When a group of New Zealand C&I professionals were taken to the new Sofitel Fiji they didn’t know what to expect. What they discovered blew them away. STORY BY BRAD FOSTER

Already popular with New Zealand conference and incentive groups Fiji has grown in stature with the opening of the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa on Denarau Island, just a short distance from the international airport. The educational was hosted by Accor Fiji sales manager, Jane Reese, and Air Pacific’s conference and incentive manager, Jennie Burt, and gave participants a wonderful taste of what groups can do in what is often regarded as the world’s friendliest destination. Ms Reese said the educational was extremely well received by participants.

“We spent the first night at Sofitel then [went] over to Vomo Island Resort, which is managed by Sofitel, to stay the second night,” she explains. “Some of the highlights were a ‘Shipwreck dinner’ on the beach, breakfast by the turtle pond then swimming in the ocean with the baby turtles. This involved taking young turtles from the turtle sanctuary for a swim in the ocean.

The original name of Vomo was Vonu, meaning turtle and the team at Vomo Island has a breeding programme for turtles.” She said as well as participating in a range of activities at Sofitel Fiji, the group also experienced the Mandara Spa, and the great food. “One of the highlights here was the sensational dinner on the beach set up by the team at Sofitel. This included a fully set up lounge area on the beach complete with lamps, a Turkish rug and lounge chairs. Alongside this was a table set up as a beach scene.

Food was better than any I had experienced in Fiji before.” Director of Williment Travel Group, Ross Jamieson, who participated in the educational, said the programme was well organised and thought out, and the Sofitel is a great fresh, new option for groups considering Fiji for upcoming events. “The hotel is very well planned and laid out, offering privacy to all,” he said. “[It has] innovative group dining options. I especially like the ‘loungeroom’ creation on the sand. “We have two groups travelling to Sofitel Fiji this year, and we have a large group looking at Fiji in 2007. Over the past years we have had four to five groups to Fiji. We are finding it is always on the incentive plans for many corporates, with them liking to return to Fiji with their groups every two or three years.

“Other destinations can sometimes be once-only visits (from a freshness point of view), but Fiji tends to earn the repeat business from most. It is easy, convenient, warm and the standards and service are always improving.” Another participant, groups sports and events manager of GO Holidays, Belinda Paterson, said it was great to have a new five-star property on the mainland.

She describes the property as “stylish and contemporary but still very South Pacific at the same time”. “The water activities were exceptional, the highlight being the parasailing which was professionally operated and a special treat,” she said. “It was just so easy that anyone of any age could do it effortlessly – and once airborne, the water below was so clear, it was magical.” She was also impressed with the conference facilities of the property. “The conference facilities are big – the largest in Fiji - and no expense has been spared with technology.

The resort is also extremely versatile with plenty of break-out options and areas for morning teas, lunches and cocktails in the evening.” Strong interest Ms Reese says interest from the New Zealand conference and incentive market is high with plenty of quotes rolling out the door. “Excitement is high about a new five-star property and I know it is going to quickly become a favourite with the C&I market.” Additional resort facilities include a private white-sand beach frontage, the Pacific’s largest lagoon-style pool with a deep-dive section, spa and waterslide, a variety of bars and restaurants, the Turtle Club for children, a variety of local and international retail shopping outlets and a private beachside wedding chapel.

The resort is adjacent to the Denarau Golf & Racquet Club with its 18-hole golf course and 10 tennis courts. The Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa’s ballroom can seat up to 720 delegates theatre-style and 640 for a sit down dinner. The resort’s eight meeting rooms are complemented with private gardens and verandas for outdoor options. On-site sport and action specialist, Adrenalin Fiji offers a comprehensive choice of fitness and leisure activities – from skydiving and sailing to scuba and snorkelling – for a total C&I package that delivers minimum fuss for conference organisers and maximum enjoyment to guests.

Sofitel has secured one of the Asia Pacific’s leading spa operators, Mandara, to provide a range of superb treatments and massages for guests without ever having to leave the comforts of the resort. Sofitel Fiji’s beachside day spa features nine self-contained and private treatment bures for guests to enjoy individually or as a couple. For full details and conditions about Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa contact Jane Reese on (09) 529-9093, email jane.reese@accor.com or visit www.sofitelfiji.com.fj.

BLUE LAGON CRUISES takes out prestigious award.

Fiji’s Blue Lagoon Cruises has stolen a march on its regional competition becoming the only South Pacific Island cruise operator to earn an award in the influential Cruise Passenger magazine 2005 Readers’ Choice Awards. The boutique island cruising specialist’s MV Fiji Princess was one of just five vessels to earn a place in the ‘Best Small Ship (under 500 passengers)’ category in last year’s survey.

The 60-metre catamaran came in third and was the smallest vessel of the five that gained a placing. Conducted annually, the Cruise Passenger magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards are decided by readers’ votes based on their experiences, with votes coming predominantly from Australia and New Zealand. The awards are broken down into 16 separate categories with just five ships being named in each. Categories range from best small ship and best adventure cruise to best ship’s cuisine, best ship’s cabin and best fly/cruise airline.

One of the more prestigious accolades, the 2005 ‘Best Cruise Region’ award went to the South Pacific. This is the second major award win for MV Fiji Princess in the space of six months, the vessel earning prestigious ‘Recommended Property’ status in the 2006 edition of the ‘Conde Nast Johansens Luxury Hotel Guides’ released last November. The newest vessel in the five-strong Blue Lagoon Cruises’ fleet, the MV Fiji Princess offers 34 luxury staterooms, spacious dining saloon and upper deck lounge bar, four sun decks and sky bar, onboard boutique, Lagoon Spa and swimming pool.

The MV Fiji Princess currently operates on Blue Lagoon Cruises’ seven-day/six-night ‘Gold Club’ itineraries in Fiji’s Yasawa and Manauca Island chains departing on Mondays from Lautoka.

For more information visit www.bluelagooncruises.com.