Samoa Tourism Authority wishes to congratulate Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort for its reopening after undergoing major renovations over the past months.

The official opening was officiated by the Hon. Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, who congratulated Sheraton’s Board of Directors and Management for this milestone achieved, acknowledging its contribution to the tourism industry, calling for more projects like this that will definitely drive and boost the economy.

More than 150 guests attended the opening including Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliaments, prominent corporate figures, and industry members who joined the Resort Board of Directors, Management, and staff to celebrate the occasion.

The comprehensive refurbishment valued at USD$10million extends 133 modernized guestrooms including 6 suites, each adorned with island-inspired décor offering breathtaking ocean and garden views. The design for the renovation was inspired by the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Samoa, reflecting the island’s coastal landscape using a soft palette of blues, sandy beiges, and natural wood tones with a focus on sustainable and natural materials.

Guests will be able to enjoy international cuisine at the three newly renovated restaurants and bars.  South Pacific Restaurant, offers beachfront dining that serves a’ la carte lunch and dinner experience for guests; Apolima Fale, offers buffet breakfast daily and themed dinner two to three times a week; Solent Bar, is the Resort bar perfect for ocean views, tropical cocktails, local beers, and light snack.

Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort also offers enhanced guest experiences including a large lagoon-style pool set amongst the tropical gardens with its very own swim-up pool bar, offering well-curated food and beverage offerings for pool guests; the Manaia Polynesian Spa offers a series of treatments, from traditional Samoan massage techniques to modern wellness therapy.

General Manager of Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort, Mr Sunil Rawat, who brings an extensive 21 years of experience in leading hotels and resorts across India and Australia, is excited to welcome guests back. He said, “We are thrilled to re-open our doors and welcome local and international guests back to Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort to experience true Samoan hospitality.”

He continued, “We have expansive space for groups and celebrations, a beautiful accessible beachfront, and our newly renovated rooms for guests to relax. The resort is also a short 10-minute direct commute from Faleolo International Airport adding great convenience and easy access to guests.”

Sheraton Samoa Beach Resort is now taking bookings.

To celebrate the re-opening of the property, book the MyIsland Escape package directly via the Hotel website (www.marriott.com/APWGS) and receive WST500 resort credit per stay and Bonvoy Members earn an additional 5,000 bonus points. For non-members, you may sign up via Become a Marriott Bonvoy Member and start earning your rewards.

The regional terminal at Faleolo International Airport has officially opened, just in time for Samoa to welcome delegates for the CHOGM meeting. This development is a significant step toward enhancing our international flight connectivity.

Strategically located on the southern side of the main airport, this terminal will serve as the primary arrival point for flights from regional destinations such as American Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu, Niue, and the Cook Islands, as well as domestic flights.

This SAT$25 million project, fully funded by the Samoa Airport Authority, represents a major milestone in Samoa’s infrastructure development. It reflects our unwavering commitment to transforming Samoa into a central hub for tourism, travel, and trade.

The CEO of the Samoa Tourism Authority said that the impact of this development on our tourism sector is expected to be substantial. We anticipate an increase in the number of tourists and visitors, which will undoubtedly contribute to the local economy.

November is Miami-Dade Farmers Month, which is a great time to experience the countryside of South Dade. All month long, enjoy special deals and experiences at farms and businesses that celebrate Miami’s farming community, which includes lychee groves, exotic fruit and vegetable farms, local produce stands and even a winery. 

The Samoa Tourism Authority, is pleased to share that His Majesty King Charles and Her Majesty Queen Camilla graced the STA Cultural Village with their esteemed presence as part of their Royal Visit to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) meeting. Their majesties were warmly welcomed by the vibrant community providing them with an immersive experience into the rich cultural heritage of Samoa.

The Visit Gibraltar team is offering sampler Gin and Tonics at 4pm daily on the stand N3-507.

Showcasing the award winning, fully sustainable and handcrafted Campion and Candytuft Gins, enjoy a first-class G&T made with the indigenous Gibraltar Candytuft plant by Spirit of the Rock.

Visit Gibraltar is delighted to share that it will be joined on the stand by Sunborn Gibraltar, MH Bland and two exhibiting  partners new to WTM, leading attractions the  World War Two Tunnel Tour and Hollow Rock.

