Work Offer: Indian Ocean Hospitality Contracting & Production Manager

Concierge-Hotels.com is an online travel agency offering Privilege Services and Hotels in Mauritius, Seychelles, Rodrigues, Reunion, Maldives, Madagascar & Sri Lanka.

Job Description
We’re currently looking for a Contracting Manager who has experience of negotiating with Hotels & suppliers in Indian Ocean. The role involves working with Hotels\Suppliers to negotiate rates and contracts with them, and therefore enabling them to offer their clients great deals. This is a very hands on role in a challenging and competitive environment - the role needs lots of energy and enthusiasm and a "can do" attitude.

Key Roles & Responsibilities include:
-Negotiating and contracting of rates, special offers, allocation, release periods, overrides, terms conditions for hotels, self-catering or serviced apartments ensuring the best available rates and availability; in both: new properties but also re-contracting existing agreements
-Analyzing the product of our different competitors in order to ensure our best conditions in the market,
-Analyzing weekly product/sales reports to identify market trends and revenue/room nights sales growth opportunities,
-Analyzing opportunities for opening of new destinations and product development,
-Assisting in resolving complaints and administrative issues of our suppliers and Hotels,
-Coordinating with the Head Office team the loading, check, positioning of the contracts,
-Preparing supplier website demonstrations for the suppliers,
-Negotiating and contracting extra services like transfers and excursions.

Skills
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in the tourism/hospitality field in Indian Ocean region.
• Excellent experience in contracting with Hotels & suppliers.
• Experience working with / for a DMC/Hotel and have great contacts within the industry.
• Ability to build strong relationships with key accounts
• Be commercially focused.
• Excellent Communication and negotiation skills.
• Self -motivate and manage multiple tasks.


Working Hours & Location
Working hours go from 8:30am to 5pm Mauritius time.
Work location is based in Mauritius Floreal or possibly in home shoring.

Salary & Benefits
Fixed salary & Bonus based on experience

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE
Candidates are to apply on: buisdev@concierge-hotels.com
Reference to be quoted in email: CONTRACTINGCHL OCT 2014 Unreferenced emails will NOT be considered.
All applications will be treated in strict confidentiality. Only selected candidates will be called for interview, others are thanked beforehand. We will NOT entertain ANY call regarding this job advert and we reserve the right NOT to finalize any recruitment as a result of this job advert.

UK Royal Princess sails in Mauritius

Closed for several months, the Royal Palm reopened with a new ambassador of its greatness: the Royal Princess. The name of this superyacht, coming directly from the United Kingdom, resumes perfectly its qualities: elegance is perfectly melted with performance in a lush of comfort.

Perfectly build to satisfy every need of the customers from a one-day excursion around the island to an overnight on the sea, this 66.6 feet (20.30 meters) boat will take the customer on a tailor-made cruises trusted with each and every value of the hotel.

Up to 6 people can be accommodated on the new Princess of Mauritius, housed in three en-suite bathrooms cabins. During the day, 10 people can enjoy a high-class service on the 6-metre panoramic sunroof; enjoy the equipment to snorkel in the deep blue water of the Indian Ocean and share every moment spent of the yatch, thanks to the on board free Wi-Fi.

Two-cabin crew operates the Princess V-65. A professional skipper will ensure the safety of the passengers and the navigation. In order to help the skipper a hostess-steward will assist during the manoeuvres and insure the service on board.

To satisfy the taste buds of the customers, Michel de Matteis, the Royal Palm’s French chef will concoct them various dishes; tasteful picnic to refined dinner.

Once again the Royal Palm has established itself as an entity on the island, and on the sea. Every bright living space of the Royal princess exudes with luxury and conviviality.

A perfect collaboration of the Royal Palm Beachcomber and the Princess Yatch UK.

Copywriter - Indian Ocean Specialist - Homeshoring

Concierge-Hotels.com is an online travel agency offering Privilege Services and Hotels in Mauritius, Seychelles, Rodrigues, Réunion, Maldives, Madagascar & Sri Lanka.

We are hiring a dynamic and creative copywritter specialized in the Indian Ocean, to write about each and every destination in our portfolio.

