New Seychelles hotel opens for bookings

"The Eden Bleu Hotel is probably best described as edgy. It's a distinctly different and slightly provocative hotel for The Seychelles. We're equally able to host a conference for 340 delegates or a family about to embark on sailing holiday around the islands," explained Peter Smith, marketing director, Eden Island Development Company.

The hotel is built on Eden Island, a residential and commercial marina development 100 metres off the coast of Mahé. As well as its proximity to the airport and Victoria, it offers easy access to Eden Island's international marina, making it an ideal point of departure for yacht charters or to other islands.

It is also adjacent to Eden Plaza, Seychelles' only purpose-built retail centre with its shops, boutiques, diving, and boat charter operators as well as banking and medical facilities.

The hotel's airy public areas lead to a sun deck and rim-flow pool, providing views of the marina and Mahé's granitic mountains. The guest floors are accessed by lift or an exquisite, handcrafted wooden staircase zigzagging up from the lobby. There are three room types, including 74 deluxe rooms, 12 luxury suites and a presidential suite.

Views of the marina and Eden Island

The furnishings and finishes are modern and understated and the rooms, offering views of the marina and Eden Island, come with all the usual comforts associated with a contemporary hotel room. These include a workstation with international plug sockets, a tea and coffee station with a Nespresso machine, a mini-bar fridge, large bathroom and separate shower, lounge area and 24-hour room service.

There is a Wi-Fi system offering the fastest connections on the island and in-room Apple TV. This special hospitality version enables guests to play music, videos and other material from their devices on the 42-inch LED television, as well as access online content, the internet and hotel services. The televisions are mounted on extendable, hinged brackets so they can be viewed from anywhere in the room.

Digital concierge

Another hi-tech innovation accessible TV system is a digital concierge. This interactive interface can be downloaded to a smartphone or other mobile device before arrival and provides a full-spectrum of hotel services, island activities and anything else a guest could conceivably need to know. It isn't just a repository for information, but a dynamic tool that can be used for everything from booking boat charters or beach trips to ordering room service or extra towels.

The digital innovations aren't confined to the rooms. Leading off the entrance foyer is the most technologically advanced conferencing space in the Indian Ocean islands. It has no conventional drop-down screens or data projectors. Instead the conference centre is equipped with three high-definition LED screens, to which presentations, HD video and other content can be broadcast wirelessly.

Besides the visual quality, the other advantage of this technology is that, unlike normal projectors, the screens aren't light sensitive, so delegates don't need to sit in the dark. It also means plenty of natural light can be used, enhancing the capaciousness of the high-ceilinged space, making it a versatile venue for anything from a product launch to a wedding reception.

Conference centre

The conference centre can accommodate 340 guests theatre-style and is sufficiently large to seat 250 banquet-style, with space for a dance floor. It can also be divided into two separate soundproof rooms, allowing different events to take place simultaneously.

Across a large public area, suitable for registration, displays or serving cocktails and canapés, is a business centre with workstations as well as four meeting rooms. There is a small boardroom that seats eight, two others which can accommodate 14 people and a large boardroom that can comfortably take 18 people. Again the technology is state-of-the-art with a touchpanel, smartboard which can be interfaced with a laptop or other devices. Notes taken on the smartboard can be emailed directly from the screen.

The ground floor area is also home to the Marlin Bleu Restaurant and Bourgeois Bar, which lead out to the Empereur Terrace, all of which take their monikers from some of the Seychelles' favourite fish species. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch.

The restaurant, bar and terrace are all served from a show kitchen designed by celebrated South African chef, Luke Dale-Roberts and the menus feature many local ingredients and generous Creole-inspired dishes with a sophisticated touch.

There are also extensive conference and banqueting menus with buffet lunch and dinner options including choices of up six starters and salads, six main courses, four vegetables and nine desserts.

The selection ranges from traditional favourites, such as cold cuts, to locally sourced ingredients, such as banana and mango. Banqueting options can include a ceviche bar or action buffets, where chefs cook to order.

Top team

A top international team has been assembled to open the hotel. It includes food and beverage director, Jean Marie Dubos. In a career spanning nearly 25 years, Dubos has served as the Food and Beverage Director of the Ritz, Arabella Starwood's Palma de Mallorca and for all of Hilton's European properties.

"We have a top team, a fantastic location, the latest in-room and conferencing technology and, above all, the flexibility to be able to host a conference, product launch or wedding, a yacht crew stopping over or holidaymakers looking for somewhere wonderful to start or end their Seychelles' experience," said Smith.

The Eden Bleu Hotel can be booked on all four of the major GDS systems on property chain code YX62596. Alternatively, reservations can be made by emailing moc.uelbnede@snoitavreser or calling +24 (0)84 399100.