Newly wed couple give hotel a big tick for its world class service.
MARAIA VULA
Suva
The Grand Pacific Hotel lit up on Saturday night to welcome the first couple to wed after it’s refurbishment.
While the hotel has not completed the project, the couple Adrianna Tiko and Bradley Hall, gave a thumbs up for an excellent service.
Mrs Hall said: “It’s really nice the have gone out of their way, the management because of the constraints of time and everything else they have done a great job and it’s going to get better than this.”
Mr Hall said the service was world class.
Hotel general manager Eugen Diethelm said: “Having a wedding at this five star hotel is affordable and we do not have higher prices than any other hotel in the west.
“The couple came to me about five to six months ago and asked if they could have their wedding here so we told them May 10 would be possible.
“Now the very first wedding after 22 years is taking place where everything is fine and ready. It took us three days to prepare for it because the hotel is not open yet.
“We will have the soft opening in June but we have not decided on the date for the grand opening as it will be discussed with the directors during our board meeting next month.”
Mr Diethelm noted it would roughly be around July but they have been receiving room bookings everyday.
He said: “I will ensure there are more weddings in the future as we will specialise in this area.
For every wedding the couple will get one night free at the Queen Elizabeth suite plus one year gym and pool free membership.”
The iconic hotel is being redeveloped and reopened in a joint venture between Papua New Guinea’s National Superannuation Fund, or NASFUND, and Fiji National Provident Fund Lamana Development of Papua New Guinea. NASFUND has a 50 per cent stake, and FNPF and Lamana 25 per cent each.
Newly wedded couple
Former Fiji Airways pilot Mrs Hall and her husband who is into business were happy and privileged to wed at this world class hotel.
Mr Hall said: “We are very pleased and happy about the way it worked out for the timing to have such a nice venue such as this famous hotel.”
Mrs Hall said they had been preparing for the wedding since last year after the groom proposed in August.
“We realised that the Grand Pacific was opening and we thought it would be a good opportunity to wed here.
“This is a good opportunity to showcase what they can provide for future weddings and for what people can expect from the Grand Pacific it’s more like a balance sort of partnership,” she said.
The Vanuabalavu beauty was a first officer for the Fiji Airways Boeing 767 and 737. Recently she resigned to pursue other things.
“I have been flying for the last 14 years, I left because I was experienced and I can always walk back into the job.
“When the opportunity arises I will go back but at the time being I would like to pursue other dreams /interests,” she said.
Mr Hall from California, loves Fiji.
He shared that they have some good business plans Fiji.
Feedback: maraia.vula@fijisun.com.fj