Refurbishments planned this year
By JYOTI PRATIBHA
The past year proved to be a very successful one for the resorts on the Coral Coast.
Coral Coast hoteliers chairman and Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji general manager, Peter Hopgood, said most resorts experienced increased occupancies.
The Coral Coast resorts recorded a room occupancy rate of 56.2 per cent for the third quarter of 2013.
Mr Hopgood compared this with the second quarter where 48.3 per cent occupancy was recorded.
The statistics also indicated that takings from accommodation, sales of food, liquor, telephone and other charges totaled $277.1 million.
“We have slowly been taking market share off our cousins on Denarau and we hope to continue to do this,” he said.
“Most of the resorts on the Coral Coast were very busy with weddings in the third quarter. We also saw an increase in visitation from New Zealand.”
Plans for 2014
Major plans for the Coral Coast properties in 2014 include refurbishments and upgrades to keep the high standards of service and quality which would cater for what is hoped to be another successful year.
Mr Hopgood said: “The general managers in the Coral Coast are committed to improving the quality of their products at their individual resorts.
“Naviti Resort will undertake a major rebuild in 2014 whilst the Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa will also go through a major refurbishment.
“Outrigger on the Lagoon ∙ Fiji will be building a new Kids Club and Meimei Nanny centre as well as building new accommodation for their managers.
“Hideaway Resort will continue to rebuild their Bures.”
Belief in Coral Coast
Mr Hopgood said they would continue to market the Coral Coast destination as a whole.
“We strongly believe that the Coral Coast is the cultural and adventure capital of Fiji,” he said.
“This is why so many guests come and stay in the Coral Coast resorts.
“Marketing as a whole is proving successful for us and we plan to do this again in the first quarter of this year.”
An aerial view of the Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji on the Coral Coast.