Born and raised in Mauritius, Stéphane's career spans over two decades, with significant roles in sales, marketing, and property development. His tenure at Beachcomber has been characterized by a commitment to excellence, sustainability, and innovation, driving the company forward as a leader in luxury hospitality. Under his leadership, Beachcomber has launched numerous initiatives to enhance the guest experience, promote sustainability, and foster a people-first culture among its dedicated team of Artisans.
In this interview, Stéphane delves into his journey, highlighting pivotal moments that shaped his career, focusing on his transformative leadership at Beachcomber, and shares his vision for the future of this leading luxury hospitality group.
Hello Stéphane, could you please introduce yourself and give us an overview of your professional background, particularly what led you to join Beachcomber as CEO?
I am 45 years old, proudly born and raised in Mauritius, with a profound love for my country. I am married and have two sons, aged 23 and 19. After completing my secondary education, I pursued further studies in Western Australia for four years before returning to Mauritius. I spent the first decade of my career in Sales & Marketing within the agro-industry, working for the Eclosia group, and subsequently moved to the Medine group, where I worked in property development for another ten years.
In August 2018, I joined New Mauritius Hotels Limited (NMH), the owner of the Beachcomber brand, to lead the setting up and listing of Semaris Ltd, a property development company, which I managed for five years. Throughout this period, I closely collaborated with the executive team of Beachcomber and was part of its executive committee, actively contributing to the Group’s strategic decisions. In 2022, I was officially appointed by the Board to succeed the previous CEO, Gilbert Espitalier-Noël, who is now our chairman. On a broader note, I have always been passionate about the hospitality sector, and the Beachcomber Group has held a special place in my heart, since my youth. Its unique sites, rich legacy of excellence, pioneering spirit, commitment to making a positive impact on communities, and most importantly its exceptional team of Artisans renowned for their legendary hospitality, have always inspired me. Today, it is a privilege for me to lead this Group.
As CEO, what is your strategic vision for positioning Beachcomber sustainably among the leaders in luxury hospitality in Mauritius and the region?
Our strategic vision is built on three main pillars: putting our people-first, continuously improving our guest experience, and having sustainability at heart.
In an industry that thrives on human connections, supporting the personal and professional growth of our Artisans is essential. We are dedicated to nurturing our people-first culture. In line with this commitment, we introduced in 2022, our Artisan Value Proposition, ‘Feel the Happiness you Give’. Several projects have been implemented to enhance the working environment and enrich the Artisan experience at work. Our employer brand campaign, launched in 2023, Faces of Happiness, also aligns perfectly with this approach.
Enhancing our guest experience remains our top priority. With eight resorts across Mauritius, Beachcomber Resorts & Hotels is renowned for its service excellence and commitment to exceeding guest expectations. Last December, the first edition of the Beachcomber Annual Forum, which brought together our local and foreign teams, focused entirely on improving guest experience. Several initiatives are in progress. We have also developed a five-year plan to refurbish our resorts, collaborating with local architects and interior designers as well as international F&B concept specialists to assist us with the latest trends while keeping our Mauritian DNA. We are also presently undertaking a digital transformation across our Group, which entails a change in our organisational structure. This digitalisation journey will allow us to leapfrog and focus on several initiatives to make both our guest and Artisan experiences more seamless and enjoyable. Our people are at the heart of our business and providing them with the appropriate tools and insights, based on well-structured data will assist them in achieving service excellence.
Sustainable development is at the heart of our corporate strategy. In 2024, we celebrate several milestones: our entry into the Stock Exchange of Mauritius Sustainability Index (SEMSI), the 25th anniversary of the Fondation Espoir Développement (FED), and the EarthCheck Gold certification for our head office and eight hotels. This EarthCheck Gold certification, an unprecedented achievement in the Mauritian hotel industry, recognises Beachcomber's continuous sustainability efforts and longstanding commitment to environmental and social best practices. These accomplishments affirm that we are on the right track while reminding us that the journey ahead is ongoing.
Furthermore, our 52 Commitments Environmental and Social Charter, based on eight pillars – Water, Energy, Waste, Biodiversity, Community Development, Responsible Sourcing, Artisans, and Guests – guides our efforts in promoting sustainable development across all aspects of our operations.
How would you describe Mauritian hospitality? What makes it unique and how do you cultivate it within the Beachcomber Group?
Mauritius is a leading destination in the Indian Ocean, celebrated not only for its breathtaking beauty, but also for its rich cultural heritage. Above all, our island’s true charm and uniqueness lie in the hospitality and warmth of its people. Mauritians will go out of their way to make guests feel at home. Few destinations in the world offer this incredible combination of nature, culture, and an unparalleled sense of hospitality.
