How Samoa’s Faleolo International Airport Lounge persevered and upgraded the business during the global pandemic

For international travellers seeking rest, relaxation and a quiet meal or drink, Samoa’s Faleolo International Airport Lounge is a haven.

Only just having opened the Samoan borders to the world, the business has had its fair share of struggles, including a  90 per cent reduction in business practically overnight in 2020.

General Manager Clayton Simamao won the contract to establish an airport lounge in early 2019. Working with his team, a stylish and welcoming space was created, providing amenities not available elsewhere in the airport. Targeting airlines and creating partnerships through successful networking ensured income and guest projections were quickly exceeded in the first few months of operation. 

Then the business faced several crises out of its control. The first major crisis and reduction in revenue happened during the measles epidemic in late 2019, quickly followed in 2020 by the Covid-19 pandemic, sending tourists fleeing to their home countries.

It was the last thing we expected, and something we definitely didn’t build into our projections! says Simamao.

Servicing just one flight a week throughout the pandemic, it was clear that staff numbers needed to be reduced. Reluctantly cutting staff from seven to three, Clayton worked with each of the redundant staff members to find them alternative employment, some now engaged in seasonal work in Australia or New Zealand, others employed in businesses of friends. 

Relying on savings and any Government support available, when Clayton heard about Business Link Pacific’s Adaptation Grant through colleagues, he jumped online and began the application process.

We were getting a bit desperate to be honest; we thought it’s better to try and fail than to not try. At least this way we had a chance at the grant,” he says.

Clayton found the process reasonably clear and simple, having prepared much of the documentation before setting up the Lounge. He was delighted when the grant was approved and extremely thankful to Business Link Pacific, not just for the grant, which “couldn’t have come at a better time” but for the additional support in the form of financial advice to rework projections and refine adaptation plans. 

The lounge needed better kitchen equipment, so the grant funds were put towards a new oven, gas burner and non-alcoholic bar stock, which is purchased by seasonal workers who still occasionally pass through the Lounge. Aware they are starting again from scratch, not that the business has fully reopened, the Lounge is now ready for take-off with its up-to-date kitchen and supplies.

I just want to say a big thank you – in these tough times we are just so thankful for the grant. It came just in time for the festive season sales which meant we were able to purchase more than we anticipated and were more than ready for the grand re-opening of Samoa!”

The first-class services provided at the lounge are inclusive of any business class seat purchase with Samoa Airways. Mr Simamao adds that all other Samoa Airways passengers could also access the Lounge for an extra one-off fee.

ENDS