Mauritius
in twin centres with Reunion
Island, a place that’s still new to UK travellers.” “Mauritius is certainly easy to fall in love with,” adds Iain Raeper, product manager for If Only, whose bookings for 2016 reflect an upward trend. “And it offers more value for money at the top end, more so than any other Indian Ocean destination at the moment.” Entry-level five stars, Heritage Le Telfair and the new all-inclusive Outrigger are performing well for If Only, along with traditional east-coast favourites. The island is performing similarly well for
Simply Luxury and Pure Luxury. “Mauritius is a cornerstone of our luxury
programme and growing in importance every year,” says Gordon McCreadie, director of sales and marketing (B2B) for Travel 2 and Gold Medal, whose luxury brands have seen double-digit growth this year. “Known leading international brands have encouraged customers to visit, and we’ve seen a swing back towards five-star hotels.” These brands have seen more demand from
multigenerational families, and villa requests, with Maradiva Villas and Four Seasons Mauritius Resort at Anahita featuring in the popularity stakes, thanks to their offer of spacious living, private pools and in-villa dining. If Only meanwhile has seen increased interest
in Lux Belle Mare’s villas, and ITC Luxury Travel has noticed more enquiries for the St Regis Villa, the island’s largest, which can now be booked in separate units. Shangri-La’s Le Touessrok Resort & Spa’s three redesigned beach villas were also unveiled this April. That hotel’s overall redevelopment was a
lengthy and costly undertaking and the scale of refurbishments at such classic hotels is of course a challenge. For now, other five-star classics such as The Residence and One&Only Le Saint Geran remain buoyed by their loyal
following, but are having to offer very competitive pricing in the face of newer, shinier hotels.
Beyond the beach “These days we like to feel we’re selling experiences, not holidays,” says If Only’s Raeper. “And Mauritius has one of the best when it comes to that. There’s a lot of options on a small island, and the people are wonderful – a melting pot of cultures, with delicious food.” Recent MTPA UK campaigns with trade
partners have centred around family, golf, and rugby, but the main focus of 2016 is the global MTPA campaign Mauritius 365 (
mauritius365.mu), which highlights Mauritius as more than a “fly and flop” destination. Year-round events are planned and the campaign includes an additional “sunglasses” brand awareness campaign rolled out across a wide range of UK media in 2016. The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open featured on
TV last year helped boost golf holidays to Mauritius for Travel 2/Gold Medal and If Only. Golf quality on the island has increased, and it’s now good value when compared with European destinations, while a golf passport gives discounts on courses island-wide. Sun Resorts offers free green fees on three championship golf courses from November, the rebranded Sugar Beach Golf & Spa Resort gain access to Tamarina Golf Estate. The Rugby World Club 10s, held on the island
for the first time this June, adds to the island’s growing reputation for world-class sporting events. There’s been also been more demand from the meetings and events market this year, and an MTPA initiative has enticed more cruise ships to Mauritius’s shores. Experiences for foodies is expanding too, with
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TTGLUXURY.COM SUMMER 2016 DESTINATIONS
exclusive dining at the chef’s table at the St Regis proving popular with Travel 2 and Gold Medal’s luxury clients. Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa has a picnic by the beach in a Rolls-Royce Phantom with personal chef and butler, and Shanti Maurice – A Nira Resort has launched a five-night foodie package, Delicious Mauritius. Following trends for authentic travel and
cultural immersion, Sunset Faraway Holidays is now also selling more small, independent brands, such as the four-star Tamarina Golf & Spa Boutique Hotel, which has just launched #Tamarina Quality Moments – from a family safari in a nature reserve to a romantic sundowner in front of a west coast sunset. Exploring the island in a private car with
driver and a tailor-made itinerary has proved popular with Kuoni’s customers, and after a recent fam trip to the island, Elegant Resorts is now even encouraging clients to have lunch in a village home.
“Mauritius has turned a corner in its tourism,”
says Jean-Pierre Bosquet, director UK, Ireland, Scandinavia & US for Sun Resorts, which is busy rebranding, tweaking and repositioning its portfolio. “The government embargo on new hotels has given the tourist industry room to breathe and determine its direction, with the best team the Ministry of Tourism has ever had.”
Pictured 1. Chamarel Falls 2. Four Seasons Mauritius Resort at Anahita 3. The Residence 4. Outrigger’s Bar Bleu 5. Tamarina Golf & Spa Hotel 6. Maradiva Villas’ Rolls-Royce Phantom picnic
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