Paradise Sun reopens after overhaul |04 June 2005

The Southern Sun hotel, situated along the Cote D’Or beach, was thought to be the worst hit among Praslin hotels by the December 26 tsunami.

On top of funds from the insurance claim for the tsunami damage, the South African-based group invested an extra US $2.2 million into the hotel to provide a fresh product to its clientele, said a statement from Southern Sun.

The hotel will remain a four-star resort “but it’s a much improved product,” said new Paradise Sun general manager Mark Loxley, who arrived in Seychelles last month.
The hotel’s 80-room composition also has stayed intact, but they’ve been completely refurbished with new furniture and also air conditioning units, a perk not available previously.

An international assortment of tourists, mainly from Europe, was welcomed as the first paying guests to the revamped hotel on Wednesday. Mr Loxley said the hotel has also hosted several educational and site visits.

Apart from re-tooled rooms, upgrades have been carried out to the restaurants and other facilities.

A new pizza oven has been installed at the renovated beach-side restaurant and cocktail bar, which will have a new, light luncheon menu.

The pool has been re-tiled, the front entrance redesigned and the dive centre is up and running.

The grounds and gardens, which were wiped out by the tsunami, are re-establishing and “within a month should be back to their former glory,” Mr Loxley said. “The property is looking fantastic.”

Southern Sun said that all employees of the Paradise Sun have been paid as usual during the past six months, and rewarded their patience with a salary increase a month before opening.

“Everybody’s back on board,” Mr Loxley added, noting that hotel personnel remains virtually unchanged from before.

He indicated that the tsunami had not been an issue with bookings, pointing to what the hotel projects will be a promising month of August, with a gradually increasing amount of guests during this month and July.

“We’re very optimistic,” Mr Loxley said. “It’s time to get back to business.”