MICE in Mauritius

Through the careful management of stringent hygiene and sanitisation measures, Mauritius has kept itself insulated from the novel coronavirus pandemic and is open for business. MICE IN MAURITIUS

The current use of technology to host meetings, workshops and events is a temporary measure until lockdowns and travel bans due to the Covid-19 pandemic are lifted.

During this time, the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority (MTPA) would like to reassure the MICE industry that Mauritius is still very much open for business. This is evident as airlines, incentive houses, PCOs and groups agents continue to promote Mauritius as the idyllic Indian Ocean destination to cater for all your MICE needs.

Infection rates of Covid-19 have remained low in Mauritius and the country has put in place stringent safety, health and hygiene measures to protect the public. At the time of writing, Mauritius had recorded 332 infections in total, and had announced no new infections for the past 14 days.

“We are encouraged by the statistics, as well as our government’s huge efforts to curb the infection rate and put in place effective health and safety measures,” says Arvind Bundhun, director of the MTPA.

Mauritius is a vibrant, friendly and beautiful country. Not only does it have some of the best luxury resorts and beaches on the planet, it is also a unique melting pot of cultures that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. The variety of adventure, sports and other lifestyle activities also make it an ideal destination for those who want the unique MICE experience for their guests.

The MICE industry is an important cog in the MTPA’s tourism strategy, realising great economic benefits from this segment to the country’s GDP.

“We know that the skies will open up again. Those travellers who have come to know and love Mauritius – and those who plan to visit for the first time – will get the opportunity to visit and experience the island’s amazing warmth and hospitality.

“Mauritius and South Africa have long enjoyed a magical relationship and we are confident this

will continue as soon as it is safe to travel again,” adds Arvind.

PLAN TO MEET IN MAURITIUS Why not plan your next MICE trip to Mauritius? The paradise island offers an array of luxurious venues, staffed by professional and dedicated support teams, to deliver a unique, world-class event, with a touch of island-style colour and flair.

Mauritius is fast becoming one of Africa’s tourism and meetings jewels, offering scenic beauty, hidden treasures to explore and an exotic melting pot of cuisines and cultures. Just a short flight from South Africa’s three major

MICE MARKET Mauritius presents the MICE buyer with all required infrastructure to cater for a variety of groups and sizes, year round.

While the MICE market trend is uncertain after Covid-19, there has been talk of a focus on smaller, regular incentive groups rather than larger events. Whatever MICE industry trends hold going forward, as a MICE-friendly destination, Mauritius has all the key ingredients to delight and deliver.

The quality and variety of accommodation, the attention to detail in service delivery, state-ofthe-art conferencing venues, professional and friendly staff, and the additional activities on offer all guarantee a unique experience.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Currently, the health and safety of all citizens and residents on the island remain the Mauritian government’s greatest concern and priority. However, once the tourism market opens again, this same concern will be passed on to all visitors to ensure they enjoy the full Mauritius experience, while adhering to the stipulated regulations and protocol.

All hotels and tourism operators will comply with all local regulations and directives from the government and abide by the recommendations of the local health authorities.

Innovative health and sanitary protocols and precautionary measures have been put in place – from arrival in the country and throughout hotel stays, extending to all excursions and activities outside the hotels – to eliminate completely all risk and ensure a safe, warm welcome to all visitors, including those who serve the MICE sector.

Social distancing measures can be implemented easily across all experiences, whether it be the beach, restaurant seating, conferencing, eventing or room allocations. Hosting a group or event

in low season (May to September) can be well accommodated, as occupancy is lower and rooms can be allocated with this precautionary measure in mind.

CONFERENCE FACILITIES Boasting the largest and most modern convention facility in the Indian Ocean region, the Swami Vivekananda Conference Centre provides all the amenities needed for large, international conferences, accommodating up to 5 000 pax.

Other venues include the International Conference Centre in Grand Baie (up to 600 pax) and Trianon Convention Centre in Trianon (up to 3 000 pax). Many Mauritian hotels also offer conference facilities and can cater for up to 800 pax at a time, with spectacular marquees and setups on the hotel properties.

ACTIVITIES The island boasts a variety of activities specifically geared for MICE groups, ranging from golf to adventure sports such as quad-biking, trekking, mountain biking, trail-running, zip-lining, fishing, kite-surfing, parasailing, canoeing and sky-diving, together with a host of water sports.

The island also offers stunning outdoor locations for interactive and adrenalin-fuelled activities and adventures perfect for team

building exercises. There are also many cultural festivities and spiritual festivals that take place on the island that can be enjoyed.

WHEN TO VISIT Mauritius has a tropical climate, with warm weather all year round. The best months to visit are from May to December, when the weather is cooler, dry and sunny.

Enjoy everything that Mauritius has to offer as your ideal MICE destination, combining quality, elegance and style, in a paradise island setting!

Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority – SA Representative: Janet de Kretser / Philippa Piguet – Meropa Communications +27 (0)11 506 7300 mauritius@meropa.co.za tourism-mauritius.mu ratherbeinmauritius.co.za

At a time when it is needed most, Avis has stepped up its hygiene standards and service offering to provide customers with peace of mind and exclusive offers.

The safety of Avis customers and staff is of paramount importance to us, and we are closely monitoring the news, information, advice and guidance from the World Health Organization regarding the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

To keep you safe during your rental experience and minimise the risk of exposure to Covid-19, our staff are continuing to enforce the strictest hygiene and preventative standards, as well as using enhanced car cleaning processes.

For our vehicles, we have enhanced the already robust cleaning techniques used for our vehicles after each rental – giving special attention to places that people often touch, such as door handles, steering wheels, controls and other hard surfaces, by cleaning these with an alcoholbased sanitiser.

We also clean all our facilities frequently with recommended sanitising products. This includes work surfaces, telephone handsets, computer keyboards, laptops, tablets, cell phones and frequently handled equipment. We have placed hand sanitisers at key points in all our sites to encourage customers, suppliers, visitors and employees to constantly clean their hands.

Avis is taking steps to ensure the welfare of our employees and this includes instructing all those who feel ill to stay at home and consult

their healthcare providers. All our staff are informed to be vigilant about frequent handwashing. We strongly advise against direct personal contact such as handshakes and hugging, as this could also transmit the virus.

ADDED MEASURES As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to dominate the economy, we at Avis are committed to taking the weight off the shoulders of our valued customers with the phased re-opening of our rental locations for your convenience.

To assist with essential travel during these challenging times, we have put in place offers for you and your loved ones to get home safely or wherever you need to be. Essential workers can rent vehicles from R150* per day and customers need only provide the correct paperwork and authorisation for long-distance travel.

We also have our Avis Chauffeur driven transfer services with authorised permits to assist with essential services and transportation requirements.

Our professional and experienced chauffeurs are available to drive you or your loved ones to and from essential shopping, giving you complete peace of mind. We are also here to assist with transportation for repatriation.

STAYING SAFE

In an effort to keep both you, our customer, and our Avis Brand Ambassadors safe, you are kindly requested to comply with the following before entering our rental locations:

• Wear a suitable mask

• Allow temperature screening

• Maintain social distancing principles at all times

• Provide proof of authorisation to travel

• Apply hand sanitiser provided

• Don’t touch your face

• Cough into your bent elbow

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