Two times rebuilding.

You might remember that the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel almost completed a major renovation work on the famous Apia Hotel in September last year when an electrical fault caused a major fire, burning most of the hotel down.

An extreme determination of the Fijian based Tanoa Hotel Group and owners, the Reddy family, made them once again rebuild the hotel.

Now Open!

On July 01, The Tanoa Tusitala Hotel officially opened to the public. Although the hotel is not totally completed it still has the most necessary things in place.

The Tusitala hotel has always been an important venue for meetings and conferences much because of the great space and the resort ambience available. The new Tanoa Tusitala Hotel keeps the traditional style that it has been known for during all the years it has been operating as “Hotel Kitano Tusitala” before it was sold to the Tanoa Group.

Keep getting the news from Samoa in our Free Newsletter

http://www.samoa-experience.net

Mats Loefkvist

P.S

People ask me about how to migrate, live, or work in New Zealand.

Time for new accommodation ideas!

Samoa is not a big place with lots of different accommodation types. We are still in the beginning of developing a quality tourist destination.

Some of the bigger hotel has got a well organized infra structure with their own black and grey water cleaning systems. Samoa in general still has a long way to go to get all areas of service working properly.

Some tourists are telling us that they enjoy the old way of doing things, which is fine. The reality is that not every old practice is environmentally friendly. As the progress is slow we will not change too quick anyway.

We get requests from people that are interested in home exchange, which I think is a great idea. I use your home and you use mine…

This is a simple idea and it works really well. You save all hotel expenses and just need to save up for the travel and food and drinks. Many families also let people use their cars and bicycles.

So far this is a new idea in Samoa and very few people have used the system. We hope that we have an opportunity to change this which could be a great experience for both Samoans and people from outside.

I am not sure though, that everyone would exchange their nice house for a small Samoan Fale?

You can go to almost every country in the world and use this system. have a look at how it works and save yourself all the hotel costs on your next trip.

Keep getting the news from Samoa in our Free Newsletter

http://www.samoa-experience.net

Mats Loefkvist

Hotels Samoa

Small climate change.

This is the time of the year when a small shift is taking place in the samoan climate.

Between November and April the humidity is higher and  constant sweating belongs to the daily life. It can be very uncomfortable when coming directly from a cooler country not being used to having a semi wet T-shirt all day long.

It is understandable that most visitors like to spend most of their time with their feet in the water on the beach or by the hotel pool.

Cooler times ahead.

During the months between May and October we usually have a nice strong breeze blowing all day long which makes it cooler and more comfortable. This is also the time when most tourists are coming to the island, filling up our hotel rooms.

As usual, when more tourists are arriving the prices will also go up. This year has been different from others because of the previous tsunami which scared off lots of booked guests. Today the situation is slowly getting back to what is was before although the number of accommodation available have decreased.

Many of the smaller operators are not bothering any more to continue serving the tourists.

The opportunity season.

It is good to know that lots of great accommodation deals are available between November and April and if this is the time for your holiday, don’t hesitate to come to Samoa. Everyone will have extra time for just you and you will probably have a very profound experience.

Although it is great to stay at the beach, you should give Apia a few days and explore the many small but very good restaurants, the market and the police band marching every morning to raise the flag in front of the government building.

If you haven’t been to Samoa yet, you should know that we are only 4 hours away from New Zealand and 5 hours from Australia. Both destinations have direct flights. If you are coming from Europe and going to New Zealand you can make a stop in Samoa without extra costs. Air New Zealand has a direct flight from Los Angeles.

Mats Loefkvist

Book hotels Samoa and accommodation directly on our site www.samoa-experience.com

Blog http://www.samoa-experience.net

Plans have changed!

The Warwick Samoa Resort should have been open long time ago but because of economical recession and the tsunami disaster the plans have been revised.

The location of accommodation and other public areas have been relocated to make it safe for any future natural disaster that could happen.

Warwick Fiji Resort and Spa

Two step building plan.

The 4-5 star resort will be built in two steps. The first step will include 100 rooms, restaurants and conference facilities. The second step will add another 50-70 rooms to accommodate for up to 400 people.

First guests arriving 2013

If everything works according to the plan, the building will start at the end of 2010 and the first guests should arrive already in 2013. The resort is much hoping for a good cooperation with the Samoan government to get all the necessary infrastructure in place.

The Warwick Samoa Resort will be the 38th property for the Warwick group which today counts to one of the biggest hotel chains in the world.

Samoa has a great future potential as a tourist destination regarding to the Senior Vice President Mrs Tammie Tam.

Mats Loefkvist   www.samoa-experience.com

12 years of business washed away!

Salani Surf Resort was a beautifully designed small resort in Samoan style. Totally integrated in the Salani village the resort was operated by surfers for surfers. Exactly where the river meets the sea become the perfect location for accessing the great waves just a short boat ride away.

