AS the interest in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions) market continues to grow, one of the largest island resorts in the Mamanuca Group has started a short-term plan to take advantage of this opportunity.
Musket Cove Island Resort has invested almost $200,000 into the refurbishment of its new conference room. The resort's sales and marketing manager Kini Saukuru said the conference room would seat about 80 people.
"We are targeting international corporate businesses but also the local corporate businesses if they are interested," she said.
Ms Saukuru said the opening of the conference centre was expected to take place in November.
"This is an ideal time for corporate bodies because a lot of them will be planning their end of the year and Christmas parties.
"But the experiences that we offer will still be different because we will offer packages that include the family members of the group coming in for the meetings.
"It will be a MICE market with a twist. It will be business and pleasure rolled into one."
Ms Saukuru said the resort also continued with its goal to be self-sufficient.
"We have our very organic farm with every waste from the kitchen used as compost. We also recycle paper by shredding it and putting it in the garden to maintain the moisture of the soil."
She said the resort also planned to produce its own milk and eggs.
"This is a long-term plan of ours," she said.