PRINCEVILLE — After months of anticipation, rumors can finally be put to rest regarding the grand opening of the new St. Regis Princeville Resort. Originally slated to accept reservations as early as April, the St. Regis public relations department released
PRINCEVILLE — After months of anticipation, rumors can finally be put to rest regarding the grand opening of the new St. Regis Princeville Resort.
Originally slated to accept reservations as early as April, the St. Regis public relations department released an official announcement Tuesday evening that the opening has been delayed until Oct. 1.
“We are experiencing a tremendous level of excitement for the debut of The St. Regis Princeville Resort,” stated Stephanie Kaluahine Reid, Director of Public Relations in an e-mail on Wednesday. “The renovation of the hotel is going very well, and we look forward to welcoming the community in October to enjoy the hotel’s new look and services.”
Redesigned to reflect the Hawaiian islands, the resort is expected to “pay homage to the land and culture,” according to a press release.
Construction is forecasted to be completed July 1, while the resort is set to debut in September. It will unveil 252 renovated guest rooms, including 51 “premium ocean view suites,” by October.
The grand opening will come days after the Sept. 19 one-year anniversary of the Princeville Resort’s initial closing for what was described at the time as a seven-month renovation. Approximately 366 employees were furloughed.
A meeting with former employees was reportedly held about three weeks ago to keep them apprised of the updated situation.
As those individuals continue to seek work or wait for their jobs to start up again, Kaua‘i’s unemployment rate has spiked to 10.3 percent. While the island’s current unemployment rate is less than the 21.1 percent peak it reached in Oct. 1992, weeks after hurricane ‘Iniki, the rate has since surged from a low point in December 2006.
According to the Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Web site, unemployment compensation for a regular claim can be established for 26 weeks and only upon certain conditions may it be extended for another 20 weeks, and possibly an additional 13 weeks in states with high unemployment.
It is uncertain whether former employees of the Princeville Resort are still eligible for receiving benefits, but even under ideal circumstances, those unemployment benefits would be close to running out at the hotel’s new expected grand opening.
Even though the St. Regis Princeville Resort did not have any representatives at Wednesday’s job fair, it is forecasted that the grand opening will reinstate previous employees in addition to potentially generating employment opportunities for others on the island.
The resort will be introducing several new services and amenities that might spur several job openings, including the St. Regis butler service, the new Halele‘a Spa and the introduction of Kaua‘i Grill — a signature restaurant by chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten — as well as other dining venues which will offer “ingredients farmed or produced on Kaua‘i,” according to a release.
“Princeville’s majestic beauty and distinguished history have made it a beloved destination for generations of travelers,” said resort General Manager Milton Sgarbi in a written statement. “The St. Regis Princeville was created for those seeking a refuge of supreme luxury and exceptional comfort; it is a place you will never want to leave.”
Sgarbi was unavailable for further comment regarding the resort’s grand opening or its projected employment opportunities.
The Makai golf course, which is also currently undergoing transformation, is expected to be completed by Fall 2009.
For more information, visit www.stregis.com
•Coco Zickos, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
