Lavinia Ragede says  despite not completing her tertiary education, the passion to do what she loved in the tourism sector did not stop her from moving forward.

The Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay assistant front office manager, is married with three children and lives in Nadi with her family.

She is 46-year-old, from Vanuabalavu in Lau and is the eldest of three siblings.

She has worked in the tourism sector for 21 years.

Out of that, she has spent 14 years at the management level.

She spent most of her primary and secondary school life in Suva before moving to Nadi to begin her tertiary level education.

This is where her passion and love for the hospitality sector began.

“At that time, I attended FIT (Fiji Institute of Technology), now the Fiji National University, doing my Advanced Diploma studies at the catering school,” she said.

“In 2016 I moved on to complete my Bachelor of Commerce, but my Degree hasn’t been completed yet because I was doing Distance Field Learning (DFL).”

She said while she transitioned from school to the employment sector, she became involved in the food and beverage department and later moved onto the front office department.

“I worked at Tambua Sands Beach Resort as a restaurant attendant from 2000 to 2009, from 2010 to 2015 I worked under the Warwick properties as a duty and guest relations manager, 2016, I joined the Naviti Resort as the front office manager and in 2017 I moved to the Marriott,” she said.

Ms Ragede enjoys eating kokoda (raw fish marinated in coconut milk and lemon), playing table tennis and also likes fishing.

Below is a excerpt interview with Ms Ragede.
What Is The One Place You Would Take Visitors To And Why?
The Sleeping Giant because the place has many memories and it now has been turned into a beautiful garden valley.

What Is Your Favorite Place For Coffee/Pie And Why?
The Corner Café.

That is my stopover place when I am in town and the staff know me very well because I visit the café very often when I am in Nadi.

Their customer service is also awesome.

What Is Your Favorite Backyard Spot And Why?
When I am on a day off, I love travelling and visiting my friends and we mostly hang out at the beach.

What Is One Place In Fiji That Remains On Your Bucket List And Why?
Vatulele.

I have heard stories of the place but I have never been there, I would love to visit the place and see the red prawns.

Feedback: nicolette.chambers@fijisun.com.fj