The nature of a surfer is to be up early in the morning to watch the waves and plan for the perfect time to get out to sea. This habit probably saved all the guests and staff at Salani in the morning on September 29, 2009. The knowledge of earth quakes creating tsunamis plus that the water disappeared from the lagoon was signs enough for the manager Nick to quickly evacuate all people from the resort up to higher grounds.

In just minutes 12 years of work was washed away by the huge tsunami wave that followed. The place was completely clean except for one house that for some reason was spared.

Not sure about the future.

There are hopes to have Salani surf resort up and running again after a year or more but this is still only hopes. It is all depending on insurance payments and the willingness to continue by the owners.

Salani Surf resort was always very concerned about safety and good practices for their surfing guests which was very valuable for the reputation of Samoa as a good surfing destination. It would be very welcomed to have Salani Surf Resort continuing their work in this area which certainly would make a difference in promoting Samoa worldwide as a safe and caring destination.

Listen to Nick when he explains what happened on September 29, 2009

Mats Loefkvist   www.samoa-experience.com

Will we ever get help from the government?

I just got off the phone after talking to Chris, the owner of Seabreeze Resort at the south east coast of Upolu island in Samoa. Chris explained that after 4 months not a cent of aid help has been provided by the Samoan government. Nobody is answering emails or phone calls to give an explanation why things takes such a long time.

Repairing before rebuilding

The last four months Chris and his wife Wendy have spent their time repairing buildings that were still standing after the tsunami at September 29, 2009. The buildings they are currently working on are the former suites 1 – 7 and the old laundry. Luckily all the work can be managed by Chris himself with all his experiences as a professional builder. The old restaurant has to be totally rebuilt from the beginning and tomorrow they will receive an Architect from New Zealand helping with the new layout.

Not much of the rebuilding can begin before they get a clear answer from both insurance company and government. Chris tells – The frustration is growing every day and soon some kind of action has to be taken to get the ball rolling.

Wendy wants all her kids back at work.

Chris and Wendy have always had such a strong bound with their staff and it is heart breaking to know that very few of them have a work at this time. All the kids will hopefully soon be back in their Seabreeze family again.

Will Seabreeze be open in November?

If things get moving very soon there is a good chance to have the resort up and running in November this year. There are many things that has to be done, a new restaurant is needed, destroyed bungalows needs to be rebuilt and a new seawall construction must be erected to protect from further erosion. The resort already lost about 3 meters of their grounds that was eaten by the tsunami wave.

See the video where Chris and Wendy will explain their plans for the future.

Mats Loefkvist   www.samoa-experience.com

Coconuts dining room

We must move fast!

Coconuts Beach Resort was heavily damage during the tsunami on September 29, 2009. The bar, kitchen and conference (movie) room were completely gone. The only part of the beach front restaurant left, was the dining room although nothing inside. The whole building was leaning over and needed to be completely renovated.

The first time I saw the resort after the destruction a boat was standing on top of the debris that ones was a conference room. Despite of a more or less total rebuilding of the resort, Lina the manager of Coconuts, tells me that they need to move fast to get things going as many customers, always returning to Coconuts every year, wants to be back as soon as possible.

Seven Rooms in February.

Already at the end of February about 7 rooms should be ready to use again. Rooms located in the “Tree House” and the “Coco Suites” close to the Spa will be the first ones taken in use during the soft-opening at the end of February. Lina is also talking about reopening the Spa which was still in not too bad shape after the disaster.

All other fales and luxury suites are very heavily damaged and will need lots of time to be rebuilt or renovated. The two very popular “Over-Water” fales are completely gone but with the time they will for sure be constructed again. The future plan is to add more rooms and fales to the resort to be able to accommodate the increasing number of guests every year.

Office in the garden.

At the time I met Lina, the manager of Coconuts Beach Resort she had moved her office out in the garden. It was not that hard to do as the office was just one chair. From her new office it was easy to overlook the work as not much was left to block the view. Building material, equipment and furniture have been ordered from overseas but as everything else in Samoa, it just take some time.

Big Bar and Kitchen.

At this time a brand new bar and a kitchen are under construction and will be finished very soon. Both bar and kitchen will be much bigger then before, to bring the well known restaurant manager “Mika”, lots of space to move around. The old dining room has been straightened up and renovated and is just waiting for new furniture to arrive.

Lots of help from guests and the village.

Many overseas guests have helped the resort in different ways, showing their loyalty and love for something they call unique. Also, without the help and support from the village, it would not be possible to move forward with the rebuilding that is now well on it’s way….

Let Lina explain it all in the Video!

A builder everywhere

Sinalei entrance

In every corner of Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa there is a builder of some kind restoring and repairing after the tsunami damage.

Not knowing how everything will be paid for, the owners and management have such a strong vision and commitment to bring Sinalei back to what it was before or even better.

The foundation of 5 new beach side fales have already been laid and the presidential suite have got a total rebuild after more or less been lifted off the ground by the huge tsunami wave.

