Quichocho named HANMI chair; PIC Saipan to close one month for maintenance

The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands has a new chairman in Ivan Quichocho following the resignation of Dennis Seo.

Quichocho, who previously served as HANMI vice chairman, confirmed his appointment as chairman in a social media message to Marianas Press. He is the vice president for Business Development of Tan Holdings.

Seo’s departure from HANMI comes after he resigned as managing executive director of E-Land Micronesia Resort, Inc., paving the way for leadership changes within the hotel industry group.

HANMI represents the CNMI’s hotel sector and serves as one of the private sector’s main voices on tourism-related issues.

Meanwhile, Pacific Islands Club Saipan will temporarily close for one month to undergo maintenance and renovation work, PIC Saipan management said.

The closure is scheduled from March 31 to April 30, with reopening planned for May 1.

Management said the work will focus on renovating fascia boards on the hotel wings, repairing sections of the main pool floor, and conducting annual maintenance on the property’s point break wave machine and giant slide. The maintenance has been planned since late last year and is being carried out during the low-occupancy season.

PIC Saipan management said about 114 employees will be placed on furlough during the temporary shutdown, while engineering staff will remain on site to complete the repairs. The furloughed workers are expected to return once the resort resumes operations on May 1.