Loumaile Lodge opens in central Nuku'alofa [1]
Monday, December 22, 2008 - 12:29. Updated on Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 21:28.
Loumaile Lodge, the first hotel to be constructed in the Nuku'alofa Central Business District since November 2006 was officially opened by Princess Pilolevu Tuita on Friday evening, December 19.
The Lodge was named "Loumaile" by Princess Pilolevu, alluding that it would be part of the decoration of the Royal Tombs, Mala'e Kula across the road.
Built at a cost of $6.45 million pa'anga, the managing director of the Lodge, Siosaia Moehau said that the 24 rooms of the Lodge consisted of one Princess Suite, five Executive Suites and 18 standard hotel rooms.
The rooms are located on the top floor of the two level building and on the ground floor, there is a bar, a Chinese Restaurant, a small gym for the guests, a hair salon, a massage parlour and Chinese medicine dispensary, a gift and souvenir shop, and a general ware shop importing goods from China.
Saia said that the owner of the Chinese goods shop owned 80 small shops in New Zealand, and one in Vava'u.
Saia aims to make the Chinese Restaurant to be the best in town. "The restaurant is a partnership between the Lodge and a Chinese partner." He said that four newly arrived Chinese chefs would train staff and run the restaurant for six months.
Saia also owns the Black Pearl Suites at Sopu.
"The Loumaile Lodge is an up-scale from the Black Pearl, as there are only 16 rooms at the Pearl," said Saia. He has been one of Tonga most enterprising businessman during the past years, investing millions in the acquiring of properties and the construction of hotels, restaurants, a children's playground, display shops, bars and a night club during the past few months.
Saia said that it cost $6.45 million to build the Loumaile Lodge and 40% of that investment was funded by the Westpac Bank of Tonga and the rest was from his own personal fund.
"The owner of the Loumaile Lodge is a partnership between the owner of the property, Kololia Opra Maka, who owns 30% and myself 70%."
Now that the Loumaile Lodge has been completed and opened, Saia said he was looking forward for the opening of a Children Playground that is nearing completion on Hala Taufa'ahau in central Nuku'alofa, and another hotel at Sopu "which will be opened in April next year."