Seychelles Ministerial delegation launch 2014 series of hotel visits with Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino at Beau Vallon
It is this time of year again when hotel inspections are on the agenda across the Seychelles, aimed to ensure that the license conditions are fulfilled and previously agreed measures have been carried out.
Received yesterday was this mail about the start of the exercise, with a resort hotel I stayed at for the duration of the Festival Kreol in October last year.
It is good to see that the Ministry of Tourism & Culture is proactive and does actually follow up on issues, AND monitors feedback clients provided on social media and TripAdvisor. Well done to STB and the Ministry staff engaged in keeping the standards of the Seychelles up.
Seychelles Ministerial delegation launch 2014 series of hotel visits with Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino at Beau Vallon
The Ministry for Tourism and Culture has launched its 2014 series of hotel visits with one at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino at Beau Vallon. The delegation was headed by Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture and he was accompanied by Anne Lafortune, his PS for Tourism, Raymond St.Ange, the Advisor in the Ministry of Internal Affairs & Transport as well as representatives of the Licensing Inspectorates from the Ministry of Health, the Fire Brigade, the Tourism Board, Department of Licensing and the Ministry of Employment.
The Ministerial were greeted on arrival at the hotel by Gulab Rai, the General Manager of the property, Kieran Shah, the Company’s Legal Representative as well as by a number of the Hotel’s Management Team. After a brief introductory remarks from Minister St.Ange, the Hotel’s General Manager guided the delegation on a tour of his property, The tour included the four kitchens, the Chalets and their recently renovated superior rooms. After the tour everyone gathered in a private meeting room for a debriefing on the hotel visit.
The previously agreed to schedule renovation works by Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino was discussed and it was agreed that as some of the listed works had been attended to, an extension of time to complete the major listed works in the kitchens was agreed to and that a follow-up visit would be undertaken in early April by which time all the listed works needed to be completed.
The hotel had previously committed themselves to complete by November last year the works outstanding in their main kitchen as well as its bed rooms. It is these works that now need to be completed by April 2014.
The Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange said as he addressed the Hotel Management Team and in the presence of his delegation:- “Yes our visit today has been prompted by comments received about the establishment. I feel the hotel’s management team should re-look how they handle feedback. Any adverse of negative comments that are posted on Social Network and on Trip Advisor doesn’t look good for the company’s image and impacts negatively on the country’s tourism industry.” said Minister St.Ange.
The Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture then appealed to the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino to work “closer with the Ministry to bring the hotel to new height’’. He added that competition for the same visitors is today more intense than ever before and Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino should take the necessary steps to remain at the top of its game. “So far, you stood as one of the largest properties in the north of Mahe. With the opening in the coming weeks of the Savoy Resort & Spa you will be faced with new competition. The Savoy Resort & Spa is coming with a new product and you need to be ready to get your fair share of our tourism market” Minster St.Ange said in the presence of the hotel’s representatives.
Mr St.Ange explained the Ministry’s policy of working with hotels in order to improve their products.
“I am happy that Management of Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino is receptive to our ideas and that they have heard our call for action” he added. “It was important for the Ministry to start the year with renewed determination and resolve to relook at this property and its shortfall and also to plan a series of hotel visits. We’ve inspected Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino and feel that it is imperative that their stated and agree to renovation works program is completed professionally. Patching or cosmetic works won’t solve any problem. The Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino has from now until April to deliver on their undertaking’’ Minister St.Ange said.
Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Hotel & Casino is part of the Berjaya Group, the Malaysia-based company which controls a wide array of businesses, including resorts, gambling, food and beverage and property. It has 215 bed rooms.
Following the high delegation Ministerial visit, the hotel’s Management team committed to complete work on the main kitchen and upgrade its bed rooms within the stated deadline. Minister St.Ange has confirmed that he will lead a second inspection visit of the hotel in April.
