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Tan Siu Lin was born in 1930 in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, China.
In the early 1970s, Tan Siu Lin saw potential in Guam’s booming economy and moved his family there. His vision and dedication allowed him to grow his businesses across various industries, always guided by his core values of truth, trust, dedication, and diligence.
Beyond business, Tan Siu Lin is a committed philanthropist. He has made significant contributions to educational foundations in Hong Kong, China, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. In recognition of his efforts, he has received numerous awards, including the Quanzhou Philanthropist Award and the Fujian Charity Award. His Tan Siu Lin Foundation, established in Saipan, Guam, Hong Kong, and Quanzhou, embodies his belief in giving back to the community.
His contributions to education in Guam include a million-dollar donation to the University of Guam’s Capital Campaign, with a building named in honor of his family.
Tan Siu Lin’s legacy is one of perseverance, vision, and a deep commitment to his community, which continues to inspire those around him.
Lam Pek Kim, wife of TanHoldings founder Tan Siu Lin, has played an integral role in the success of Tan Holdings. From the early years, she demonstrated her grace and discipline, serving as a supportive wife to Tan Siu Lin and a nurturing mother to their children. Her unwavering dedication to her family and their endeavors is an important cornerstone of the family business. Through her quiet strength and constant support, LPK has helped to foster resilience and determination within the family.
As TanHoldings grew, LPK’s impact on the business remains a testament to the importance of family values and the unwavering support that can help businesses achieve greatness. Her legacy of hard work and dedication continues to inspire and motivate the company’s leadership today.
In 1983, we moved our headquarters to Saipan, becoming one of the largest and most respected family-owned businesses in the Northern Mariana Islands. Today, Tan Holdings plays a key role in the Western Pacific, contributing to various essential industries.
Under the leadership of President Jerry Tan, our company has grown and thrived. We prioritize innovation, strategic thinking, and excellence, allowing us to stay ahead in our industries. But more importantly, we deeply care about our employees and the communities we serve, which is why we actively engage in philanthropic efforts and corporate social responsibility programs.
As we continue to grow, we remain committed to our core values and look forward to embracing new opportunities.
Celebrating over 50 years in the region, Tan Holdings and its affiliates owe their success to strong core values that guide every aspect of our operations. Our commitment to the communities in the Western Pacific is deeply rooted in:
We empower our employees to embody these principles, fostering a culture that remains the foundation of our success.
TanHoldings believes in the importance of community involvement and giving back. Whether it’s through philanthropic initiatives, volunteering, or supporting local institutions, the company is committed to making a positive impact on the communities we serve. The foundation plays an integral role in this work, supporting a wide range of causes and organizations that align with its values. By working collaboratively with others, TanHoldings believes it can help create a brighter future for all. To learn more about the foundation and the causes it supports, explore the website and discover the many ways TanHoldings is making a difference. Join in its mission to build a better region.
The growth of TanHoldings can be summarize in 3 distinct areas.
1972-1982
The Movie Business Era
1983-2002
The Garment Industry Era
2003-2022
The Tourism Boom
- L&T Guam is the first company established by Dr. Tan Siu Lin in the Western Pacific Region. It shortly became the largest distributor of Western and Asian movies in the region in the mid-‘70s through the late ‘80s. The company later evolved to engage in real estate for commercial, office, and residential rentals.
- Unity Development Corp. (UDC) was formed when the family acquired Zee’s Complex property in Tamuning to become the headquarters for L&T Guam. The property was later renamed Century Plaza and is home to the following UDC-owned and operated businesses: Central Lanes Bowling, Century Restaurant, Century Lounge & Karaoke, and Century Game Room. UDC also provides retail and office space rentals at Century Plaza.
- L&T Saipan was established to gain a foothold on Saipan, the capital city of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The company ventured into movie theater operation when it acquired the Camacho Cinema in central Garapan. It was renamed Century Cinema and closed in 1986.
- The family ventured into the garment industry with the opening of American International Knitters Corporation (AIKC). AIKC was the very first garment factory in Saipan and heralded Saipan’s garment manufacturing boom. Through the years, the company-owned factories served the growing demand from US high-end fashion clothing brands in its customer portfolio. Saipan's unique relationship with the US (tariff-free access to this market) allowed manufacturers to have "made in the USA" labels on garments sewn there. For the CNMI, the garment industry peaked in 1999 with 34 garment factories, all located in Saipan. The industry topped $1 billion worth of apparel products to the US and contributed as much as $70 million or 1/3 of the CNMI government’s revenues.
- The company acquired the Diamond Gallery in 1987, a jewelry retail store at the Cabrera Center on Beach Road in Saipan. The business closed in 1994.
