Tourism pioneers honoured |01 October 2022
A seventh group of tourism pioneers were earlier this week recognised, some of them post-humously, for their significant contributions to the development and progress of tourism in the country.
They are Ulrich Denis, Vicky Lanza, Joseph Albert, Flavien Joubert, Micheline Georges, Doris Johnstone, Gregoire Payet, Arthuro Dagostini, Gianni and Silvana Torsi, including the late Myriam St Ange, Marlène Lionnet and Noellie Alexander.
As testimony of their dedication, effort and passion which have been instrumental for the growth of our tourism industry to become the pillar of our economy, their names engraved on ceramic tiles are being displayed among past tourism pioneers at the Pioneers Park at the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA).
Today we present a short profile on each of them and their photo when they were receiving their certificate of recognition. For those who have passed away, their award was collected by a family member.
Myriam St Ange
Myriam St Ange of La Digue, the daughter of Karl St Ange and Germaine (nee De Charmoy Lablache of Praslin), got involved in tourism at a very young age soon after finishing her studies on Mahé.
She worked briefly at the Government Information Office that was in Government House Avenue, at the time, tourism information was combined with the radio.
After her period of employment at the Government Information Office in Victoria, Myriam St Ange moved to South Africa and continued working in the hospitality and tourism industry which saw her hard work and dedication get her to the position of Executive Housekeeper at Beverley Hills in Umshalang and at the Edwards Hotel on the Beach Front in Durban.
Upon her return to Seychelles, she worked with her father Karl St Ange at the family's Cabanes Des Anges Hotel on La Digue until the establishment was acquired by the government. The hotel was the island’s second hotel to be built. She ventured into a hotel souvenir boutique where she traded under the name of ‘Cabanon de Myriam’ and where she brought in an array of beach wear, t-shirts, pareos she had helped design.
Myriam St Ange also worked for a short period at the Auberge Louis XV11 at La Louise before heading back to La Digue with her two sons, Carl and Sydney Mills and converted the St Ange family home into the Chateau St Cloud hotel. Her tenacity kept her directly involved in her property’s management, and her people’s person approach ensured she was always in the front office and restaurant of the Chateau St Cloud delivering the personal touch so needed by tourism establishments.
Myriam St Ange passed away in 2021 at the age of 74. She spent all her professional life in this industry and is remembered for her contributions to the betterment of the hospitality industry and for retaining the colonial era characteristics of her iconic family home turned hotel, the Chateau St Cloud on La Digue.
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Giovanni and Silvana Torsi
Giovanni Torsi, known as Gianni, was born in Napoli, Italy on January 12, 1947. He started his career in the industry in 1964, when he joined his uncle Mario Campanile in Lugano, Switzerland. He moved to St Moritz and Geneva in Switzerland, then to Frankfurt in Germany where he continued his career in the restaurant field.
In 1978 he went back to Lugano, Switzerland and decided to further his expertise in hospitality by attending the Swiss Hotel School. After his studies, he ran two restaurants in Agno, Switzerland – one was on his own and the second was in a partnership with his wife Silvana Torsi.
Silvana Torsi, was born in Camorino, Switzerland on January 14, 1954. After her studies in Bellinzona, Switzerland, in 1973 she joined the Swiss Postal services until 1979. After meeting her husband Giovanni Torsi, she grew an interest in the hospitality industry and decided to enroll in the Swiss Hotel School. In 1980, she joined Giovanni in running the restaurant in Agno, Switzerland.
In 1983, Giovanni accepted to join uncle Mario Campanile in Seychelles to oversee the operations that Mr Campanile had started at Bel Ombre – La Scala Restaurant. Giovanni and his wife Silvana arrived in Seychelles on December 1, 1983 and started their lifelong journey at La Scala.
For the last 39 years, Giovanni handles the operations while Silvana, whose interests always revolved around guest relations, attended to the clients by providing the best customer service. A recipe for success, as to date La Scala is regarded as one of the island’s most reputable restaurants.
