Hotels renovate facilities, as occupancy inches up

Average room occupancy and room rate inched up slightly in March compared with the same month last year.

This, even as several hotels embarked on renovation projects and invested in a hotelier’s training to attract more visitors, the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands reported.

Data culled from HANMI member hotels showed that average occupancy in March was 70.40 percent, which was only a very slight increase from the 69.96 percent average occupancy recorded in March 2004.

The average room rate was $82.27, which was also an increase from the $79.33 average rate in March 2004.

Overall, first quarter 2005 data showed that the average room rate was $84.37, an slight increase from the $82.5 average room rate for the same period last year.

The average occupancy rate for the first quarter, however, went down to 74 percent compared to the 76.2 percent quarterly average for the same period last year.

Up to 300 hotel rooms were closed in March because of ongoing renovations.

“The stats showed very slight increases, but we also need to point out that we were not necessarily comparing apples with apples. Somewhere between 250 and 300 rooms were closed during the month of March for renovations at the various properties. While it’s not good news for sales, it is good news that the hotels are investing in improving their facilities and at the same time taking the opportunity of slower business to train employees for the future,” said HANMI chairwoman Lynn A. Knight.

Last week, HANMI held a five-day training hotelier’s training attended by 30 middle-level hotel employees at Aqua Resort Club. The “Hospitality Management Program” was conducted by Dr. Andy Nazarechuk from University of Nevada Las Vegas. The event was held in coordination with the Northern Marianas College.

Hoteliers are optimistic about the future, citing ongoing investments at several hotels that have been designed to help attract more visitors to the islands in the future. Among hotels undergoing improvements of various facilities are the Aqua Resort Club, Century Hotel, Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, Hotel Nikko, Hyatt Regency, Marianas Resort & Spa, Pacific Islands Club, Saipan Grand Hotel and World Resort.

Aqua Resort Club is currently refurbishing all 91 rooms as well as the Raraina fine dining and Costa Terrace restaurants with new interior design and furniture. Sixteen rooms will also be converted into larger family rooms while the lobby will be enclosed and air-conditioned with a café and bar lounge. Landscaping and exterior lighting will also be improved.

Century Hotel recently improved its electrical infrastructure and “back-of-house” operations. The hotel will also upgrade its information technology system and now has wireless Internet available throughout the building.

The Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, which opened a spa last year, will completely renovate all of its 421 rooms and construct a new children’s club, which is scheduled to open in late summer.

Hotel Nikko is undergoing major improvements to its water system, including an all-new hot water piping. The hotel has also invested in a new reverse osmosis facility, and will renovate its rooms. The hotel will bring in 200 new beds for its guest rooms.

Hyatt Regency recently replaced carpets in its main wing, which covered 186 guest rooms, hallways, and elevator landings. The hotel has also installed 250 new television sets, completed painting the garden side of its buildings and will have all buildings re-painted as well. Hyatt will also install a new fire alarm system and new surveillance cameras.

Marianas Resort & Spa recently completed a three-year improvement project and is currently upgrading its spa and renovating ocean side cottages. The hotel is likewise adding saunas to some rooms.

Pacific Islands Club has installed a new arrivals lane to elevate traffic flow in the lower portion of the front entry area. A new lobby inclusive of sails, furniture and new tiling will be put in place, too. Also, members and guests’ changing room will be upgraded, and a new kids’ splash pool with slides and mushroom water fountains will be installed. The hotel has renovated its games rooms, improved its front desk and concierge system and will renovate 16 ocean front rooms.

Saipan Grand Hotel is currently upgrading its information technology system and reviewing all areas of its property for future improvements.

Incorporated in 1985, HANMI is a non-profit professional organization of hoteliers and allied members formed to share information and promote the hotel industry of the CNMI. More information about HANMI is available at www.saipanhotels.org. (PR)