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Overview
Aggies Hotel in Apia, Samoa was founded by Aggie Grey (nee Swann), daughter of William Swann an English chemist and Pele, a Samoan woman from Toamua Village. The hotel was originally set up as a club in 1933. World War II and the presence of United States military in Samoa saw the business grow into a hotel, one that has become one of the most famous touristic references in the South Pacific Region.
Aggie Grey
Aggie was born Agnes Genevieve Swann in Western Samoan in 1897 and died in 1988 at the age of 91. In her twentieth year she married Gordon-Hay Mackenzie, a New Zealander who managed the Union Steamship Company.They had four children and were married until Gordon was stricken with tuberculosis in 1925 and died shortly after in New Zealand. Aggie remarried Charlie Grey in Apia and she had a further three children from this marriage.
Aggie faced much hardship and turmoil in her life, out of her seven children, three had died during her life time; Peggy from tuberculosis at age 20, Ian at just 20 months and Pele in 1976 while living in New Zealand. Aggie's second husband, Charlie also suffered from ill health and unfortunately was well known as a compulsive gambler that had become bankrupt in the early 1940s. At this time, Aggie was faced with the indifferent health of her husband, lack of money and the responsibility of raising her family. It was out of this context that Aggie Grey the business woman was formed. From selling hamburgers to American GIs, managing to bypass a nation wide liquor ban in Samoa so that she could offer alcohol to guests, to successfully building up her business from wartime foundations, Aggie was truly an entrepreneur that took advantage of the resources she had exposed to her.
Aggie Grey's Hotel
In the 20 years following the end of World War II, Aggie's constant developments and improvements meant that guest accommodation on her
Significance
The poster's production date is unknown but due to its stylised tapa-like background and other similar styled Aggie merchandise, it can be attributed to the 1950s or 1960s. The poster is a symbolic representation of Aggie Grey, prominent Samoan businesswoman and her famous hotel. The poster features a taupou (the village maiden, generally the daughter of a chief or selected by the village to represent them) sitting behind an 'ava bowl in ceremonial attire. Duties of a taupou as depicted here as part of the 'ava ceremony include being an ideal host by entertaining and serving visitors. This Samoan hospitality, like that of a taupou and Samoan villages, was central to Aggie's business philosophy and crucial to its success. Aggie's hospitality was revered by her many guests and people who have voiced how they felt included in the 'aiga (family) she had created at her hotel.
From a touristic perspective, this poster evidences tourism and how hotels and resorts are a site that connect and engage indigenous and non-indigenous people. Aggies Hotel, while a predominantly economic venture also had the power to represent Samoan people to all its guests, mainly non-Samoans. Aggie's dance nights held at the hotel coupled with its' picturesque location undoubtedly propelled stereotypical images of an idealized Samoa. However, the hotel was also the site of revival for Samoan practises that were almost lost in modern times, such as that of building indigenous Samoan fales (houses). The fale built in 1968 for Aggies, was one of several fale built for hotels and resorts in Samoa. These fale are marvelled as an example of artistic excellence and culture of the Samoan people. While fale are appreciated for their fine architecture, they also serve as the location of dance nights, participating in a more complex and at times conflicting imagery of Samoa and its people. The hotel is also an example of how Aggie and family were active agents in tourism.
References
Aggie Greys Group. (2011). Aggie Greys: Hotels and Resorts, South Pacific. Retrieved from http://aggiegreys.com Alailima, F. (1988). Aggie Grey: A Samoan Saga. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing Eustis, N. (1979). Aggie Grey of Samoa. Adelaide: Hobby Investments Pty. Ltd. Mallon, Sean, (2012).Tourist arts and its markets 1945-89 in Brunt, P., Thomas, N., Mallon, S.,Bolton, L., Brown, D., Skinner, D. & Kuchler, S. Art in Oceania: A New History. London: Thames & Hudson Inc.