Holiday Inn... is Bid HQ
ALFRED KANINIBA
In yet another outstanding show of support for the PNG NRL Bid, the Holiday Inn has joined the growing ranks of corporate sponsors by announcing their sponsorship package yesterday.
Holiday Inn makes it three, the number of high profile sponsors who have joined the Bid’s “sponsor family” which includes Coca-Cola Amatil PNG and Airlines PNG.
The Holiday Inn is now officially the home and headquarters of the Bid. This will be the place to spot rugby league identities and officials as the Bid program unfolds.
The Bid will proudly host special events at the hotel as it becomes the hub of rugby league planning.
Holiday Inn is the official accommodation group of the NRL (National Rugby League) and have shown confidence in the Papua New Guinea NRL Bid by coming in now to support this national impact project.
Geoff Haigh, general manager of the Holiday Inn, Port Moresby has supported the Bid initiative from the outset. “We know how much Papua New Guineans love their rugby league and the Holiday Inn is a long standing official partner to rugby league. We host many rugby reague identities. We want to show every support we can to this important project.”
Minister for Sports and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister and chairman of the PNG NRL Bid Philemon Embel has welcomed the Bid’s new partner, “Holiday Inn is a proven experienced sponsor to the NRL.
“I applaud their vision in recognising the value of PNG getting a licence in the NRL and their support to our endeavours as we work towards that ultimate prize.
The Papua New Guinea Government has made the decision to initiate this project to seek a licence. Well known corporate identities such as Holiday Inn, strengthen our bid, and on behalf of the PNG Government, we extend our deepest appreciation to Geoff Haig and his Holiday Inn team.”
Asked if there was interest by sponsors for the PNG NRL Bid from overseas, Minister Embel said as the Bid gained momentum and the roll out of programs began, “interested multinational firms had already made their intentions to come on board.
“However at this time we cannot name names,” Minister Embel saidl
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said he was confident of securing a NRL licence but emphasised that a junior development program needed to be put in place to make the Bid a reality.
“New Zealand is a small but it has a good junior program that is why you seem many of their junior players playing in the Toyota Cup in Australia.”
“If they can do it PNG can do it too.”
Asked about when the new state of the art NRL stadium would be built, Governor Parkop said a letter had been received from the Motu Koita Assembly last Friday regarding the land and they were still to finalise arrangement.
The NCD Governor said however that he would like to see work on the new stadium to start as soon as all the paper work was done.
Meanwhile, the Governor also took this time to apologised to the residents of Port Moresby for the NRL All Stars game that was not televised as promised on Saturday evening at the Jack Pidik Park.
“There was a technical problem with EMTV and Channel 9 and therefore we could not have the game televised.”
“Families in Hanuabada and around the city took their mats out and got ready to watch the game but were disappointed.”
“I apologise to you all. We are now talking with Hitron to make sure that such things do not happen again,” the Governor said.
It is understood that funds have already been set aside for scoping work for the stadium.
Bev Broughton, general manager of the Bid said “The same sort of experience that both corporate and family groups enjoy at Holiday Inn is what we will create at our games in the future ... a fun environment, a healthy environment and a secure place where all families can enjoy themselves”.
