Industry treat in ‘paradise’

Manuia Beach Resort is run by the Vinsen family and they are looking forward to getting back to business with a travel bubble between New Zealand and the Cook Islands due to open on May 17.

David Vinsen, chief executive of the Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA), and his three brothers have owned the property since buying it out of receivership just over 10 years ago.

The brothers have been involved in the automotive industry for more than 40 years with car and motorcycle dealerships in New Zealand and Rarotonga.

Now the Cook Islands is being included in New Zealand’s “bubble” for travel, David says they want to kick-start the re-opening of the business and they are offering industry colleagues a special deal. Anyone who books accommodation at the resort directly through him will receive a complementary rental vehicle for the duration of their stay.

“We invested in hospitality in the Cook Islands with cars, motorcycles and a couple of resorts about 10 years ago,” he explains.

“For the past 12 months we have absolutely hit the wall with no business at all because the Cook Islands are almost 100 per cent dependent on tourism.

“We’ve kept all our staff on, refurbished the place, resurfaced the pool and now we’re pleased to reopen for business as the Cook Island bubble opens.

“It’s a tropical paradise and we wanted to do a decent deal for people in the motor industry because they deserve it.”

The adults-only destination features 24 units and an award-winning restaurant called On the Beach.