BLP Subsidy assists Waya Lailai Ecohaven Resort achieve best business practices
“Business profits hadn’t materialised immediately after our initial set up, yet after continuous engagements with Business Link Pacific, our road to gradual success has never been clearer.”
This is the experience of Losalini Ratugolea, co-manager of Waya Lailai Ecohaven Resort in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji.
We meet a lot of small business owners who are unclear about the financial and strategic planning aspects of their growing enterprise, and need support to get them on the right track. By connecting growing businesses with BLP approved local advisors, we are providing the tools necessary for successful business management and growth.
Located at the southern end of the Yasawa Islands in Fiji, Waya Lailai Ecohaven Resort is a 100% Fijian operated business, owned by the local villagers of Wayasewa Island.
Just over 25 years ago, the Wayasewa community ventured into the tourism accommodation business when village elders agreed to form a company and operate a resort for backpackers using the existing structures of an abandoned school compound.
The refurbished property offers visitors Fijian-style accommodation, with 12 bures (wood & straw huts) and 2 dormitories accompanied by local attractions such as mountain hiking, snorkelling with reef sharks, coral reef diving, village tours and handline fishing trips.
In addition to providing much needed employment for the islanders, profits from Waya Lailai are reinvested back into Wayasewa assisting locals with housing developments, education and church maintenance.
The resort is co-managed by husband and wife team, Viliame and Losalini Ratugolea and although the business has been operating for many years, it is still in the process of establishing professional operational procedures.
In 2018, Viliame and Losalini were connected with Qavio Consulting, a BLP approved and accredited business advisor who assisted the owners in getting their business accounts up to the correct standards. Qavio conducted professional reporting of their annual financial records, and advised on tax compliance and other essential financial management aspects.
“Due to the nature of our resort business, Qavio Consulting recommended that we apply to be a part of the Business Link Pacific network and we have never regretted accepting and also in being ably assisted by their subsidy scheme via our advisor,” says Viliame Ratugolea.
Both Viliame and Losalini agree that many growing small-medium sized businesses such as Waya Lailai need assistance to evolve their business to suit current market and technological trends, to keep up with updated Government regulations, and for establishing a proper understanding between community expectations and business viability.
“After 25 years since we started our business, we are now evolving our business systems to ensure our business complies with all necessary regulatory and statutory requirements and Qavio Consulting have truly helped us with this,” explains Losalini.
She also revealed that growing businesses like Waya Lailai typically cannot afford professional accounting and financial management services and so Qavio’s advisory services made possible through the BLP programme, is the perfect solution.
In any business, it helps when its administrators are multi-skilled and Losalini is grateful to Qavio Consulting for having assisted in enhancing their confidence to handle product development, marketing, negotiation, compliance and strategy more effectively.
“If something doesn’t work, try a new option that works and most importantly of all, NEVER GIVE UP, no matter your circumstance because there are professionals like Qavio Consulting, who are only a phone call away to help turn your luck around.”
Qavio Consulting is a BLP approved Partner and part of the BLP advisor network. If you’re interested in gaining access to subsidised quality business advice, like Viliame and Losalini, get started by taking the free online Business Health Check or contact your BLP in-country representative.