Our Famous conference hotel in Apia, Hotel Kitano Tusitala now known as “Tanoa Tusitala Hotel” after it was bought by the Reddy Hotel Group from Fiji, burned down to the ground on September 16 in the morning. The hotel has just been undergoing an extensive renovation and all the traditional meeting fales built with the best of Samoan craftsmanship had received new and beautiful shingle roofs.
The hotel was very soon going to be reopened under its new owner when the tragedy appeared. It was told that the reason for the fire was an electrical fault. Nobody knows if this beautiful landmark ever will be rebuilt. Where are we now going to hold our big meetings in Apia?
Finally on September 7 directly after the biggest Tourism Festival “Teuila Festival” the road switch from right to left took place. Both Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are holidays to keep too many cars off the road. What will happen on Wednesday when all people are going back to work and many kids back to school is still to be seen.