WORKING HOURS & LOCATIONS

Freelance Contract

Work location is based in Mauritius Floreal or possibly in homeshoring.

SALARY & BENEFITS

FEES based on experience and respect of delivery schedule on quality contents

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE 

Candidates are to apply on: buisdev@concierge-hotels.com

Reference to be quoted in email: COPYWRITTER OCT 2014 Unreferenced emails will NOT be considered.

All applications will be treated in strict confidentiality. Only selected candidates will be called for interview, others are thanked beforehand. We will NOT entertain ANY call regarding this job advert and we reserve the right NOT to finalize any recruitment as a result of this job advert.

Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open – The place to be in Mauritius in May 2015 #AfrasiaBankMauritiusOpen

The Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open Tournament

AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open selected Heritage Resorts as the perfect venue to welcome from 7 – 10 May, 2015 the 1^st ever tri sanctioned golf tournament endorsed by the European, Asian and Sushine Tours.

The golf tournament that is the biggest sporting event ever organized in Mauritius, is expected to draw the top performing golfers from each of the three tours and will be played at the Heritage Golf Club over 4 days. This “Place to be” golfing event celebrates and shares the passion for golf in Mauritius and across the globe.

Prize fund of 1 million Euros

The 136 player field, comprising of 40 players from each of the participating tours, will be played as a 72 hole (4 days) stroke play championship.

The scores from this tournament count towards the individual tours’ Order of Merit and World Ranking Points, Race to Dubai and Investec Cup. The total prize fund of 1 million Euros that will be for the taking, is the highest prize purse ever to be paid out for a tournament held in Mauritius.

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open will attract not only top golfers, but also golfing fans from around the world. Heritage Resorts is one of the most spectacular settings any golfer could wish for. Heritage Golf Club at the heart of the 2500 hectares Domaine de Bel Ombre, is a spectacular championship golf course stretching out over 100 hectares and looking over the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. The 18-hole championship golf course (PAR 72) was designed by Peter Matkovich*, from the renowned South African architect firm Hayes, Matkovich & Associates. Heritage Golf Club combines exceptional panoramas with a challenging course and world class infrastructure for a memorable golfing experience.

Peter Matkovich was born in Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and moved to South Africa in 1973.

He played golf for Rhodesia as an amateur golfer and then caddied for Gary Player for several years. It was during this time and later as a professional golfer himself, that he started to dream of designing golf courses.

He therefore traveled the world always focused on the design and layouts of courses and what made the good courses great. His first design was the second nine holes at Umhlali. He then went onto designing Worcester Golf Course in the Western Cape, before joining up with Dale Hayes to start the Matkovich and Hayes company  that has subsequently built over 20 new courses and revamped over an equal number of courses throughout Sub Saharan Africa.

This has made him the most prolific South African Golf Course Architect of all time.

His award winning courses include;

·  Leopard Rock, Bvumba, Zimbabwe. (Hertz Car Rentals Golf Course of the Year 2000 for Africa and Middle East.)
·  Woodhill Golf Course, Pretoria, South Africa. (Golf Digest Runner-up Best New Course, 2000.)
·  Arabella Golf Course, Kleinmond, South Africa. (Golf Digest Best New Course, 2000.)
·   Pinnacle Point, Mossel Bay, South Africa. (Voted in 2006 Golf and Leisure, world top 10 new golf courses.)

Places to stay in Mauritius during Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open

Heritage Resorts in the unspoilt south of the island offers more than a golfing experience, it is the ultimate combination of beach, nature, relaxation and adventure. Stretching from the hills to a turquoise lagoon, Heritage Resorts is a destination within a destination - 2 five star hotels and luxury villas, Frederica Nature Reserve, 12 restaurants & bars, 2 Spa Villages, C BeachClub , Kids and teens’ club, Kite surf spot and school. Attractive accommodation packages at Heritage Resorts will be made available for fans and golfers.

To cater for your needs and desires during Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open we Concierge Hotels recommends the following hotels,

Heritage LeTelfair - The hotel Heritage Le Telfair Golf & Spa Resort is nestled in the heart of the ‘Domaine de Bel Ombre’ between the mountains and the unspoiled South coast of Mauritius. This elegant and refined hotel, which welcomes its guests into a setting inspired by Mauritian 19th century colonial architecture and style, is set in magnificent tropical gardens through which Citronniers river flows.