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Ulrich Denis
Born on June 18, 1955, Chef Ulrich Alex Denis has been cooking for 50 years. As a young man, he developed a love of cooking after witnessing his mother's prowess in the kitchen. He started his career, on October 2, 1972 as trainee cook at the Coral Strand Hotel, where his potential and creativity in cooking were discovered.
His first internship was done in 1975 at the Hotel School which was located at Mont Fleuri where the School of Music is now.
In 1978, he was promoted to Sous-Chef and not long after that, he was transferred to the Stanley Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, where he received training and additional experience.
Upon his return in the country, Chef Ulrich joined the Hotel School as an assistant trainer before proceeding to France for a two-year training programme as pastry instructor at the Lycée des Métiers de l’Hôtellerie Jean Drouant.
In 1982, Chef Ulrich joined Le Méridien Fisherman's Cove Hotel as an executive chef where he was instrumental in setting the hotel’s kitchen. Eight years later in 1990, he was hired as an executive sous-chef aboard the Seabourn Cruise Line, an American company's cruise ship.
Chef Ulrich spent a brief two years on Praslin at Hotel L’Archipel. In 1994, he went back to Le Méridien Fisherman's Cove Hotel as an Executive Chef, during which time he was responsible for three restaurants in addition to the canteen for the staff.
In 2002, he moved to Round island where he worked at the Enchanted Island Resort Hotel.
Thereafter he worked for Itsandra Beach Hotel, Comore and Fregate Private Island as a Project Chef.
Over the years, Chef Ulrich had the opportunity to fine-tune his skills through various training opportunities including one at the renowned French restaurant chain les Étoiles Michelin.
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Vicky Lanza
Veronica Lefevre Lanza joined BOAC/British Airways Seychelles in early March 1972 just before the official opening of the Seychelles International Airport by Her Majesty the Queen and she worked for the company for 35 years. This year marks 50 years since Vicky witnessed the development of aviation in Seychelles, which began with just one flight a week by BOAC.
Vicky worked as a sales representative for British Airways, from 1984 and in 1986, following the restart of British Airways flights to the Seychelles was appointed as the first manager for an international airline. She was also given the role of overseeing British Airways' international airport operations and sales/marketing.
Notably, Vicky formed the first Airlines Operators Committee to ensure safety and smooth running of the airport operations through the Ground Handling Agency.
She also played a key role in the introduction of the first compact VIP lounge for premium travellers in the departure lounge.
In 1998, Vicky was promoted to the position as Commercial Manager for the Indian Ocean Islands responsible for Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Reunion based in Mauritius. She held this position until 2007 upon her retirement from British Airways.
In the ensuing years, she remained devoted to the tourism sector and served on various boards and committees.
Vicky is today the proud owner and manager of her own tourism establishment, Sables d’Or Luxury Apartments, located at Beau Vallon.
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Flavien Joubert
Most renowned as the previous principal of the Seychelles Tourism Academy, Flavien Joubert debuted his career in the tourism industry in November 1972 as a trainee kitchen Steward/Clerk at the Reef Hotel.
To further his career, Flavien left Seychelles for Cyprus on a Commonwealth scholarship to study Food and Beverage Management in September 1973.
In October 1974, he received a scholarship from the British Government to study Hotel and Catering at the Brighton College of Technology. While in England, he also studied Hotel and Food Technology at the Guildford University. After which, he did a course in Advanced Hotel School and Tourism Management in Cologne and Kiel, West Germany.
During his long career in the tourism industry, he held positions in Culinary and Hotel Management in several international luxury brand hotels in England, France, Switzerland, Germany and Singapore, eventually bringing his expertise to Seychelles as Executive Chef and Hotel General Manager.
Flavien also taught hotel management and tourism in several countries including Singapore, Malawi, La Reunion, Germany and France.
Flavien was the youngest school director of the École Hôtelière de Bel Ombre, after a six-year tenure. He left the Hotel School to take up the position of General Manager of the Black Parrot Hotel on Praslin. In 2007, he returned to Mahé as head of the school, which was then called the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Training Centre (SHTTC). He occupied the position of principal of the academy until December 2020.
With all the knowledge that he has gathered from his long journey in the industry, Flavien is also the author of several books – two Fish and Seafood cookery books in Creole, and another book on Tropical Cocktail. His bestselling work ‘The Refugee’, published in 2019, details his life’s journey.
