THE groundbreaking ceremony for the $38 million global hotel brand, Crowne Plaza Resort, in Garapan on Tuesday is part of the long-term commitment of CNMI businessman Jerry Tan and his family to the islands’ tourism industry and economy.
The hotel formerly known as Fiesta Resort & Spa will undergo renovations, and a new tower will be constructed at the site in the future.
It was in May 2020 when Tan Holdings’ Asia Pacific Hotels Inc., which operated Fiesta Resort, signed a long-term deal with the InterContinental Hotels Group. The agreement includes rebranding Fiesta Resort into Crowne Plaza Resort, an international hotel brand.
IHG’s Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, according to its regional general manager, Thomas Mayrhofer, has 429 hotels worldwide.
In his remarks Tuesday, Tan said: “Standing here today, I am sharing with you the family’s continuing commitment to the region and more importantly to the CNMI.”
“As you can imagine this is a very important project for the family,” he added. “My dad…[moved] to Guam and then, us, here in 1972. [N]ext year, [it’ll be] our 50th anniversary. So we have been around for almost half a century now.”
Tan said, based on the latest updated budget, “we are actually going to spend $38 million for this” rebranding.
He said a hotel business is always a long-term investment, “which is our long-term commitment to the CNMI.”
Despite the severe impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism industry and the island economy, Tan said he remains upbeat about the CNMI.
“We love the CNMI. This is our home. This is where I live. I am the only Tan family representative in the region and we are not going anywhere,” he said.
Tan, who chairs the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers, said CNMI hotels must improve their products.
“And we are doing our part, as this is something we are really excited about to share with all of you,” he said.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, for his part, thanked Tan Holdings and the InterContinental Hotels Group, adding that Crowne Plaza “gives hope not just to those who live and work on island but also to everyone outside looking in.”
He added, “While the rest of world is in downtime, the Tan family and our CNMI continue to move forward.”
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, fourth right, and other government officials join Tan Holdings president and chief executive officer Jerry Tan, third right, in a groundbreaking ceremony for Crowne Plaza Resort — the former Fiesta Resort & Spa — in Garapan on Tuesday.
Contributed photo
