A Slice of Paradise

Mauritius is fast-establishing itself as a gourmet getaway, and at Constance Hotels and Resorts guests can enjoy the island’s famous fusion cuisine of African, Indian, French and Chinese influences.

Prince Maurice van Nassau, the pioneer of the spice trade in the Indian Ocean, would undoubtedly be honoured knowing that one of the finest luxury resorts in Mauritius is named after him. There are only a few hotels that epitomise the island’s colourful history as elegantly as the Constance Le Prince Maurice. With its colonial architecture, it has become one of the flagships of Mauritian hospitality group Constance Hotels and Resorts. Opened in 1998, and recently embellished, at the Constance Le Prince Maurice “it is all about attention to detail,” says Jean-Jacques Vallet, CEO of Constance Hotels and Resorts. Situated on a remote peninsula on the North East coast of Mauritius, this all suite hotel is surrounded by a tranquil lagoon and is fringed by beautiful beaches. It is also the only hotel with over-water bungalows in Mauritius. Paying tribute to the island’s past as a port of call on the Indian spice route, Constance Le Prince Maurice is a foodie’s haven. The selection of gourmet cuisine and wines is nothing short of a luxury culinary invasion.

Aromatic Journey

A fantastic choice of restaurants and excellent food have in fact become the hallmark of all hotels of the Group, which also owns and manages the Constance Belle Mare Plage in Mauritius, as well as resorts and hotels in the Maldives, the Seychelles and in Madagascar. Constance prides itself on having some of the best chefs and sommeliers, ensuring that employees stay current with worldwide trends by hosting regular gastronomy and wine festivals with internationally acclaimed sommeliers and Michelin star chefs. The Constance Belle Mare Plage, which was the Group’s first resort in Mauritius, boasts seven restaurants today. The resort is set along a stunning 2 km white sand beach, in a sheltered bay on the East Coast of Mauritius. The hotel has a total of 280 rooms, and compared to the more intimate character of Constance Le Prince Maurice, which only has 90 rooms, it is bigger. However, the five-star hotel is set within 60 hectares of unspoilt land, and “even in the high season, it never feels crowded,” says Vallet. “The size is also the only difference between the two hotels. The quality of the culinary experience, as well as the overall service, is the same in all Constance hotels. We have the same high standards everywhere,” he adds. To recruit and train team members, the Group set up its own training academy in 1998. The Constance Hospitality Training Centre has gained several awards both in Mauritius and internationally. For instance, it was nominated among the 10 best training providers in the tourism sector on the ‘Worldwide Hospitality Schools Awards’ held in Paris in 2010.

So Much to Do

Another strength of Constance Hotels and Resorts is the number of activities one can enjoy. Constance Belle Mare Plage has two 18-hole golf courses, which are rated among the best on the island. Tennis, windsurfing, diving and snorkelling are also on offer, while the less active can choose from a range of spa treatments. The resorts are also very welcoming towards families with lots of facilities, including children’s clubs.

With customer satisfaction and high quality as top priorities, Constance’s strong brand also forms the ideal base for expansion as the Group seeks to strengthen its position in the international market and open hotels in other parts of the world.