IT was a talk of the town in the Old Capital when the New Mavida Lodge hosted Prime Minister Rear Admiral (Ret) Voreqe Bainimarama and his wife Mary during their two-day trip to Levuka to launch the Taki Mai supplement kava drink.
Children were peeping through the gated accommodation and lined the road in front of the lodge waiting to see the PM.
The architectural structure of the lodge made it more attracting to enter especially when greeted with warm smiles from friendly staff members.
And according to the manager, Pasepa Seru, the lodge was always booked all year round.
The lodge is fast becoming a common stay-over for travellers and government officials visiting Levuka.
Location and history
The New Mavida Lodge is located on the northern end of Beach St overlooking the Levuka Harbour, Koro Sea and the Lomaiviti Group.
The site on which the building occupies was once part of the Binner Estate, which Reverend Binner of the Methodist Church lived and had his family home since the mid-1930s.
Rev Binner’s property was later purchased by Morris Hedstrom.
The building changed hands in the early 1970s after it was purchased by George Thomas and later operated as Mavida Lodge, providing budget accommodation for visitors in the early 1980s.
The New Mavida Lodge was constructed in 2005 to add a new dimension to the Levuka hospitality industry by offering different choices of accommodation for tourists, and locals. It offers 14 ensuite rooms.
“Our dormitory has 10 single beds with separate shower facilities for men and women.”
A cooked breakfast is also provided with fresh fruits, cereal, coffee or tea and chilled purified drinks available for guests.
Accommodation
On demand, the lodge has two ocean view rooms for $120 per night, which include breakfast and this was where the PM stayed.
The rooms are airconditioned with ceiling fan, hot and cold shower, coffee making facilities and panoramic views.
The lodge also has nine garden rooms at $80 per room, three cottage rooms at $60 and a dormitory with 10 single beds at $25.
All rooms are inclusive of breakfast.
Service
Ms Seru, who has been living in Levuka for many years, said they were happy to serve the PM.
“It was a pleasure serving the leader of this country at Mavida Lodge. It was the first for some of us to see the PM face-to-face and being part of his two-day stay here at the lodge was a big thing for us.
“Some of the children were outside peeping through the gates and wanted to shake hands with the PM.”
She said they had been working with other hotels and backpackers in Levuka to assist tourists and visitors at the island in terms of accommodation.
She said the lodge employed a few women from the nearby villages.
