{"id":408596,"date":"2024-05-02T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=408596"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Chamber-president-I-won-t-be-surprised-if-another-major-business-leaves-CNMI","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Chamber-president-I-won-t-be-surprised-if-another-major-business-leaves-CNMI\/","title":{"rendered":"Chamber president: I won\u2019t be surprised if another major business leaves CNMI"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce, though shocked by Hyatt Regency Saipan\u2019s devastating news of its impending closure, says it\u2019s not surprised and believes that by how slow the CNMI is recovering, others may follow suit.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Chamber president Joe Guerrero yesterday, he shared that just like the rest of the community, the Chamber is in shock and concerned about Hyatt\u2019s recent announcement of permanent closure.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel for the employees that will have make this new transition and we\u2019re concerned about what kind of signal this event will have for other businesses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Guerrero said the biggest concern is that other businesses, even other hotels, may follow suit.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think anyone saw this happening, for Hyatt particularly, but we\u2019re not surprised. We\u2019re disappointed and shocked, but we\u2019re not surprised by closures such as Hyatt\u2019s. Many businesses could\u2019ve closed during COVID, but they were hopeful that COVID was temporary. Now, I won\u2019t be surprised if another major hotel or business group decides to leave the CNMI. I pray that it doesn\u2019t happen, the Chamber isn\u2019t trying to scare anyone, but I just wouldn\u2019t be surprised if another major business decides to close permanently. What we have right now is not sustainable, but I\u2019m hoping we don\u2019t have more closures,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Guerrero explained that closures are possible given that the CNMI\u2019s recovery has been slow.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope that those that are considering closing down, like the Hyatt finally did, don\u2019t do it. We hope things will get better sooner rather than later and we hope this is not going to impact other major businesses that have been struggling due to COVID, and now that we\u2019re opening back up and our tourism [industry] is recovering, it\u2019s too slow for many businesses to survive long term,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in its official statement, the Chamber urges the CNMI government officials to work collaboratively to support Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan\u2019s (D-MP) efforts in urging U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to exempt the CNMI from DOT\u2019s current policy that limits the number of passenger flights from China to the United States. The Chamber believes this is the key to ensuring the full recovery of the China market.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor nearly two decades, industry stakeholders including hotel operators, Marianas Visitors Authority, and the CNMI government adopted and pursued a tri-market tourism strategy. For years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, our tri-market included Korea, Japan, and China and this strategy worked well in developing our destination and in hedging against risks associated with these source markets\u2019 respective economies and currency fluctuations against the U.S. dollar. Unfortunately, today, we only have Korea as our single source market. Bringing back the Japanese market remains challenging, and the China market will not resume to pre-pandemic levels without direct flights from China. As a chamber representing the business community, we urge government officials, industry leaders, and community members to work collaboratively to support Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan\u2019s efforts,\u201d said the Chamber in a statement.<\/p>\n

Further speaking on Hyatt\u2019s exodus from the CNMI, the Chamber expresses its deep concern regarding the closure of Hyatt Regency Saipan at the end of June 2024<\/p>\n

\u201cThe closure of such a prominent establishment with a long history in the CNMI tourism industry underscores the significant impact that the ongoing and prolonged downturn in tourism has had on our local economy. The Chamber recognizes the importance of the tourism industry as a vital driver of economic growth, job creation, and community development in the CNMI. We stand in solidarity with the management, staff, and stakeholders of Hyatt Regency Saipan during this difficult time. Their unwavering dedication to providing world-class hospitality for the past 44 years has been a cornerstone of our tourism sector, and their absence will be felt for years,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany in our community are with heavy hearts about the planned closure as the Hyatt has touched so many of our lives. At the Hyatt, many memories were made including weddings, anniversaries, and enjoying one of the best Sunday brunches in the Marianas. Hundreds if not thousands of our people have worked for the Hyatt over the past four decades. The Hyatt has helped train many in the culinary arts and hospitality and was the major force behind the culinary program at NMTI. Many Hyatt chefs received advanced on-the-job training and eventually worked for other CNMI hotels and restaurants,\u201d the Chamber added.<\/p>\n

As for the future of the Hyatt property, the Chamber says its hope is that the next operator meets or exceeds Hyatt\u2019s service.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope that the next operator of the best beachfront hotel site on Saipan will meet or exceed the Hyatt customer service levels while remaining a consistent supporter of community organizations and non-profits, including the Chamber. We expect the next operator to adopt Hyatt\u2019s philosophy of hiring locals first whenever possible. For over a decade, the Hyatt has consistently maintained an 80% or greater local resident workforce rate,\u201d according to the Chamber statement.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Saipan Chamber of Commerce president Joe Guerrero spoke briefly about the impending exit of Hyatt Regency Saipan during the Chamber’s general membership meeting yesterday.<\/p>\n

-CHRYSTAL MARINO
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<\/p>\n

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce held its monthly meeting yesterday at the Saipan World Resort\u2019s Sunflower Room. During their May general membership meeting, they heard presentations by acting Department of Public Safety commissioner Anthony Macaranas and executive director SES Mark Hashimoto, U.S Marine Corps Forces, Pacific. As part of Macaranas\u2019 presentation, he shared DPS initiatives and action plan under his leadership. Meanwhile, Hashimoto gave members of the Chamber an insight on the U.S. Department of Defense\u2019s activities.<\/p>\n

-KIMBERLY B. ESMORES
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