Age of Aquarius set to dawn near airport

Louise & Terry Buckley of the new Aquarius Hotel

Aquarius Hotel Rarotonga, on the beachfront across from the Rarotonga International Airport terminal, is ready to open – and bring new connections for Cook Islands tourism.
Aquarius group chief executive Leonard Chan said it joins the already popular Aquarius Hotel Fiji in the second step of the company’s continuing development in the region.
And ways he said it will help promote and market tourism here include:
· word-of-mouth promotion by the many international visitors who already know and stay at the Aquarius Fiji on the beach near Nadi International Airport
· international website promotion through a link to Aquarius Rarotonga from the well-established Aquarius Fiji Internet site.
The Aquarius group seeks to provide a “boutique” budget hotel that fills a niche between the basic backpacker type-establishments and resorts.
It aims to attract new visitors to the Cook Islands rather than just compete for the visitors who are already coming here, Chan stressed.
Final preparations are now being completed with Aquarius Rarotonga expected to be fully open by the end of the month.
Work began around June of 2005 with DNA builders Don and Ina Organ taking the lead contract work.
Chan said it has been a three-year plan to get the hotel to the stage it is right now.
Aquarius Rarotonga has appointed a local manager Nooroa Tiria. She came from Telecom Cook Islands to be trained in the tourism industry by Aquarius.
Chan is based in Fiji and often travels to Rarotonga to oversee the hotel operations, along with main owners Terry and Louise Buckley, also of Fiji. Landowner Rei Jack, of Ruatonga, is the main local shareholder.
With Aquarius Fiji well established, and Aquarius Rarotonga about to launch, the Buckleys are expected to next look at plans to develop an Aquarius in Samoa.
The Rarotonga site housed a laundry in the early 1990s. It has now been fully transformed into a beautiful up-market budget ‘boutique’ hotel.
Aquarius Rarotonga only plans to employ Cook Islanders, who are being trained by the experienced Aquarius Fiji team.
The budget backpacker dormitory sleeps 24 and is fully air conditioned with natural colours that fill the décor.
Aquarius Rarotonga also has 11 beachfront rooms that are very spacious with spectacular bay-window views of the ocean front.
The hallway leads to an Internet centre followed by a large world map on the wall.
It then takes you to a spacious dining area with an open plan decking overlooking an appealing pool area.
The dining area inside and out is fitted with natural wood pieces that blend into the surroundings.
The new restaurant and bar are called The Coral Club and will be operated by Bruce McCartney, of Portofino’s Restaurant in Maraerenga.
Management of the hotel are very pleased with the progress. They are looking forward to opening, connecting Cook Islands to the Aquarius network - and helping bring more visitors to the country.

- Feona Mo’ardi Good

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