Yatu Lau Company Limited may explore partnerships with international brands to enhance its economic prospects, as stated by Chairman Viliame Leqa. He noted that such developments could occur at a later time.
In response to questions regarding the potential outsourcing of management for their tourism properties, Mr. Leqa mentioned that these inquiries were new to him. He confirmed that the company currently has no plans to outsource management of their existing hotel properties to any overseas international brand. However, he indicated that they might consider collaborations with international brands in the future if economically beneficial.
Mr. Leqa suggested looking at Fijian Holdings Limited and Fiji National Provident Fund’s partnerships with multinational companies to better understand global business models in this context. He emphasized that Yatu Lau is currently in an exploratory phase and no decisions have been reached yet.
SunBiz reported that another local tourism management operator is being evaluated after initial discussions with Parkside Hotel Group regarding management of the resort.
Concerns about potential outsourcing to a global brand have emerged among local employees at Yatu Lau, with some fearing job losses.
In an email from Yatu Lau’s group chief financial officer, Indika Weerasekara, it was revealed that Parkside Hotel Group submitted a “more profitable” proposal concerning the Lagoon resort. Parkside Hotel Group claims operations across multiple countries, including the USA, UK, and several others, with Fiji also listed among its locations.
According to the Registrar of Companies, Parkside Hotel Group Fiji was registered last year with directors Viliame and Pramod. Local director Viliame Rodan confirmed he is associated with Parkside but distanced himself from the company, stating he left two or three years ago while maintaining a role as a consultant and working to attract investors.
Parkside’s draft agreement with Yatu Lau indicates the company was registered at an address in London, which has since changed and the firm was dissolved in June last year. Details from the UK government document reveal changes in ownership and operational control over the years.
Yatu Lau Company owns three tourism properties, including the Lagoon Resort, which was established by the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara in 1972. The recent correspondence highlights that Parkside Hotel Group might provide a more profitable management solution for the Lagoon property based on comparative profitability analyses shared by Mr. Weerasekara.
The correspondence also reflects continuing negotiations regarding the management of Yatu Lau Holdings Company, emphasizing Parkside’s persistent interest in taking an operational role.