that we’re tapping. But for now, we’re focused on demolition,” she said.

Cavanagh said there is no timeline yet as to when the Coral Ocean Point will be up and running, at least partially.

According to Saipan Tribune archives, Coral Ocean Point, operated by the E-Land Group of Companies, was one of the resorts on island that bore the brunt of Super Typhoon Yutu.

It was forced to close down immediately following Yutu because of the extensive damage it sustained.

Matthew Park, chief executive officer of the Saipan chain of the E-Land Group, explained in a previous interview that the Coral Ocean Point was in complete ruins.