MVA draws 6 applicants for top post, 4 proposals for Japan office

The Marianas Visitors Authority has received six applications for its vacant managing director position, while four proposals are under consideration for its Japan marketing office, as the tourism agency moves forward with filling its top leadership post and strengthening its overseas marketing operations.

Acting managing director Judy C. Torres disclosed the figures during the MVA board's special meeting Monday, Nov. 9, presided over by acting chair Vicky Benavente.

Torres said the job vacancy announcement for managing director has closed, and the next step is to evaluate the applicants and conduct interviews.

"We received a total of six applicants for this position," Torres told the board.

The board subsequently established a five-member selection committee composed of directors Marvin Deleon Guerrero, Sachiko Gerrard, and Christopher Nelson, together with Torres and human resources administrator Tina Matsunaga.

Benavente directed the committee to begin its work as soon as possible and submit its recommendation to the full board.

Asked by Marianas Press whether any of the six applicants were from off-island, Torres declined to provide further details about the applicants while the selection process remains underway.

She also said there was no definite timeline for appointing a new managing director, as this would depend on how quickly the committee could review the applications and schedule interviews.

Torres has been serving as acting managing director following the departure of former managing director Jamika R. Taijeron.

Meanwhile, MVA is moving closer to selecting a firm to handle its marketing representation in Japan, traditionally one of the CNMI's major tourism source markets.

Torres said four proposals were submitted under Request for Proposals No. 26-2650, and an evaluation committee has completed reviewing them, including presentations from the proponents.

The board discussed the procurement in executive session because of confidential and proprietary information involved in the ongoing process.

Upon returning to open session, Torres announced that MVA would proceed with negotiations with the vendors that submitted proposals.

The board designated directors Joe C. Guerrero, Gerrard, and Warren F. Villagomez to handle the next phase of negotiations and report their recommendations.

No winning bidder was announced during the public portion of the meeting.

The selection of MVA's Japan marketing representative comes as the tourism agency continues efforts to rebuild visitor arrivals and strengthen its presence in overseas markets.

Monday's meeting also marked the return of former MVA board chair Warren F. Villagomez as a director following the Senate's acquiescence to his appointment and his subsequent swearing-in by Gov. David M. Apatang.

Villagomez participated in the meeting as a board member, while Benavente continued to preside as acting chair.

In another development, MVA announced that it will hold a preview of its new headquarters at the former Japanese Lighthouse on Navy Hill on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 3pm.

The event will feature a rendering reveal of the agency's planned new office and a ceremonial turnover of keys, with representatives from the public and private sectors invited.

Torres said MVA personnel have been working with the Department of Corrections, Saipan Mayor's Office, and Division of Parks and Recreation to prepare the property for the occasion.

The historic lighthouse is being prepared to serve as MVA's new headquarters, although no date for the agency's actual relocation was announced during Monday's meeting.