By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

TINIAN casino license holder Bridge Investment Group may start the first phase of construction in September in time for its planned opening next year, according to its spokesman Philip Mendiola-Long.
He said they should have a full set of plans submitted to the permitting agencies by June 1.
“We estimate three months for the studies and final permit approvals which gives us a target date of September 2007 for the beginning of construction phase 1,” he told Variety in an e-mail.
In his State of the Commonwealth Address on Friday, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said Bridge Investment Group has acquired 75,000 square meters of private property on Tinian and plans to build approximately 400 rooms.
“Land is being cleared and construction is scheduled to begin in September,” Fitial said, adding that the company has signed an agreement with its Chinese travel agent partner to tap Chinese tourists.
Mendiola-Long confirmed the governor’s statement.
“Our agreement with the 3rd largest outbound travel agency in China was approved by the Attorney General’s Office last month and (Bridge Investment Group) is assisting the CNMI in gathering information in China for the issuance of CNMI visas for Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Xian, Dalian, Chengdou and Shenzhen. We have contracted with the agency for 1,000 tourists per week by 2010. (or 1 year after our projected 2009 opening),” Mendiola-Long said.
He said Bridge Investment and its travel agency partner in China have decided to work with existing land operators and hotels on Saipan and Tinian to immediately begin sending tourists to the CNMI.
“Our first group of approximately 60 will arrive in late May or early June, depending on the charter seat capacity from Shanghai,” he added.
According to Mendiola-Long, “We have finalized our public offering statement and by-laws for our condominium project, 136 units in the 1st phase with an additional 150 units for the 2nd phase and finally 200 units for the 3rd phase.
Last December, the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission granted Bridge Investment a license to begin its 300-room hotel and casino resort project.
Its investment is projected to be over $100 million and the company said it will generate some $8.5 million in revenue a year for Tinian.