In big news for tourism in Fiji, the highly anticipated Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa, has opened, with the completion of the first phase of its transformation and expansion.
Formerly the Pullman Nadi Bay Resort & Spa Fiji, the Crowne Plaza Fiji is a significant new property for the country.
Not only does the new-look property represent IHG Hotels & Resorts’ first ‘Premium Collection’ brand to open in the South Pacific, but it adds plenty of much-needed rooms to Fiji’s accommodation inventory.
At the 2023 Fiji Tourism Expo (FTE), Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill said the country needs “4,000 to 5,000 rooms … immediately to meet demand”, citing government ministers. The Crowne Plaza Fiji should alleviate that, even if just a little.
What to expect
For the first phase of the opening, 106 guest rooms are now open for bookings. From mid-2024, 130 more rooms will be rolled out, while the final 88 guest rooms and suites will be available by the end of 2024 – for a total of 324 rooms, including 66 brand new two-bedroom family rooms and the property’s crown jewels, its 16 Oceanfront King Suites. All accommodation will feature contemporary interiors that reflect the Crowne Plaza brand.
Located at Wailoaloa Beach in Nadi Bay, just 5km from Nadi International Airport, the resort promises guests an all-inclusive destination for their next holiday or business trip – meaning guests should have everything they need within the resort.
The resort’s makeover will feature a day spa with six double treatment rooms, seven swimming pools, ten restaurants and bars (including a nightclub), a beach club with an infinity pool and a whisky bar.
In addition to this, the property will boast a new, purpose-built 900-seat convention centre – flagged as a future venue for FTE.
“With growing visitor arrivals into Fiji – around half of them coming from Australia – this is the perfect time to be ushering in a new era of resort accommodation with the opening of Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa,” Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa General Manager Shaun Parsons said.
“The first phase of the hotel’s redesign has been completed and we are well on our way to bringing the vision of creating a world-class dining, leisure and business resort to life.
“We have no shortage of exciting developments to unveil, including our state-of-the-art convention centre, our new two-bedroom family rooms and exceptional culinary experiences which will firmly cement us not only as Fiji’s leading resort, but as a destination in its own right.”
For dining, the hotel offers ten restaurants and bars, each with unique flavours overseen by Director of Culinary Ian Johnston Lovie. Currently, four dining outlets are fully operational, including Harvest for buffet breakfast and dinner, Bean Bar Café for coffee and pastries, the Lobby Lounge and Breeze Swim-Up Bar.
The resort also plans to open four more outlets, including the 17.78 Whisky Bar, La Bottega Italian restaurant, Latitude Bar & Lounge, and Azura Pool Bar & Kitchen, with more to come in the final stage.
When it comes to health and wellness, Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa will feature seven swimming pools upon completion, with three currently operational.
The resort also plans to introduce a retail precinct and Tutuvalu Kids Club by mid-2024.
Mareqeti Spa and the Fitness Centre are open but in temporary locations while their new sites are finalised.
Another Denarau?
Speaking to Karryon at FTE, IHG Hotels & Resorts Area General Manager South Pacific Islands Lachlan Walker said the property even had the making of another Denarau [Island] – where most high-end hotels close to Nadi are currently located.
Indeed, tourism to the country is booming – especially from number one market, Australia.
Citing Fiji Bureau of Statistics data, Tourism Fiji reported in January that 434,533 Australians travelled to the island nation last year, a figure that easily surpasses the previous record of 367,020 achieved in 2019 – equal to a 16.9 per cent rise.
