Renovation of former Palms Resort begins

South Korean investment giant E-Land Group finally broke ground yesterday on its multi-million renovation of the former Palms Resort Saipan, which is being rebranded as Kensington Saipan Hotel.

In addition to kick-starting the renovation and switching to one of E-Land’s more popular hotel brands in South Korea, the conglomerate also introduced Matthew Park as the general manager of Kensington Saipan.

Park said he hopes to hold a grand opening this October or November, as the renovations will probably need at least six months to be completed. It was earlier reported that the renovation will cost between $20 million and $30 million.

House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan), Senate President Victor Hocog (R-Rota), E-Land Group executives, and Kensington Saipan general manager Matthew Park, far right, break ground for the renovation of the former Palms Resort Saipan, which will be renamed the Kensington Saipan Hotel, yesterday in San Roque. (Jayson Camacho)

Once online, E-Land expects the former Saipan Nikko Hotel in San Roque to add much-needed hotel rooms to the CNMI’s rebounding tourism industry and create hundreds of job opportunities for Saipan residents.

Hotel executives, businesses and government officials, and lawmakers attended yesterday’s groundbreaking.

Kevin Lee, the project manager for the renovation, presented a brief slide presentation about the renovations E-Land will be undertaking. He showed three designs for the rooms, a banquet hall, restaurant outlets, swimming pool, main lobby, a VIP checking lounge, and a luxury gallery.

Lee noted, however, that the designs are still in the planning stages and renovation plans could still change.

Park said all 313 rooms will be renovated. He also noted that the renovation work itself with create job opportunities of about 250 to 300.

“But it depends on the situation because labor in the CNMI is not a lot due to more businesses coming in already but I am looking forward to the job market here,” he said.

Park pointed out that E-Land’s plan is “more than the CNMI people’s expectations” because they are also planning new facilities at Coral Ocean Point, which is also owned by E-Land. These include construction of shopping malls and other entertainment facilities.

Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio was pleased with E-Land starting work on the former Palm Resort.

“We have been waiting for this day for quite a long time and want to extend our congratulations to E-Land for reinvesting back into this beautiful opportunity,” Tenorio said.

Rep. George Camacho (R-Saipan), who is a representative of Precinct 4 where San Roque is located, said the groundbreaking for the new Kensington Saipan can bring interesting business opportunities to the northern part of the island.

Rep. Joseph “Lee Pan” Guerrero (R-Saipan), who chairs the House Committee on Commerce and Tourism, hopes E-Land is sincere with their intention to start the renovation and is looking forward to working with management on how to improve the tourism industry.

“I am hoping that what Mr. Park said of being committed is true and I am hoping and very optimistic on this opportunity,” Guerrero said.

Park said that E-Land will be committed fully to the CNMI and is looking forward to working with both the government and private sectors as they move forward with future developments.