Successful Opening for the Grand Hôtel du Lagon (Réunion)
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Successful Opening for the Grand Hôtel du Lagon (Réunion)
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Category: Africa Indian Ocean - Réunion - Industry economy
- Hotel opening
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-06-10
Inauguration
A glamorous high-profile inauguration evening has marked Naïade’s entry in Reunion’s island tourism market. Grand Hôtel du Lagon at St-Gilles, which is already considered as one of the finest jewels of Reunion Island’s hotel industry, was inaugurated on the 15th of May by the Mauritian group.
The décor was predominantly blue, whether in the lighting, the sarees, the pool or the carpet, ideally setting the tone to reflect Grand Hôtel du Lagon’s recurring theme: the blue lagoon, which inspired the designers engaged in the hotel’s renovation and served as main theme for the inauguration evening. Nearly 400 of the island’s high-profile personalities were invited on the 15th of May to discover Grand Hôtel du Lagon: an up-market establishment offering an exquisite mix of refined luxury and creole tradition, and naturally positioning itself, in the eyes of the local industry professionals and authorities, as one of the most beautiful hotels on the island. The transformation of Les Villas du Lagon into the Grand Hôtel du Lagon was effected at a cost of 14 million euros.
Hostesses clad in turquoise blue sarees, gastronomical buffet, live jazz and a fireworks display were the main ingredients of this inauguration evening. Beyond this inauguration event, the evening effectively sealed the Naïade group’s grand debut as a new tourist operator in Reunion Island. Grand Hôtel du Lagon's opening also meets the Mauritian group’s regional ambitions.
An example of the Mauritian and Reunion Island’s operators’ know-how
Patrice Hardy, Naïade’s Managing Director, began his speech by first conveying warmest regards from the group’s 2,748 employees to all of the evening’s guests and reminded the audience of his intention to position Grand Hôtel du Lagon as the gem of Reunion Island’s hotel industry. “Its unique location on one of the most beautiful beaches of the island, its refined cuisine and the service excellence of its personnel are all winning assets that make us very optimistic in the future performance of Grand Hôtel du Lagon,” said Patrice Hardy.
“We look forward to project it as an example of the Mauritian and Reunion Island operators’ know-how, with emphasis on the characteristics of the two cultures, among which cuisine and music. It will be a unique product in the combined travel proposals and one of the engines behind the tourism industry growth of our two islands.” Naïade’s Managing Director emphasized that the group will devote its full sales capability to the promotion of Grand Hôtel du Lagon.
He recalled, with a glimpse of nostalgia, his first stays at Reunion Island: “I still remember these moments when I was promoting a little haven at Trou d’Eau Douce with the local tourism partners. The years have gone by, but this cordial and warm business relationship has considerably developed and consolidated.”
Arnaud Lagesse, Chairman of Naïade’s Board of Directors, for his part, stated that this was effectively a brand new start for Grand Hôtel du Lagon, which he described as “a genuine Reunion Island gem”. He emphasized the transformation which had been occurring within the group and its ambition to enrich and diversify the commercial proposals. “Naïade has taken bold and rewarding decisions.”
An authentic niche tourism proposal
The local island officials as well as the tourism industry professionals commented on the reopening of Grand Hôtel du Lagon from a wider perspective. Thierry Robert, Vice-chairman of the Conseil Général, welcomed the arrival of Naïade, a group which he qualified as one with a rich experience. “A destination such as Reunion Island must rely on exceptional hospitality products,” he said, and expressed the wish that the qualitative effort undertaken by Naïade spreads to the island’s hotel infrastructure as a whole. “Naïade’s arrival is an encouraging sign for our tourism. A blooming, developed tourism industry, with appropriate leverage on our natural assets, will be strongly beneficial to Reunion Island’s destiny,” concluded Thierry Robert. Pierre Vergès, Chairman of Ile Réunion Tourisme and representative of the Conseil Régional, expressed his delight to be present on this occasion, alongside industry players who are keen to help Reunion Island leverage on its qualities as a destination. He expressed his wish, that “we increase our destination’s attractiveness and open ourselves to the international markets.”
At the outset, Pierre-Henry Maccioni, Reunion Island’s Prefect, qualified Grand Hôtel du Lagon as a “gem” of Reunion Island’s tourism industry. He expressed the wish that both Mauritian and Reunion Island tourism industry players work closely together in order to develop the combined Mauritius-Reunion tourism proposal.
He concluded: “Grand Hôtel du Lagon must be the starting point for a series of initiatives, which will help Reunion Island develop a true niche tourism.”
The evening ended with a magnificent fireworks display, illuminating the Grand Hôtel du Lagon, the new link between Mauritius and Reunion islands.
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