HOTEL groups Sun International and Beachcomber are adding facilities for teenagers in their drive to attract more families to Mauritius.
Up until now, hoteliers have not catered specifically for this potentially awkward age group, but from this autumn guests between the ages of 12 and 19 staying at all six Sun International resorts will be offered the chance to join the @sungeneration.com club.
On offer will be a schedule of activities that include cruises, shopping sprees and environmental excursions, as well as discos and beach parties. Two resorts – Le Coco Beach Resort on the east coast of Mauritius and the Sugar Beach Resort in the west – will have dedicated hangouts for teenagers to escape from their parents.
General manager of the club Philip Dupont said: “The main objective of the hangouts is to provide a place where teenagers can socialise and express themselves, although obviously they will be supervised. In the past, there has always been plenty of sport to do here. But something was missing. There can be conflict with parents at that age and we wanted to provide somewhere for teenagers to meet without their parents.”
Since Sun International starting testing the concept a year ago, Dupont estimates that the number of teenage guests has already increased by 25% thanks to word-of-mouth recommendations.
Meanwhile, Beachcomber has introduced a club for teenagers at the newly revamped Shandrani, due to open on December 1.
The operator will offer a daily programme of water-skiing lessons, cycling, beach barbecues and other activities.
Sales manager Paul Bedford said: “We will have computer games in the hotel but the emphasis will be on the outdoors. For parents it will be a bit like sending their kids off to camp because they know they will be supervised but it won’t cost them any more. Research among clients with children showed we needed to treat teenagers as a specific market. Three to 12-year-olds are already catered for by the Bob Marlin Kids’ Club, but parents wanted a platform for the teenagers to mix,” he added.
To give parents an added incentive to book what has traditionally been seen as an expensive destination, the operator has reduced its rates for under-18s. At Shandrani, parents will pay the same room rate for all guests under the age of 18, instead of having to fork out the adult price for over 11s.
Younger children will also get a piece of the action. Sun International is revamping facilities for children between the ages of two and 11, in a bid to broaden the destination’s appeal beyond the couplesmarket.
This November sees the opening of a Robin Hood theme club at Le Touessrok, while the newly renovated Saint Geran will have a Peter Pan-themed kids’ club.
Sun International’s Dupont said: “We have always provided kids’ facilities at our hotels but from November, each club will be branded and will have similar programmes so there is some continuity.”
The only downside to the destination for families is the lengthy flight time – around 11hrs, a considerable time to keep children occupied.
British Airways Holidays product manager for the Indian Ocean Carol Miles believes that the situation has been eased on BAflights due to the introduction of a wider range of in-flight entertainment for children.
“The Skyfliers programme rolled out earlier this year in our World Traveller class, offers activity packs, with magazines and pens, and a treasure chest with complementary toys.
“Skyfliers’ meals are now served before their parents. Another service is pre-bookable seats for families – you have priority for seats with extra legroom. If conditions allow, children can also visit the cockpit,” she said.
The introduction of special deals and the knowledge that children of all ages will be looked after by trained reps is now beginning to have an impact on the family market, according to director of the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority Toto Ghoorah.
“Because of the sheer distance from the UK, couples will remain our core market. However, we are predicting a 7% increase in the number of families visiting Mauritius from the UK this year,” he said.