At Beachcomber, our brand is built on the promise of creating happiness and unforgettable experiences for our guests. This brand promise, deeply rooted in the distinctive Mauritian hospitality, is expressed through our exclusive Beachcomber Experiences. For example, our signature shows called ‘Wild Island’ and ‘Tropical India’, pay tribute to our rich musical heritage. Ravann workshops hosted by local artists enable guests learn to play this traditional musical instrument. The Beautiful Neighbours encounters offer authentic moments of sharing between Mauritian children from nearby villages and our young guests, while the Beautiful Story moments immerse guests in the island’s history, culture & heritage, and our gastronomic journeys highlight the unique flavours of Mauritian cuisine.
In your opinion, what are the essential qualities that a luxury hospitality professional must possess to provide an exceptional experience to guests?
Unwavering dedication and a genuine passion for people are essential qualities. The hospitality industry is fundamentally about serving others. At its core, it is people taking care of people and it is important to remember that providing exceptional experience to guests begins with taking care of our employees. I firmly believe that when our team feels valued and happy, it is reflected in the service we provide to our guests.
Also, keeping up to date with the latest tendencies worldwide and ensuring our offering is adapted to the market needs is essential. At Beachcomber we have a very strong Mauritian DNA, and we insist on keeping our roots embedded in everything we do, while drawing inspiration from current trends.
Proper maintenance of a resort is also key to providing an exceptional experience to our guests. This includes ensuring that hotel facilities and landscaping are spotless at all times and that essential services such as water, electricity, air conditioning, and technical equipment operate smoothly.
In essence, I believe that a luxury hospitality professional should dedicate an important part of his/her day being on site and ensuring everything runs smoothly for both guests and employees.
What has been your biggest challenge in terms of human resource management in the Mauritian hotel sector, and how did you overcome it?
The significant shortage of staff is undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges. This concern is not unique to Mauritius but resonates across the global hospitality industry. Our challenge is to engage and inspire young talents to choose careers in the hotel sector. It is essential that we continue raising awareness about the vast range of career opportunities available, guiding our Artisans on a journey for example from a waiter to a Hotel Manager.
In that regard, Beachcomber launched its employer brand campaign, Faces of Happiness in August 2023. The campaign promotes the personal and professional growth of Beachcomber Artisans by highlighting the possible career paths within the Group. Recently, Beachcomber, alongside nine other industry peers introduced a nationwide campaign “Les Métiers de l’Hôtellerie”, which showcases the fantastic career options in the hospitality sector. Running until December on print media, digital platforms, and radio, we are proud to be part of this collective effort aiming to attract new talents in the hotel industry.
This major challenge cannot be overcome easily, and we are continuously focusing our efforts on it, not only to recruit new talents but also to retain our existing Artisans.
Can you tell us about a key project or initiative you have recently launched to enhance the excellence of the guest experience at Beachcomber hotels?
In the coming weeks, we will be launching a broad initiative centred around our corporate values, aiming to further unite our teams towards leadership excellence.
Our ambition is to redefine our existing values and translate them into specific behaviours that we expect from our Artisans. Based upon these desired behaviours, we will develop distinct leadership modules that will be diffused throughout our organisation for adoption by everyone across the Group. I truly believe that by living those values and cultivating those behaviours at all levels, we will further strengthen team bonding, maintain warmth and hospitality, and address critical issues such as the integration of the new generation of Artisans in our resorts and promoting professional growth.
What are your strategic priorities for the coming months to continue positioning Beachcomber among the leaders in luxury in Mauritius?
We will clearly keep on focusing on the three pillars which I mentioned earlier: putting our people-first, continuously improving our guest experience, and having sustainability at heart.
On top of that, we have an exciting new hotel project in the pipeline for Mauritius, Harmonie Beachcomber Golf Resort, our 9th resort on the west coast. This 200-key, 4-star resort, featuring a spectacular 18-hole golf course, is scheduled to open by the end of 2026.
As a CEO with a multisectoral background, how does your diverse experience help you bring a distinctive vision to the hotel group?
My background in marketing and real estate and the fact that I am an all-rounder, with genuine interest in all the activities of an enterprise such as finance, operations, HR, marketing, sales and IT, are undoubtedly valuable for my position. However, I believe that what is helping me the most is my connection with people and my ability to build strong relationships based on trust with my colleagues. I cherish having a team of seasoned professionals working around me. Bringing everyone together towards the common goals and shared priorities, which have been elaborated over the last few years is much easier when trust and respect are at the heart of our professional relationships.
If you had to give just one piece of advice to someone wanting to work in luxury hospitality, what would it be?
Smile, care for others, walk the talk and always lead by example.
