Owner and executive director for the new and soon to be opened Sanctuary Hotel, James Pang has come out in support of the local small business industry.
Speaking during a tour of the hotel building today he says that there needs to be more support of local people and produce.
Promoting the green house hotel concept, Pang said the hotel is all about giving the ultimate retreat feeling for those looking to get away from the city lights and get in touch with the nature.
Pang said that the hotel, although located at what is considered to be a dangerous part of the city on the road leading to Morata, has brought a sense of community and togetherness since its inception.
He said the three years since the company won the tender to build the Sanctuary, the staff and workers have worked tirelessly.
“Most of what you see here; the furniture, especially the chairs and table, the sanitary products like the soaps in the rooms are all locally built and produced by my own carpenters.”
He said that having being raised in Rabaul, East New Britain Province, and running the famous Rapopo Plantaiton Resort in Kokopo, the Sanctuary similarly is all about promoting local produce and products and giving back to our own people.
“In the Sanctuary, you will see a lot of PNG ideas, which have turned into something. The timber works, the furniture; bed frames, tables, chairs and even the food. There are no imports, we make it here ourselves.”
Also keen on promoting an inclusive society, the Sanctuary has rooms that are built specifically for people living with disabilities.
“The rooms are designed to cater to their needs and we plan on building more in the future.”
The Sanctuary even grows its own herbs and vegetables in its compost area, where we can pick off to be used in our kitchen restaurant.
“What we can’t grow, we buy locally in the market. We don’t import anything for our restaurant and they’re all from our local markets here.”
“These are things we are looking at. Something that is unique to PNG.”
Pang said the Sanctuary policy is not to buy imported vegetables or items, striving to be different.
He adds that once the Sanctuary opens, they will be utilizing the markets down the road from the hotel.
The Sanctuary is expected to be opened on the second week of November this year once the transformers for the power go up, and the rates of the hotel rooms and services have been finalized.
The Sanctuary contains a spa massage parlour (Indoor and outdoor), a fully equipped gym, a herb garden (locally maintained), a salt chlorinated outdoor pool, an outdoor bar, a business centre, conference room and gift shop, as well three specifically designed types of rooms; the Deluxe, Deluxe twin and the Studio suite.