The Mole chats with the owner – Andrew Turnbull of Tokoriki

Sydneysider and real Aussie Andrew Turnbull, [pictured with British guests Marcus and Nicola – FYI, Andrew is the one with the white hair!!] who told The Mole that he had made a few quid out of importing lollies, is a straight talking kind of guy, so it was not a surprise to The Mole that when asked how business was doing, Andrew replied. “Let’s not kid ourselves, we have had a good Christmas and New Year, but after that it is going to be tough and we are going to be going backwards for a while.”

Andrew reckoned that while Christmas and New Year had been chokka, overall Tokoriki was down about 40% to 50% and looking forward was not that good.

He recognised that we were talking before the Australian travel advisory would be lifted and he said that lifted it would be with that critical in terms of forward business.

He also said that Tokoriki was offering no specials and no discounts, because our clients want exclusivity and we have to maintain that they are likely to meet like minded people when they stay here and cannot risk having people stay at Tokoriki that would not mix with our core clients, which he said is a simple fact!

The only concession Andrew and his GM, Gyan Pillay had agreed to was an offer of “Eat Free at Tokoriki”.

Andrew also said that Tokoriki was able to be more flexible, not only because he owned it, but also because they had no debt and could ride storms longer than properties heavily in debt.

He added, “We will sit and see what the relaxing of the advisories does and then reassess things, adding, “It is a great time to do some refurbishment!”

Andrew bought Tokoriki after staying there, when his daughter Jenna, who now works at Tokoriki told him it was for sale and all the indications looked good, so he joined with two partners and did the deal.

He said it was like a huge baptism of fire, losing $1m in the first 12 months, bough out the partners, took it on himself and has never looked back, working closely with his excellent GM Gyan doing a fantastic job.

With only 34 rooms he believes that Tokoriki is the right size to be intimate, but big enough so that guests can meet other interesting people and have enough things to do. 

He also believes that keeping his staff happy is critical and while they are a unionised property they work herd to protect the jobs of Fijians, not laying anyone off during this coup, which he believes is not a coup at all, although he also believes that recovery will be slow although Gyan is more optimistic saying that all impact of the coup on business will have been forgotten by June.

His motto is “Happy Staff – Happy Guests!”

He also believes that happy staff + happy guests = profit!

When Andrew bought Tokoriki, it was, as he describes, “a run down 2* property”, but he now claims that is the only 4.5* property in the Mamanucas and he does not want it to be 5* and all that entails as that would compromise what Tokoriki is all about and the unique product they can offer their guests.

His and Gyan’s objectives are to under-promise and over-deliver with guests leaving Tokoriki wowed by the place, vowing to return and telling tell their friends what a great time they had – strange that, because it is exactly what happens and it works, with returning guests and referrals being a huge part of their business..

The Mole thinks that Andrew and Gyan have got it right!

Special Fiji Report by The Mole