This year, however, the Hyatt could not invite members of the community to join the annual Christmas tree lighting event due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nick Nishikawa, the hotel’s general manager, said even though everyone in the community is going through difficult times, Christmas will still be celebrated.
Hyatt Regency Saipan general manager Nick Nishikawa, center, back row, joins hotel employees in lighting the Christmas tree in the lobby on Tuesday to mark the beginning of the holiday season. Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
Hyatt Regency Saipan general manager Nick Nishikawa slices the cake in celebration of the Christmas season on Tuesday. Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
“Christmas is coming and I just want to see happy faces when they look at our Christmas tree,” Nishikawa said.
Hyatt human resources director Josephine Mesta said this is the 40th year that the hotel is celebrating the start of the Christmas season.
Amid the pandemic, she added, “we are very grateful for the 40 years of the Hyatt Regency Saipan and we hope we’ll have 40 more years.”
She also said, “Earlier there were two boys who were in the lobby and when they saw the Christmas tree, they said, ‘Oh, it’s Christmas!’ And that’s why we do this every year — to share the spirit of Christmas.”
