Lovers follow in the footsteps of stars

Lovers follow in the footsteps of stars

Wedding market blossoms

If you were to name a single destination as this year’s success story, Mauritius would arguably fit the bill.

The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority reports that the number of UK visitors to Mauritius has increased by 25% for the first seven months of this year.

Operators across the board are reporting huge increases in bookings – Distant Dreams said its sales have doubled, while Cresta said Mauritius now ranks as its number one worldwide destination, prompting the operator to move it to the front of next year’s brochure.

The superb standard of accommodation and the excellent service are still cited as the prime reasons for the island’s popularity.

Harvin Kaumaya, managing director at Indian Ocean specialist Sunset Faraway, added: “The fact it is popular with celebrities means it has been getting good press coverage. This year we have sent several personalities including Martine McCutcheon and Dale Winter.”

Tropical Locations David Kevan managing director said: “Mauritius is a fantastic success story. It has been attracting people away from the Caribbean.”

While the family market is growing, attracted by the high-quality children’s facilities that most hotels offer and the overnight flight, Mauritius’ prime market is still couples and it is no surprise to hear that the weddings market there is blossoming. Sunset Faraway has arranged 120 weddings there so far this year. “Le Tousserok is sold out for weddings,” said Kaumaya.

The island has become British Airways Holidays’ number one wedding destination, having overtaken the traditional top sellers of St Lucia, Barbados and Antigua. Product executive, weddings, Liz Stagg, said: “Next year is looking good with Mauritius still our top seller so it is not just a blip in the figures.”

Tropical Locations’ Kevan said the romantic nature of Mauritius was a prime draw but he also cited good deals available as an attraction.

“There are special prices for honeymooners which can mean discounts of 20%,” he said.

Tradewinds marketing manager Mark Blewitt said the country is in its top three. “The appeal of Mauritius is that there is no sense of conveyor-belt weddings like some destinations have.”

Sugar Beach: British Airways Holidays is offering free weddings at the resort next year

Weddings

Here we outline the what Mauritius’ two main hotel groups, Beachcomber and Sun Internationa, offer couples who want to marry in resort.

Beachcomber:weddings andhoneymoons represent 26% of Beachcomber’s business. It offersceremonies at all seven properties and this year it expects to host nearly 400 weddings. Its most popular resort forweddings is Trou aux Biches wherecouples are advised to book at least a year in advance. All weddings at Beachcomber’s properties cost £250 which includes registrar’s services,wedding cake, documents plustransport to Port Louis where papers have to be signed, champagne,flowers and fruit in the room and a seafood dinner.

sun international: offersweddings at its five properties with prices varying from around £275 at Le Tousserok to £215 at Le Coco Beach. Most packages include abottle of sparkling wine, 36 wedding pictures a candlelit dinner, two tiers of wedding cake and breakfast in bed. British Airways Holidays is offering free weddings at Sugar Beach next year.

Celebrate: many operators’packages include extras, such aschampagne

Mauritius by Isabel Choat

sample

Kuoni: seven nights at the Merville Beach Hotel in a standard room on a half-board basis, including flights and transfers, start at £990 per person. The wedding package costs £250 per couple and includes decorated garden location, wedding cake, bottle of sparkling wine, a romantic dinner, bouquet and buttonhole, upgrade of room on arrival subject to availability and sparkling wine in room on the wedding day.

BEachcomber: five nights at the Trou Aux Biches resort costs £1,180 in a double room for departures between May 1 and August 31. Extra nights cost £111. The price includes flights. Private transfers from the airport cost £30. Weddings cost £250.

Cosmos: the operator offers 13-nights half-board at Le Palmar Beach Resort for the price of £954 per person, for departures between May 4 and 17. The wedding costs an extra £299.

British airways holidays: seven nights’ half-board at the Radisson in a deluxe room is £1,245 from May 1 to July 15. Weddings cost £355 per couple.