THE makeover of the "grand old lady", the Grand Pacific Hotel is 50 per cent complete and should be opened for business by the end of next year.
Project manager Rod Bradley confirmed this during a media tour of the almost a century-old building yesterday.
The $78 million project is a joint venture between the Papua New Guinea Superannuation Fund (50 per cent shareholding), the Lamana Development (25 per cent) and the Fiji National Provident Fund (25 per cent).
Contributions from the shareholders have been through equity and debt from a local bank, FNPF acting chief executive officer Jaoji Koroi said.
Mr Bradley confirmed the project was on schedule.
At least 130 people were employed directly by the project with three local staff as supervisors, Mr Koroi said.
The structural engineers of the project are HLK Jacobs, who were also project managers for the Natadola Tourism Development Project while Irwin Alsop is the services engineer. Both are local companies.
When completed, the GPH should be restored to its original look with the new buildings beside it.
"Architecturally, we are restoring all structural facade internally and externally to its original condition.
"We are redesigning sections of the main building to maintain feature cornice in the lobby and all day dining and also incorporating roof top structures into room designs of the main executive suite and executive lounge on level one," Mr Koroi said.
Interior Fitout supervisor, Yaron Swisa said maintaining the original features of the GPH was difficult.
However, he said, the completed work should incorporate old as well as new features.