WHILE most tourism properties are chasing the international tourist dollar, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa has set its sights on enticing a larger slice of the local market.
Resort general manager Francis Lee said unlike the seasonal international market, locals had events throughout the year.
“We always place emphasis on the Australia and New Zealand markets and Australia alone accounts for more than 50 per cent of every hotel’s business,” he said.
“And now with the direct flights from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Japan, Korea and Singapore which is all good news.
“But for Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa, we see the local market as very important because business is always business.
“We can never take things for granted.
“We have invested $100 million and we cannot at any moment take our eye off the ball because the local market is always in play.
“We have Government groups, professional groups like doctors, accountants and others.
“These are all locally generated business and they don’t have seasons — they come when they have events and we have to be ready for them.
“And for me, to get the fundamentals right in our business, we must have the local support first.
“If we can stabilise our foundation with the local market and they like our product, they will always come back and support us.
“So the local market plays a very important role in the success of Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa.
“Right now we are pitching it — we go to Suva, Nadi and Lautoka to tell them we are back in town.”
