The International Dateline Hotel, so called because it sits on the 180th parallel, exactly 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), is set for a major renovation.
The 125-room hotel, which is located on the Pacific island of Tonga, dates back to the 1960s and has housed many high-profile guests, including several heads of state.
But the Tongan government, which still owns the property, said the International Dateline Hotel now needs a “comprehensive redevelopment to be brought to a three-and-a-half-/four-star standard”.
“The number of people visiting Tonga is steadily increasing and we are upgrading our country’s facilities to accommodate the growing tourist trade, including a recent airport expansion and now this renovation of our most historic hotel,” said Tatafu Moeaki, chief executive officer of the Tongan Ministry of Tourism, Labour & Commerce.
“We want the International Dateline Hotel project to play a key role in the development of Tonga’s tourism industry, availing from private sector expertise. We expect that once redeveloped, the hotel will attract high-end customers including tourists and business conference visitors in Tonga given its proximity to the Fa’onelua Convention Centre,” he added.
The government has now partnered with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which will act as an advisor on the implementation of a public-private partnership to finance the renovation. This will include a competitive bidding process, with companies requested to submit expressions of interest by 12 August 2013.
“Tonga is making good progress in the tourism sector and IFC is pleased to help the government attract a high quality private partner who can restore the International Dateline Hotel and make it, once again, an iconic Pacific tourist destination,” said Gavin Murray, IFC’s Regional Manager for the Pacific.
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