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E Land to reveal decision today: Sheraton or Hilton
Whether E Land partners with Sheraton or Hilton, Gov. Eloy S. Inos said the more important matter is that the former The Palms Resort in San Roque will reopen as the CNMI needs more hotel rooms to accommodate a growing number of tourists while at the same time bringing another global hotel brand into the CNMI. To date, the Commonwealth only has Hyatt Regency for a global hotel brand.
“That’s going to be a very significant announcement because not only will they announce that they are opening it up, but they are opening it up with a brand that is recognized worldwide. You are talking about five-star hotel brands, not just boutique hotels,” Inos told Saipan Tribune.
At 4:30pm today, South Korean-based investment giant E Land, through Micronesia Resort Inc., will announce whether they are partnering with global brand Sheraton or Hilton in reopening the former The Palms Resort.
The governor and lawmakers are among those that E Land’s MRI invited to the announcement, to be held at the St. Angelo Chapel at The Palms Resort.
E Land officials and the global hotel brand partner are also expected to share other information about their renovation plans for the 313-room hotel that E Land acquired in 2011.
If the one-year $20 million to $30 million renovation goes smoothly as planned, the hotel will reopen in the summer of 2015, E Land officials earlier said.
E Land’s MRI is also working to bring another global hotel brand for its other hotel on Saipan, Coral Ocean Point, which is undergoing renovation and expansion.
E Land, which also owns Pacific Islands Club on Saipan, is also hoping that it would get the public land lease for a piece of property near PIC in San Antonio to build a new hotel with at least 200 rooms.
As of yesterday, the Department of Public Lands has yet to decide between E Land’s MRI and Hong Kong-based Honest Profit for the San Antonio land lease.
