A Mauritian icon, Shangri-la's Le Touessrok Resort & Spa ushers in a new era of luxury

SINGAPORE - Wego.com, leading travel search site in the Asia Pacific and Middle East, debunks the array of profiles and descriptions of what some are calling the second baby boom generation.

“Many in the travel industry are focussed on establishing an authentic profile of the Millennial Traveller, and for good reason,” said Rick Mulia, Chief Advertising and Sales Officer for Wego. “Considered the next baby boomers, Millennial Travellers in the US alone will reach 78 million by 2020, and outnumber baby boomers by 18 million.”

By 2020 spending by Millennials on goods and services will reach USD$1.4 trillion, up from US$600 billion in 2013. To effectively reach this market, largely born between 1984 and 2004, Mulia says that travel marketers need to rethink their approach and be able to sort through, and go beyond existing myths.

“Some travel marketers are doing a great job, but unfortunately more are getting it wrong,” Mulia said. “It’s not quite as simple as relying on a set of common, and rather vague signals, including reliance on travel review sites, the use of metasearch, mobile usage, social media and continuous connectivity.”

“Some of these signals, such as connectivity and social media usage are important, yet fairly obvious and not restricted to Millennials either, but at Wego, we’ve dug deeper, beyond vague interpretations. Reliance on these assumptions alone will not deliver, or more importantly connect, marketers to the Millennial Traveller.”

“Travel reviews are popular, however Millennials are far more influenced by family and friends when it comes to making travel choices, and don’t rely solely on review sites to make their decisions,” he continued. “Another myth is that Millennials prefer travelling solo, yet a 2013 BCG study found that Millennials enjoy travelling in organised groups, or with extended family or friends, so if your strategy is focussed on individual travel experiences, you could be missing the mark.”

“At Wego we advise our advertising clients to approach Millennial Travellers by focusing on a good mobile experience, integrating clever social media and ensuring the path to purchase is as frictionless as possible,” Mulia added. “Their content needs to cut through the noise, communicate with authentic messaging and create a seamless process from planning, booking and undertaking a trip.”

“Yet another myth is that Millennials are extremely budget conscious,” Mulia continued. “However the truth is that they want what we all do; great value without missing out on those added comforts, which make a huge impression on them. In this way they’re actually driving changes in the way the travel industry caters to them already.”

“Starwood’s Aloft Hotel, for example, which is designed to appeal to the Millennials with the slogan ‘Style at a steal’, removed their lobby restaurant and business centre and replaced them with a Starbucks-style, pay as you go, beverage and snack bar.”

“Hotels are evolving to become more frequently ‘un-hotels’,” said Mulia. “They’re rethinking the bed/bathroom concept to appear less like a hotel room, and more like a home away from home. Accommodation like Zoku in Amsterdam, which is more like a temporary residence than a hotel room, are very popular with Millennials. The smart, compact design, appeals to their desire for great style, but at a budget price.”

Airlines too are especially targeting Millennials with Premium Economy seats, delivering an affordable, yet slightly more comfortable flight experience.

“Wego has now introduced the option of searching Premium Economy airfares and invested heavily in developing the Wego travel app to ensure the travel planning and booking experience is seamless and intuitive,” he said. “No matter what, if you’re in the business of travel it’s imperative you consistently evolve and deliver fresh experiences that provide great value, and approach your marketing strategies in the same manner.”

“Forget the myths, the Millennial Traveller is smart, informed, tech savvy and mingles with a lot of like-minded travellers. Their presence in the travel market is still developing and smart marketers will remain open to developing with them, by remaining flexible and responsive to fully meet their needs,” Mulia concluded.
BEIJING - Shangri-La's Le Touessrok Resort & Spa, Mauritius, the legendary 34-acre waterfront Mauritian hideaway, is celebrating its grand opening tomorrow on 11 December with over 200 guests and dignitaries including The Right Honourable Sir Anerood Jugnauth, GCSK, KCMG, QC, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius.

The celebratory evening will see the resort showcase Mauritian culture through entertainment, gastronomy and revelry, while a specially commissioned performance, staged by more than 30 artists, will narrate the story of Le Touessrok through performing arts, music and a light show that culminates in a fireworks display to dramatically mark the rebirth of the personal paradise.

Located on the east coast of Mauritius in one of the island's most breathtaking bays, Shangri-La's Le Touessrok Resort & Spa has been extensively remodelled; its 200 rooms and suites offer infinity views across the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and guests have exclusive access to Ilot Mangenie, a private island. In addition to dining concepts provided by five restaurants and three bars, the new CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La focuses on holistic and Ayurvedic wellness in its eight treatment rooms. Two swimming pools, an 18-hole par 72 championship golf course and a kids club complete the leisure experiences.

On arrival at the resort, travellers will feel like they are entering a private residence as they are personally met and transported to the entrance of the property. Here, a hostess dressed in a contemporary sega dress welcomes guests with a refreshing hibiscus infusion made with local black tea, Chinese green tea, combawa and sugar cane - reflecting a sense of place and Shangri-La's Asian influence.

