Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and other CNMI officials look on as Dr. Tan Siu Lin and other Tan Holdings executives slice a cake during the first anniversary celebration of Crowne Plaza Resort on Wednesday.
Former Gov. Ben Fitial, left, a long-time former Tan Holdings executive, and former first lady Josie Fitial pose for a photo with Dr. Tan Siu Lin and other members of the Tan family at the Crowne Plaza Resort anniversary celebration on Wednesday.
CROWNE Plaza Resort marked its first anniversary on Wednesday, Nov. 22 during a special celebration attended by CNMI officials and members of the Tan family, including Dr. Tan Siu Lin, founder of Tan Holdings.
Jerry Tan, Tan Holdings president, said the hotel’s recent renovations are evidence of their commitment to doing business in the CNMI.
Crowne Plaza is the former Fiesta Resort, which was originally known as Dai-Ichi Hotel.
“We’re not going anywhere,” Tan said, adding that his family’s business has operated on Guam since 1972, and in the CNMI since 1982. “This is our home,” he added.
He called Tan Holdings’ partnership with IHG Hotels and Resorts, owners of the Crowne Resort brand, a step forward that allows Saipan to compete in the global tourism market by improving the CNMI as a tourism product.
Crowne Plaza Resort, he added, is a major commitment that the company is making to tourism and the region.
“We want not just our property, but we want our destination to go to the next level,” Tan said.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, in his remarks, thanked Tan Holdings, which “has very generously come forth and put aside funding for community projects, major projects, infrastructure projects, and cultural and socio-economic projects for our community.”
For his part, Crowne Plaza General Manager Clayton Darlington said the hotel, in the coming year, will focus on “fresh activities” and “memorable events” that “utilize key spaces around the resort.”
Darlington said they will also develop staff members into leaders in the company. “I feel there’s a lot of high potential team members at this resort and I want to focus on them and develop them [for] senior roles,” Darlington told the media.
He said he will work with these “key individuals” to draft professional development plans and also utilize IHG’s female leadership development program and their “Journey to GM” program to create opportunities for staff.
“We’ve got talent in the resort from all over,” Darlington said. “From our frontline to our supervisory to even our management levels. Over the last six weeks I’ve actually even been able to identify a few of the team members that want to grow in their careers.”
He said like Tan Holdings, he sees the CNMI’s potential as a tourism market.
“[Saipan is] beautiful, the people are amazing, and they are what drives true hospitality, not only in the resort but on the island,” he added.
Tan Holdings President Jerry Tan delivers his remarks.
Tourism industry stakeholders, CNMI officials and community members join the Tan family in celebrating Crowne Plaza Resort’s first anniversary on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
