EVEN though he has his hands full managing one of the country’s most popular family retreats, Peter Hopgood has taken on the challenge of encouraging Sigatoka to be more community and environmentally friendly.
Apart from steering Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort & Spa as general manager, Mr Hopgood has also taken a keen interest in uplifting the lives of the local community by improving access to quality healthcare and improved education facilities.
When he first took the reins at the Korotogo property in 2009, Mr Hopgood initiated a scheme where children in 168 schools in the Nadroga Province were given green shopping bags.
“I gave it to every kid to take home to their parents to be used instead of plastic bags,” he shared.
One of the most pleasing things to Mr Hopgood is that the green bags are still being used today.
The inaugural Tourism Leader winner at the ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards this year said littering was a continuous issue for the Coral Coast but he remained determined to continue the battle.
As head of the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association Coral Coast Chapter and general manager of Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort, Mr Hopgood has played an integral role in piloting a number of very successful initiatives. As head of the resort, he has spearheaded the construction of the $200,000 Conua Village meeting and school hall in the Sigatoka Valley by piloting a scheme where guests paid to be part of the construction process.
At present, construction has started on an $80,000 kindergarten at Conua District School using the same “voluntourism” scheme. The resort also brings in 20 international professional eye surgeons each year.
The eye specialists help restore sight for between 80 and 100 people during every trip.
Another project the Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort plays a huge role in is teaching children how to swim.
And every year, former champion Australian swimmer Shane Gould is invited as a guest of the resort to teach village children, who have to cross the Sigatoka River to get to school, how to swim.
Mr Hopgood said drowning was a serious issue for Fiji and every little step towards driving down the death toll was a step in the right direction.
Also, as head of the Coral Coast Chapter, Mr Hopgood has played a lead role in fundraising and constructing a brand new maternity ward at the Sigatoka Hospital.
The chapter includes Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort & Spa, Warwick Fiji, The Naviti Resort, and Fiji Hideaway Resort & Spa.
