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Pure Fiji Ltd, the manufacturers of scented body and beauty products, last night scooped the Visionary Award, the major award at the AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2008 held at the Sheraton Fiji in Nadi.
The multiple-award winning company was awarded for its successes since its establishment in the country, its substantial contribution to the economy and its vision of continuous growth.
And last night, Pure Fiji founder and managing director Gaetane Austin said she owed the award to her successful team of "practical dreamers" in the company.
"What drives us the most is our passion for our company, the products and most of all our passion for Fiji because we are all Fiji people and we love Fiji and we just want to increase the Fiji branding so our products throughout the world is known of having come from Fiji," Austin told FijiLive.
Business tycoon Kantilal Tappoo was awarded a lifetime achievement award for the growth and expansion in the Tappoo brand to give tourists a true Fiji shopping experience, with outlets now available in major towns and hotels in the country.
"I thought it was really about shopping. I came here with some idea because the judges had started visiting our stores and my people were telling me we might get some recognition in the shopping area," Tappoo said.
"We have been very heavily involved in tourist retailing. Today, we have a presence everywhere, from the airports, all the major hotels to downtown and we started this concept called Fiji Market where we started selling Fiji products, arts and crafts in a unique way.
"And we are very heavily involved in tourism because we believe that that is one of the competitive advantages of Fiji and it makes business sense to be involved in that industry."
Former Fiji Visitors Bureau chief executive Cheryl Watson was awarded a special citation award for her contributions to tourism in Fiji.
Other winners included:
- Adrenalin Watersports (Adventure Tourism);
- Likuliku Resort (Best Accommodation);
- Sigatoka River Safari (Fiji Experience award for its jetboat tour);
- Uprising Beach Resort (Best Budget Accommodation);
- Nadi-based Mercure Hotel (Quality Accommodation);
- Tappoo (General Tourism Services);
- Warwick Fiji's The Wicked Walu Restaurant (Restaurant);
- ATS Pacific Fiji (Transport, Tours, Conference and Incentive Operations);
- Mamanuca Environment Society (Environment, Heritage, Arts and Culture);
- The Westin Resort on Denarau (Deluxe Accommodation);
- Warwick Fiji's sales manager Jennifer Yip (Young Achiever); and
- Outrigger on the Lagoon's public relations manager (Frontliner of the Year).
Six grants of $10,000 were given to successful emerging tourism enterprises under the Tourism Grassroots Enterprise Development Award.
The recipients included Josefa Bau of Takalana Resort for his dolphin watching activity; Emosi Ulana – a fruit and vegetable farmer of Naweni Village in Savusavu; Seaworld Botaira Resort in Yasawa; fruit and vegetable farmers Mosese Bobi and Rupeni Tuimavana; and CretiVITI.
