Tokatoka Nakelo’s Firm Decisions BEnEfit FuturE Of Members

The Totatoka Nakelo of Viseisei Village in Lautoka, said to be the first indigenous landowning unit in Fiji to fully own a four-star resort, ,continued their success story last Saturday.

The opening of the Nakelo Treasure Island Resort and Spa’s new modern office and bulk store in Lautoka, is a great example of how local landowners can be successful, if their business are run the right way.

From its humble beginnings they forfeited royalty payments to instead acquire one-third shares of the then Treasure Island Resort.

The other two-thirds, being owned by a marketing company Islands in the Sun Fiji Limited, which operated the former Hunts Travel and one of Fiji’s pioneer tourism icons, the late Dan Costello, who owned Beachcomber Island, just a stone’s throw away.

Nakelo Pte. Limited, the commercial arm of the clan later purchased more shares, owning 50 per cent and last year became sole owner after buying out the other shares from businessman and tourism company owner, Bill Whiting.

The new office speaks volumes of how far the Tokatoka (Family unit in a clan) has come and how they have not interfered with the decisions made by their company.

Too many times we see landowning units and many local private enterprises’ companies slip under through mismanagement and interference in the running of the company.

The tokatoka’s approach to business has been professional for the simple reason that they realise the immense potential and increasing benefits to its members.

Presently, their company is identifying members from within their tokatoka and providing them professional training with the future outlook of having their own people fully operating the resort.

General manager, Jim Saukuru, has outlined future developments that were going to be carried out with an estimated investment of $1.1 million.

This is on top of the $1.2 million they had recently spent on some developments and refurbishment already carried out.

To achieve this highlights one important aspect and that is the unity understanding, trust and respect for each other and their company that was being displayed by the members of Tokatoka Nakelo.

Infighting, jealousy and interference will only lead to the demise of the business and continuing animosity among tokatoka members.

The smile on every face of the Tokatoka Nakelo members on Saturday depicted the unity and satisfaction of achievement of yet another milestone in their journey.

Re-branding the name from Treasure Island, a name synonymous among the tourism industry, as one of Fiji’s pioneer resorts over the years to Nakelo Treasure Island Resort and Spa Fiji is a bold move.

It shows the new direction they want their property to take and the new heights that they want to achieve in years to come.

Congratulations Tokatoka Nakelo.