Bula from Fiji

COVID tests, vaccination certificates and complicated on-line applications…. Don’t let it turn you off!

Overseas Travel is back and the world is waiting.

Just as Australia is finally welcoming tourists back to our shores Fiji was waiting with open arms for this year’s AHA NSW Study Tour.

What a perfect destination it was for our first overseas study tour since 2019. Six nights in the tropics, only a short flight from home and the most welcoming people wanting to share their hospitality with us.

Firstly, a big thank-you to Michelle and Heather from CWT Meetings and Events who eased us through all of the protocols and made the magic happen.

Right from the start the Waitui Beach Club section of the Sofitel on Denarau Island was exclusively ours to enjoy.

This meant the AHA was able to hold business sessions, cocktail masterclasses, networking opportunities and Q&A sessions with the NSW and National President all only a few steps away from our accommodation.

A fabulous opening night around the pool set the perfect tone with a casual tropical atmosphere and Fijian cultural theme including firewalkers, a Fijian choir and a feast of Fijian local culinary delights.

Old friends and colleagues reconnected and first time AHA (NSW) travellers were welcomed in our own tropical paradise.

Our suppliers were on-board to showcase their products and each evening hosted the Chapel Bar Supper Club late into the night with signature cocktails and a DJ keeping everyone on their toes.

Geoff and John Cartwright from Cartwright Insurance Brokers took the reins the first night, then the following morning Fred Jones from CUB Premium Beverages sponsored breakfast juices and cocktails during the AHA NSW Business Session.

During that session AHA NSW and National President Scott Leach took to the podium and impressed all with his view on the future world of technology and the Metaverse. What does it mean for the hotel industry and how do we transform and remain relevant? What is the architecture of the industry over the Horizon? Daunting to hear but fascinating all the same.

Dan Heffernan from Coca Cola took the helm at the Boathouse Restaurant - just a short boat ride from Port Denarau. Bati Rum is produced in Fiji and available in Australia, and Dan was generous in having us taste some fantastic rum flavours which would do very well at any Australian venue. Banana was a stand out and bought him right into the running for “best on tour.”

“What a perfect destination it was for our first overseas study tour since 2019. Six nights in the tropics, only a short flight from home and the most welcoming people wanting to share their hospitality with us.?

The Breweries were well represented with Glenn Thiele and Peter Yeomans from CUB who showcased Corona, and Asahi sponsoring one of the Chapel Bar Supper Club evenings by the pool.

Lion had Greg Watt and Kerry Appathurai on hand to host an evening with plenty of James Squire and Heineken at the bar. Watto’s efforts on the dance floor also had him voted into the “best on tour” category.

Jim Grant from Treasury Wines Estates was on tour to talk all things wine and sponsor one of our Supper Club evenings and from ILG there was Patrick Kenny and Tony Mogg - who made sure they spoke with everyone and were a great networking team on their sponsored night.

The girls from Tabcorp - Amanda Budden and Nicole Thomas - were everywhere with everyone and got right behind all of the activities and adventures (although Nicole’s efforts to get up a crab racing book didn’t quite get there!)

But, it wasn’t all late nights, meetings and business sessions (we were in paradise after all!) so by day there were adventures to be had…

The Malamala Island experience was an afternoon at a ‘Gilligan’s Island’- style day-club (taken out exclusively by AHA NSW) with jet skis, water sports, Dj, fabulous food and time to party in the pool or relax in a beachfront cabana …(a little rocky on the boat voyage home but we all survived!)

7th Heaven is the newest destination in Fiji – a plush floating platform on an outer coral reef with a busy bar and pizza oven, snorkelling, diving off the gang plank and massage therapists for 15 min R&R sessions.

For a change of pace the coach trip into the interior region of Sigatoga with a jet-boat tour far up river to a local village was an unforgettable experience meeting local families in their real environment. We were welcomed into the village with a ceremonial exchange between their chief and ours with Kava tasting and a phenomenal feast (only surpassed by the seafood and lobster platters served one night at Port Denarau). Our donation to the village chief was much appreciated and will assist in finishing their church building.

