Monday, September 1st, 2008

Bula! (Greetings) and welcome to the Fiji me MICE electronic newsletter. Produced and distributed by the Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau. The newsletter provides an up- to- date summary of the latest developments in Fiji’s conference and incentive market on a bi-monthly basis.

SHANGRI-LA’S FIJIAN RESORT & SPA HOSTS ING LIFE GROUP

The recent ING Life Group conference held at the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa was deemed a great success byparticipants and their families who stayed at Yanuca Islandfrom June 20th – 26th, 2008. A rugby dinner theme ofExtreme and Exceptional at Lawaqa Park was part of theexperience which the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa helpedto create for the group. Rugby ball centre pieces, a rugbymatch played during dinner between the ‘All Blacks’ and‘England’ side preceded by a choir singing the nationalanthems of those two countries completed the theme. Thepark, normally host to major matches, was turned into adinner venue with a bar, full buffet and a bouncing castle forthe children were part of the group.
Thanking Resort General Manager, David Hopcroft in an email, Lynn and Sharon Harding from Harding & Co Insurance Brokers Ltd said, “Of all the conferences attended over previous years, it was the best ever.” They also thanked Mr Hopcroft and the ‘wonderful staff’ for the “tireless effort that went into making the ING Life Conference for 2008 at the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa an absolutely awesome experience and one that will be remembered forever by all that attended.” For more information, please contact the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa’s Communications Manager, Lata Yaqona on lata.yaqona@shangri-la.com

MICE DVD

The Fiji Visitors Bureau and Air Pacific have launched a new destination DVD whichshowcases the unique selling points of the destination to appeal to the conference andincentive market.

2,500 DVDs were distributed to the FVB regional offices and will be promoted at key trade andconsumer shows. For more information, please visit FVB MICE website: www.flavoursoffiji.com

PAICE 2008

The Fiji Visitors Bureau and Air Pacific New Zealand attendedPAICE at Eden Park on August 19th and exhibitors observedthe Conference & Incentive market gaining strength withgroup enquiries particularly strong in 2008, for 2009 and2010 travel.
From the 23 corporate client and trade appointments that theFVB and Air Pacific jointly met with, a number of potentialbusiness opportunities have arisen including traditional C & Igroups from New Zealand and side trip incentive groups fromEurope handled by New Zealand agents. Other opportunitiesare for group travel from China and NZ/Resident Chinesetours to Fiji and new university business.
For more information, please contact NZ FVB regionalmarketing officer, Ragigia Dawai on ragigia@bulafiji.co.nz

SHANGRI-LA’S FIJIAN RESORT & SPA HOSTS TRAVELSCENE AMERICAN EXPRESS CONFERENCE

The Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa was recently the venuefor the Travelscene American Express Frontliners Conferenceof 500 pax from August 1st – 2nd, 2008. Fiji was chosen forthe conference as a direct result of active lobbying from AirPacific and the Fiji Islands Visitors Bureau with bothorganisations providing support as principal sponsors.
Mr John Zaharakis - Head of Conference & Events for StellaTravel Services Conferences & Events Division in a letter ofthanks to Resort General Manager, David Hopcroft alsostated: "You have all raised the bar when it comes tofriendliness and service standards." For more information,please contact the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & SpaCommunications Manager, Lata Yaqona onlata.yaqona@shangri-la.com

LOCAL GUEST SPEAKER “SEREVI” STEALS THE SHOW

Charging a room and getting delegates on their feet to dodrills with rugby balls before being interrupted and told hewas in the wrong room for the rugby coaching session – ondiscovering who the identity was, he was invited to stay andtell his story (all staged off course). Serevi, the famous 7’scoach, captain and player was the highlight of the recent BedsR Us programme.
Serevi tells it with wit and grace of his struggles to get totraining by running because he didn’t have bus fare, playingrugby with his balled up t-shirt as the ball in the village afterschool and his first flight to represent Fiji in Japan at thetender age of 17 years.

Signed rugby balls were given to the guests and everyone took the opportunity to have a photo with the rugby legend. Even the office staff from ATS Pacific couldn’t resist a piece of the action and had to be photographed with their hero! For more information, please contact ATS Pacific C & I Groups Manager, Sally Cooper on sallyc@atspacific.com.fj

COMPASS POOLS INCENTIVES A SUCCESS

The Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa hosted the Compass Poolsincentive group of 173 pax from August 16th – 20th, 2008. The incentivewas a success and the feedback was outstanding. In a letter of thanks toShangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa General Manager, David Hopcroft,Kerrie Mewett of Compass Pools said, “The amount of care that was putinto everything was amazing. Everyone from housekeeping, banquets,wait staff, bar attendants, mini golf ladies and the list goes on, were verygracious, helpful and generally “bent over backwards” to cater toeveryone’s needs.” The group also held a community day as part oftheir programme during which they donated over FJD20,000 worth ofwater tanks to 3 villages in the area as well as sporting equipment andscholastic supplies to Nadroga Navosa High School and Cuvu DistrictSchool. For more information, please contact the Shangri-La’s FijianResort & Spa Communications Manager, Lata Yaqona onlata.yaqona@shangri-la.com

GROOVY THEME

So the average age of your delegates is 35 plus year? Do you rememberthe 70’s? What a groovy time that was. How about a trip down memorylane into Studio 54 complete with Bouncers, Lava lamps and chill outbean bag lounges, vinyl records as the invite and M&M’s to help youparty.
For more information, please contact ATS Pacific C & I Manager, SallyCooper on sallyc@atspacific.com.fj

