Local smile goes international |24 August 2016

Bernadette Bonnelame has rapidly become recognised as ‘the smiling face’ of The H Resort. Her beaming smile has been used in the property’s adverts appearing in international glossy magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar, National Geographic and Condé Nast Traveller as well as in-flight magazines for Air Seychelles and Etihad.  Bernadette’s image has also been seen in the resort’s recruitment ads locally.

But now her warm, infectious smile is hitting new heights and reaching new territories. It was spotted earlier this year by DER Touristik, the European market leader in travel sales, based in Frankfurt. They so liked her photograph that they have now used it on the front cover of their Meier’s Weltreisen brand brochure. This part of their business specialises in long-haul destination travel.

The brochure is 292 pages of which 45 pages feature the Seychelles and it is distributed throughout Eastern Europe, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

When asked for her views on the popularity of her smile Bernadette commented: “Last July when I began working at The H Resort I never imagined that this would happen to me, it’s absolutely wonderful.”  

She went on to say, “I love smiling, so when I was asked if I would mind having my photo taken, I was happy to say yes and now I have people messaging me or calling me to say they have seen my picture in different places. I have even had guests comment that they recognise me from the magazine on the plane”.

Anthony Perlman, marketing and public relations manager at The H Resort, said: “Anyone who meets Bernadette cannot fail to warm to her smile and friendly personality.  She is a proud Seychellois, so for her image to feature on the front cover of the Meier’s Weltreisen brochure is a wonderful achievement for her and the country, we are all collectively very proud of her.”