Flavien Joubert is married and has two daughters.
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Doris Johnston
Doris Johnston had the good fortune when working for East African Airways in Kampala, Uganda to see an advertisement in the local journal for personnel with airline experience and of Seychelles origin to apply for a position with BOAC in Seychelles for the commencement of the airline’s services between London and Seychelles.
With over 10 years’ experience working in tourism in East Africa, she decided to make the most of this opportunity to return to her home island and put to good use her expertise for the benefit of the country.
She arrived in Seychelles in May 1971 with her family, and she started at the BOAC as a reservation assistant, a position she held for two years. She was then promoted to Chief Reservation Officer in 1973.
Doris was promoted as Senior Sales representative and Personal Assistant to the Manager in 1975 and stayed in position for 5 years.
She moved to South Africa in 1980, where she worked in the real estate sector, for Swan Publishing Company.
Returning to Seychelles in 1986, she was appointed as Commercial Manager for an independent airline company – Ligne Aerienne Seychelles Ltd. In 1987, Doris returned to South Africa to continue her work with the company.
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Joseph Albert
Born in 1948, Joseph Albert was the son of Joseph Albert, a planter and distiller who was one of the four men in charge of the copra and cinnamon industries from the 1950s until the 1970s.
Joseph (Jr) returned from England after having studied for 5 years 'Business studies and management' and began his professional career. After a few years as Director at UCPS, belonging at the time to Mauritian shareholder, Joseph became the sole owner of UCPS in 1984.
Wanting to diversify his activities, Joseph ventured in the tourism industry with the acquisition of the National Travel Agency (NTA) in 1999. The following year he transformed this company which became 'Creole Holidays'.
In 2005 Joseph bought the Travel Services Seychelles (TSS). Through this operation he acquired the Inter Island Boat Ltd currently better known as CAT COCO. In 2006 Travel Services Seychelles merged with Creole Holidays and became Creole Travel Services.
During this same time, Joseph became interested in the hotel business, opening the TECTEC hotel at Anse Louis, which later became the Maia Hotel. In 2002, he opened a second hotel property on La Digue, Domaine de L'Orangeraie.
He extended his hotel portfolio in 2013 with the acquisition of Le Domaine de La Reserve, a 40-room hotel on Praslin.
Over the years, he has diversified his business interest further, investing in exchange office, ticketing agency as well as his private property CAP LAZARE, which boasts a restaurant and is also open to the public to visit the land tortoises and enjoy a good Creole lunch.
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Noellie Alexander
Former minister and ambassador, Noellie Louise Alexander was born in Mombasa, Kenya to a Seychellois mother and a Mauritian father. She came to Seychelles in 1969 and after completing secondary education she joined the world of work.
Noellie started her career as a sales representative for British Airways in 1971 when the British airline BOAC opened its offices in Victoria. She was among the first Seychellois to work with the airline. She spent 10 years with the company.
She subsequently followed a master’s degree in Public Administration and her career took a different path thereafter.
In 1993 she joined the Public Service and during the years that followed occupied various positions; her last position being Seychelles High Commissioner based in South Africa until her retirement in 2009.
Noellie Alexander passed away in 2018 at the age of 71, leaving behind a son – Jean Philippe.
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Micheline Georges
Micheline Georges joined the tourism industry at the time of the opening of the airport.
Keen to contribute to the new industry that is now the pillar of the economy, she had the ambitious dream of transforming her home into an auberge.
Despite facing challenges with the financing of her small business, she was determined to make her mark. She deferred the start of her project and joined her friend Mrs Mason, who had also started a tourism bus tours project.
Slowly but surely, Micheline started renovation on her home with the help of a friend, and after getting her license, launched her business in October 1973.
With only one staff at the time and an auberge at full capacity Micheline was kept busy. On December 20, 1980, she had to close the door to the auberge for health reasons and left the country, moving to the United States, where she started a sandwich bar business.
Upon her return to Seychelles in March 1995, Micheline opened her restaurant ‘Le Jardin du Roi’ in Anse Royale, at the 18th Century French spice garden that her great grandfather started in 1855 and which is today well-known to visitors.
