The high point of my day today (I think) was getting to meet the interim Tourism Minister for Fiji, Bernadette Rounds-Ganilau. She also heads Labour, Industrial Relations and Environment, but she says the tourism people always forget that part of her title. She is a fabulous, dynamic woman, and I’m so thrilled to have been able to make her acquaintance.
By the way, did I mention the trade show is being held outdoors, and that it’s hot out here? Fiji is less fun when you have to wear business clothes. Of course getting back to a hotel with tropical drinks and a beach front view is pretty darn nice.
During the trade show “coffee break,” we were treated to a traditional “Meke” performance by a group from SavuSavu, which was so lovely. In addition to all my meetings today, I also toured the new Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, which is about two years old, and the new Radisson Resort Fiji Denarau Island, which is set to open in July. Did I mention there are so many new things happening in Fiji?
Night Time Events
For happy hour, the Taveuni Tourist Association hosted a fabulous reception so that their top tour operators and journalists could learn more about the island.
Taveuni is Fiji’s third-largest island and is famous for its eco-tourism, beautiful (even for Fiji) island scenery and fabulous coral dive spots. They also are quite famous for their shark diving adventures.
Later that night, the town of Nadi closed down its main street to create a street fair for delegates of the conference. All the major shops stayed open for shopping (fun!) and many of the local restaurants were out there with samples of food and alcohol.
After the street festival, the delegates congregated back at the Sofitel Hotel (where I was staying) for a very cool post party. The Sofitel converted one of its meeting rooms into a hip NY-style bar, complete with furniture, movies, go go dancers, and lots and lots of alcohol.
The party was still going strong when I left at 2 am. To create the party the Sofitel had literally taken every single piece of furniture from their lobby to create the atmosphere in the party.
When I wandered into the lobby, on my way back to my room, there was nothing in the lobby. It looked like one of those movies where the house gets robbed, with just the house telephone lying on the floor. Very surreal, but then again, that could just be the alcohol speaking.
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