SITUATED in close proximity to the Unesco World Heritage Site of Vallée de Mai, Anse Lazio beach, praised as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, the luxurious Raffles Praslin, Seychelles is a sought-after luxury haven on the island. The property was recognised as part of the ‘Ten Top Beach Resorts Around the World’ in the Forbes Travel Guide 2012 and Seychelles’ Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards 2012. TTN spoke to recently-appointed general manager Christoph G Ganster to learn more about the property and its future plans.
How does Raffles Seychelles appeal to the Arab traveller?
The Middle East is one of our key markets and we appeal to the Arab traveller by offering luxurious facilities, utmost privacy, truly personalised service and tailor-made experiences. We also cater to their cultural needs with Arabic speaking team members, female butlers, a panoramic lounge with shishas, Arabic TV channels and prayer mats. We serve Halal food and feature a wide choice of Creole, Mediterranean and Arabic dishes prepared by our Arabic chefs. Arab guests can also enjoy our award-winning Raffles Spa offering indulging experiences and a wide selection of treatments performed by male and female therapists.
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How popular is Seychelles as a tourist destination among the Arab travellers? How do you compete with other Indian Ocean destinations like Maldives and Mauritius?
Seychelles is a growing destination, year-to-date figures for visitor arrivals show a 14 per cent increase over the 2012 figures, and we can see a similar increase for visitors from the Middle East. The destination is particularly popular in the UAE, which is the key source market from this region, and is in the top five leading markets for Seychelles.
The Seychelles has it all with two of the most beautiful beaches in the world – Anse Lazio and Anse Georgette, a Unesco World Heritage Site on Praslin, a preserved habitat for giant tortoises and a museum on Curieuse island, dramatic granite rocks on St Pierre, rare birds watching on Bird Island, vanilla plantation and pristine beaches on La Digue.
Who are your key source markets and what new markets are you looking to tap in the near future?
Our main market feeders are GCC countries, Russia, Germany and France. In the near future we are looking to tap into China, South Africa and Brazil, which are markets where the destination is becoming more and more popular and our production figures are increasing.
What are your plans to attract more guests from the region, this summer?
We are conducting several sales missions to GCC countries in order to promote the resort and the destination. We have teamed up with travel agents and tour operators in the region to propose special promotions during the summer. We also offer special rates for direct bookings, along with an additional 25 per cent off, valid until the end of August.
Does the resort engage in any sustainability programmes? If so, what are they?
Developing and protecting the flora is a constant priority and since the opening of the resort, more than 110,000 of plants, palms and trees were planted. In relation to this, Raffles Praslin received the Certificate of Recognition for Wetland Protection by the Seychelles Ministry of Environment. The hotel also established a partnership with the Seychelles National Park Authority for the treatment of Takamaka trees, an endemic species of local tree. In partnership with the Seychelles Heritage Foundation, Raffles Praslin participates in the Praslin Heritage Route consisting mainly in preserving and promoting heritage sites.
A brief on your background.
I have held various leading positions in top resorts around the world. I moved to the UAE in February 2007 to join the opening of Raffles Dubai and was subsequently promoted to hotel manager in June 2008. In April 2009 I transferred to Egypt as general manager, Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers, Cairo. My most recent role was general manager at Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv, Ukraine, where since October 2011, I established Fairmont’s first property in Eastern Europe.