THE Mövenpick Resort & Spa on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius is keen to attract more Middle East and Arabic visitors and, as well as special summer and Eid promotions, it is undertaking a soft refurbishment as well as a comprehensive staff training programme. General manager Francois Marot said: “We have a very low percentage of visitors from the Middle East, an average of one per cent occupancy per month (55 room nights) to date. Our winter, June to September, would be ideal for them, bearing in mind that our average temperature is around 24 to 26 deg C during the day and that period being the non-rainy season.
“We do have special family packages over the Middle East school holidays and special food and beverage packages over the Eid holiday. We still need, however, to focus more marketing towards this market and try to incite people to escape from the hot moths of June to September, to experience a most comfortable and pleasant winter in Mauritius.”
The hotel, which opened in December 2004, is currently undergoing a soft renovation programme including furniture in the public areas, main restaurant and bar and the pool areas, as well as the installation of flat-screen TVs in all rooms and repainting of the façade to effect an external facelift.
And Marot explained that two of the country’s foremost training organisations have been brought in to develop staff from the GM down to floor-level operatives and help not only with the implementation of Mövenpick policies but also with the achievement of the property’s long-term growth strategies.
In common with the rest of the world, Mauritius did suffer in the economic climate of 2009 with bookings dropping off but things began improving in October and Marot is confident that, after a slow low season from July to September 2010, the same will happen again towards the end of the year.
The resort combines first-class service with 181 rooms and suites, all facing the Indian Ocean, excellent cuisine at a variety of outlets, luxurious spa facilities, a well-equipped business centre and meeting space for up to 200 people.
And Marot is convinced the luxury combined with its idyllic setting and superb cuisine would appeal to Arab visitors accustomed to high-end living.
He said “Mövenpick Resort & Spa is known on the island and among clients for its excellent cuisine, having won the Black Box competition, one of the top culinary contests on the island, in August 2009.
“We are located in a very remote and authentic area of the island, a real break away, while at the same time only half an hour from the main centre and 45 minutes from the airport.
“We are close to one of the most untouched lagoons with great sea life, there is hiking in beautiful neighboring mountainside and private game reserves, cable riding, quad biking, kite surfing, horse riding and much more.
“The hotel has a spacious and beautiful garden of 10 acres, while at the same time, with 181 rooms, it remains a hotel of human dimension, where we can be close to each and every guest.