International Dateline Hotel

The International Dateline Hotel is a hotel in Nukuʻalofa, the capital of Tonga,[1] often used by guests of state.[2] It was established in 1964 with 24 rooms[1] by Janfull International Dateline Hotel Ltd., a joint venture between Tonga and China[3] which according to Pacific Islands Report was the first entry by China into free-market Pacific tourism.[4] The hotel was built to house visitors to the coronation of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV and also marked the start of tourism to Tonga.[5]

International Dateline Hotel
General information
LocationNukuʻalofa, Tonga
Opening1964
Other information
Number of rooms126
Website
http://www.tanoadateline.com/

It was renovated and expanded in 2001–2003 with a Chinese loan, adding a new wing and redeveloping the waterfront,[3] and again with Chinese funding in 2006. This added 30 rooms and a convention centre whose main conference hall holds 400 people and was built for the 38th Pacific Islands Forum.[3][4]

Ownership was transferred to the government of Tonga in 2012 after the original hotel went into liquidation.[6] Another renovation was begun in 2015 by the Tanoa Hotel Group with support from the government.[7] The work was carried out by the Reddy Group.[8] This preserved the original atmosphere of the public areas while modernising the rooms and added a pool bar, restaurant and spa area.[9] It was reopened by King Tupou VI on 16 February 2017.[8][9] Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva said that "such project contributes heavily to economic development."[8] Later in 2017, the hotel hosted the Commonwealth Observer Group to the 2017 Tongan general election.[10]

The hotel has 120 rooms: 6 long term apartments, 4 ocean view suites, 43 superior rooms with balcony, 27 superior king rooms, 38 ocean view queen rooms, and 2 disable access rooms.

References
  1. "International Dateline Hotel". Travel Weekly. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. "Tanua International Dateline Hotel Nukuʻalofa". Our Pacific. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018.
  3. "EXIMbank loans USD4.2M to renovate International Dateline Hotel". AidData. 2017. 37616. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018.
    In "Global Chinese Official Finance Dataset Version 1.0". AidData. 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  4. "Convention Center opens at Tonga's Dateline Hotel". Pacific Islands Report. Honolulu: Pacific Islands Development Program. 21 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2018.
  5. Lee, Helen (2016). "The Friendly Islands? Tonga's Ambivalent Relationship with Tourism" (PDF). In Alexeyeff, Kalissa; Taylor, John (eds.). Touring Pacific Cultures. Canberra: ANU Press. p. 398. JSTOR j.ctt1q1crs3.
  6. "The New Owners of the Janfull International Dateline Hotel" (Press release). Ministry of Finance and National Planning, Nuku'alofa. 9 March 2013 [2012]. Archived from the original on 24 October 2018.
  7. "Progress Update on Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Tonga". Tanoa Hotels. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  8. "PM praised refurbishment Reddy Group carried out for the Tanoa International Dateline hotel". Tonga Broadcasting Commission. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 22 February 2017.
  9. "King officially opens Tanoa International Dateline Hotel". Loop. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2018.
  10. Wilson, Margaret (13 November 2017). "Statement issued by Hon Margaret Wilson DNZM" (PDF) (Press release). The Commonwealth. Retrieved 10 October 2018.


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