(Posted 12th April 2024)
Seychelles’ small hotels industry have come together to form their own association to open a cooperation avenue with the island’s government and to work as one meet head on their challenges.
SSHEA (the small hotel’s association) is regrouping hotels of 25 keys and under which are by law owned and managed by Seychellois.
“Their key strategy is to drastically give a boost of oxygen to SSHEA’s visibility, nationally, regionally & on the international scene. We have emphatically announced our presence on the national scene. We now are focused to establish partnerships with similar Associations in the region! Unity is strength and we aim to be part of the Indian Ocean Small Hotels and Establishments group! ” said Peter Sinon the founding Chairperson of the Industry’s Association before adding that@’ The SSHEA will actively partake in the National initiatives to promote not only in speeches and international conferences but in incremental tangible pratical terms, actions relating to the practice of “Sustainable Tourism” in Seychelles. One project that is lingering in my mind is Solar on all of our members establishments“.
The first public launch of the new association is a fund raising Gala Dinner that will be held at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Beach Hotel & Casino.
“It is the Founding Executive Committee of this small hotel’s association who started this Association with their personal funds and the members believe that the time to now raise their profile and have the necessary budget to tackle needed work to ensure their members are seen” a Committee Member of the new Association added.
The Long Term Vision of this new tourism association is to ensure that the Seychelles Small Hotels and Establishments continue to be a more efficient, visible and respected feature of the Seychelles tourism landscape.
“Knock, knock world, SSHEA is coming to you and it is also concerned about mitigating and adapting to the challenges posed by Climate Change. Thus it will swiftly shift gears to focus on promoting Sustainable hospitality practices” their Chairman Peter Sinon continued.
At the first fundraising event the Seychelles Minister of Foreign Affairs & Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde and the island’s Former Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine Alain St. Ange have both confirmed their presence.
Minister Radegonde will be our guest of Honor and he will officially launch the event whereas former Minister St.Ange will for the first time make a short presentation on home soil about the Unique Selling Points of the Seychellois owned Small Hotels and Establishments in the Seychelles tourism landscape.
The tourism industry and the business community at large have said they are eager to hear the messages being echoed by each of the two main speakers.