FEATURE SEYCHELLES
SEYCHELLES Top Selling Tips...
• Unquestionably one of the world’s most pristine environments both on land and in the surrounding waters
• Superb accommodation from de luxe five-star resorts through to rustic guesthouses
• Crystal-clear warm waters which make every water sport from paddling to fishing and snorkelling to diving a delight
• A unique blend of cultures and a laid-back vibe ideal to ensure a relaxing holiday
• Some of the world’s finest sandy beaches as acknowledged by filmmakers
• A birdwatchers’ paradise plus the giant tortoises beloved by children and adults alike
• The four-hour time difference minimises jet lag
Heritage sites, a beautiful tropical maritime climate, a relaxing laid-back vibe and an expanding selection of niche products. Plus, of course, rates that generate very healthy commission for travel agents!
What's New Overlooking the white sand beaches of Anse Takamaka and Curieuse Island beyond, Raffles Resort opened on Praslin in February featuring 86 villas with a minimum size of 125 sq m – among the Seychelles’ most spacious – and each with private plunge pool and outdoor pavilion. Room features include separate
bathroom and toilet facilities, outdoor rain shower, 42-inch plasma television and DVD player, wireless internet access indoors and outdoors, a sound bar and plug-and-play facilities for MP3 players and Nespresso coffee machine. Public areas are on the lower levels and include a spa with 13 treatment rooms and the Sugar Palm Club for children. Raffles also has two restaurants, three bars, a delicatessen and in-room dining.
www.raffles.com. Hot on Raffles’ heels comes Kempinski's news that it plans a new 173-room/suite
The expansion of upscale
acommodation epitomises Seychelles' tourism development in recent years
hotel at Baie Lazare on Mahé with a September 2011 soft opening.
www.kempinski.com Also due for a late 2011 opening is the
Shangri-La Long Island Resort & Spa on Long Island – once a prison – with 40 suites and 40 villas on the 23-acre island. The new hotel will feature Seychelles’
first funicular – a cable car system – to take guests to its CHI spa facilities and wedding chapel, poised on the island’s central hilltop (
www.shangri-la.com). Another late 2011 opening will be Zil Pasyon Resort's 35 villas, each with their own pool, on the one-time coconut plantation of Félicité Island, a small, forested granitic island 2.5 miles (four km) east of La Digue (
www.zilpasyon.com). The Labriz Seychelles on Silhouette
Island (the third largest island) is a 45-minute speedboat ride from Mahé and now part of the Hilton group. The Hilton Labriz Seychelles offers a mix of 93 villas, 17 pavilions and a presidential suite and becomes Hilton’s second hotel in the Seychelles (
www.labriz-seychelles.com). From May 1, Beachcomber Hotels’ Sainte Anne Resort & Spa will be offering an option to upgrade to its new
All-Inclusive Island Package. An upgrade to all-inclusive from a standard half-board package is from £35 a day for adults and £21 for children aged 6 – 17. Under 5s are free. There is a 50% discount for all honeymooners (www.
beachcomber-hotels.com). Luxury Desroches Island is adding
four new one-bedroom beachfront villas, each of 149sq m, ready this month (April). with a new spa following in a month (
www.desroches-island.com).
Tourism Talk
FIONA LANE regional manager UK, Ireland and Scandinavia Seychelles Tourist Board
“The Seychelles has gained a fresh momentum in the UK market, showing a 24% growth in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2011. I feel confident we will overtake 2010 figures. Last year was a very good year with an overall 11% increase in tourism arrivals.
Main picture, facing page: a Standard Villa bedroom in the brand-new Raffles resort on Praslin; top picture, Anse Takamaka, also on Praslin; below, Beachcomber's Ste Anne Resort spa
www.sellinglonghaul.com • April 2011 57
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