With a flight time of under three hours, Fiji might not feel far from Auckland, but in many ways, it’s a world apart, especially in winter. For one, the sun is shining.
You could be in central Auckland in the morning, make a short trip to the airport after lunch, and land at Nadi International Airport in time for happy hour in Denarau.
That makes the Pacific Island nation an attractive place to fly to – if you’re willing to invest the time and money for any meeting.
Whether it’s a large-scale conference for more than 500 people, a staff party for 50, an out-of-town board meeting, a senior leadership team brainstorming session, or even an annual shareholders’ meeting, Fiji fits the bill.
Despite businesses reining in their spending in recent years, the local industry argues it’s now more popular than ever to put your team on a plane and enjoy everything Fiji has to offer.
Both national carriers, Fiji Airways and Air New Zealand, offer direct flights from NZ to Nadi. Those in Fiji say Australia is the largest market for corporates, with the United States giving NZ a run for its money for second place.
Fiji Airways now offers multiple direct flights to the east coast of the US, making it an attractive destination for corporates after a reasonably easy eight- to ten-hour flight.
Given the long lead-in time – sometimes up to two years in advance – demand and interest from US corporates haven’t been dampened by the impacts of President Donald Trump’s tariff regime.
Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa
Sofitel is less than a half-hour drive from the airport. (Image: Supplied)
If you’re looking for a convenient location near the airport, consider the Sofitel.
The nearly 300-room resort sits at the top of the 895ha Denarau Island and overlooks much of Nadi Bay.
It underwent a FJ$50 million (NZ$36.9m) renovation during the covid-19 pandemic, meaning everything is fresh and modern, and it caters to everything from family-friendly holidays through to its exclusive adults-only Waitui Club.
For conference space, the Grand Hall can accommodate up to 500 for a banquet and over 700 in a theatre-style arrangement.
The resort has the only nightclub on Denarau – handy if the party is set to kick on after dinner.
The 25-person boardroom is suitable for senior leadership or board meetings. According to Sofitel, it’s a regular venue for local corporates, including local banks.
If it’s been a particularly tense meeting, or you just want to wind down, you can head to the spa or have a cocktail at Waitui.
Then, back to the resort and choose one of the many restaurants for dinner.
When it’s time to depart, if you’re flying with Fiji Airways, you can use the resort’s check-in facilities and your bag is sent directly to the airport.
That means you can spend another two hours at the resort and only need to arrive one hour before your flight, instead of three.
From July, that time can be spent in Sofitel’s soon-to-be-opened Executive Lounge – an on-site Koru Lounge, if you like – and catch up on the day’s paper.
Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay
The resort has the only over-water bures on the mainland. (Image: Supplied)
If you’re looking for something a bit further out of town, there’s the Fiji Marriott Resort Momi Bay.
Owned by the Fiji National Provident Fund, the eight-year-old resort is a 45-minute drive from the airport.
Set along a private lagoon on Fiji’s Coral Coast, the resort is laid out like a self-contained village.
Overwater bures stretch into the bay, while garden and lagoon-view villas line winding paths through manicured grounds.
Guests can get around on foot or by buggy – a welcome option if you want to escape the heat.
For team meetings, large-scale conferences or gala dinners, there’s the resort’s Grand Salon, located just off-site.
It can host over 200 people. With the resort spread across more than 100 acres, there is plenty of grass space for outdoor dinners and cocktail nights, including North Point, located at the inlet to the resort’s lagoon.
Vonu Beach is also onsite and can host up to 500 people. It’s essentially a blank canvas and can be customised to meet a client’s needs.
InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa.
An aerial shot of the InterContinental. (Image: Supplied)
A bit further down the Coral Coast is the InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, which overlooks Natadola Bay – about an hour from the airport.
The modern resort is spread across 14ha of gardens and offers a variety of spacious rooms and suites.
Its Watercourt Complex is comprised of a series of air-conditioned conference and meeting rooms, all facing a central water feature planted with tropical trees.
The precinct features a ballroom that accommodates up to 600 guests and three theatre-style meeting rooms, each capable of hosting up to 110 delegates.
There are also smaller rooms available, as well as a business centre – perfect for a management team or board meeting.
If you’re after something more exclusive and executive, Club InterContinental is like a resort within a resort.
It’s set high on a plateau overlooking Natadola Bay and includes access to the Club InterContinental lounge.
Then there’s the Natadola Bay Golf Club, a short drive up the hill, which can be booked out for a corporate-style tournament or team building day with the team.
The 18-hole championship golf course features an open-air bar and restaurant for visitors to enjoy afterwards.
The beach beside the par-three fourth hole would be an excellent venue for a cocktail event or outdoor dinner.
Shangri-La Yanuca Island
The resort is spread across Yanuca Island. (Image: Supplied)
Based on its own island, one side of Shangri-La Yanuca Island overlooks the crystal-clear Coral Coast, with a private beach and lagoon on the other.
An hour from Nadi Airport, the resort is spread across the entirety of Yanuca Island, which also includes a nine-hole golf course.
Its flagship event centre, called Ratu Makutu, can seat up to 500 for a banquet and 650 in a theatre style. The outside area and lawn can also be utilised.
It can be divided into two separate rooms, each seating up to 250. Shangri-La’s Davui Hall is currently under renovation.
There are also multiple outdoor areas available for functions, including the Lagoon Beach lawn, which can accommodate up to 500 guests for any event, as well as numerous restaurants throughout the resort.
The golf course is spread across a significant portion of Shangri-La and can be utilised for corporate events.
Whether you’re brainstorming by the beach, striking deals over dinner or squeezing in 18 holes between presentations, those in Fiji believe the country believe it offers a compelling alternative to the Shortland Street boardroom.
Perhaps Fonterra should consider having a “destination vote” in the tropics when its farmers decide whether or not to hock off its consumer business.
Riley Kennedy travelled to Fiji courtesy of Tourism Fiji.
