Growth in Nadi

Nadi and the islands

By Fenny Gibson

DESPITE the downturn in hotel occupancy and international competition, Fiji’s hotel and re sort business grew rapidly around Nadi and the islands in the past 12 months.

All echelons, from the exclusive and expensive to the budget hotels, experi enced growth with seven new hotels opening or about to open, two reopening, seven being built and others planned.

Each aims to make its own niche in the market, with special attractions aimed at a specific target tourist.

The newest hotel was the upmarket Sonaisali Island Resort, south ofNadi on an island with 24-hour access and all weather beaches. The small resort 32 large rooms and six large timber bures has luxury resort amenities and 24-hour service, but maintains individuality and privacy. It caters for families, couples, groups and singles, and has the only operational fully*-serviced marina in Fiji.

In Nadi, the old Westgate recently reopened as the New Westgate Hotel, a bright, airy hotel with local timber and light ceramic tiles and informal, person alised service. It has has 35 deluxe rooms, a pool, bar restaurant, disco/convention room and, by July 27, standard rooms.

It is a reasonably-priced, mid-range hotel for transit and destination tourists.

The $7 million Tokatoka Resort Hotel opposite the airport is the first to have a

majority sharehold ing by Fijians, the Sovau family of Saunaka. Opened of ficially in October 1990, it features 70 units (villas and apartments) with kit chens, four-channel videos and a super market. Its large pool with Fiji's only waterslide is a major attraction. The hotel is geared for families, but is also attracting singles and couples, including Japanese couples travelling on their own, and a large local clientele. A con vention room should be completed by Sep tember.

One of the few Nadi hotels offering beach frontage to budget-conscious tour ists is the Club Fiji Wailoaloa Beach Resort, due to open in July. It will have modern amenities, watersports, a res taurant, bar and day trips. The 12 traditional-style bures, each with two units, are built on pine poles with island views from the verandahs.

Paradise Islahd Resort, five minutes by launch, fills the need for a beach resort close to Lautoka. It caters largely for daytrippers, cruise passengers and visi tors to Lautoka with watersports, a nature walk and beach barbecue, but also for locals and businesses with dinner dances and business lunches. The resort recently opened 12 duplex bures and an

“upper echelon” dormitory.

Offshore, the reknowned club Naitasi reopened in May after 17 month’s closure, and plans to regain its former share of the small group, family and couples market. Its nine villas have been renovated and facilities, pool area and

waterfront upgraded.

Up-market Tokoriki Resort, with 19 bures, opened in May with a billing as “two for the price of one”. It offers guests accommodation and activities with its sister, Matamanoa, and its own tropical island attractions, a semi-submersible coral viewer and sports fishing.

The exclusive S 7 million Vatulele Island Resort has established itself as a world-class luxury resort in its first 12 months. The architectural blend of the 12 bures is New Mexican pueblo and Fijian bure. Guests pay for solitude, peace, excellent cuisine and no children.

Yasawa Island opened in March on remote Yasawa Island. Initially eight very large single and double bures with Fijian trimmings were built, but another 10 are under construction. The $8.5 million luxury hideaway aims to provide all visitor needs, on the island and in the v/ater. Children are only allowed during Australian school holidays.

Some hotels and resorts now under construction are almost complete, while others are still on the drawing board.

The $1.5 million Lako Mai resort is due to open ar ound Christmas, with 12 Fijian bures nestling in the - rainforest of Malolo Island, with patios and lounges overlook ing the sea. A mid range resort, ac tivities will include tennis, watersports and paraflying. It will have a Fijian style restaurant, bar and lounge.

Construction of Yasawa Paradise

has just begun on

Naukacuvu Island in the Yasawas.

The upmarket re

New Hotel Westgate: bright and airy revamp

Vatulele Island Resort: expensive, exclusive and thriving

sort will have an Italian flavour. Fifty to 60 Fiji bures and a restaurant or three should be completed within two years.

The developer of the Sheraton, Dennis McElrath, expects construction on Vomo Island to start by year’s end.

Back on Viti Levu, a mid-range hotel with 50 units and bures will open this year at Nadiri Bay, just north of the Fijian. On the Coral Coast, which the Department of Town and Country Planning has identified as needing more hotel beds, the popular “3.5 star” Reef Hotel is planning a 190-room addition.

On Wailoaloa beach, plans are evolv ing for a 200-bed Holiday Inn while on the highway a 60-room hotel, the budget family Rain Tree hotel, will open by late August. It will offer free accommodation for children under 16 and cooking facilities. Visitors will have access to Nadi sports and social clubs.

In Lautoka, the Waterfront has doubled the number of rooms and added bar, lounge and function facilities. The Tanoa Hotel is rebuilding as 23 fully self contained apartments. □