Matava finalist in 2 categories for AON Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards 2008

KADAVU, FIJI ISLANDS - 10th February 2008 - Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort was proud to be nominated in 2 categories, and was chosen as a finalist in both categories in the AON Excellence in Tourism Awards.

Bite Me Gamefishing Charters was a finalist in the Adventure Tourism Award and Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort was a finalist in the Quality Accommodation Award. The annual Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards night sponsored by AON was held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island on 6th February 2009, and attended by Matava Director, Stuart Gow. Many local tourism operators and business people attended the evening presentations. This year there was over a thousand nominees in the 12 categories.

The Adventure Tourism Award was won by our friends at Adrenaline Watersportsand the Quality Accommodation Award was won by Matava's normal airport transfer hotel the ACCOR Group's Mercure Hotel in Nadi. The annual Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards night sponsored by AON was held at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island on 6th February 2009, and attended by Matava Director, Stuart Gow. Many local tourism operators and business people attended the evening presentations. This year there was over a thousand nominees in the 12 categories.

The Adventure Tourism Award was won by our friends at Adrenaline Watersportsand the Quality Accommodation Award was won by Matava's normal airport transfer hotel the ACCOR Group's Mercure Hotel in Nadi. "Although we missed out in winning this year's awards we are proud to have been nominated as finalists in both categories amongst such high calibre competition and collegues" said Mr Richard Akhtar, Matava's Managing Director.

Mr Akhtar finished by saying "Congratulations to both Adrenaline Watersports and Mercure Nadi in their achievements this year. The improvements made, and standards set by Mr Rhys Martin, General Manager Mercure, converted us to start using the hotel in the past year as our Nadi transfer hotel, so we feel this is an award well deserved by Rhys and his team. Well done!"

Captain Adrian Watt of Bite Me Gamefishing Charters congratulated Mr Ben Dogget, Director of Adrenaline South Pacific and operator of the excellent gamefishing boats MV Opulence, MV Synergy and MV Katchalot for their award.

"It is fantastic to see that gamefishing is getting recognized in Fiji for the excellence it provides in service to our clients. Gamefishing in Fiji has long been overlooked internationally with countries like Tonga and Vanuatu gaining a lot more press. At last Fiji is being recognised alongside these destinations as a world class fishery for tournament species like Blue Marlin, Black Marlin, Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo and Dogtooth Tuna"

IGFAHe concluded by showing the good natured competitive spirit between the two fishing charter companies "As the only 2 IGFA Weigh Stations in the Fiji Islands Bite Me Gamefishing Charters and Adrenaline represent the premium gamefishing experiences in the country. To be a finalist in an Adventure Tourism award category alongside Adrenaline was an honour, and we look forward to competing with them to see who can break the most fishing records in the coming year. We're standing at 24 Fiji national records on Bite Me, where are you now? Kapena, let the games begin!" The AON Excellence in Tourism Awards are not only to recognize excellence, special effort and initiative but to act as an incentive for the local community of all races to enter the tourism industry and so the Land Owners in particular feel that they are real partners of Fiji's largest employer and major foreign exchange earner.

Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, is an eco adventure getaway offering you a fun and unique blend of cultural experiences and adventure activities in the environmentally pristine and remote island of Kadavu in the Fiji Islands. Matava offers accommodation for up to 22 guests in lush tropical surroundings in traditional thatched Fijian 'bures' with hardwood polished floors, louvre windows and private decks offering privacy, comfort and superb ocean views

Bite-Me Gamefishing Charters is our on-site IGFA game fishing specialists offering the best of superb record breaking blue water game fishing for tuna, wahoo, sailfish and marlin.

www.Matava.com www.Scuba-Diving-Fiji.com www.GamefishingFiji.com # # # For Immediate Release Contact: Richard Akhtar 679 333 6222 Matava- Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort

Contributed by Richard Akhtar added 2009-02-21