|
Mauritius, located off the south west coast of the Indian Ocean, has been a popular destination for Australians for many years, and an increasingly popular one for small to medium-sized convention and incentive groups.
Now, through additional marketing and promotion, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MPTA) is aiming to increase its share of the business tourism sector. Thankfully, many hotel operators are coming to the party as well, offering some great group discounts and packages that should be of interest to those charged with planning high-level meetings and incentives out of Australia and New Zealand.
According to the MPTA Mauritius has the lot when it comes to catering for large, medium or small business tourism groups. Its ease of access – simplistic visa requirements and good air access – attractiveness, quality accommodation, and increasing value for money, particularly for the Australian market, are contributing to the growing potential of the island as a business tourism destination.
The length and breadth of group options in Mauritius are also a big plus, says the MPTA. Golf, nature-based activities, light adventure, outdoor options for team-building, and exciting off-site dinners and events, big game fishing, and diving, should all be appealing to the corporate meetings and incentive travel market.
The MPTA recently launched a new strategy to increase business tourism activity – Mauritius – MICE in style – planning to launch it at EIBTM later this year.
Mauritius is undoubtedly one of the prettiest destinations in the world, and it certainly has the resort venues to back up that claim.
What’s more, with the economic downturn in the past year many properties are offering some incredible savings. The Naiade Group is taking positive action against the slow economy by offering “Never Seen Before” group rates of up to 55 per cent discount on Beau Rivage and Legends - part of the luxury collection in the Naiade portfolio - and also Tamassa, an all-inclusive four star resort.
For example, Beau Rivage an all suite five-star hotel, offers incredibly attractive rates from $132 per person per night twin share in a junior suite including beautiful buffet breakfast and gourmet dinner daily, land and water sports plus mini and teens clubs. No compromise is made on the service or quality of the Naiade product. Room drops, meeting rooms, equipment and live nightly entertainment are generously included in the room rate.
Beau Rivage at Belle-Mare on the east coast faces the largest lagoon in Mauritius. This elegant hotel is situated along a long ribbon of white sand. The lagoon’s shallow waters, with its shades of blue and green, is a clear invitation to carefree idleness.
The spacious lobby has a large pool with turquoise mosaics opening onto the delicate lines of the crystal-clear swimming pool and the aquamarine lagoon. Thatched roofs invoke legendary Mauritian hospitality and give all the buildings an authentic charm.
The refined décor that marries the strong sophistication of wrought iron, pure cotton and linen material and the natural warmth of wood, gives Beau Rivage a real feeling of that rare, sought-after tranquillity that everyone longs for.
The property is tailor-made to small meetings or incentives, offering The Atlantide, an air-conditioned conference room that can seat up to 80 theatre-style or 40 boardroom-style, and the smaller Oceanide, suitable for groups of about 14 seated boardroom-style.
Beau Rivage offers four restaurants and a spa, and plenty of water pursuits. Excellent diving sites are just 10 minutes’ boat ride away from the hotel. Divers will be captivated by the hues and shapes of the corals, and the incredible marine life.
Another first-rate property in the Naiade portfolio is Legends Grand Gaube. Grand Gaube is a small fishing village on the north east coast of Mauritius, just 15 to 20 minutes drive away from Grand Baie.
 Adjacent to an idyllic cove, the Legends Grand Gaube is a haven for relaxation and wellbeing. The hotel has four swimming pools, with the main pool at the centre of the hotel and overlooking a beautiful bay, spa facilities, and an abundance of dining options.
Legends is equipped with an air-conditioned conference room (45 square metres), seating between 24 and 30 people, depending on the configuration, and its 60-seat cinema can also be utilised for meetings. The property also offers a boardroom which can seat 12 people.
The four-star Tamassa property under the management of Naiade is located at Bel Ombre on the island’s south west coast.
Tamassa stands at the end of a long avenue of mature coconut palms towering skywards. A picture postcard landscape stretches across sugarcane fields to the mountains beyond. The south-west is described as a beautiful part of Mauritius, with spectacular walks and drives through lush, tropical hillsides and a range of open-air activities in beautiful countryside.
In front of the hotel, beyond the sandy beach, lies a turquoise lagoon that almost blends into the skyline.
The traditional style architecture ideally suits the tropical setting, with beautifully landscaped gardens. The buildings seem at one with the environment. The décor is breathtakingly contemporary, with clean lines and bold use of colour. The atmosphere is one of eternal youth, friendly, cheerful and enthusiastic.
With some great deals currently on offer there has never has been a better time to impress your clients with a new and exciting destination at such an incredible rate. To learn more visit www.naiade.com.
One of the other big players in the region is Sun Resorts. Sun Resorts has a number of offerings in Mauritius including the completely remodelled Sugar Beach, La Pirogue, and the elegant Le Touessrok.
Sugar Beach reopened in August 2008 after extensive remodelling work. The enhanced plantation style of the hotel, combined with a resolutely contemporary touch, enables its team to offer a unique five-star experience to its guests.