- Century Insurance (CIC Saipan) was established as an agent for several multi-national insurance companies. Anticipating the growing insurance needs of the region, CIC converted from an agency to an insurer in 1990, becoming the first domestic insurer in the CNMI. It offers a complete line of general insurance to meet all personal, business, and commercial needs: insurance for homeowners, travel, auto, fire, commercial vehicle, public liability, workmen’s compensation, marine, as well as surety/labor bonds. Expansion in the region happened with the opening of CIC Guam in 2003, and CIC Papua New Guinea in 2008. In 2021, TanHoldings divests CIC (PNG) Ltd. to focus its attention on insurance operations in Guam and Saipan.
- Consolidated Transportation Services, Inc. (CTSI Logistics) was founded on Saipan and holds corporate headquarters in Hong Kong. With experienced and competent experts, supported by customized solutions and 3PL services (international freight forwarding, warehousing, distribution, cargo consolidation, and household goods transport), CTSI Logistics helps move cargo safely and on time to its destination. It operates in China, Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific, and the USA–covering 24 stations in 12 countries.
- Pacific Oriental Inc. (POI Aviation) is an independent aircraft ground handling company operating at Saipan International Airport. It has served all areas of ground handling services for United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Asiana Airlines, China Eastern, Philippine Airlines, and other private jets.
- Realty Management Services (RMS), a division of L&T Saipan, manages the group’s Saipan real estate properties, specializes in property maintenance, and is also tasked with managing a range of ongoing improvement projects and property renovations.
- Cosmos Distributing (Cosmos Guam and Saipan) began as a wholesaler of fast-moving consumer goods catering to the tourism industry and later diverged to general merchandise and institutional products. Cosmos is customer-development driven and brand-management oriented—traits that distinguish it from other wholesalers. It sources its products from China, the United States, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, and South Korea. The Saipan office was eventually closed in 2017.
- Century Travel Agency is a full-service travel agency on Saipan, and an accredited member of the International Airlines Travel Agent Network (IATAN) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- Saipan Tribune publishes a local community newspaper five days a week to give its readers timely, accurate, balanced, and wide-ranging coverage of what is happening in the CNMI and around the globe.
- Aero Micronesia (Asia Pacific Airlines or APA) serves Micronesia and the Western Pacific with much needed all-cargo jet service. The fleet and service has grown to encompass the entire Pacific theatre, providing scheduled and ad-hoc charter service, with home bases in Guam and Honolulu. APA is an FAA part-121 Supplemental all-cargo carrier, headquartered in Guam, making the airline the westernmost US part-121 based carrier.
- Tango Theatres serves the island of Guam with family entertainment. The 12-plex Micronesia Mall Theatres opened in 1998, while the 5-cinema Agana Center Stadium in 2006. The theatres offer the finest, state-of-the-art cinema complexes in the Western Pacific. The Agana Center Stadium Theatres closed in 2021.
- Asia Pacific Hotels (APHI) acquired Century Hotel on Saipan, a 33-room boutique business hotel in Garapan.
- APHI acquires in January 2002 the 425-room Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach. Located in the heart of Saipan's tourist district, Dai-ichi Saipan is a leading resort endowed with an expansive white sand beachfront. The hotel was renovated with 416 rooms with the first Micronesian-style spa and renamed Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan in 2005.
- Further strengthening its presence in the tourism industry of the Western Pacific, Asia Pacific Hotels Guam (APHG) acquires in April 2002 the 336-room Guam Dai-Ichi Hotel, considered one of Guam’s historic properties and located on choice beachfront on Tumon Bay. The hotel was renovated with 318 rooms and renamed Fiesta Resort Guam in 2006.
- Century Tours Saipan was established in 2002 to operate charter flights and offer travel packages to island destinations such as the CNMI, Guam, Palau, and Hawaii. Starting in 2013, due to changes in travel and tourism law in China, Century Tours Saipan specializes only in aircraft charters from China.
- The Tan Siu Lin Foundation was established to launch initiatives and build trusted partnerships with a diverse array of individuals, families, corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies. These partners represent many different backgrounds and income levels. The TSL Foundation’s main mission is our deep commitment to uplifting the quality of life in the regions where we operate, thus making our communities a better place to live in.
- The end of garment trade quotas worldwide on January 1, 2005, effectively dismantled the CNMI’s garment industry, since Saipan can no longer compete with other countries that enjoy low wages. Our Group closed in 2005 all our garment factory operations in Saipan. In CNMI, the last factory closed in January 2009.
- APHI builds its hotel portfolio with the acquisition of Saipan Grand Hotel, a 224-room hotel located along the sprawling beaches of Susupe. The hotel was re-branded as Kanoa Resort Saipan in 2012.
