Fiji’s tourism sector has received a significant boost as the Yavu Collective will be opening three new hotels in Nadi in the next 9 months, giving jobs to more than 600 people and adding 370 rooms.
While speaking at the launch, Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism Viliame Gavoka says the Richmond Group now officially becomes the Yavu Collective and is backed by two of Fiji’s most respected institutions, BSP Life and Fiji Airways.
It will be managed by Accor, which also manages Sofitel Resort and Spa in Denarau.
Gavoka says the Sebel Nuku-Loaloa in Wailoaloa, Nadi will welcome its first guests later this year, creating more than 80 jobs for Fijians.
He says this $70 million investment will deliver 76 accommodation keys.
The Acting Prime Minister says the $74 million Tribe Na Tomba in Denarau Island, Fiji’s first true lifestyle resort of its kind, will feature 118 guest rooms and conference facilities for up to 200 delegates.
Gavoka confirms it opens in the fourth quarter of this year and creates more than 110 new jobs.
He say the crown of the pipeline, the Sofitel Vatu Talei in Denarau Island, is designed to bring together the sophistication of Singapore and Dubai while keeping the warmth that makes Fiji irreplaceable.
It will feature 176 luxury guest rooms, four swimming pools spanning more than 5,000 square metres, four waterslides reaching up to 19 metres, Fiji’s first lazy river, Fiji’s first rooftop beach club with a 50-metre infinity pool, three dining concepts, a luxury spa, Fiji’s first dedicated facial bar, a Gold Class cinema, an adults-only retreat called Elysian, and a private vessel offering curated day-cruise experiences.
Gavoka confirms Sofitel Vatu Talei will create more than 400 new jobs and draw a generation of luxury travellers who have never previously considered Fiji.
He says in August this year, the organisation will open its own purpose-built 1,400 square-metre commercial laundry facility, creating a further 30 jobs and supporting operational excellence across the portfolio.
Gavoka says by the end of the fourth quarter, construction will begin on The Yavu Collective Academy, a dedicated institution for developing the next generation of Fijian hospitality professionals.
He says the Academy will train more than 200 young people annually.
Gavoka has emphasized that by early next year, the Yavu Collective is expected to become Fiji’s largest hotel operator.
He says this is a remarkable achievement, but more importantly, it reflects the confidence that investors, partners and industry leaders have in Fiji’s tourism future.
The Yavu Collective CEO Vincent Macquet says the Yavu Collective, a Fiji-registered company owned by BSP Life and Fiji Airways, continues to play a leading role in shaping the country’s tourism landscape.
He confirms that by 2027, the group is set to operate five resorts across Viti Levu, employing more than 1,300 people locally and contributing to the development of culturally grounded, design-led destinations.
Gavoka further says the national target is 1.25 million visitors and $4 billion in tourism earnings by 2027 and to reach that, we need 4,000 new hotel rooms.
He also confirms the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is exploring private island acquisitions in Fiji while Kerzner International is planning a six-star resort in the Yasawas.
He also says that Fiji’s 2026 economic growth forecast has been revised downward from 3 percent to 1.5 percent, reflecting global uncertainty rather than a loss of confidence in Fiji’s tourism sector.
He says the government’s focus remains strengthening destination competitiveness, improving connectivity, supporting communities, and implementing legislative reforms.
Gavoka adds that as global conditions stabilize, tourism will continue to play a central role in returning growth to its long-term trend.