The Mauritian spirited hotel occupies a predominant site of more than 12 hectares, featuring landscaped tropical gardens and a wide extent of white sand beach. The complete refurbishment of Sugar Beach has seen the renovation of the 238 guest rooms and suites, 92 of which have being completely remodelled into Superior Ground Floor Villas.
The public areas comprising of the front entrance, the reception lobby, Mon Plaisir restaurant (the main dining room), the main pool and Citronella’s Café have also been enhanced.
New food and beverage facilities that have been added include Tides beach restaurant and bar where chefs offer the finest world sea cuisine, the Mon Plaisir bar, inspired by French pavement cafes which open on to a garden courtyard, and the new Sports Bar located near the tennis courts.
Sugar Beach also features a completely new spa – Aura Spa – offering traditional massage and beauty treatments as well as the largest hammam on the island with specialised hammam therapies.
Aura Fitness offers a state-of-the-art gym equipped with the latest multimedia cardio equipment, air controlled strength machines, body building and free weights equipment. Personal trainers also offer Pilates, vibro gym and specialised interactive spinning classes.
The property is well equipped for the meetings and incentive market offering 294 square metres of air-conditioned and fully equipped conference and event space.
The buildings themselves are based on the traditional sugar plantation style with a central manor house and surrounding ‘sugar village’. Their cool white lines and gabled roofs in sugared-almond colours sit amidst velvet green lawns and symmetrical palm avenues, all bordered by the nearby sea.
The buildings comprise the central reception, the Manor House and 16 villas – 10 with 12 rooms each and six with 10 rooms each. Guests have access to the facilities of La Pirogue which is within walking distance.
After the renovation, these features have been enhanced by a more contemporary feel with modern material, new settings and breathtaking perspectives on the surroundings with its lush vegetation, smooth lawns and sparkling sea.
Interior design complements the plantation theme of the resort, while maintaining a contemporary feel. Real mahogany furniture and king-size beds harmonise well with the soft finishes in tones of pale green and beige. The rooms are fitted with blackout curtains and pastel sheers drawn behind white louvered panels on each side of the front windows.
All rooms are provided with fully stocked mini bars, luggage racks, tea and coffee making facilities and LCD flat-screen TVs. Satellite television provides international news, sports and entertainment, as well as kids’ channels in English, French, German and Italian.
Nestled in lush tropical gardens along one of the most beautiful stretches of sand on the island, La Pirogue, the easy-going, tropical-style hotel, celebrated 30 years of quality service in 2006. The hotel’s character has cultivated an attractive local touch to offer a genuine Mauritian experience to the visitor.
 On its opening in June 1976, La Pirogue was the first hotel on the west coast, overlooking the beach of Flic en Flac. From the very beginning, the architectural features of its bungalows, inspired from local fishermen’s boats, became a symbol in the local tourism industry - a place to go for warm, relaxed holidays, an ideal meeting platform for incentive groups and conferences, the ultimate cultural and entertainment spot.
Through the years, La Pirogue has always kept this very specific lively atmosphere, renewing itself by successive refurbishments and transformations, growing its magnificent gardens and mature palm groves, and building on the know-how and dedication of its people.
La Pirogue’s staff fully integrate the hotel’s philosophy and approach. The team shows an average of more than 17 years of service and 30 employees have known the hotel and worked there since its opening.
The hotel’s set up comprises a pool overlooking the ocean and completely redesigned restaurants that have retained the hotel’s original natural charm from the volcanic stone walls, wooden arches and thatched roofs. Greater comfort also now lies in its 248 bungalows (standard and superior rooms including two royal suites), many opening onto private palm groves and the sea.
In terms of dining, La Pirogue boasts a rich variety of cuisine with a positive local touch. At Thatches, the main restaurant, emphasis is on live cooking and island cuisine. Paul and Virginie, the intimate beachside restaurant, welcomes guests on a more romantic note. Thatched dining pavilions extend over the pool while the kitchen serves fresh seafood, Mauritian specialties and trendy Asian wraps. The resort’s latest addition is La Badiane, where the subtle use of spices and herbs creates a new dining experience.
Le Touessrok has been described as “one of the world’s great resorts” – the height of cool, modern elegance, imbued with the warmth of tropical Mauritius, truly one of the “Leading Hotels of the World”.
Le Touessrok lies on a beautiful stretch of sandy coast, looking out over tranquil Trou d’Eau Douce Bay. It is five-star luxury at its best, the perfect setting for convention or incentive travel groups.
Facilities include an extensive range of water sports and land-based activities, five restaurants, a renowned Givenchy spa and personal butler service. The resort also features three waterfront villas which offer ultra-exclusive and spacious accommodation, using the latest technology to meet the high expectations of the most discerning guests.
To learn more about Sun Resorts’ offerings contact assistant sales manager Natacha Affoque via email on natacha.affoque@sunresorts.mu or visit www.sunresortshotels.com.
Top
|