[2] It was established in 1964 with 24 rooms[1] by Janfull International Dateline Hotel Ltd., a joint venture between Tonga and China[3] which according to Pacific Islands Report was the first entry by China into free-market Pacific tourism.

[4] The hotel was built to house visitors to the coronation of King Tāufaʻāhau Tupou IV and also marked the start of tourism to Tonga.

This added 30 rooms and a convention centre whose main conference hall holds 400 people and was built for the 38th Pacific Islands Forum.

[8][9] Prime Minister ʻAkilisi Pōhiva said that "such project contributes heavily to economic development.

"[8] Later in 2017, the hotel hosted the Commonwealth Observer Group to the 2017 Tongan general election.