Courtesy is paying off

By Akanisi Motufaga

SUVA Courtesy Inn, a stone’s throw from the heart of the town, is known for “putting courtesy in” its services.

The 50-room hotel which overlooks the harbour has been undergoing reno vations since the hotel changed hands in April 1989. The new owners, Berjaya Group of Malaysia, have so far invested SFI.2 million in the first phase of its renovations. This involved extending the lobby, opening a coffee shop and terrace on the ground floor and renovating the

swimming pool.

On the second floor, the hotel set up a Malaysian restaurant, called Kampong Ku Mai aysian, and a bar.Berjaya is expected to spend another 5F900,000 in its second phase involving renovating the bathrooms and changing the carpets and furniture.

Apart from the renovations, the parent company also invested 5F2.6 million by borrowing 5F900,000 from the National Bank of Fiji. The remaining amount was obtained from the hotel’s cash flow.

Although the investment is not much compared to other hotels Berjaya Group has invested in, the hotel’s resident manager, Hwa Phuay Chua, said the company did not regret buying it from the former owners - a group of Australian investors.

Courtesy Inn caters mainly for busi nessmen and has a rate of SFBS per night for locals and SFIIS for foreigners.

Apart from Courtesy Inn, Berjaya has shares in two garment factories. Fiji is the only Pacific island country that Berjaya has invested in.

“Actually we came here because of the tax free zone,” Chua said.

After investing in two garment factor ies, the company decided to buy the Grand Pacific Hotel but realised the Nauruans had bought the property three days earlier.

From GPH, the company focused its attention on Scotts Hotel but decided

against it due to bank problems as the property had been under a mortgagee sale.

“Our directors were at Travelodge and one day they came over here for dinner. They thought it was an interest ing place and wondered if it was for sale.

It so happened that it was and so they

bought the property,” Chua explained.

The hotel is manned by three Malay sians - Chua and two chefs - and 58 local staff, some of who have been sent to the Fiji Institute of Technology for training.

Chua feels it does not need to worry about competition from other major hotels in Suva like GPH because of the competitive rates Courtesy Inn offers and the market potential in middle-class

people.

Chua said the hotel’s occupancy rate had increased from 54 per cent two years ago to 70 per cent in the last three months.

“We will be making good money if we maintain our occupancy rate and no big hotels come up in Suva.

Suva’s Courtesy Inn: apopular dining spot

Women at work: at a Malaysian-owned garment factory