SINCE opening its doors several years ago, Uprising Beach Resort has successfully tapped into an unknown market in Fiji’s tourist sector — sports tourism.
In recent years, the resort has become synonymous with rugby, especially the Fiji 7s team. The man behind the vision of shaping the resort into one of Fiji’s finest is resort owner Rene Munch.
As someone who keeps the community close to his heart, Mr Munch has been the driving force behind the property’s success.
So who exactly is Mr Munch? Let’s find out.
Q What inspires you to be the person that you are?
AMy Catholic faith inspires me. The responsibility and love I have for my children inspires me.
Q What would you describe as your passion in life and how are you going about realising it?
AMy passions in my life are my children. Being a single father is not easy but it is rewarding and life enriching.
Q Why did you go in this field?
AI didn’t expect to be in tourism. I did my degree in sport science, rugby coaching and strength and conditioning. I merely started Uprising as a means to create employment and a future for young people in my area. I was supposed to travel to France to continue my education and a career in rugby or coaching but that never eventuated. I saw I could do more good here for people who needed it and for my community and in a small way, my country.
Rugby coaching career highlights:
It has to be beating Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and a shadow England side with just my resort staff 7s team, sending more than 10 players to play professional rugby overseas from humble beginnings and having Fiji win the Hong Kong 7s in 2012 with two Uprising players playing a very influential role in the win.
Resort career highlights:
Uprising Beach Resort winning an award during the Fiji Excellence in Tourism Award for four years in a row and then again this year.
I am obsessed with … nothing
I can’t live without … God. It is human nature to desire love, truth, goodness and justice. God is love, God is truth itself, God is goodness and justice. He is the very source of finite existence itself. So I cannot live without Him.
I am proud of … I try not to use the word pride. I just say what gives me happiness and on a deeper level joy; my children, my family and the obstacles we overcome every day, my faith, the friendships I have, the love and support and hard work of my staff. Oh and of course, Fiji’s gold medal!
I look back and … am grateful for the life I have led and am hopeful and optimistic of what the future may hold.
I relax by … going to the gym and then playing touch at 5pm every day at the Uprising rugby field with the community youth.
I am excited about … travelling to France in June to check on all the boys I have sent to play rugby there. I enjoy catching up with them and I have yet to see some of them since they started their professional careers there such as Waisea Nayacalevu and his brother Avenisi (Vasuinubu), Metuisela (Talebula), (Kitione) Taliga, Christer Powell and a few others.
List of favourite things … skiing, travelling, food, health and fitness, water sports, culture, meeting like-minded people.
Opinion on the state of the world … I think the world is a beautiful and good place. The decisions and values of mankind are making it what it is today.
People are worried more about their rights (entitlement) than their responsibilities. I don’t bother too much with the news and world events.
So I can’t comment too much on more than that. But then again, how accurately informed are the “informed” when the informers have an agenda?
Mother always told me … and is still telling me 37 years later to listen to her as she knows best.
My attitude to exercise … I love exercise as it’s the release of negative energy I need after a long busy day and knowing the benefits it has on my body and health is why it’s important. In today’s world of staring at smartphones on the couch and looking at your imaginary friends on Facebook, people need exercise more than ever.
My relationship with my body … My body and I get along okay. It complains a little after a hard gym session by aching for a few days after but then it forgets about it and stops.
