Fisherman's Cove chief, Abel Damergi

Abel Damergi, head of the Le Meridien group's Seychelles operations, has said that the hotel chain's newly refurbished Fisherman's Cove is putting its trust in the skills of local tourism workers.

Mr Damergi said that the Bel Ombre hotel will reopen with a higher compliment of expatriate staff than it had when it closed for renovation last year, but that the foreign workers are here to, "lead at the beginning, train the Seychellois employees and then go."

The Le Meridien country manager went on to say that when the hotel is fully open the company aims to keep the number of expatriate workers below ten percent of the workforce and said that he is confident that the local employees will deliver five star standards.

Mr Damergi was speaking at a cocktail reception, held at the near-complete hotel, in honour of the visit of the Le Meridien CEO, Robert Riley.

As well as numerous travel trade representatives, the cocktail reception was also attended by Vice President Joseph Belmont, in his capacity as Minister for Tourism and Transport.

Mr Riley said, "We want to work with him (Vice Preesident Belmont) and get the government to continue to support the type of tourism industry that Seychelles desires and deserves."

Mr Riley took charge of the Le Meridien group and its 140 hotels in January this year. His visit to Seychelles forms part of a regional tour, as well as a stop over on his way to Mauritius for the opening of the company's newest property.

"Hotels and restaurants these days are more about lifestyles than they are about sleeping and eating," said the CEO, "The renovation that the team have done with (Fisherman's Cove) brings out a lifestyle of fun, excitement, romance and of being close to the elements."

Mr Riley said that Le Meridien was the first international hotel chain to set up in Seychelles, in 1985, and that the company is very proud of its work in the country.

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