Starwood properties at Denarau offer Aussie and Kiwis amazing options

The Mole had not realised that Denarau is as much an integrated leisure development as it is, with at its core and heart the excellent properties operated by Starwood, including, The Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa, the Sheraton Fiji Resort and the Sheraton Denarau Villas Fiji.

The great thing that struck me immediately about all these properties is that guests can take advantage of the facilities at all of them, offering an excellent array of pools, restaurants, spas, etc, which could never be achieved in one hotel or resort and not only that they are all walking or free Fiji style shuttle bus distance apart.

Steve Molnar, [pictured at the Westin] Director of Sales and Marketing at these properties, recently arrived in Fiji from the Sheraton Noosa, told The Mole, “Since the political impasse the Sheraton & Westin Resorts Denarau Island saw in a huge festive new year with a range of amazing events with over 1000 guests staying in-house and enjoying the holiday break.”

“With the recent drop in travel warnings and great specials offering up to 40% off the normal rates until the end of March, now is a great time to visit Fiji and enjoy all it has to offer.”

“In particular the Heavenly Spa at the Westin Denarau Island Resort & Spa saw its busiest weeks since being the first heavenly spa to be launched earlier in 2006.”

He also said that it has to be recognised that Fiji is heading into low season and it should be quieter, and while they had experienced cancellations, the downgrading of the advisory had resulted in business really picking up, with levels looking forward at this time about the same as last year, but he admitted that some rooms were out for refurb last year.

The UK and other markets, including interestingly the USA were travelling normally but it was Australia and New Zealand that had been most affected.

The Mole asked Steve about his impression of Fiji and he said that living in Aus and seeing the reports of the coup was very different to living in Fiji and reading them because in reality there was no impact whatsoever on the resorts or guests, with life carrying on just as normal.

He also said that he had realised that visitors that had been to Fiji two or three times understood how Fiji worked, became part of Fiji and realised that these things happen here from time to time, but life simply goes on!

Steve said that he had spoken with guests who were in Fiji when the coup happened and others that had arrived since and all were dismayed by the difference between the media hype and the reality with no impact whatsoever being experienced by any of them.   Many also asked what could they do to help when they arrived back home to get the massage across that business was as usual in Fiji. 

He added, that of course while we have to respect travel advisors, because they are intended to protect people and are based on historical information, a time has to come though, when things have to change.

He was able to confirm that they had not laid off any full time staff at any of the Resorts, because they had a very strong commitment to their staff, many also being long term employees and a tremendous asset to the business.

What did The Mole think of these properties?

The Westin is a fabulous 5* property with a tremendous feel and actually very Fijian for what is really a US brand.  The public areas are very smart and well designed and the rooms and suites are gorgeous and of course the Westin has great food and staff.  The fabulous facility of the Westin has to be the Heavenly Spa, [pictured] which is amazing and somewhere The Mole could easily be seeing getting some well deserved R and R. 

The Sheraton Fiji Resort at 4.5* is what one could describe as a more traditionally styled property, older in its design and style, reflective perhaps of its US design ancestry, hey it could be in the Caribbean and perhaps a little dated, with refurbishment plans believed to be in the offing, nevertheless still a nice holiday property with great public facilities and like the others, fantastic staff and great food.

The Sheraton Denarau Villas Fiji at 5* is great for families, with great rooms and rather like the Sheraton Fiji Resort in style, but that does not distract from the quality of the facilities and rooms and once again the staff.

So, in conclusion, if your clients want a holiday location that is smart, very well run, with fabulous food and tremendous staff, tremendous facilities and now at a huge discount and if their preference is on the main island in Fiji, then look no further that these excellent resorts.

Special Fiji Report by The Mole