FEATURE MAURITIUS AND REUNION
"A fusion of French and Creole
culture with adventure offerings – serious hiking, mountain biking, surfing, canyoning, paragliding – in a rugged landscape with an active volcano, Réunion is a walk on the wild side," said James Westrip, director, Africa Collection. "Then, after the adrenaline rush, clients can head to Mauritius for sophisticated resorts, good food, restful spas and romance."
What’s New British Airways' Mauritius flights now depart from London-Gatwick not London-Heathrow. Emirates has introduced a Dublin-Dubai servcie and two additional flights between Dubai and Mauritius (November/December), bringing frequency to 11 flights a week. Veranda opened the C Beach Club
in Domaine de Bel Ombre this summer and re-branded Villas Valriche Experience as Heritage The Villas and Golf du Chateau as Heritage Golf Club, with free unlimited green fees for Heritage Resorts. Beachcomber Hotels' 60th
anniversary offer is a 60 per cent off couples' second person's half-board stay in June 2012, while a new golf course near Grande Baie will open in late 2013. Maradiva's new Ayurvedic Detox
Retreat, priced from £950pp for seven days, launches in February 2012. The Residence unveiled its Sanctuary Spa (with Carita) in October 2011. Gold Medal has reduced rates at Long Beach until end September 2012.
Tourism Talk
ELAINE BARRETT UK trade director, MTPA “Visitor numbers to Mauritius have been
impacted by the economic crisis. However British travellers continue to prioritise their main annual holiday. The focus of our autumn campaign is the weddings and honeymoons market, which is highly important for us. "We are reminding the trade of Mauritius’ attraction as a setting for weddings, honeymoons and romantic trips. We're also hosting a FAM trip to Mauritius and Réunion in November to promote the 'Vanilla Islands' concept – that's travel between Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, the Seychelles and Madagascar through Air Mauritius’ Indian Ocean network. "Our online travel agent training
programme re-launched in Spring has trained 540 agents to date."
62 November 2011 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
MAURITIUS AND REUNION
Top Selling Tips...
• “No Mauritius holiday is complete without a visit to Grand Baie, for great nightlife and an excellent choice of restaurants and shops”
KRISTIE MCGOVERN product manager Indian Ocean & Africa, Gold Medal
• “Mauritius is vastly undersold in July/August when daytime temperatures are 25C and hotels offer unbelievable deals”
NICK SAMUELS director, Ashdown Travel
• “For the perfect end to a safari or some designer shopping, Mauritius twins well with Southern and Eastern Africa as well as the Middle East.”
MIKE TAYLOR, Indian Ocean product & marketing manager, ITC Classics
From The Front Line ZOE BETCHLEY
Indian Ocean product manager, Hayes & Jarvis “We've seen a growth in
demand for AI properties, particularly among families and especially those with upgraded AI packages. The best are at Heritage Awali, Veranda Pointe aux Biches and Naiade's properties, led by Tamassa. We're promoting Long Beach's family AI offer, a new concept for Mauritius, and will feature the new Angsana Balaclava in our new Exclusive brochure."
SHAMIRA KAUMAYA-HATT commercial director, Sunset Faraway Holidays "Twin centres, such as
marrying in Mauritius and honeymooning in the Seychelles, have become more popular in 2011 as a result of the Vanilla Islands partnership. We are a leader to Réunion, offering self-drive, adventure and family options. Réunion is a perfect twin with Mauritius. Our 10-night Mauritius and Réunion package, staying at Naiade's five-star Grand Hotel du Lagon, costs from £2,759pp, for travel to December 19."
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
BY NICKI GRIHAULT Mauritius is one of the world's true biodiversity hotspots, with eco-adventure offered in its 'domaines' or private sugar estates which, covering more than half of the island, incorporate mountains, forests and rolling fields of sugar cane and are the home for a range of wildlife as well as rare trees. We sped out on a double-seater quad
on a three-hour ride into the 1300-hectare Frederica Nature Reserve at Domaine de Bel Ombre, the newest to open and adjacent to the Black River Gorges National Park in Mauritius' beautiful southwest. Java deer scattered in our wake and
tree branches swayed, heavy with monkeys and we strained to spot mongoose, wild boar or the rare Mauritian Parakeet. A highlight was the swim among lush
foliage at the base of a pretty 152m waterfall - La Cascade de L'Exemple - an experience well worth leaving the beach for. Frederica Nature Reserve also offers trekking, quad and 4x4 rides, kids discovery tour and biking.
www.domainedebelombre.mu
Clockwise from left: Mafate gite (IRT MMM) on Réunion, the St Regis and Angsana Balaclava, both on Mauritius
©IRT MMM
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