Guests rush in as Le Meridien reopens |05 December 2005

This came to light on Friday evening during the hotel's official opening ceremony which was presided over by Designated Minister and Minister for Education and Youth, Danny Faure.

The hotel's management said that all its 124 rooms were full and forward booking was healthy, after owners Currimjee Jeewanje and Bharti companies which also own Airtel telecommunication company invested US$15 million into its refurbishment.

"We have redone everything, from the floor to the ceilings, albeit we have kept the basic structures of the buildings," chairman and managing director Bashir Currimjee of Currimjee Jeewanje and Company told Nation.

Minister Faure, who was standing in for Tourism Minister, Vice President Joseph Belmont, said that government will continue to support players in the tourism industry.

"As President James Michel reiterated in his 2006 Budget Address of Wednesday, we will continue to put in place the right parameters that should help you to do a better job," Mr Faure said.

"And with these continually improving tools, we will continue to expect that you use them in order to keep our visitors happy and want to come back," the minister said.

He said that the renovation of hotels like the Meridien Fisherman's Cove and the Meridien Barbarons is sufficient evidence that local and international investors have all the confidence in this country's potential and share Seychelles ambitions.

Mr Currimjee said that the US$15 million spent was a worthy investment, but noted that because the owner companies has no experience in hotel operations, they have invited the Meridien Hotels whom he said had done well over the years, to continue managing the hotel.

It was Mr Faure and the hotel's manager, Pierre Delplace, who unveiled the plaque to re-launch the establishment before guests from the companies, government, the trade and contractors.