Fiji's Big Five of Tourism

www.fijisun.com.fj - 3/1/2010

Once if you talked about tourism industry leaders names like Dan Costello, Dick Smith, Gerald Barrack and Radike Qereqeretabua would quickly come up. Now, at the beginning of a new decade, who are some of the major players? And who are some of the others also making a difference? Here – in no particular order – are five of the main names today: Y P REDDY Now here’s a name that keeps on going. Yanktesh Permal (YP) Reddy has spent more than four decades in the tourism industry – and remains one of its most influential players. Back in 1965 Mr Reddy had the vision to diversify what was till then a family construction company. He saw the potential of the emerging tourism industry and he got involved. Mr Reddy built and operated the Tanoa Hotel near Nadi International Airport. He launched what grew into the Reddy Group’s powerful Tanoa Hotels division. That’s now six hotels in Fiji, at least one more planned, and others in New Zealand, Vanuatu and Samoa. Mr Reddy’s visionary leadership continues as Reddy Group chairman. Watch for him this year moving ahead on development of a much needed downtown Suva conference centre linked to his Tanoa Plaza Hotel. Also on the horizon: the possible development of a resort at Cuvu in Nadroga. Just across the water from Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa. DIXON SEETO Dixon Seeto is best known as the voice and public face of the hotel industry. He’s also a major hotel operator himself. When he’s not speaking up ably for the industry as Fiji Islands Hotel and Tourism Association president, Mr Seeto leads by example. He is group managing director of the expanding Hexagon Group of Hotels. The flagship of the group’s six properties is the Hexagon International Hotel, Villas and Spa complex near Nadi Airport. But the high-performing Suva Motor Inn is probably providing most satisfaction right now. It has a yield from its rooms that many can only dream of. Next watch for Mr Seeto’s development of a property at Malaqereqere on the Nadroga coast, not far from the Pacific Green palmwood furniture headquarters. PATRICK WONG Patrick Wong chairs the Tourism Fiji board, when he’s not running one of those intimate, secluded and exclusive resorts for which Fiji is famous, He is a vocal and energetic advocate for the industry. He brings the unique perspective of being a specialist in island resort management. Mr Wong proudly describes himself as a resort manager, rather than a hotel manager. He is general manager of Matamanoa Island Resort in the Mamanucas, 30 kilometres off Nadi. Matamanoa’s reputation is global. Its privacy-minded, luxury-enjoying visitors come from around the world, notably the Euro zone. But while the resort Mr Wong runs might be small and exclusive, the voice he brings when he speaks out for Tourism Fiji is big and public. TONY WHITTON Rosie Group managing director Tony Whitton grew up in Fiji tourism. Now he is one of its most influential operators. His parents Roy and Rose Whitton founded and built what became the Rosie Group. They schooled him in the industry and sent him to Australia to learn more. Then they handed day-to-day operations over to him to run. Roy (who died last year) and Rose (now retired) groomed Tony well. Since taking over he has guided this family company to even greater growth. He has also played a key role in the industry as a whole. The Rosie Group is now one of the nation’s most important “local” operators. It operates resorts (Likuliku and Malolo in the Mamanucas), inbound tourism (including a pioneering office in China), and transportation (tours, coaches and rental cars). As well as heading all this, Mr Whitton continues to be a generous contributor to industry efforts and bodies. JOSEVA ‘JO’ TUAMOTO Tourism Fiji chief executive Jo Tuamoto epitomises the smiling, friendly face of Fiji. The genial CEO is much more. He is a poised and powerfully articulate advocate marketing Fiji and managing more than $23 million spending a year. This is a role Mr Tuamoto was surely destined for. He holds impressive academic qualification, including an MBA in marketing. He was previously director of marketing for the Fiji Visitors Bureau. and earlier served stints overseas as regional director. Then he expanded his sales and management experience during a term with Lautoka-based Blue Lagoon Cruises, where he became general manager. Now he is the friendly and persuasive driver of Fiji tourism marketing at home and abroad. And the more than capable man at the helm at Tourism Fiji headquarters in Nadi. And five others who should be mentioned l JOHN CAMPBELL is nearing the end of his successful term as Air Pacific managing director/chief executive. During this Air Pacific has been a massive promoter and supporter of Fiji tourism. Right now is a tough time to be running any airline. And Mr Campbell has never been a man to promote himself. But as the unassuming Aussie prepares to step down his tenure is marked by another success. This is the alliance with Cathay Pacific Airways which makes Air Pacific’s new Hong Kong service so promising. Question: Could Cathay Pacific, in fact, become a future partner with the Government in Air Pacific, replacing Qantas? l Chairman KANTILAL TAPPOO has led and then overseen the Sigatoka-based Tappoo group’s long involvement in tourism. First through shopping – in which it remains the leader – and more recently in hotel investments. Once it was able to break the stifling Motibhai monopoly on Nadi International Airport duty free shopping, Tappoo transformed shopping and food and beverage services there. Tappoo is an innovative major player in tourism, through its shopping and hotel investments and distribution agencies. Kantilal - now supported by chief executive MADHU TAPPOO - remains an influential tourism figure and industry supporter. l Chairman DAVID VOSS is the main energy. expertise and enthusiasm of the Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange, now in its 15th year. There is no other travel mart like it in the region. So much so that the rest of the region comes to Fiji to take part. This year’s event is again at Denarau, Nadi, with the Sofitel as the host resort and Port Denarau an interesting new venue. Dates: 18-22 May. Watch for another successful event by Hertz rental car boss Mr Voss and his committee. lSmall can have impact too. CONNIE CHEW’S publishing company produces the popular Explore Fiji visitor guide, the most widely distributed such magazine within Fiji. Ms Chew is also carving out a niche publishing for the growing Fiji push into the Chinese tourism market. This includes her Explore Fiji Chinese edition. Now, in association with the South Pacific Tourism Organisation, she is publishing a special Explore Pacific edition for the coming Shanghai World Expo. This one-woman publishing company has an impact in tourism far beyond its size. lBRUCE MOONIE successfully made the transition from the sea (Captain Cook Cruises) to land (Coral Sun Fiji, where he is now managing director). He runs Fiji tourism’s biggest fleet of luxury coaches and cars, providing a wide range of services. It is an increasing investment. Mr Moonie has also become a significant participant in tourism affairs, currently in the organising of the coming AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards. THE FUTURE? l Chairman/managing director DILIP KHATRI and his Nadi-based Jack’s of Fiji Group continue to expand. far beyond their early Jack’s Handicrafts speciality. Jack’s is now a major tourism shopping and restaurant operator and fashion and surfwear manufacturer. Jack’s role and reach in the resorts grows. Mr Khatri’s executives such as BABU BHAI CHAWDA are becoming more involved in tourism industry affairs. l And finally, not one but four women. The growing emergence of women in key roles. Write down the names OGINA LATA (Denarau Golf Terraces), JOSEPHINE SMITH-MOFFAT (Musket Cove Resort), DAWN WAKEHAM (Castaway Island Resort) and LORNA EDEN (Hot Springs, Savusavu). They are showing running local hotels and resorts is no longer just a man’s world.