A host of diverse hotels offer their trademark style of Seychelles hospitality.

A warm welcome and excellent customer service come as standard in Seychelles. Nestled in the tropics as it does, the small island country is home to natural beauty and a unique biodiversity that makes it a special choice for those wanting a break with a difference.

A diverse selection of good quality accommodations is a deciding factor in any vacation destination, and here too, Seychelles offers an impressive range of exquisite places to stay. As the global economic crisis makes its effects felt on Seychelles' tourism sector, hotels and resorts are looking to the east to increase their tourist numbers, and new developments are underway.

Eden Island

The Eden Island luxury villa and apartment development is now close to completion. A residential marina development located just a few meters from Mahé, Eden Island measures over 56 hectares and hosts exclusive freehold title homes that can be accessed via more than 16 hectares of private waterways. Exclusive properties for sale include one-to-three bedroom apartments, duplex mansions and luxury villas.

Built through a public private partnership, Eden Island sits proudly on the eastern shore of Mahé Island and is considered to be one of the island's most luxurious property developments. It will feature restaurants and bars, boutique shops, a supermarket and various service outlets. Residents can get about the sandy beaches using electrically powered vehicles or golf buggies, and the island's proximity to Seychelles jewels, such as La Digue, Praslin, Cerf and St Anne, makes island hopping a doable part of the daily routine.

Craig Heeger, the entrepreneur who had the vision and belief in Seychelles to invest at what was deemed a risky time, is clearly delighted with the country's transition.

"When I began the negotiations to launch the Eden Island project with the Seychelles government, the country and society were fundamentally different," he says. "Since then, the nation has made light-years worth of progress. The transition from that which existed in 2002, to the Seychelles you see in 2012 began in 2004, when the country was on its knees economically and politically. For us, as the developers, to come in at that time, we were forced to make many difficult decisions. The most important decision we took was to have faith in the future of the country. Many of our colleagues and other Seychellois believed that we were unwise to invest such a large amount of money in the Seychelles."

"We needed to be sure that we would not be treated like other investors had been treated. In the past, nationalization of property was commonplace. We negotiated an agreement whereby the security of tenure was guaranteed by the government, arbitrated in the UK, and where government had renounced its sovereign immunity.

"Over the last eight years we have been working with the government to help them see the benefits of their decision. Eden Island has played a positive role in enabling the government to make the changes that it had to make to meet the challenges of the New World order. The president himself has told us that Eden Island has played a positive role in the transformation. Over the past several years, I have been on many road shows with the government, where the changes initiated by us had been strongly promoted - from Paris, Dublin, New York, Brussels, all the way to South Africa. We are strong believers that this process will quickly gain momentum."

As with everything, "location, location, location" was the prime factor in building the paradise development.

"Eden Island was the area that was earmarked for five-star residential development. At the time, the project entailed a US$50 million investment by the government. The decision was unpopular at the time due to the size of the investment. Still, were it not for that difficult decision, none of the developments in and around Eden Island would have come to exist.

"We did an enormous amount of research, from water temperature and quality, and marine diversity, to global warming aspects, geomorphology of the area, environmental impacts and what architectural product would succeed here. The second success factor is that we were able to replicate the natural beauty found throughout the island, and on its beaches. The final critical success factor has been our simple yet meaningful sales pitch, which we adhere to in every aspect of Eden Island - we deliver at least what we promised."

World chains are also present on the island. Part of the private international Constance Hotels group, which has establishments in Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Maldives, the Constance Ephelia Resort in Mahé is situated on two of the most breathtaking beaches on the island, overlooking the marine national park of Port Launay.

With seven different types of accommodations, from luxury junior and senior suites to the super deluxe hillside villas perched on top of the northern hills of the resort, Ephelia is a mecca for families or couples looking for the ultimate beach holiday combined with a generous dash of luxury.

The beautiful hotel, run by Regional General Manager Philippe Guitton, is currently developing a package specially tailored to Chinese visitors. This will complement the four swimming pools, fully equipped gym, spa, tennis and squash courts and five boutiques already on offer. Boredom is not an option here.



Relax with Allied

Part of the Mauritius-based Kurjibhai Ramji Group, Allied's hotel business comprises the Le Relax Beach Resort on gorgeous Praslin Island. It is run by Managing Director Pravin V. Darad. Close to Grand Anse Beach, Anse Lazio Beach and Vallee De Mai Nature Reserve, the beautiful resort has 10 cozy rooms and opened in January 2005.

Situated on the blue-green Indian Ocean, next to Praslin Airport, the hotel was conceived to meet the increasing demand for three-star accommodation in Seychelles and to complement its sister concern in Mahé, Le Relax Hotel and Restaurant, at Anse Royale.

"The idyllic start to a day is the dawn with its rising sun as a backdrop to the Indian Ocean," Darad says. "Equally refreshing is dusk, with its cool sea breeze and the night bats bidding hello from the Fiscus Nautarum trees. The sunset is exceptionally beautiful.

"The hotel is in the vicinity of local shops, banks, churches, gas stations, public transport, medical clinic and discotheque, with casinos a 15 to 20 minute drive away.

"The Relax Beach Resort sets a luxurious interplay of contrasts between simplicity and comfort, long stretches of fine sandy beach, comfortable rooms, and a friendly entourage."