Warwick Internationals Hotels is building a four and half star hotel at Vavau, president Richard Chiu announced yesterday.

“We are drawing up the plans for the first phase of the hotel through our architects,” Mr Chiu said.

He said they hope to begin construction by the end of this year.

“I visited the site (Vavau) yesterday (Wednesday) and it is a good location,” said Mr Chiu.

“It’s a very beautiful site and I’m sure you all know it, it’s probably the most beautiful site in the Pacific.”

They are also interested in a site at Mulifanua.

“But we are still discussing that with your esteemed government,” Mr Chiu said.

“We would be interested to proceed on that, of course with an agreement with the authorities.

“But the site in Vavau is finalised,” said Chiu, who described the as “unique.”

“We certaintly want to do something unique with Vavau that is different, that people from different parts of the world want to come and see it once it’s finished.”
The cost of the hotel has not yet been calculated.

“That is something that we are working on that’s why the architects are here.

“We obviously need to make a calculation because the cost of construction is different from other countries.”

“A lot of materials need to be imported of course, so the cost of developing a resort here is somewhat different from other countries.”

“But we should be able to give a final estimate probably in two to three months time.”

The construction work of the hotel will have two phases, each involving 60-100 units. “The first phase will probably be between 60-100 units, and then the next phase ... the second phase, will probably be about the same size,” Mr Chiu said.

“We don’t want to make the hotel too formal, we don’t want to make something traditional or classic, we want something that is easy, comfortable and showing people the uniqueness and the natural beauty of Samoa.”

“So we are working on that.”

Mr Chiu and his delegation visited the Head of State, Tuiatua Tupua Tamasese Efi, at Government House, Vailele. Warwick International Hotels owns more then 40 hotels worldwide, including Fiji and Vanuatu.

Source: Samoa Observer / Image: Samoa Observer