PACIFIC DESTINATIONZ FINDS ANOTHER FUN WAY TO MOVE GROUPS AROUND

Finding new things and new ways to enhance anincentive or conference programme has been a constantin the industry today. Pacific Destinationz has recentlybeen working closely with Moped operator WestsideMotorbike Rentals to utilize their Mopeds-For-Hireproduct towards a new fun activity concept forconference & incentive groups. Whether it be used as acomponent of our “Discover Fiji Car Rally”, or a funmode of transportation from a Denarau property to adinner venue or to Port Denarau, wherever theimagination takes you to, these bright yellow Mopeds,which are affectionately called the “Mini-Hummers”could add an element of fun and point-of-difference toyour programme. Pacific Destinationz is excited andproud to bring this new concept to the market. It has sofar been a well received concept with PacificDestinationz and our clients so why not give it ago…vroom vroom!
Pacific Destinationz is a leading Fiji DMC with a range of activity options and always looking for more, with the “Mini-Hummers” being the latest addition. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information on tours@pdfj.com.fj

FIJI BEACH RESORT AND SPA MANAGED BY HILTON

From August 6 – 10, 2008 ATS Pacific looked after the single largestgroup to be accommodated at Hilton since it opened its doors in 2006ththwith 170 incentive winners. The programme included a fabulous poolside welcome cocktail party complete with floating flowers on the glasslike pool, floating organza and the chilled out tunes of local Fijian DuoCarl n Tash. Dancers then entertained with fire twirling pool side thatreflected in the mirror like surface. The group enjoyed an elegant galadinner reminiscent of the 1920’s in the Sofitel ballroom guided in by thevery regal Military marching band in full regalia. One lady was soimpressed she was brought to tears of pleasure and amazement. Just toreally pull at the heart strings the group were farewelled with a choir of60 children singing the Isa lei.
For more information, please contact ATS Pacific C & I GroupsManager, Sally Cooper on sallyc@atspacific.com.fj

PACIFIC DESTINATIONZ IMPRESSES MP TRAVEL CORPORATES

On August 8th, 2008, Air Pacific in cooperation with the Fiji IslandsVisitors Bureau invited 9 top corporate clients of MP Travel in Australia, aleading Corporate Conference & Incentive Management Company toexperience and see first hand Fiji as a viable and unique destination fortheir conferences or incentive programmes.

On August 8th and 9th respectively, Pacific Destinationz DMC was indeedhonoured and privileged to be of service to these valued corporate clientsof MP Travel by way of showcasing their unique events and activitieswhich included a coach breakdown stunt on arrival and a fun local bustransfer, getting around Denarau on Mopeds (new event unique to PacificDestinationz) for morning coffee and fresh juices at the Hard Rock CaféFiji (new offsite dinner venue) at Port Denarau Complex and theiruniquely popular Discover Fiji Car Rally which is based on the AmazingRace concept. The rally finish line was the newly opened exclusive &serene retreat, The Fiji Orchid (new offsite lunch and dinner venue byPacific Destinationz), where a sumptuous buffet lunch awaited.

For more information, please contact Pacific Destinationz DMC/GroupsManager, Anthony Mason on anthony@pdfj.com.fj

CIAO

Amalfi has opened its doors! A brand new Italian Restaurant at Port Denarau and ATS Pacific has been able to offer this highly praised fantastic dining experience to our incentive groups throughout August. You think you know Fiji and five minutes later something new happens. For more information, please contact ATS Pacific C & I Groups Manager, Sally Cooper on sallyc@atspacific.com.fj

BOEHRINGERS INGLEHEIM NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa was the venue for the Boehringers Ingleheim National Conference from August 24th – 29th, 2008 for 180 pax. A 1990’s themed evening was set up and included floral arrangements, underlit tables, white chair covers and table cloths as well as three plasma screens set up which projected shows from the 1990’s like Beverly Hills 90210 and Seinfield. Guests dressed up as movie, TV show and cartoon characters such as Baywatch lifesavers, Barney and Pebbles from Flinstones, Scots from the Mel Gibson movie ‘Braveheart’, Zena Warrior Princess etc. The event was held at the Ratu Makutu Events Centre which is the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa’s premier convention facility and this was preceded by cocktails on the adjacent lawn. For more information, please contact the Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa Communications Manager, Lata Yaqona on lata.yaqona@shangri-la.com

“FIJI PROPERTY OF THE YEAR” – THE WESTIN DENARAU ISLAND RESORT & SPA TAKES TOP HONOURS AT THE 2008 HM AWARDS

The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa has been named “Fijian Property of the Year” at the HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence held in Sydney, Australia on August 14th, 2008. The resort took top honours in the Fiji category for the 2008 awards, which were decided on by a panel of over 30 travel writers, industry experts and key clients. Now in their sixth year, the HM Awards for Hotel & Accommodation Excellence are the leading awards for the accommodation industry across Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. The annual awards are hosted and presented by HM – Hotel & Accommodation Management magazine, a leading industry publication which is received by all tiers of hotel management across the region. On the announcements of the awards, Mr Shane Cunning, Managing Director for the Westin and Sheraton Resorts Fiji said “It is an honour for The Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa to be named ‘Fijian property of the year’ at these leading industry awards for the region.” He added, “To be awarded this impressive accolade is a true testament to the commitment and dedication of the resort team in positioning the Westin as Fiji’s leading international resort.” For more information, please contact Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa Marketing Communications Manager, Erica Robinson on Erica.Robinson@sheraton.com