Surrounded by magnificent views of the sea and an indigenous landscape, Shangri-La's Le Touessrok Resort & Spa's understated approach to luxury has been reimagined using the finest craftsmanship to transform organic and recycled materials into chic and contemporary furnishings. Sustainable and timeless, the concept flows through the resort's low-rise buildings and tropical light-filled spaces, accented by wooden structures and hand dyed linen.

Idyllically centred on the beach, all accommodation in the three wings - Coral, Hibiscus and Frangipani - have a private balcony or terrace to encourage outdoor lounging. The Deluxe Beach Access and Deluxe Ocean View room categories in the Coral Wing allow couples to step out onto a pristine white beach and enjoy the endless seascape.

Suited for families, the Hibiscus wing is located near children's facilities and to the resort's amenities and outlets. The wing's Deluxe rooms and Junior Suites, both with beach access and ocean views, include the option to have interconnecting rooms.

In the Frangipani wing, housed on an elite islet accessible via bridge, guests receive a special gift on arrival, thoughtful in-room check-in, evening cocktails and complimentary minibar, along with sole use of a swimming pool and breakfast at Republik Beach Club & Grill.

Three beach villas, each spanning 423 square metres, are designed to instill a sense of peace and privacy. With 24-hour butler service, the villas feature a separate entrance, three bedrooms, an infinity pool and private beach access. Other amenities include champagne on arrival, an open bar, monogramed bathrobes, a dedicated electric car to move around the resort, as well as daily fruit and canapes. A villa stay also comprises a personal welcome at the airport and use of a lounge, and luxury limousine transfers.

In the seclusion of the resort, guests have exclusive access to Ilot Mangenie, a private island, to roam its 3.5-kilometres of white sand and lush vegetation or indulge in tailor-made "Dine by Design" dining experiences. For the active, an 18-hole par 72 championship golf course designed by Bernhard Langer, located on Ile aux Cerfs, is a few minutes from the luxury property's shores. On this island, there are complimentary water sports such as kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, sailing, snorkeling and water skiing off the beautiful coastline, or for a fee, kite surfing, parasailing, big game fishing and scuba diving.

Dining options begin with Republik Beach Club & Grill, a contemporary restaurant serving Mediterranean cuisine and barbecue grills. The bar - perfect for revellers with live music, themed nights and performances by local and international DJs - complements its bohemian beach lounge with fireplaces and daybeds. The restaurant's Art & Food concept - a blend between the arts and gastronomy, is interpreted into 'the art of the table' and reflected in the décor and music with the aim to inspire creativity through artistic interactions with sculptors, painters or musicians.

Kushi, a Japanese restaurant, transports diners to a sensational setting of outstanding sea views on all sides. Named after the Japanese word for the comb used by Geishas to adorn their hair, an installation formed from kushi combs creates a striking centrepiece among guests dining on shabu shabu, Kobe and wagyu beef, and an Omakase sushi menu that highlights the fresh fish arrivals of the day. Each table even has a built-in grill or yakiniku to provide guests the option to grill their food.

The first of its kind in Mauritius, Le Bazar is a dynamic food theatre featuring international dishes at its show kitchens and a marketplace atmosphere. In addition to offering the cuisine of a Szechuan master chef, Le Bazar has a noodle bar, rotisserie and western corner with meat and seafood grills. Al fresco dining is available on the terrace.

The resort's acclaimed Indian restaurant, Safran, remains true to its past glory and prepares authentic cuisine with Mauritian influences. The menu, conceived by internationally acclaimed Chef Ramesh Bundi, carries popular Indian dishes served family-style. A copper clad tandoori oven and incense at the entrance of the restaurant marks a sensory journey to India.

Sega Bar, named after the Mauritian dance, offers a menu of uniquely smoked cocktails, exotic Tiki cocktails, as well as its signature eight-year old Shangri-La cask aged rum. As the resort's centre of entertainment, the venue has a specially designed over-the-pool stage to host cultural shows, local talents, reggae and seggae music, as well as a live jazz and blues band nightly.

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La focuses on holistic and Ayurvedic wellness. Ingredients for treatments are organic, locally sourced or grown in the spa's garden. Private consultations are available for guests to enjoy a bespoke wellness experience with nutritionists and Ayurvedic doctors. The spa's menu incorporates the renowned yogic practice of pranayama and meditation into every treatment, while integrating handcrafted oils and even rich local customs, such as the slow rhythmic beats of the national music, in other offerings.

Children can enjoy the tropical paradise as much as their parents in the T-Club. Fun-filled activities and games are changed on a daily basis, and outdoor activities encourage interaction with the natural habitat around them. The T-Club entertains children aged between four and 11 years old, while the Active-T Club offers innovative social activities and themed evenings for 12 to 17 year olds.

The opening marks the second property in the brand's growing portfolio of luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean. More than a resort, Shangri-La's Le Touessrok Resort & Spa will be a cultural hub, hosting artistic collaborations with local and international talents, and incubating new creations. Each area of the resort has been conceived to stimulate the senses and imagination.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world's premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages 94 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 38,000. Over four decades the group has established its brand hallmark of 'hospitality from the heart.' The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar and Sri Lanka.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia