Imperial Pacific International (IPI) is hoping the resumption of normal operations on Saipan in the wake of Typhoon Yutu and the installation of a grand new dragon-shaped chandelier in its IR lobby will put it in good shape for the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday.
Providing a business update to Inside Asian Gaming this week, IPI Chairman Mark Brown said that many of the company’s VIP customers began returning through December after Yutu devastated the island when it struck in October – forcing the airport and multiple businesses to temporarily shut down.
“Now that the island is coming back, the airport is fully open, all flights have returned, the island is almost back,” Brown explained. “Our VIPs started to come back last month and we are all looking forward to Chinese New Year.”
While IPI itself was forced to lay-off multiple staff due to the reduction in operating hours brought about by the storm, construction of Imperial Pacific Resort has also picked up with the company now in the process of installing a giant two-piece Dragon Chandelier in the main lobby.
When complete, it is hoped the chandelier will become one of the property’s iconic attractions.
“There are two actual dragons pointing inward facing each other,” Brown said, although installing them will be “a long and very difficult process.
“We hope to have the Dragons’ ‘skeletons’ up by Chinese New Year but the whole completed process will take four or five weeks for each dragon.
“There is an incredible light show when completed with the large video ball in the center, the video ceilings and the large video wall behind the front desk. Like in Vegas and Macau, [it will include] a timed show periodically going on throughout the day.”
Having previously stepped down as IPI Chairman in late 2017, Brown returned to IPI in October last year with the express goal of getting the company’s lagging Saipan construction schedule back on track following a series of delays, including the granting of a three year-extension for completion of Imperial Pacific Resort to February 2021.
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