The Rosie Travel Group that operates the brands – Rosie Holidays, Rosie Events, Rosie Outsourcing and Malolo Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort under its resort division Ahura Resorts – took home top honours at the 2025 ANZ Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards on February 28.
A family-owned business established in 1974 provides jobs to more than 600 people.
Last year it serviced more than 200,000 international visitors, the iconic brand won the 2025 Inbound and Transport Operators, the 2025 Cultural Tourism Champion for Rosie Holiday’s Eroni Bole and 2025 Accommodation Deluxe (less than 50 rooms) award for Malolo Island Resort.
The winning formula
After another successful outing at this year’s FETA, company managing director Tony Whitton shared the driving force behind their company’s success.
“What we try to encourage in our staff is to work out their ‘why’,” said Mr Whitton.
“Why do you come to work?
“And what drives our business is the belief that for every 11 visitors that come whether Rosie meets them at the airport, or they come to Malolo or Likuliku, our people know that somewhere in Fiji one person is going to have a full-time job directly because of tourism and be able to put food on their table and two other people are going to indirectly benefit from that.
“So, once you understand that this is not just a job, this is a passion.”
Mr Whitton said these awards were a recognition of the hard work and dedication of their people.
“Tonight was a recognition of the amazing work that they do and the contribution that they make to excellence.
“Rosie Holidays picked up Inbound and Transport Operator of the year, we had our resort division which is Malolo Island Resort that is now going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame because they’ve won Best Luxury Resort Deluxe Accommodation (Under 50 Rooms) for three years in succession and of course, we have Mr Eroni Bole Bale who is truly a champion of our industry.”
Joining an elite group, Malolo Island Resort will only be the sixth company to win an award for three consecutive years.
This significant milestone inducts the resort and its affiliates into the Fiji Excellence in Tourism Awards Hall of Fame which celebrates outstanding organisations and individuals from within the industry.
Mr Whitton said a Hall of Fame induction was a big deal for Rosie Travel Group and Ahura Resorts as only four companies have been inducted into the Hall of Fame making Malolo Island Resort the sixth.
“To get into the Hall of Fame you have to win the same award three times in a row. A hard feat to achieve.”
Rich history
“These awards have been an immense expression of our joy, but we never forget why we are in this business.
“Our business started 52 years ago in 1974,” said Mr Whitton.
“When my parents started Rosie Tours then it was built on this tremendous belief that tourism could lift every Fijian out of poverty.
“We are continuing that 52 years later with employment and now we see that not only in the social, economical but environmental wellbeing with our rural conservation foundation.”
He said decades later they have been able to provide sustainable livelihoods for Fijians by focusing not only on their social and economic wellbeing, but also on the protection of the environment.
“We are making big moves through our Rural Ahura Resorts Conservation Foundation.
At least in the last eight years we have already committed to reforestation planted over 10,000 dry forest trees efforts both on Likuliku Lagoon Resort and Malolo Island Resort.
We have close to about a thousand reef stars and we operate our kindergarten in Yaro village.
“A lot of our development and growth in this area might be invisible, but you will see the results in five or six years as we partner with our resource owners, in education grants, as we partner with them and to bring them into managerial positions and develop our dry forests and our reefs. So that is something we are really excited about.”
Path to zero emissions
Mr Whitton also highlighted one of the company’s 2025 highlights milestones – the introduction of a fleet of fully electric tourist buses coaches through a $2 million investment.
“We are the only company that is really investing in this electric journey where our vehicles are now being powered by the sun.
“We can actually tell that story to our international visitors that we no longer have to go and get carbon-based fuel or line up at fuel stations.
“Now with our transformative energy and investment in greener transportation, it is a wonderful story that we get tell everyone.”
During the launch in August, last year, Rosie Travel Group General Manager Eroni Puamau said the journey to acquiring electric vehicles began in 2022.
“After thorough evaluations, we selected Bonluck Bus and Coach Group (BLK), part of the giant conglomerate China Hi-Tech Group Corporation (CHTC), to manufacture and deliver our next-generation zero-emission electric coaches.
“The president series is one of the world’s most advanced all-new wide-body coach liners, providing a zero pollution, quiet and smooth ride for our customers along with touch-screen navigation control for our drivers.
“The coaches feature advanced battery-electric technology, fast charging with a 300-kilometre range, ample luggage space, and luxurious interiors designed to Australian standards.”
Rosie Holidays Managing Director Tony Whitton, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka and Rosie Holidays General Manager Eroni Puamau.
Picture: ROSIE HOLIDAYS
Rosie Team cere ceremony. Picture: ROSIE HOLIDAYS
Rosie Holidays EV fleet coaches arriving at Sheraton Fiji Golf and Beach Resort in Denarau Nadi. Picture: ROSIE HOLIDAYS
