Hotel Nikko Saipan introduces new GM

A hospitality executive with international experience and 17 years with JAL Hotels, Kazuo Kinoshita has joined the Hotel Nikko Saipan as its new general manager. He replaces Yoshitsugu Abe, who managed the hotel since 1998 and retired at the end of February.

From college age, Mr. Kinoshita had a hospitality career in mind: he majored in Hotel Management and Tourism at St. Paul University in Tokyo, Japan. After taking a two-year break to travel through the United States, he completed his studies and then took his first hotel position with JAL Hotels in Hawaii. There he worked as a hotel and travel agent for nearly 10 years.

In 1984, he was transferred back to Japan to work at the head office of JAL Hotels in Tokyo, and then spent two years at the Hotel Nikko Narita as assistant front office manager. He then moved to Guam, where he was Rooms Division manager and director of Sales and Marketing at the Guam Reef Hotel, which was operated by JAL Hotels. He spent over five years in Guam before moving to Hotel Nikko Atlanta, Georgia, where he was assistant general manager, with emphasis in food and beverage operations. Next came a four-year assignment in Dusseldorf, Germany as assistant general manager and director of sales and marketing at the JAL-owned Hotel Nikko Dusseldorf. In 1997, Mr. Kinoshita returned to Guam to serve as the assistant general manager and director of sales for the Hotel Nikko Guam.

“Japanese travelers tend to think of Guam and Saipan as the same destination, but now we need our own separate identity. For years the islands could easily benefit from each others promotions,” said Mr. Kinoshita. “However, now that business is down and the islands are far more competitive, Saipan needs to have its own identity and promotion. I think we should focus here on the natural scenery, colorful ocean and abundance of beautiful birds. Since coming to Saipan, I feel very relaxed in this atmosphere and I think that is what guests also find attractive about this island.”

Mr. Kinoshita says he looks forward to using his international experience to build business for the Hotel Saipan — which he describes as an elegant and attractive facility ? and to contribute to the tourism industry of Saipan as a whole.

“The world is getting more complicated, particularly in Japan, and people need a place to relax and rejuvenate, both physically and mentally,” said Mr. Kinoshita. “The Hotel Nikko Saipan has a strong competitiveness as a destination primarily focusing towards families, mature people and honeymooners. We are different from the Garapan area and we should focus on our strength as a quieter, relaxing part of the island.”

According to Mr. Kinoshita, his management priority for the hotel will start with employees and then move on to the maintenance and ever-important safety of facilities. “Our guests’ experience is greatly dependent upon employee attitude, the warm way in which we welcome our guests — our smiles. We really get our salaries from our guests, so we need to always focus on being attentive and courteous to them.”

The 313-room Hotel Nikko Saipan is owned by Japan Airlines. More than 50% of all the tourists who visit the Northern Mariana Islands from Japan each year arrive via Japan Airlines. In addition to Hotel Nikko Saipan, the JAL Group operates several other companies on Saipan, including: La Fiesta San Roque Shopping Plaza, Creative Tours Micronesia, Tropical Laundry and Linen Supply, and STS Enterprises, a tour bus company.