HeritageThe Villas - Heritage The Villas... Luxury hideaway in the heart of the unspoilt South of Mauritius. Nestled in the Domaine de Bel Ombre between mountains and pristine lagoon and set in the breathtaking beauty of a nature reserve, those scenic villas offer high end services and privileged access to a 18-hole championship golf course, a 19th century manor house and facilities at two neighbouring deluxe resorts.

HeritageAwali Golf & Spa - Nestled on the magnificent Bel Ombre former sugar estate, Heritage Awali Golf & Spa promises an unforgettable stay between the mountains and the unspoilt South coast of Mauritius. The high standard accommodation combines all the classical charm of modern comfort and chic with warm and colourful African decoration and welcome.

Shanti Mauritius - Shanti Maurice is a boutique lifestyle resort with an award-winning spa located around a pristine horseshoe coral sand cove, on the largely untouched south coast of Mauritius near the small town of St Felix.

but we also offer unique privilege services packaged with transfers and excursions, all for an affordable luxury experience in the wider Indian Ocean. Amongst our services attached to any hotel or villa booking:

• Free concierge service from day of departure, during stay and until return;
• Free airport road transfers at destination, from airport to hotel (excluding Air Taxi);
• Free newspaper in native language delivered at hotel room;
• Special rates, VIP access on local activities and VIP pick-up, transport and delivery; luggage services; access to a jeweler or a wedding planner, etc.

Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open sponsors

Heritage Resorts, a Rogers enterprise, is hosting and co-organising the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in collaboration with AfrAsia Bank. Other sponsors are on board, including Air Mauritius and the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.

*Peter Matkovich Official Biography

Peter Matkovich grew up in Shabani (Zimbabwe), playing at Shabani Golf Club, an 18-hole course owned by the local mine. He played many of the magnificent courses in the area, all owned by the mines, and became a competitive amateur golfer. He turned professional in 1968 and played in Europe for three years, Australia for a year and the Sunshine Tour for over ten years. He played in two open Championships: Carnoustie in 1968 and St Andrews in 1970. In 1973, Peter and his family moved to South Africa and moved to the Umhlali Country Club, where he fulfilled the role of club professional, playing professional and course superintendent. Peter took on the job of designing and building new holes and redesigning many of the existing holes. The new course opened in 1975 and was Peter's first foray into designing and building golf courses - an experience that was to 'open many doors' in the future.In the years that followed, Peter has completed more than 20 world-class golf courses and renovated more than 20 others, cementing him as one of the leading designers in Southern Africa.

Mauritius: India's favorite wedding destination

Mauritius continues to seduce the Indian travellers and has won the Best All-Season International Destination for TODAY’S TRAVELLER AWARD 2014 under the International Tourism category.

Indian Wedding at Bel Ombre Mauritius

The Director of the MTPA, Dr. Karl Mootoosamy, will be present in India on the 16th of September, 2014 to receive this prestigious award. The 8th Today’s Traveller Awards recognises and honours outstanding performers in the corporate, hospitality, travel and entertainment industries.

Mauritius has become a well-known destination in India, and to boost the demand for the high-end travel, focus is made mostly on the luxurious and high-end products in Mauritius. The destination has also build its repute on the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) segment, and to further penetrate this market, Mauritius participates actively with the travel trade partners in several wedding fairs and roadshows.

The destination has become famous in the Indian market for the weddings in Mauritius, engagements and birthday parties that are organised on the island. In 2013, growth in tourism arrivals for India registered a growth rate of 3,7%.  57,255 visited Mauritius, made up of mostly honeymooners and holidaymakers, compared to 55,197 in 2012. For 2014, more than 60, 000 Indian tourists are expected to visit the island.

The award ceremony will be held at a Five Star hotel in Delhi, on Tuesday, September 16, 2014. The Honorable Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Tourism & Culture, has graciously consented to honour the event as the Chief Guest and will deliver the award to Dr. Karl Mootoosamy.

Today’s Traveller, the premier business and leisure travel magazine, will also be celebrating its 17th Anniversary. To mark this milestone, the cover of the 2014 edition of the Coffee Table Book — Today’s Traveller ‘WINNERS’ MATRIX’, will be released at the same event.