“Fiji was a much-needed break after two years of COVID restrictions and uncertainty. It was a chance to re-connect and discuss business opportunities and seek solutions to common issues. ‘Work hard to play hard’ has proven to be just the tonic we all needed to refresh and return revitalised.”

The last night “Barefoot White Party” on the beach was a magical night under the full moon with the Waitui staff showing their real appreciation in having us there – even a few tears were shed when they serenaded us and lit a “Thank you AHA” sign in the ocean.

Ali and his team knew us all by name (and drink preference) and had been sleeping at the hotel all week to keep the bar open late just for us! Our generosity back to them was unexpected and very much appreciated.

Fiji was a much-needed break after two years of COVID restrictions and uncertainty.

It was a chance to re-connect and discuss business opportunities and seek solutions to common issues. ‘Work hard to play hard’ has proven to be just the tonic we all needed to refresh and return revitalised.

Of course what goes on tour stays on tour but…

From our secret eyes on the ground comes…

Guess Who? Don’t Sue!

Who turned into a sour puss when they were taken away at the airport in Fiji for bringing in contraband noted on official documentation by Border Security as a “fresh lemon”?

The origin of how a lemon came to be in her purse apparently dates back to her being star-struck by Jason Moama being in her pub the night before she travelled. Hmmm seems to be more to this story we are missing out on!

Who didn’t believe the firewalkers were really on hot rocks and just had to touch them...? There’s one in every crowd.

Which all round sporty types took off quad biking with no experience and no brakes? A bit of post –COVID maintenance still required by that tour operator. Luckily only one of our group nearly injured themselves under an overturned quad bike.

Who didn’t let this one incident stop them, continuing up the mountain on the quads and speeding side to side and skidding during the beach ride section..backed up again on the jet skis a few days later too.

Who took Pat Bourke’s request to go into the bar a little too literally? …he didn’t mean the concrete bar in the middle of the pool!

Who may have been so full of liquid painkillers that he didn’t realise he had broken ribs till the day after his late night swim?

Who kept up with the liquid self-medication and kept a smile on his face the rest of the trip?

Who got up early to take the front row of beach lounges every day?

Who got up early for an ocean swim and yoga sessions..? Well first few days anyway...

Who managed to scrape both knees …and then keep doing it ?

Which three girls were vying for the best Instagram moment with all the right poses and braided hair?

Who missed the best instagram moment when one of them may have karate kicked a door?

Who lost use of his right leg drinking the village Kava rather than the tourist’s kava to prove he is really chief material? All was ok when the village chief rubbed his leg back to life!

Who danced on the tables’ first night?

Who danced most enthusiastically to “It’s Raining Men”?

Who were the late nighters’ at the Chapel Bar dancing till the wee hours to our own DJ?

Who were the late nighters at the Chapel Bar dancing till the wee hours on the last night who followed the conga line straight off the bridge into the pool?

Who were the late nighters seen sitting quietly in the dark? …The rumour mill blossomed…

Which late nighter was known only to come out at night?

Who was trying to hide from prying eyes on Malamala Island with his wife? Happy second honeymoon moment.

Who went without shoes for a few days as he kept losing them on tours?

Who was known to be wearing a pair of the lost shoes because his wife knew she had his shoes in her bag?

Who scraped plates of lunch leftovers into a bag of somebody else’s clothes instead of the real garbage bag? Always trying to help out!

Who just couldn’t hang on during a boat trip and had to have others hang on to him so he didn’t go overboard?

Which suppliers were competing for best on tour …lost shoes, scraped knees, tropical fever, cocktail mayhem, dirty dancing moves, late nights and good times?

Who lived their product … Just add coke and rum and its instant party?

While they were drinking cocktails all day at Malamala Island -who did get out of the pool at any stage?

Which cousin won the pool wrestle convincingly with a headlock move?

Who kept organising the playlist on every bus? If it wasn’t John Denver it was Sweet Caroline. EVERY time!!

Who was fined for not showing up at the business session?

Who baulked at doing the zipline even though they travelled with their own furry mascot for luck.

Who is happy to climb on tables to dance but froze on the gangplank and couldn’t do the jump into the ocean at 7th Heaven? (The jump was finally made after numerous false starts catapulting this guy into “best on tour” for membership category).?