The resort was also content to host its first wedding since the international borders reopened on December 1 last year.
Business is looking healthy and we are ready to welcome all our international and domestic guests, says Naviti Resort Director of Sales and Marketing, Angela Hassan.
Ms Hassan said the reopening of Fiji’s international borders to the world had the resort’s occupancy rate growing.
At moment, the Coral Coast-based resort was holding 80 per cent occupancy.
Ms Hassan said that the resort had received at least 50 bookings and potential enquiries for weddings in 2023 where the number was likely to grow.
This year, at least 15 weddings have been scheduled so far.
“Before COVID we used to do 100 weddings on average every year which brought in good revenue for the resort,” said Ms Hassan.
“Because with the range of venues that we have – our two islands which are great venues for weddings and the resort itself is spread out on 38 acres of land and when guests come and see the venue they want to have their weddings here and we were used to catering for last minute weddings here before COVID.
“There were no weddings held during the COVID-19 period in Fiji as the resort was closed.”
She said Naviti was popular for having its inclusive package for guests.
“We are ready to welcome all our international guests and also our domestic guests and just to showcase the Fijian hospitality which Naviti is renowned for,” she added.
“We have great local packages for the local market, we have November and December available.”
Ms Hassan added that most guests at the resort were from Australia.
First Wedding After COVID
Starting off the year on a positive note, the resort was also content to host its first wedding since the international borders reopened on December 1 last year.
It was a spur of the moment when Maori couple, Wade and Cary Davis decided to get married in Fiji this year.
It all began with a browse through the social media site, Facebook in October last year when the Davis family came across an advertisement about Fiji.
Without hesitation, the New Zealand couple booked their flights to Fiji this year for a holiday to enjoy Fiji’s white sandy beaches and to be welcomed by the country’s usual bula spirit.
But a second plan had to be added onto their bucket list – getting married!
That plan was made possible through the assistance of the and support from the couple’s close family members.
Mr Davis, 32 and Ms Davis, 33 said their vows in the presence of their families and Naviti Resort staff on Monday.
The couple arrived in the country on June 7 (last Tuesday) with their three children, Teylon, 12 and the twins Arlen, 7 and Tiahn, 7.
Mr Davis is involved in scaffold and construction while Ms Davis works in age care and disability.
“Originally we were just coming for a holi- day this year and we were like ‘oh, we might as well just get married while we are there’,” said Ms Davis.
“At first it was supposed to be us and our kids but our families decided to come last minute and we just made it a big one with our family.
“It’s a huge privilege for us to be the first to have our wedding at the resort, a truly exciting moment for us.”
It is also the couple’s first time in Fiji.
“It is definitely not the last one too for sure,” she added.
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By Nicolette Chambers, June 2022
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