Centara Signs on to Mauritian Development Project

Thailand's Centara Hotels & Resorts announced plans late last year (2011) to expand into Mauritius with a brand-new hotel. However, their plans appear to be much broader in scope than just a single resort property. The company recently announced they have signed onto a brand-new project now being developed on the north-east coast of Mauritius; and ambitious project that will see construction of a brand-new ocean side community named Azuri.

Although Centara is not building the community themselves, they have entered an agreement to manage the new luxury property which will be a combination of residential housing and a luxury hotel. The idea behind the project is to take advantage of the current real estate environment that seeks to encourage both residency and investment among foreigners. The friendly real estate policies developed by the government in 2011 are spurring significant residential housing growth on the island.

Although the exact details have not yet been released, industry experts suspect the residential housing at Azuri will be part of a pooled rental arrangement in which home owners who choose to lease their property, either full or part-time, will be able to turn over the responsibility to Centara. Centara would manage those homes right along with the hotel, splitting the proceeds between themselves, the home owners, and the land developer. It's a scheme that many luxury hotel companies are shying away from but which is proving to be beneficial to those embracing it.

This type of mixed use development could prove to be stiff competition for family friendly hotels in Mauritius. Right now the number of those hotels is limited due to the long history of Mauritius being more of a romantic island getaway. And even among those hotels that are family-friendly, the costs can be prohibitive when compared to the accommodations being provided. Residential homes tend to be less expensive in terms of weekly or monthly rental, and they provide so much more to the average family. This may end up being the wave of the future for family tourism throughout the entire Indian Ocean region.

Mauritius has long been a favourite tropical destination of European travellers, primarily those from France, the UK, and Germany. Being able to trade the often cool and dreary weather of northern Europe for the sun and sand of Mauritius ensures that nearly 70% of the island's visitors are European. And even as Mauritius and Seychelles continue to prosper, Mediterranean destinations are remaining flat or falling as a result of the ongoing European financial crisis. This is a great time for the Indian Ocean to establish itself as the premier region for tourism across the globe.

Right now Mauritius is in the midst of her peak travel season. But statistics show there are still plenty of open beds and flights if you're interested in booking a last-minute holiday. If you prefer to wait till after March you'll be able to take advantage of even better deals and lighter passenger loads. Either way, you owe it to yourself to spend some time in Mauritius.

Mauritius Holidays Direct, the UK-based specialist holiday company, has some of the best deals on family friendly hotels in Mauritius

Angsana Hotels and Resorts Opens New Mauritius Property

Balaclava, in the Turtle Bay region of North West Mauritius, welcomes a new Banyan Tree Hotel under the Angsana brand name. The international hotel chain recently opened Angsana Balaclava following the purchase of the property last year. The new hotel is the 11th resort under the Angsana name in addition to more than 40 luxury spas operated by the company.

The luxury boutique hotel includes 51 suites and one of luxury villa on the Turtle Bay Lagoon. It features a very traditional design meant to give guests the feel of an authentic Mauritian village. Thatched roofs, wrought iron gates, plenty of lush greenery, and local art complete a presentation of tropical comfort and peaceful relaxation. The hotel would be ideal for Mauritius honeymoons and intimate couple’s getaways. The fact that the hotel is a mere 15 minutes away from Port Louis also means that guests are very close to some of the best nightlife, shopping, and dining on the island.

The new Angsana Balaclava offers three swimming pools as part of a public space separated from the suites via waterfalls and several types of native foliage. The Angsana Spa is the perfect complement with both double and single treatment rooms, water jet stations, hamman, yoga facilities, and a restorative pool. Couples with a penchant for private relaxation and well-being will feel right at home in this wonderful resort.

The opening of the resort comes at a time when the Mauritian tourist industry is seeing steady growth. It is the second new hotel to open in as many months, and several new properties are slated to begin operations at various stages in 2012. Hotel operators are hard at work increasing bed space and amenities in response to the increased number of arrivals expected this year. If all goes according to projections, Mauritius could finally eclipsed the 1 million mark for 2012. Last year the total number of arrivals was just over 900,000.

The upswing in Mauritian travel is partly due to a return to European economic stability. But more importantly, travel experts place a lot of the success with the fact that both government and private sector tourism officials have been criss-crossing the globe promoting the island as the premier destination in the region. Adding to those solo promotional efforts, Mauritius has joined Seychelles and the rest of the Vanilla Island nations in conducting some joint promotions to raise awareness of the entire Indian Ocean region.

Mauritius is still remains the top Indian Ocean draw, something that's unlikely to change in the near future. She has the best economy, the most friendly business environment, and the most opportunity for tourism-based businesses in the region. Obviously, her gorgeous tropical climate, white sand beaches, and abundance of leisure activities are also a big draw. The future of Mauritius looks bright enough that several international airlines are getting into the act by increasing non-stop flights to and from the island. For all intents and purposes it's "all systems go" for a good 2012.

Mauritius honeymoons are one of the things done best by Mauritius Holidays Direct, the specialist holiday company based in the UK.