Réunion brings adventure to conferences

RÉUNION is positioning itself as a distinctive MICE destination, combining modern conferencing facilities with a strong adventure tourism offering that sets it apart from other Indian Ocean destinations. “Adventure activities are a central pillar of our MICE offering. They are fully accessible to conference groups, with operators experienced in welcoming participants of all levels and adapting experiences to the desired format – half-day, full- day, team building, evening,” said Hélène Bezuidenhoudt, who heads up South African trade relations for Réunion Island. Réunion’s landscape is a combination of an active volcano, lush highlands, forests and coastal lagoon all within an hour’s drive, providing a strong emphasis on nature, adventure and exploration. “While Mauritius and Seychelles excel in beach- led MICE and insular luxury, Réunion delivers a more immersive and active experience, ideal for incentive programmes seeking adventure, nature and authenticity,” said Bezuidenhoudt. Popular activities Réunion offers more than 70 outdoor activities across air, land and sea. The most sought-after experiences for conference groups are:  Lava tube caving: A unique experience at the heart of Piton de la Fournaise, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Groups explore underground galleries formed by ancient lava flows, accompanied by specialist guides.  Helicopter flight: View the island from above, including the volcano and the cirques of Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos – a mountainous Unesco Heritage Site.  Paragliding in Saint-Leu: Available as tandem flights for beginners.  Hike to Piton de la Fournaise: An accessible active volcano offering a unique geological experience.  Canyoning in the valleys of Cilaos and Salazie.  Whale-watching and swimming with Humpback whales (June to October).  Diving, snorkelling, kitesurfing and paddle boarding in Ermitage lagoon.  Catamaran cruises for groups of 14 to 18 passengers.  4×4 excursion into the Cirque of Mafate with a lunch hosted by local families.  Giant zipline, electric mountain biking, quad and buggy rides on the volcano trails. Adventure experiences are integrated into conference programmes, such as half- day experiences between work meetings, discovery days as pre- or post-event tours, themed evenings such as cocktails at the summit of Maïdo, and full incentive itineraries combining adventure, gastronomy and culture. Bookings Agents can book activities for conference groups through Île de La Réunion Tourisme (IRT), the official destination management body, which can direct enquiries to certified operators and support programme design. “Specialist DMCs accredited on the destination deliver end- to-end engineering of business stays – transfers, accommodation, activities and catering. IRT can provide a list of partner DMCs on request,” said Bezuidenhoudt. Conference facilities Réunion offers a four- and five-star hotel portfolio with MICE infrastructure, including:  Radisson Hotel Saint- Denis: a recent addition, with modern, fully equipped meeting rooms.  Ness by D-Ocean: a contemporary property combining lifestyle hospitality with dedicated meeting facilities, suited for seminars, incentives and corporate retreats.  LUX* Saint Gilles: several modular meeting rooms, with capacity reaching approximately 250 delegates, and outdoor spaces for cocktails and gala evenings.  Le Palm Hotel & Spa: a dedicated conference centre with modular rooms and panoramic ocean-view terraces.  Mercure Créolia: seminar rooms close to Roland Garros International Airport.  Hôtel Le Récif: a beachfront property facing the lagoon, with meeting rooms and outdoor spaces for seminars, cocktails and themed events. Dedicated convention centres such as Téat Champ Fleuri, Nordev in Saint-Denis and the Cité des Arts for larger-scale events (1 000+ delegates). Réunion is visa free for South Africans for stays of up to 90 days. Air Austral offers three weekly direct flights between Johannesburg and Saint-Denis.