 

Following an agreement with HM Government of Gibraltar, Fortress Attractions Ltd (FAL) will provide and manage leisure activities at the Northern Defences.

In their submission, FAL included all the requirements on how fundamentally, the Northern Defences will remain under the Government’s ownership, but FAL will manage and maintain the land and facilities to be provided within it.

Under the proposal, FAL will invest approx. £4 million to create a first-class visitor attraction, employing 20 people. The attraction will include the provision and management of leisure facilities such as heritage tours, zip-lines, rock and wall climbing, archery and children’s play inflatables. A large part of the land will always remain accessible to the public with picnic tables and equipment for public use and enjoyment.

The agreement includes a lease to refurbish the former Landport Cottage for use as a ticket office and interpretation centre for the Northern Defences.

 

The Gibraltar Net Zero Delivery Board, attended by three members of cabinet together with senior officials from across Government, has agreed short term targets in areas where improvement to reach net zero targets can be achieved in the shortest time.

Following an update from external consultants Ricardo on the review of the 2022 Greenhouse Gas Inventory Results, manageable emissions have been broken down by sector.

Significant areas for improvement have been identified within transport fleets and Government is working towards transitioning as much of its own fleet to electric-powered vehicles as soon as possible, in line with the Climate Change Strategy. This is in conjunction with the ongoing trial of Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel on Gibraltar Bus Company buses, and to extending HVO use to other transporters.

The Gibraltar Electric Authority has made progress with the project to install photovoltaic panels at Gibraltar International Airport, which is expected to increase by two thirds the amount of electricity generated by solar energy across Gibraltar. The GEA reported that the use of LNG and increased efficiency of the new power plant has reduced its own emissions by 3%.

In a drive to effect significant organisational, behavioural and cultural change to progress net zero, within the Department of Education, 6 schools have so far undertaken Carbon Literacy Training, with a further 5 schools to follow suit this academic Year.

The Department is also working with young people through positive meetings with learning ambassadors to identify and address their specific climate concerns. As a direct result young people are voicing their concerns about recycling rates and waste management. Secondary schools in particular will take a harder approach to single use plastic bottles on school premises and will actively encourage the uptake of reusable bottles.

The Samoa Tourism Authority commemorated World Tourism Day 2024 “Tourism and Peace” with a significant clean-up campaign across Samoa last month.

In line with the theme, STA staff were divided into six groups and with assistance from SRWMA (Samoa Recycling and Waste Management Association), SHHA (Samoa Hotel and Hospitality Association and various church youth groups, embarked on a mission to clean up different locations in Upolu and Savaii.

The campaign primarily focused on picking up plastic along the roadsides, particularly in areas where there are no families around.

The initiative is part of STA’s ongoing commitment to promoting responsible tourism, preserving the natural beauty of Samoa, and fostering peace through a clean and sustainable environment.

Executive Sous Chef and Culinary Consultant Trent Sanft is currently in Samoa, where he is conducting training for local chefs and caterers.

The training aims to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare and present a diverse range of menus for the CHOGM meeting and beyond. The focus of the training is on practical applications to ensure high standards in buffet and catering services. 

Chef Trent is Samoan and has been a member of the Emirates Culinary since 2013. With over a decade of experience in high-volume production kitchens, concept developments, and operational excellence, he is an experienced chef and culinary consultant.

Additionally, he serves as the Executive Chef at Kosher Arabia, overseeing the development and mobilization of a state-of-the-art production kitchen catering to the specific needs of the airline and retail sectors.

To promote increased future travel to Samoa, STA has teamed up with Fiji Airways to launch the CHOGM 2024 Global Sale campaign. The campaign will run from October 14th to November 11th, 2024, and will target key source markets, including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom (UK), North America, and China.

This collaboration involves various distribution partners and wholesalers who will offer enticing travel packages to Samoa. These packages will feature not only discounted airfares but also attractive accommodation deals for the period covering January to September 2025.

The campaign aims to drive bookings during the off-peak season, with the ultimate goal of promoting high visitor arrivals, boosting hotel occupancy, and stimulating local businesses through increased visitor spending. This collaborative effort seeks to enhance the tourism industry in Samoa and strengthen its position in the global travel market.