The Association des Hôteliers et Restaurateurs de l’île Maurice (AHRIM) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, at Trou aux Biches Beachcomber, in the presence of its members and several distinguished guests, including Richard Duval, Minister of Tourism.
This annual gathering was an important moment for the association. It included the renewal of its Board of Directors in accordance with its statutes, as well as a discussion on the challenges and outlook for Mauritius’s tourism and hospitality industry.
Renewal of the Board of Directors
The statutory part of the AGM was devoted to the election of AHRIM’s Board members. Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé, CEO of Beachcomber Hotels & Resorts, and Tommy Wong, Chief Financial Officer of SunLife Hotel Management Ltd, were re-elected as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively.
Composed of 20 elected and co-opted members, the Board reflects the diversity of operators that make up Mauritius’s hospitality industry, from major hotel groups to independent establishments, as well as restaurants and the sector’s various professional associations.
Six Strategic Priorities for 2026/2027
In his report, AHRIM Chairman Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé presented the association’s six strategic priorities for 2026/2027.
These aim to strengthen the reliability of sector data and statistics, with particular attention to assessing the size of the informal economy; convert more airlift capacity into tourist arrivals, in line with the MTPA’s plan and efforts to win back traditional markets and develop emerging ones.
AHRIM also intends to contribute actively to national efforts to address coastal erosion, strengthen its leadership on water and energy issues through the Water Pledge, the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency, invest in human capital, notably by implementing the IOM agreement and renewing the Hotel School.
Finally, the association wishes to reflect on its own positioning, role and purpose in light of the profound changes in the tourism ecosystem since its founding.
A Moment of Reflection on the Industry’s Challenges
Following the statutory session, the evening continued with a formal programme in which members and guests heard from several speakers. In her opening address, Shirin Gunny, Chief Executive Officer of AHRIM, reflected on her first six months leading the association and the lessons learned during this period of immersion in the tourism and hospitality industry. She spoke in particular about work under way at AHRIM to better understand how the industry is perceived and what its various stakeholders expect, as well as initiatives to deepen understanding of the vulnerability of the Mauritian coastline.
The evening also featured a talk by Anouchka Sooriamoorthy, a Mauritian philosopher, holder of a doctorate in literature from the Sorbonne and founder of the consultancy In The Chaos World. In a presentation entitled “Mauritius: A Laboratory for a Different Kind of Tourism?”, she invited industry professionals to step back and consider the very meaning of travel, the relationship between visitors and destinations, and the responsibility that comes with tourism development. Drawing on the thinking of several philosophers and writers, she questioned the contemporary tourism model and opened a discussion on whether Mauritius could imagine a different way of delivering the travel experience, one that is fairer and richer in meaning.
Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé, Chairman of AHRIM, then took the floor to give an overview of the Mauritian tourism industry, highlighting the results achieved, the challenges that remain and the conditions needed to consolidate the destination’s competitiveness. He also outlined the association’s priorities for the coming months, with particular emphasis on companies’ investment capacity, the preservation of natural resources, skills development and strengthening AHRIM’s role in its dialogue with the authorities.
Finally, Richard Duval, Minister of Tourism, closed the series of speeches by sharing the government’s vision and priorities for the development of the tourism sector.
A tribute was paid to François Eynaud, former CEO of Sunlife Ltd, who is turning an important page in his professional life after a career that has left its mark on the Mauritian hotel industry.
A Renewed Commitment to the Future of Mauritian Tourism
On the occasion of this General Meeting, AHRIM reaffirms its commitment to representing and supporting the stakeholders of the tourism and hospitality industry, while contributing actively to the discussions and initiatives shaping the future of Mauritius as a destination.
