Ahead of the curve in no-smoking trend

While a bill that seeks to outlaw public smoking in the Northern Marianas awaits legislative approval, a handful of restaurants and bars on Saipan have already implemented either a partial or full ban on smoking inside their establishments.

Aqua Resort Club’s Costa Terrace Restaurant has been non-smoking since April 2007—making it a full year that the outlet has been tobacco free, according to the Achugao hotel’s food and beverage sales manager Yoshimi Yanagisawa

She said that nonsmokers have liked the change and are quite comfortable with the no-smoking policy at Costa Terrace.

“We received a comment from a nonsmoking customer saying that eating in a smoking and enclosed area is like dining in a swimming pool so he appreciated that Aqua Resort has made the restaurant a nonsmoking establishment,” she said. “We’ve been getting good comments on how clean the environment is, how clean the air is, and how the food no longer smells like smoke.”

Surprisingly, even their loyal patrons who are known smokers have welcomed the new no-smoking policy, said Aqua Resort assistant F&B director Peding C. Sablan.

“One of our regular customer on Sunday Brunch is a chain smoker but he has kept coming back despite our no-smoking policy. Customers keep coming back because they respect the nonsmokers,” she said.

On the operational side, Yanagisawa said the decision by Aqua Resort general manager Hiro Sigue to make Costa Terrace a nonsmoking restaurant has been everything short of a Godsend.

“This really has made our lives a lot easier because we don’t have to worry about reserving for smoking and nonsmoking seats. There are also no more ashtray changing and no more replacements of lost ashtrays so from an operational side, it’s been wonderful,” she said.

Century Hotel and its in-house bar, Tribes, have also embraced the no-smoking trend, according to its general manager, Lynn A. Knight.

She said that starting March 1, 2008, the two establishments have gone “smoke-free” on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

“We’ve had a very positive response from our customers and may consider other nights in the future,” said Knight.

Garapan tourist favorites Tony Roma’s and Capricciosa, meanwhile, have also put up no-smoking signs inside their establishments and, according to its general manager Akira Onishi, it’s been so far so good.

“No complaints so far from locals and tourists. Actually, we are receiving many positive comments from local guests.”

Onishi said that Tony Roma’s and Capricciosa have in the past made all their seats nonsmoking during busy days like Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

He added that 99 percent of Japanese reservations during Christmas season are for no-smoking tables because guests usually dine with their children.

Onishi said he is not worried one bit about losing Japanese customers because of his decision to go smoke-free.

“The ratio of Japanese smokers are around 30 percent now, and the figure is going down year by year. Nowadays, 50 percent of men 30-39 years old still smoke, but the ladies of the same range, it’s just 12 percent. We might lose some [Japanese guests] because of this decision, but not so many because 99 percent of my Japanese guests are accepting no-smoking so far. And I think I can cover what I lose from the Japanese market by bringing in more Korean and Russian customers.”

He added that another positive in going smoke-free is the health and wellbeing of his staff.

“All of my staff are happy. Most of my staff and managers are nonsmokers, including myself. Before, we were busy only [in the] nonsmoking section, but now we can seat guests in our dining area more evenly.”

Of the establishments interviewed for this story, Pacific Islands Club has the longest experience with no-smoking facilities as it has implemented a smoke-free policy inside its three restaurants—The Magellan, The Seaside Grille, and the Galley—approximately four years ago, according to the hotel’s director of sales and marketing Kanae Quinn.

She said the San Antonio hotel decided to go smoke-free as a way to make the restaurants a more pleasant dining experience for all.

She, however, said that PIC has not totally disregarded smokers as both Seaside Grill and The Galley offer outdoor seating to accommodate them.

“We have not received complaints from our Japanese and Korean guests as two of our restaurants offer outdoor options for smokers,” she said.

Quinn said that, rather than put a damper on business, the no-smoking policy has even resulted in attracting more customers.

“Our guests and employees alike have all accepted the policy and it has not deterred any business. Actually, the policy has assisted PIC in gaining more local businesses and attracting families as parents do not want their children sitting in an unhealthy environment. For employees, there is less cleanup from smokers as there are no ashtrays inside the restaurants and they are less affected by the secondhand smoke that can linger in one’s clothing and hair,” she said.

Hawaii Bar and Grill owner Andrew Salas, for his part, said there was no doubt in his mind that when he and business partner David Phan opened their new establishment it would be smoke-free.

“We cannot just talk about the dangers of secondhand smoke. We have to do something about it. So when we opened [Hawaii Bar and Grill], we decided to make it a no-smoking establishment. Secondhand smoke kills people!”

Salas said he is proud to be the first bar on island that is nonsmoking and rather than deter business, his non-smoking policy has attracted more customers than it has turned away.

“As a matter of fact that’s the reason why I’m fairly successful given that we opened only last January. A lot of people come here because we are nonsmoking and they bring their kids and I love to see little kids just run over the place.”

He said his smoke-free establishment has also benefited his employees.

“My staff here, they don’t smoke, so I need to protect them also and they’re happy [with the bar being non-smoking]. One of my entertainers here who sings every Wednesday and Saturday smokes, but he told me that he appreciates the bar being nonsmoking because he can’t stand secondhand smoke when he is singing,” Salas said.

The former congressman added that he is not at all concerned with losing potential customers, especially tourists from Japan.

“Our Japanese tourists respect our no-smoking establishment and they sit outside and smoke. A lot of our tourists are respectful of our culture and our tradition and our health. They respect what we say and what we do. We cannot use that as an excuse—you’re either for pro-health or you’re not. I’m not telling my smoking customers not to smoke, I’m just telling them to do it outside.”

House Bill 16-47, sponsored by Rep. Justo S. Quitugua, proposes to make public places smoke-free. Exemptions include open-air bars, hotel rooms, and outdoor jobsites.