Raffe Hotels & Resorts recently launched the Malolo Lailai Community Trust — a new initiative supporting and empowering surrounding communities in the region.
Raffe Hotels & Resorts is the parent company of Plantation Island Resort, Lomani Island Resort & Spa, and Fiji Gateway Hotel.
Plantation Island Resort and Lomani Island Resort & Spa are located on the community trust’s namesake island of Malolo Lailai in the Mamanuca Islands.
In a statement, the resort said the new trust would benefit communities by extending an opportunity to apply for funding through an application process and grant system, with funding focused on the five key pillars of education, health, environmental care, emergency relief and community wellbeing.
“The mission of the trust is to deliver targeted support where it’s needed most, building long-term resilience and fostering genuine, community-led partnerships,” Raffe Hotels & Resorts stated.
“The initiative also reflects Raffe Hotels & Resorts’ deep respect for Fijian culture and tradition, and its promise to honour and uplift its people, from the community to the workplace.”
Raffe Hotels & Resorts chief executive officer Lee Pearce said their guests often asked how they could give back to the communities that made their stay in Fiji so special.
“Their generosity has genuinely inspired us, and it’s one of the key reasons we established the trust,” Mr Pearce said.
“For years, our guests and staff have found ways to give back — from donating school supplies and installing solar power to assisting after cyclones and other weather events.
“The new Malolo Lailai Community Trust will now bring structure and sustainability to that generosity, ensuring support is delivered in a way that’s equitable, transparent, and genuinely led by the needs of our local communities,” he said.
Guests at all three resort properties have been invited to participate via a small, voluntary donation added to their bill (between $1-$10 per stay).
Each hotel will then match guest contributions dollar for dollar, effectively doubling the value of each donation.
These pooled funds will be distributed through a transparent grant system, and guests will receive periodic updates on how their donations are being used.
While this is the first time a formal charitable structure has been introduced, Raffe Hotels & Resorts has a long and active history of supporting its neighbouring communities.
Initiatives to date have focused on education, environmental restoration, health, and empowerment, with many led by the team at Plantation Island Resort.
Mr Pearce said those projects had already touched lives and created change.
“Now, with the trust in place, we can grow those efforts, scale them sustainably, and ensure local communities remain at the heart of every decision.”
The group is encouraging community leaders to apply for funding to support initiatives in 2026 that align with the trust’s five core pillars.
These include solar power for schools, infrastructure repairs, disaster recovery efforts, or programs that support health and wellbeing.
According to Mr Pearce, this marks an important new chapter in their journey of community partnership.
“With every stay, guests become part of something bigger, something that contributes directly to the health, education and wellbeing of the people who make Fiji the place we all love.
“Together, we can ensure this support is not only meaningful, but sustainable for generations to come.”
Raffe Hotels & Resorts created this not-for-profit initiative to support the local Mamanuca communities and beyond, and it is funded through guest donations and matched dollar-for-dollar by the resort.