Take the time to watch the video of Indian Wedding of Teejana & Snehit Wedding Highlights - Beautiful Wedding in the south of Mauritius
Location: C Beach Club, Heritage The Villas Mauritus Valriche, Le Chateau de Bel Ombre, St Regis

VAT Refund for Tourists in Seychelles !

Go to Seychelles and Enjoy a Tax Free Shopping !

The Value Added Tax (VAT) Act 2010 has established certain mechanisms for VAT registered taxpayers to claim a VAT credit as well as a refund for their businesses. Registered businesses will be able to get a VAT credit and refund after VAT has been implemented as of 1st January 2013. The basic rule requires that input tax is claimed in the accounting period in which the tax relating to the relevant goods or services became taxable.

How does a VAT credit works for businesses ?

A business has to offset an Input Tax against Output Tax to determine the tax liability (or tax due). The output tax is the VAT collected from customers on each taxable supply. The input tax allowed as credit is the tax paid on purchases and attributable to taxable supplies. 

Where the output tax exceeds the input tax for the taxable period, the differences must be paid to the Seychelles Revenue Commission. If the input tax exceeds the output tax, a VAT credit occurs. 

While credits are in most cases, carried forward on the next VAT return, they can be refunded if certain conditions are met. 

What are the conditions for claiming a VAT refund ?

The most likely source of credit claims for refunds will be in the case of businesses that are mostly engaged in zero-rated sales, which is typically the case for exporters. For exporters, any amount of input tax is potentially refundable. Exporters will receive a VAT refund in the same VAT period while a business exclusively engaged in export transactions does not collect VAT (output tax is zero -0), it is entitled to claim VAT credit on its inputs. 

The following conditions should be met before a VAT registered business can claim for a VAT refund:

1. The VAT taxpayer’s activity mainly consists of exports: a minimum of 85% of its total turnover is attributed to export sales;
2. The VAT taxpayer’s activity mainly consists in zero-rated supplies (other than exports): a minimum of 85% of its turnover is attributed to zero-rated supplies;
3. The VAT taxpayers (1 and 2 above) are able to justify with sufficient evidence and proper records the reality of the exports or zero-rated supplies upon request by SRC;
4. The VAT taxpayer’s main activity consists of supplies other than zero rated and exempt supplies: The VAT credit reported on the (monthly or quarterly) VAT return must be at least equal to SR 10 000 after 3 consecutive months that the credit has been carried forward.

How does a business claim for a VAT refund ?

In order to claim for a refund the taxpayer/business must fill in the corresponding box at the bottom of the VAT return and must indicate the amount to be refunded. This amount cannot be more than the credit calculated. 

VAT refunds will be processed within a period of 45 days from the date the claim for a refund is made in accordance with the VAT Act, 2010. However, the given deadline may be extended in circumstances whereby: 

(i) a filed VAT return is incomplete;
(ii) the taxpayer has outstanding tax returns;
(iii) the taxpayer has failed to respond within a reasonable period for verification enquiries; or
(iv) SRC suspects, on reasonable grounds that the VAT return is inaccurate and/or the taxpayer is engaged in fraudulent activity, in which case the taxpayer will be subjected to an audit and/or investigations. 

Excess VAT credits should be primarily offset against VAT and other tax arrears, except where an outstanding amount is subject to a genuine dispute. This should be supported either by the taxpayer’s accounting documents and the debt management system. 

VAT refunds can be made:

• By cheque or;
• Bank to bank transfer

For more information:

You can contact Seychelles Revenue Commission on 4293745 or email us at vat@src.gov.sc for more information about VAT registration. 
The Value Added Tax Act, 2010 is available here. 

Hotel Intime Blogging in the Indian Ocean - #bloggerswanted

Concierge-Hotels.com is an online travel agency offering Privilege Services and Hotels in Mauritius, Seychelles, Rodrigues, Réunion, Maldives, Madagascar & Sri Lanka.

We are looking for bloggers, specialized and/or based in the islands of the Indian Ocean, to discover, blog, report, hotels and services in the different islands of our portfolio.

Please Contact me at: clea@concierge-hotels.com