Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort Reopens October 1
BY DAMIAN CLOWES — On October 1, 2021, Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort (MOR) welcomed back its first international guests since its closure on March 18, 2020. We are particularly pleased to note that the resort has already hosted its first wedding. Our first guest was from Belgium and a VIP recommended by one of our top partners there. We have received a mix of guests, especially from UK, France, Dubai, Saudi, Reunion Island, South Africa, to name a few.
Guest comments overall are that the team and the service they are offering is amazing; they are friendly; attention to details; discreet; always looking to please. The resort is great but the team make it even more special.
The resort was back in operation after many improvements undertaken largely by our MOR hosts. In the lobby, some windows replaced the curtain allowing, even when raining, a visual of the magnificent beachfront and blue turquoise ocean. The Navasana Spa former reception area has been transformed into retail and the new spa entrance is now more visible to guests coming from different locations in the resort. New wooden decking has been built where guests can do activities, such as yoga. New mosaic tiling has been redone in the Jacuzzi.
Around the resort, coconut and filao trees have been relocated and trimmed so guests now have a full sea view from their rooms. A Teen Club is now available with games, such as baby foot and billiards.
The Plantation Club, the resort’s fine-dining restaurant, now offers a discovery room for guests to experience a selection of local coffee, sugar, tea and tisane (herbal tea). The rum room at The Plantation Club also offers a tour to include the World’s Best Rum for 2021 – the New Grove Emotion 1969. A new food and beverage menu with signature cocktails is available. New concepts at the Plantation Club include a new breakfast menu with a local honey and sugars offering, selection of homemade jam and egg of the day, afternoon tea service with selection of famous Mauritian tea estate Bois Cheri, and a sunset aperitif with DJ every Tuesday and Thursday with live cooking of roasted peanuts served in a banana leaves cornet.
MOR has been reopened with all necessary COVID-19 protocols.
Thai Government Proposing to Welcome Fully Vaccinated Travelers November 1
The Thai Government is proposing to welcome fully vaccinated travelers without quarantine beginning November 1. Visitors will be required to show they are COVID-free at their time of travel with a negative RT-PCR test from their home country, and also do a test in Thailand.
This bodes well for our newly acquired Thailand resorts: Outrigger Surin Beach Resort and Outrigger Khao Lak Beach Resort (opening mid-December 2021) and Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort (opening March 2022).
Ten countries at low-risk are included in this good news, including United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, China and the U.S.
Thailand welcomed 70,000 visitors the first eight months of this year compared to 40 million during the same period in 2019.
Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort is 100% Vaccinated and Ready to Welcome International Travelers December 1
BY ASHNEEL CHAND — Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort (FOR) is proud to advise that all our active staff are 100% vaccinated and ready to welcome back our guests.
Fiji’s Prime Minister announced on Fiji Day, October 10, that the country will open its international borders to the world on December 1, 2021. We will be ready with warm Fiji smiles and our famous Bula Spirit to welcome them home.
Our Bula Spirit shines bright as we fine-tune our health protocols to ensure all of our local and international vuvale (family) feel 100% safe when they return to the tropical waters of the Fiji Islands. Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort staff have undergone extensive training in COVID-19 awareness and hygiene protocols underpinned by Outrigger’s Clean Commitment.
FOR hosts getting ready and promoting the Tourism Fiji vaccination campaign, “It’s Our Best Shot, Get Vaccinated and Get Ready”
FOR Host Encourages Vaccination
Varsha Singh pre-COVID in her Talai (Butler) uniform with happy guests
An Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort host who has been unemployed for more than a year is pleading with fellow Fijians to get vaccinated so that she and her colleagues can return to work as soon as possible.
Varsha Singh of Korotogo Sigatoka has been out of work while her husband is called in by the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort from time to time based on need. Varsha has told Fiji’s Legend FM News that things have not been the same since the COVID-19 outbreak in March last year that led to the closure of nearly all the resorts and hotels throughout Fiji.
She says they are surviving on their savings and home gardening to ease the burden. Varsha says they have extended family and her husband, who is on reduced hours, is the sole breadwinner at the moment. She adds they are fortunate to some extent that they had some savings to turn to, but there are a number of families who are in a really bad state and have nothing to eat at times. Varsha adds they are just waiting for the day when the international borders re-open because there are thousands of Fijians like her who are desperate to return to work. [Written prior to the Prime Minister’s announcement.]
Varsha has also revealed that there are a number of families who have been struggling to survive for some time now but they are too shy to speak out and ask for assistance. She says some of these families have now turned to either farming or fishing to put food on the table. Varsha says they can get out of this crisis by helping each other and getting vaccinated.
