Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa on Coral Coast recorded 99 per cent occupancy on New Year’s Eve.

This was an achievement for the 100 per cent locally owned and staffed Resort as they hosted a buffet and special music band for their guests to mark the successful year end and begin 2017 on Saturday.

The Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa, general manager, Chandar Dutt, said, the year had started well for the Resort, however as a result of Cyclone Winston; they lost a lot of bookings.

He said a lot of them had invested their holidays in Bali according to their research after cancellations.

But the Resort has been received well in their new market that is New Zealand this year.

“Our main market remains Australia but we have expanded ourselves into the Kiwi market and have been successful and continue to expand to other countries,” Mr Dutt said.

“Moreover most of the Resort guests have been long returnees to Hideaway.”

Mr Dutt said the Resort had now put its focus on making itself present on big platforms and presenting itself with virtuous image.

“Even though we are not a five star destination we are highly working on making it big for the year 2017,” he said.

Plans were further in pipeline to refurbish and better equip the Resort with hotel and hospitality gears.

Mr Dutt said he was proud of his 100 per cent local team who have also proved that talents did not lack in the country, it only needed to be given a chance and utilized.

“Our guests here expect completely Fijian hospitality and that is what we are accommodating them with and it is also what we are looking at promoting in the larger markets,” he said.

“We trying to create an image in the market that the Resort is all-ready and business is as normal.”

Despite all the adversities, the Resort won three awards for the year which were Trip Advisor Excellence Awards (back to back for three years now), Best 10 Family Resorts in Fiji and the only winners in South Pacific of the Best Bed and Breakfast

The Resort ended its year 2016 with midnight fire walks by the beach.

EDITED BY: KATHRIN KRISHNA.