‘We are evolving from a 100% local Mauritian brand to a “glocal” one’
Katherine MastersIt’s all change for Attitude Hotels as the group expands beyond Mauritius for the first time – Vincent Desvaux de Marigny has become chief executive of Attitude Hospitality Management, taking over from founder Jean-Michel Pitot, who now focuses on this ambitious growth
What are the defining characteristics of Attitude’s portfolio?
We have eight three-star-plus and four-star hotels, plus the five-star Paradise Cove Boutique Hotel. All are Travelife Gold hotels and are either family-friendly or adults-only. Attitude Hotels isn’t just a hotel chain. We’re a purpose-driven brand that’s committed to helping guests experience Mauritius authentically, sustainably and responsibly. Guests can have dinner with a local family. They can relax in rooms decorated with art made by Mauritians and hand-made furniture. Food is locally sourced wherever possible and fresh salad and fruit are grown by the local Mayaven family.
We have a Marine Discovery Centre staffed by marine biologists who are happy to teach guests about the lagoon and the coastal environment. Our Green Attitude Foundation funds local entrepreneurs, charities and fun projects such as Konpoz to Lamizik, a music competition to shine a spotlight on local talent. We have banned single-use plastic in the guest journey, we’ve made our own mineral-based sunscreen that doesn’t harm the coral reefs, and our spa uses 100% natural products grown on the island and packaged in recyclable materials. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Attitude way. And, of course, our UK travel trade contact, Emily Standen, is on hand to help agents with any queries: emily@hotels-attitude.com
You’ve been with the company for 14 years and now you are CEO – what are your plans?
One of my key aims is to strengthen Attitude’s number one pillar: people. We call our 1,700 employees “Family Members”, and we’ve twice earned the title of “Best Workplace in Mauritius”. We are committed to inspiring the next generation of hospitality workers and helping to create job opportunities. To this end, we’ve joined forces with EHL Group, the world’s leading hospitality school, to create the first Mauritian training academy. This collaboration provides a world-class vocational educational and training opportunity without the need for our talent to leave the island.
Meanwhile, we are celebrating Attitude’s 15th birthday in 2024, so we are looking to the future – we are expanding beyond Mauritius for the first time to open a new property in Zanzibar in a little over a year, while in Mauritius, Recif Attitude is being completely renovated and will relaunch in late 2025 or early 2026.
What can you tell us about the Zanzibar opening?
We are redeveloping Matemwe Lodge, Matemwe Retreat and Matemwe Beach House on Zanzibar’s east coast to open our new Attitude hotel in October 2025. This is a strategic move for our group, as it’s the first step in our plan to develop the Attitude brand beyond Mauritius and will see us evolve from a 100% local Mauritian brand to a “glocal” one. It’s going to be a challenge. We are not a “plug and play” brand where we have a certain look at a hotel and then, once we’ve redecorated, that’s it. We want to bring everything we’ve learned and, in return, learn from Zanzibar’s people, culture, food and more. We’re committed to adapting the Attitude brand to reflect the local culture and take account of the diversity of the Tanzanian community.
Which of Attitude’s Positive Impact initiatives make you most proud?
Attitude is Mauritius’s first hotel group to ban single-use plastic, eliminating 3.6 million plastic items every year. Since November 2021, we have been operating our nine hotels without single-use plastic in the guest
experience, which I’m thrilled about.
How engaged are guests in your Positive Impact journey?
Very. Staying at Attitude means giving meaning to holidays, supporting the community that welcomes them and contributing to the Mauritian economy. On arrival, guests are invited to tie a string from a fishing net collected on the beach to our “Miray Lespwar”, a wall on which we display our actions, alongside a list of pledges that they can make during their stay. This allows them to symbolise their commitment to a sustainable stay with us, and encourages them to step outside the hotel and learn about Mauritius.
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Katherine Masters
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