Tonga-The Odyssey Ends for Dr. Wong's Hotel

Did anyone here lose money betting against this place?

Harry Mudd?

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15 YEARS LATER, $14 MILLION TONGA HOTEL OPENS

NUKU´ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, Oct. 9) - After 15 years of construction, the Royal Tonga International Hotel, better known as Dr. Wong's hotel, was finally opened for business this morning by His Majesty King George Tupou V.

The hotel project has been one of the most controversial tourism development projects that Tonga has ever been involved in during the past decade. But unlike other projects, despite the unfavorable publicity that it attracted over the years, it has finally opened its door for business.

Dr. Wong, who was addressed as Dr. Wang this morning, announced at the opening ceremony that phase one of the project has been completed, but phase two, "an Olympic Swimming pool, and a Shopping Mall" will be built later.

The Phase One that has been completed and was officially opened today consists of a Royal Suit, 50 fully furnished rooms, a bar, a restaurant and a courtyard with a garden.

The opening of the Royal Tonga International Hotel is timely for the Pacific Islands Forum Meeting, which will start in Nuku'alofa on October 15, and Dr. Massasso Paunga, the Head of the Operation said that most of the rooms have already been booked by delegations for the Forum.

[PIR editor’s note: The Pacific Islands Forum meeting is expected to draw political leaders from across the Pacific to discuss matters of common interest.]

'Etuini Mo'ungaloa, the former Private Secretary of the late King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, and the Project Manager for the hotel told a brief history of how the late king became very involved in the hotel project, and how the king was fully convinced that just a hotel would make a major contribution to the development of tourism in Tonga.

Since the ground-breaking ceremony on April 7 1992, before the construction began, the project has been through numerous changes. The TOP5 million [US$2 million] Royal International Airport Inn has been through a number of changes, and today 'Etuini said that to date they have spent TOP30 millions [US$14 million]. The name has also been changed to Royal Tonga International Hotel.

'Etuini said that when the hotel will eventually be completed, the total invest would be about TOP60 millions [US$29 million].

If it's the one near the airport, then unless the royal family will be pushing it, it seems like it will be a major, major, a money loser. No beaches nearby, town is about a 40-minute drive. Kind of like plopping a hotel in the middle of a large squash and pumpkin field (which it used to be!), with only the airport as an attraction. I guess it's convenient for the "hoardes" of travelers who are stopping over on Tongatapu for the evening and flying out early the next morning on those oh-so-punctual flights to Ha'apai and Vava'u! I guess Mr. Wang saw the success of airport hotels at LAX, AKL, etc., and figured it woul be a gold mine in Tonga as well. I think the former pumpkin patch owners made more per yr than he will........

Yeah that must be the place, the one that senior members of local clergy picketed to protest plans for a casino.

Yes, sounds like the same place. Without a casino, it won't make any $$. And thankfully, in my opinion, it sounds like there won't be a casino.