Winner of the FETA Training and Development Award 2022
It is with gratitude and pride that Raffe Hotels and Resorts celebrates receiving the Fiji Excellence in Tourism Award for Training and Development 2022.
This category recognizes tourism organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to improving customer services and experiences through employee training & development. This includes a robust Training Needs Analysis, aligned training plan and consideration of the Business KPI’s and establishing ROI’s.
“While this award is appreciated as the collective effort of the leadership teams at Raffe Hotels and Resorts, it must be recognized that our Group Manager Learning, Development and Quality – Altaab Khan’s individual passion and absolute commitment to the learning and development of our people is the motivating factor in our team’s success”, acknowledges CEO, Lee Pearce.
A family-owned business operating in Fiji for over 50 years, Raffe Hotel & Resorts is passionate about “Our People”. “Through a selective recruitment framework, we employ those who are aligned with the company values and support them with the opportunity to learn, develop and thrive in their roles every day in our business”, states recipient Altaab Khan.
Raffe Hotels and Resorts supports a dedicated Learning, Capability and Quality Team. With a focus on people development and succession pathways. This philosophy is executed across all levels of the company. Where the success of our guest’s experience is a measure of the investment in our Staff.
As the inaugural recipient of this prestigious award, we wish to extend a warm congratulations to all nominees and recipients of the 2022 Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards. With a special shout out to fellow finalists, Sofitel Resort & Spa and Tanoa Hotel Group, for their commitment and investment in Fiji’s greatest asset – it’s people.
A very warm Bula Vinaka to all our past guests, as well as those who are dreaming of a visit in the near future.
Over the past few months, Fiji has worked hard to manage its own Covid-19 outbreak and has done exceptionally well to navigate this challenge.
The situation as we head toward the end of September 2021 is becoming increasingly optimistic.
Fiji has achieved a very high vaccination rate and is now well ahead of many other Pacific countries in getting to the minimum target of 80% vaccinated.
We remain confident in the Fiji Government’s plan to re-open our international borders before the end of 2021!
The Raffe Hotels & Resorts teams at all our properties are excited to be talking about our re-opening, and they are working hard to ensure that each property will be presented fresh, clean and rejuvenated.
We can’t wait to see you soon!
Bradley Robinson
Chief Executive Officer
Raffe Hotels & Resorts
Health & Hygiene upgrades at Raffe Hotels & Resorts
All over the world, Hotels & Resorts are re-inventing how we will do business when holidays and travel begin to return to normal.
Central to this is a significant focus how we can better safeguard the health and safety of our guests and staff.
At Raffe Hotels & Resorts, all of our properties are fully accredited under the Fiji Government’s Care Fiji Commitment.
We have also implemented our Savasava Hygiene Promise that features a range of upgrades and improvements to many aspects of our daily operations.
Although our properties will still feature the same warmth and Bula spirit that we are famous for, you will notice some changes and improvements when you next visit.
Check-In will be a quicker process as we move toward developing pre-arrival and self-check-in options to reduce the time needed to fill out paperwork. In addition to the bright and breezy arrivals area at each property, we have also implementing some layout changes so that physical distancing will always be easy to achieve.
Housekeeping teams are being provided with enhanced cleaning procedures for all rooms, bures and guest facilities. All areas now undergo a “twice cleaned” process that includes a sanitisation stage using the latest technology in Electrostatic Sprayers.
Restaurants now have reduced seating to make physical distancing easy to achieve. Although we will strive to keep things casual and stick to “island time”, we may need to ask you to book a time slot during peak periods.
Buffets will not be the same. Many guests still enjoy the variety and value that a buffet breakfast or dinner can offer. Where required we will be offering a similar experience. A buffet-type display offering a range of options will be prepared, and guests can select what they want and be served by staff who will be at each station.
Pools will continue to be monitored by our pool attendants however will be checked twice as often throughout the day. We are also introducing automated chlorine monitoring and dispensing systems to the pools that don’t already have these installed.
Activities staff will be assisting us in helping you maintain physical distancing. All organised activities will have limited numbers and wherever possible will be held outdoors. Our team are currently developing more environmental and wellness-based activities to keep you interested, informed and healthy!
Raffe Hotels and Resorts is proud to announce that Plantation Island Resort, Lomani Island Resort and Fiji Gateway Hotel have started recycling 100% of the plastic bottles consumed at their respective property from 1 October 2019.
All three Raffe Hotels & Resorts properties are working with local partners Mission Pacific and Pleass Global Limited to ensure that all plastic bottles are sorted at each Hotel/Resort and sent to the respective recycling facility to begin the recycling process.
Mission Pacific recycles Fiji Water and Coca Cola Amatil bottles at their Lautoka facility, sending their crushed PET bottles overseas to be purchased by suppliers who use this recycled PET for polyester, fabric for t-shirts, luggage, upholstery etc.
Pleass Global Limited collect the plastic bottles that they sell, Aqua Safe Water and Vaiwai Water, to be crushed and sent to a recycling facility in Australia. At this location, they will be recycled into new Aqua Safe and Vaiwai Water bottles to be re-sold in Fiji.
“We are incredibly proud to be in a position where we can say we are recycling 100% of the plastic bottles consumed at our Hotels & Resorts” states Akshay Singh, Raffe Hotels & Resorts Group Director of Sales & Marketing. “A plastic bottle takes approximately 450 years to break down, so if it reaches the ocean it can have disastrous consequences on marine life and sea birds. Following our recent ban on plastic shopping bags and plastic straws, we have now eliminated 3 out of the top 10 contributors of marine litter at our Hotels & Resorts”.