Micheline, a mother of four, with a jovial personality and still young at heart, is very much involved in the daily running of the restaurant.
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Marlene Lionnet
The late Marlène Lionnet started her career in tourism in June 1972 with British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as Reservations Officer. The arrival of BOAC marked the beginning of tourism through aviation in the Seychelles and Mrs Lionnet was proud and excited to be part of the team to promote her country. During her employment with BOAC, she had the chance to complete many courses, both overseas and locally, in ticketing and reservations, something which stood her in good stead for her next position.
In 1981, with the launch of the National Travel Agency (NTA), Marlène became the General Manager of the agency. Although she had experience in the field of ticketing and reservations, heading a travel agency was totally new to her, but she never hesitated to take on the challenge. During her six-year tenure, she managed approximately 70 staff members on Mahé, including a branch on Praslin. Together with her team, they fought hard to build a name for themselves as there was a lot of competition from other well-established travel agencies. They contacted lots of tour operators overseas, who featured and promoted the Seychelles and NTA. Under Marlène’s guidance, the company grew and NTA soon became a household name. The company did well financially and they even managed to buy a glass-bottom boat, one of the few on the island.
In 1988, she was offered a job as General Manager of a hotel establishment on Frégate Island. The small ten-room hotel was a busy one which catered for mostly European visitors. She managed a team of six staff and held the position until 1994, when she came back to Mahé for personal reasons.
Upon her return to Mahé, Marlène never left the world of work and took several other positions, which allowed her to continue to contribute towards the betterment of the community.
Aside from her contributions to the industry, Marlène was the mother of Nâne, Gilles, Geneviève, Guito, Achille and Christian.
Arturo Dagostini
Arturo Dagostini’s first encounter with Seychelles was through the late president Sir James Mancham, while he was the General manager at the Hotel Bleu Leman Restaurant in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Accepting the invitation extended by Sir James Mancham, he then visited Seychelles in the hope of opening an authentic Italian restaurant on the island.
During his first visit in January 1976, he fell in love with our beautiful islands, therein cementing his lifelong journey with Seychelles.
He went back to Switzerland and procured the equipment needed for the new project, which was shipped and arrived in Seychelles on June 10, 1976.
He rented a space in a building near the Central Police Station.
The Italian Continental Restaurant opened its doors on June 29, 1976 and was a popular gathering place in Victoria for many years.
After selling the restaurant, he accepted an offer from the former Minister for Labour, Philibert Loizeau, to work in the management of the new parastatal company Seychelles Hotels as General Manager of the Beau Vallon Bay Hotel in 1987. During his years in the post, he also acted as Group F&B Manager, overseeing operations at Praslin Beach hotel and Northolme Hotel.
In 1992, he moved to the Reef hotel, where he also acted as General Manager until 1995.
Taking on new challenges, Mr Dagostini went to Praslin in 1995 where he became the General Manager of the Hotel Marechiaro. In 2004, he took over the responsibility of Operations Manager at the Coco de Mer Hotel on Praslin.
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Gregoire Payet
Gregoire Payet, a native of La Digue, is one of the islands first hotel owners. In 1972, then in his early 30s, he started the ‘La Digue Island Lodge’. At that time the hotel was known as Gregoire's Island Lodge and opened with only ten A-frame chalets.
Despite not having any experience in the tourism industry, Gregoire was determined to welcome visitors to the island and make their experience a success. Something he considers one of his biggest accomplishments to date.
An excellent businessman, Gregoire added a grain of authenticity to the service provided to his client by organising guest transfers from the La Digue jetty to the hotel using oxcarts.
Over the years, building on the success and high demand for the hotel, he added more rooms, as well as expand the facilities and services available on offer to clients. The traditional and iconic Yellow House, was also purchased along the way with the wish to ensure visitors enjoy the traditional Creole hospitality.
As he expanded his businesses, Gregoire seized the opportunity to diversify his portfolio of business. He is the owner of several businesses including Gregoire's Apartments, Gregoire's Pizzeria, Gregoire’s Boutique and excursion boats that are rented to visitors.
