The Solomon Kitano Mendana Hotel has undergone renovations since April 2007, the new look is expected to be completed by the end of March 2008.
Ms. Anna Laumea, Mendana Hotels Administration Manager, stated that the area that used to be the restaurant and bar has been renovated into luxury rooms."On the ground floor there will be two restaurants and a kitchen to accommodate Western and Japanese menu...the second and third floor will cater for the 18 suite rooms," said Ms. Laumea.
Ms. Laumea stated that the 18 suites are bigger than the current executive suites, "so once opened the suites will be executive suits while the old ones will become deluxe suites."
Ms. Laumea stated that the increase in rooms will aid the growing demand for hotel accommodation, currently on an all time high.
There is a huge shortage of beds in the capital Honiara with demand growing each day. Hoteliers and local operators have called on the government to assist in the current bed shortage as it would bring a lot to the domestic economy.
"With a new airline operating, resulting in lower airfares, the Solomon Islands is far more competitive now...we need to capitalize on this," stated one hotelier.