For more information and/or images, please contact:
Lisa Costello
Group Sales Manager
Raffe Hotels & Resorts
P: +61 416 764 649
E: gsm@raffehotels.com
Raffe Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce that Nirtika Maharaj has joined Raffe Hotels & Resorts as the new Group Wedding Sales Coordinator. In her role, Nirtika will be responsible for all wedding related communications with guests, travel agents and wedding specialists as well as liaising with the Operations teams of each Resort to deliver the perfect wedding experience for our Brides & Grooms.
Nirtika has extensive experience in the hospitality industry within Fiji and was most recently the Wedding Coordinator for Mana Island Resort for several years. Prior to this she has had Reservations roles at various iconic Fijian properties including a stint at Raffe Hotels & Resorts prior to 2009.
Nirtika began her role with Raffe Hotels & Resorts on the 19th of August 2019.
Raffe Hotels & Resorts is also pleased to announce that as of 1 October 2019, Nirtika will personally meet all Brides & Grooms upon arrival into Fiji and accompany them to the Registry Office to apply for their wedding license. For guests transferring to Plantation Island Resort & Lomani Island Resort straight away, Nirtika will then escort them to Port Denarau Marina so that they can catch their boat to the island.
We are excited to welcome Nirtika to the Raffe Hotels & Resorts family, although she has worked with us before so we are actually welcoming her home. She has demonstrated a great passion for weddings and is well known amongst our trade partners both locally and overseas” states Akshay Singh, Director of Sales & Marketing for Raffe Hotels & Resorts. “We are also pleased to start meeting Brides & Grooms of Plantation Island Resort & Lomani Island Resort upon arrival into Fiji. It can be daunting to have to find a local office in an unknown country, so we want to ensure that our guests are at peace and feel take care of in the lead up to their special day.”
For more information and/or images, please contact:
Lisa Costello
Group Sales Manager
Raffe Hotels & Resorts
P: +61 416 764 649
E: gsm@raffehotels.com
Raffe Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce that it is partnering with global NGO, Oceanic Global, to work towards eliminating all single use plastics from the operations of Plantation Island Resort, Lomani Island Resort and Fiji Gateway Hotel.
Oceanic Global, who is the official non-profit and production partner to the United Nations for this year’s World Oceans Day celebration, empowers behaviour that protects the ocean’s health and raises awareness for the devastating effects of human consumption on aquatic ecosystems. Raffe Hotels & Resorts will be working towards implementing the recommendations of The Oceanic Standard (TOC), which provides guidelines for adopting sustainable operating practices that meet both business and environmental needs.
“This is Oceanic Global’s first and only partnership in the South Pacific, which we are immensely proud to be a part of” states Director of Sales, Marketing & Strategic Development, Akshay Singh. “By systematically working through The Oceanic Standard and achieving each level of Oceanic Global’s certification, we will transform our business practices and lead the way in mainstream tourism sustainability.”
All three Raffe Hotels & Resorts properties have already been awarded Oceanic Global’s “Straw Free” badge, which certifies that each property has eliminated plastic straws from their operations and replaced them with an environmentally sustainable alternative. The next goal for Raffe Hotels & Resorts is to be awarded the “Sustainability Steward” badge.
For more information and/or images, please contact:
Lisa Costello
Group Sales Manager
Raffe Hotels & Resorts
P: +61 416 764 649
E: gsm@raffehotels.com
Raffe Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce that Susan Harper has joined Raffe Hotels & Resorts as the new Group Director of Human Resources & Training.
Susan has extensive experience in Fiji having previously worked as the Director of Human Resources for Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa and the Human Resources Manager for Six Senses Fiji, as part of their pre-opening team. Susan has also held various HR and hospitality roles in Australia and New Zealand and brings a wealth of international experience to the business.
Raffe Hotels & Resorts CEO Bradley Robinson states “Over the past few years we have continued our journey toward becoming one of Fiji’s most preferred employers. We are very fortunate to have Susan come on board at this important time, to capitalise on the great work already done and to continue to evolve our strategic HR activities. Susan’s unique mix of international HR training and skills, coupled with long-term Fiji experience, is a perfect fit for our organisation.”
Susan began her role on the 1st of March 2019 and leads a team that provides HR services to the three Resorts & Hotels in the Group – Plantation Island Resort, Lomani Island Resort & Fiji Gateway Hotel.
For more information and/or images, please contact:
Lisa Costello
Group Sales Manager
Raffe Hotels & Resorts
P: +61 416 764 649
E: gsm@raffehotels.com
Raffe Hotels and Resorts is pleased to announce that Lomani Island Resort and Fiji Gateway Hotel will be banning plastic shopping bags across both hotels from 1 April 2019. Lomani Island Resort is the leading 4-star adults only Resort in the Mamanuca Islands and Fiji Gateway Hotel is a 3.5-star transit hotel located directly across from Nadi International Airport.
This move follows Plantation Island Resort banning plastic shopping bags in October 2017. Like Plantation Island Resort, Lomani Island Resort will also provide each guest with a re-usable shopping bag to use during their holiday and each Lomani staff member will receive a re-usable shopping bag to use while they are working on Malolo Lailai Island.
“This is another key milestone in our goal to become a more environmentally friendly business” says Akshay Singh, Director of Sales, Marketing and Strategic Development for Raffe Hotels & Resorts. “The amount of plastic being found in our oceans is alarming and we can no longer be contributing to this global problem. We must show leadership in the community we live in and the environment we prosper under.”
All three Raffe Hotels & Resorts properties also banned plastic straws on 10th October 2018, offering paper straws on request only.
For more information and/or images, please contact:
Lisa Costello
Group Sales Manager
Raffe Hotels & Resorts
P: +61 416 764 649
E: gsm@raffehotels.com