Samoa seeks proposals for major hotel investment, may include casino

Samoa’s government is asking for proposals for a major 250-room hotel development that may include a casino, Radio New Zealand reports.

The initiative would see a three-and-a-half star hotel developed on the site of the old Rainmaker Hotel. It wants it to be run by a major recognized hotel brand.

Samoa has one casino, run by local firm Aggie Greys. However, plans to award a second license faltered after a Chinese firm in talks with the government was accused of corruption.

The government said in August that it was considering whether to go back to the market to retender the license or just stay with the one casino.

It’s unclear from Monday’s report whether the request for proposals for the hotel also include reopening the bidding process.

The licenses were seen as a way of helping boost tourism on the island after a 2009 tsunami wiped almost a third off the country’s economy.

 

Latest Intelligence

Latest issue

PATA CEO sees slow recovery, but optimism for future

AGB Podcasts