- The Tan Siu Lin Foundation was established to launch initiatives and build trusted partnerships with a diverse array of individuals, families, corporations, nonprofits, and government agencies. These partners represent many different backgrounds and income levels. The TSL Foundation’s main mission is our deep commitment to uplifting the quality of life in the regions where we operate, thus making our communities a better place to live in.
- Blue Bay Guam was originally TAT Petroleum Guam and a joint venture with TAT Petroleum Pte Ltd of Singapore. It is an authorized distributor for Mobil Lubricants in the Western Pacific region.
- D&Q International Distributors was purchased from its original California owners Donald Dickerson and Robert Quinn. Headquartered in Guam, the company focuses upon exports to Saipan, Micronesia, and the major trading centers of the Pacific Rim. It has moved from a predominately "indent" style of conducting business, to a complex and integrated system involving warehousing, merchandising, and marketing activities.
- The TSL Plaza, named after Dr. Tan Siu Lin, was built in 2008 and is a three-floor office and commercial building. It boasts of being home to several United States federal offices in the CNMI, a retail store for a large regional telecommunications company, a medical laboratory, a dental clinic, a life insurance provider, and an insurance broker, among others.
- Blue Bay Petroleum Palau acquired in 2009 the Mobil assets in Palau and commits to continue to supply Mobil-quality fuel products as their predecessor, Mobil Oil Micronesia. It has the same dedication to safety, health, the environment, and satisfaction to the needs of its valued customers. Blue Bay Palau continues to employ the same local Mobil employees with over 30 years of service and experience in the petroleum industry.
- Saipan Adventures is the leading tour operator in Saipan offering travel packages to the CNMI and land tour options.
- The Gemkell Group was incorporated in Guam in 2004 and acquired by TanHoldings in 2014. It operates 17 luxury fashion retail boutiques in the dynamic travel retail environments of Guam, Saipan, and Hawaii. Guam serves as the headquarters.
- Gemkell Guam owns and operates Balenciaga, Chloé, Givenchy, Kenzo, Lacoste, LeSportsac, Longchamp, and Marc Jacobs boutiques in main shopping hubs throughout the island.
- Gemkell Saipan was established in 2016, and in 2017 opened luxury boutiques in the newly completed luxury shopping complex, The ARC. It owns and operates Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Chloé, Givenchy, and Kenzo.
- Gemkell USA was incorporated in 2018 and owns and operates LeSportsac boutiques in Hawaii.
- The iShop Store opened its doors in 2014 inside Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and Kanoa Resort Saipan. Selling Skechers shoes as its primary product, iShop carries an expanded merchandise inventory of name-brand clothing and apparel, perfumes, as well as unique and practical items that are suitable for tourists. iShop opened its 3rd store in 2016 in Paseo De Marianas, the heart of Saipan’s tourist district.
- Let’s Go! Group provides high-quality outdoor activities that immerse tourists and residents alike in the unique beauty of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Let’s Go! started with UTV Jungle Tours in 2015 and introduced in 2017 the SeaTouch up-close experience with Manta Rays and the exhilarating Jetovator adventure with Marine Sports.
- TanHoldings expands to Rota, with the acquisition of Hotel Valentino, a 32-room hotel located in Songsong. The island of Rota is popular with divers from Japan, as well as inter-island travelers.
- TanHoldings expands to Rota, with the acquisition of Hotel Valentino, a 32-room hotel located in Songsong. The island of Rota is popular with divers from Japan, as well as inter-island travelers.
- Aon Micronesia (Guam and Saipan) was incorporated in Guam in 1995, before being acquired by TanHoldings. It conducts a general insurance agency and insurance brokerage business in Guam, CNMI, and Micronesia. It brokers and markets a variety of property and casualty insurance. Under its new name AB Risk Solutions, the company becomes an exclusive long-term Aon Global Network Correspondent company, resulting in continuity of client service from our locally based experts and backed by the global infrastructure and market access of Aon.
- TanHoldings divests its interests in the Tourism Strategic Business Units in favor of S.A.I. Leisure, a publicly listed company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. S.A.I. provides unique, full-range, one-stop tourism products and services, having assumed the operations of the 4 Asia Pacific Hotels in Guam and Saipan, Gemkell, Century Tours, Saipan Adventures, and Let’s Go! Group.
- TanHoldings/Asia Pacific Hotels Inc. signs a long-term hotel management agreement with InterContinental Hotel Group to manage Fiesta Resort Guam from October 2019, and Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan from May 2020. Both hotels will become part of the IHG system and will rebrand as Crowne Plaza Guam and Saipan, respectively.
- February 2021, TakeCare becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of L&T Guam Corporation.
- After a multi-million-dollar refurbishment, Crowne Plaza Saipan reopened in October 2022 while Crowne Plaza Guam is set to open in November 2022.
