Agents, not holidaymakers
The group was made up of sixteen travel agents and two DERTOUR staff, hosted by Ashok Bhugoo, General Manager of LUX* Le Morne, alongside Clinton Ross Harmon, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at The Lux Collective, and sales and marketing leads from sister properties including SALT of Palmar and Tamassa Bel Ombre.
A tour built to impress
Rather than a standard site visit, the itinerary leaned heavily on experience: a full tour of the property, a run of curated culinary moments, and direct face-time with The Lux Collective's leadership. The standout was the resort's signature 500 Candles Dinner, paired with a look at its sustainability work — cutting food waste, redistributing surplus meals to nearby schools, and a wider set of initiatives aimed at limiting environmental impact and strengthening ties with local communities.
Why DERTOUR still matters
"DERTOUR is one of The Lux Collective's longest-standing partners. With travel habits constantly evolving and airline networks adjusting just as fast, keeping these strategic relationships strong matters more than ever," said Clinton Ross Harmon (photo) . He pointed to continued demand in Germany for authentic, high-quality travel, with growth he expects to hold up over the coming months.
The pitch that's landing
"We were delighted by how readily the delegation took to the spirit of LUX* Le Morne. Beyond the setting itself, DERTOUR's team responded particularly well to the authenticity of what we offer, the range of our culinary programme and the warmth of Mauritian hospitality," said Ashok Bhugoo (photo) . He added that the resort's sustainability credentials, in particular its community-facing work, left a strong impression — and that such factors are playing an increasingly large part in how German travellers choose where to go.
Beyond the visit itself, the two sides used the time to discuss how traveller expectations are changing and the growing weight placed on meaningful, purpose-driven experiences when deciding on a destination. Germany remains a core market for The Lux Collective, which currently runs seventeen resorts and hotels across Mauritius, the Maldives, Réunion, China and Tanzania, with twenty more in the pipeline across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. For a Mauritian group with ambitions stretching well beyond the Indian Ocean, partnerships of this kind remain the clearest route to keeping its portfolio front of mind for the travellers who ultimately book the trip.
