Hotels in Red Zone: Tracks for a New Life

Bookings for the months of June and July increases the concern of hoteliers. As accommodations may be filled to only 46% on average, while the rate of filling the last three years ranged between 48.5% and 50%, says the Association of Hoteliers and restaurateurs Mauritius (AHRIM). "The situation becomes even more complicated for the fill, to date, we expect a loss of 2% for the months of June and July compared to the two months last year " says Jocelyn Kwok, Chief Executive Officer of the Association.

His explanation: "Hotels suffer with what is happening in Europe." Gaëtan Siew, who is regularly asked by customers for tourism projects himself has a different interpretation of what is happening in this area. The former president of the International Union of Architects in particular evokes the glaring mismatch between supply and demand.

Indeed, the big five star hotels to small family residential, Mauritius has about 12,000 rooms. Consists of 117 facilities, the hotel park camping 42 320 km of coastline in the country. The average occupancy rate is 65%, so that at any time, 4,000 rooms are unoccupied. 

In this context, it should be added that the hotels are in trouble. Two hotels Reunion Apavou group, namely La Plantation Resort and Indian, are themselves facing debt problems. The Movenpick and The Flamboyant were redeemed. Hotel Port Chambly a new administration and two hotels Mauritours Rodrigues, and The Coconut Point Venus, are for sale. However, 12 new hotel projects in the pipeline. "If only two-thirds of the rooms are filled, logic dictates that we optimize existing ones. So why build yet? Especially since the product is tired and competition increased. And for now, there is no Plan B, " responds Gaëtan Siew. 

Solutions to boost the sector? To survive, some hotels have decided to lower their rates. A practice that is not seen in a positive light by the Association of Inbound Operators (Mauritius). "It certainly does not need to rush to an all-out fire sale, if you want to preserve the image quality Mauritian tourist destination. We must keep the prices at the same level and improve the service further, " said Bruno Lebreux, president of the association and director of Concorde Travel Agency.

According to him, it is especially necessary lower the price of tickets as soon as possible on all routes to avoid the decline in tourist arrivals will continue tickets. Because, he said, these prices are too high compared to the Maldives and the Seychelles, our main competitors in the region.Adding that he should also review the concept and formula of air access. They must be given priority.

Jocelyn Kwok noted for his part that the only good news is the performance of emerging markets, including India and China. But it is imperative that the efforts of the authorities and the hospitality industry in relation to air service and new service lines is accelerating, he added. 

Gaëtan Siew, one solution would be, for example, focus on the middle class that Mauritius is a promising niche for hoteliers. "According to a formula that accountants and economists find it to be a way to allow the middle class access to properties on the beach, " he says.

Innovator, the architect argues that foreign retirees could represent an extremely rich field for the Mauritian tourism, provided innovate. The activities included the creation of a provision allowing them to share their professional expertise with neighboring villages. "Retirees are more physically and mentally young. They are often socially and environmentally responsible. This kind of adventure tourism has less interest than other predators, " said Gaëtan Siew.  

And why not convert the hotels to provide facilities " destressing, detox and recovery instead of persisting for sale beaches and tan " ? Besides exploiting the vein medical insurance, such a reinvention create a range of new professions. Besides marketing opportunities. "Why then competing hotels could be complementary?" asks Gaëtan Siew. 

Mauritius can also aspire to become a reference in key areas in order to export its expertise. The architect notes that instead of struggling to get Foreign Direct Investment, the country should primarily seek to attract the "Foreign Direct Intelligence" . Because, he said, every job "hi-tech" generates 4.3 ancillary jobs. "Maurice could become a platform for creative industries related to new technologies," he suggests. As for now, the 23,000 foreigners residing in Mauritius, only 9000 are known from professional backgrounds. The architect gave the example of Singapore, which had, in the context of the creation of the pole " Biopolis " 1000 Passport distributed to doctors and computer scientists.

But industry players will they measure up? For now, they seem overpowered, according to our speaker, by "the weight of the past and fear of the future."