ORIGINALLY from Taveuni, Alusio Raivalita has been working in the country’s tourism and hospitality industry for more than 20 years.
Every day is both a challenge and an adventure, something the hard worker handles very well.
He started his career as a butler at the Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau in Nadi before transitioning to the food & beverage department.
Today, the 55-year-old is the head of food and beverage at the Coral View Resort on Tavewa Island in Yasawa.
“I worked as a butler in the 90s before joining the food and beverage department at Coral View Resort,” he said.
He found out that one of the advantages of working in F&B, was enriching one’s personal and professional growth. But his best experience of all was getting the rare opportunity to meet new people each single day and learning their cultures.
“With the food and beverage department, especially at the bar, you learn new things every day and I get to meet tourists from all over the world,” he said.
“Food and beverage is a great field to work in, whether you are at the bar or in the restaurant.”
Mr Raivalita said it took a lot of sacrifice and hard work to progress in his field especially when its setting was on an island.
“I miss home, especially my family,” he said.
“But as you go on, you gain a lot of new things and for me, it has really been an exciting journey.”
“My work has a real authentic Fijian experience, and it’s not like other resorts that are modernised. It is a real Fijian resort.
“The guests enjoy staying at Coral View, especially the activities offered at the resort and the delicious meals they eat.”
