By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE Hotel Nikko Saipan will soon have a new generator for back-up power.
Nikko’s executive vice president and general manager Hideo Nishigori said he is optimistic that their occupancy rate will increase this year due to the increase in the number of flights to Saipan, particularly from Japan.
The $800,000 generator is expected to arrive from the U.S. in July, but management held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday of last week.
Hotel administrative officer Ray Dela Cruz said the new generator will produce 1.36 megawatts and will replace their two existing generators that consume 200 gallons of diesel her hour.
He said the new machine is a 2006 model which has the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s certificate of conformity.
“Our priority here is safety and security of operation, because reliability is very important to us,” Dela Cruz said.
The ground breaking ceremony was held at the hotel’s loading dock and parking area, and was attended by Senate President Joseph M. Mediola, Covenant-Tinian, Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, Covenant-Saipan, Sen. Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, Rep. Edwin P. Aldan and Building Safety Code Office’s Martin Sablan.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial was represented by his special assistant, Ray Mafnas.