The beach side restaurant “Ava i Tonga” which was totally gone has now got it’s new basic layout on the little man made island just below the main resort.

A new water sport centre is well on its way, built by volunteers from both Australia and New Zealand.

The location of the Spa has slightly been changed together with a whole new layout providing for a better sea-view and natural cooling by the ocean breeze.

Although about 70% of the staff has been laid off there are still many helping with cleaning, cooking and preparing for the future guests that are already now booking the resort and eagerly awaiting the day it will be open again.

Unconditional Love!

The manager of Sinalei, Sose Annandale express her sincere thanks for the amazing out-pour of love and help from people all around the world, people who really do care.

Despite times of war, hate and disaster there is another side of people that has a deep rooted love for humanity and ready to help unconditionally. This has clearly been proven with all the volunteers just coming by themselves from everywhere offering their professional skills for free.

Will Sinalei be reopened already in February?

Sose Annandale is talking about a soft opening for the local audience already in February. This will allow the resort to get a small revenue flowing back in, helping to lessen the huge costs that are involved.

In the event of an soft opening, there will still be lots of construction work going on. Not until the beginning of April, Sinalei will again be the peaceful and beautiful haven as it always has been.

The family operating Fao Fao Beach Fales at Saleapaga have demonstrated an extreme willpower and determination to get their accommodation business up and running again, regardless of what have happened in the past.

When everyone left the village heading for higher ground to settle down, the Fao Fao family took what they had and started rebuilding shortly after the accident, not waiting for the government to support them.

After many years of operation they are known worldwide and have many supporters. Private people offered money to help to start-up again. Four new fales directly on the beach was quickly built and taken into use. Already at Christmas time the restaurant and bar was ready to welcome the first guests in the new Fao Fao Beach Fales.

At this time there is not much competition around as the closest resort would be The Virgin Cove Resort at Saanapu Village which is more than 1 hour drive from Saleapanga and Fao Fao Beach Fales.

Building up a new resort from scratch is a big challenge but it also gives the family the opportunity to do things in a new and better way. One of the changes planned is to go more up-market with self-contained bungalows close but not directly at the beach.

To begin with the family had to stay in tents during the building period before the first fale was ready. It will take some time before the nature has recovered and all the remaining debris has been cleared in the area.

The thankfulness of the family for everything people from other countries have done for them and their business is enormous.

Listen to what they have to say….

Mats Loefkvist      www.samoa-experience.com

Moving around trying to get the Bigger Picture.

Recently a good friend from Canada, James Buffin felt the urge to come and make a contribution to Samoa with his documentary film making skills. He put in two weeks of his time plus all the expenses for airfares,  transportation of camera equipment and accommodation  to make a difference  in helping the Samoan people to monitor the progress of rebuilding after the tsunami.

Tsunami Affected Family

Mr. Buffin is now back in Canada editing his material which  soon will appear on this blog as video clips interviewing struggling business owners trying to rebuilding their hotels and beach fales.

After talking to 9 different affected hotel/resort businesses along the south coast we experienced very much the same concern and frustration by all of them.

Not enough government help.

Their main concern is that they have got no or very little help from the government to rebuild their lives and business. Almost all help they got came from private people who felt the necessity to make a contribution in rebuilding the beautiful beach areas with the so typical and popular Samoan beach fale.

With the private help, Fao Fao Beach Fales in Saleapaga has already built 4 fales on the beach and has a main building with restaurant soon compleated. They hope to be open for Christmas. Also with private funding, Taufua Beach Fales and Litia’s Beach Fales at Lalomanu have started to rearrange the damage beach area and will very soon have it back to what it looked before the disaster.

Sili and Tai, the owner of  Taufua Beach Fales explained that they like their guests to return to a place that looks the same as before, like coming home…

Normal families, not having a previous business at the beach are not likely to return so fast. Up in the hills at their new location they are also waiting for their promised government help with house rebuilding, water and power. Although most people already have power installed in their temporary shelters, the water is still not there.

We need your skills!

To make things move faster, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand plans to ramp-up its involvement in Samoa in the New Year, as it helps the rebuilding effort. The organisation wants to recruit increased numbers of skilled New Zealand volunteers, to follow in the footsteps of the several dozen, who have already contributed to Samoa’s reconstruction.

Habitat NZ currently has two teams of 12 volunteers working in Samoa. One of the teams is located in the village of Lepa, which is home to the organisation’s Resource Centre, where prefabricated trusses, toilet and shower walls and other building parts are being made. The other team is stationed in the village of Lolomanu. The volunteers are being hosted by local communities and accommodated in church halls.

“If you have the skills they need and would like to spend two weeks in Samoa during 2010, working for a very good cause, then please visit the website at www.habitat.org.nz or call them on 0800 44 22 48, to find out more about what’s entailed,”

Mats Loefkvist     http://www.samoa-experience.com