Harukichi Kurachi, president of the group met with President Remengesau yesterday to discuss the development of the project which translates to over $20 million investment.
The Amanresort hotel project will be located at the site of the former Nikko Hotel in Ngermid Hamlet.The new Amanresort will have 28 guest rooms as well as a lobby, restaurant, and spa facilities which will feature architectural theme that matches the natural beauty of the site and the adjoining Iwayama Bay.The project which will begin construction in the second quarter of 2009 will see completion in 14 to 16-month time.Remengesau for his part said that the project will put Palau in the map as a destination for high-end tourists.“Amanresort is still committed to make this dream a reality,” Remengesau said.He added that the construction of this site will set the standard for future infrastructure development in Palau.Tiger Gillham, project manager of the project said that the construction will include local resources and local materials which is a way to reduce cost and at the same time the theme will adapt the Palauan way.Fumitomo Hayase, the company’s Development Manager said that Amanresort is expected to employ 120 to 150 employees and that majority of whom will be drawn from the population of Ngermid.Gillham said the new hotel will rely upon locally purchased produce, fish, and other supplies instead of imports.Remengesau said although recent worldwide economic difficulties were causing some delays the project is moving forward as planned.The company acquired the Continental Hotel in 1981 and changed the name to Nikko Hotel with Japanese Arilines as the manager.The hotel continued operations until its closure in 2001 and was subsequently demolished to make way for the new resort.Amanresort is a chain of luxury hotels located in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia and other areas in Southeast Asia.This is the first in Micronesia.
