New Mauritius Hotels Limited, the Port Louis-listed hospitality operator behind the Beachcomber brand, posted a 29.8 percent surge in first-quarter profit after tax to MUR157.4 million ($3.31 million), driven by stronger room rates and rising tourist arrivals across its home market. The Port Louis-listed operator overcame a flagship resort closure during the three months ended Sept. 30, 2026, to beat prior-year earnings.

Borrowing relief pads bottom line

Quarterly profit climbed from MUR121.29 million ($2.55 million) a year earlier, while pretax earnings rose 12.9 percent to MUR229.49 million ($4.82 million) from MUR203.34 million ($4.27 million). Lower borrowing costs of MUR211.06 million ($4.43 million), down from MUR237.74 million ($4.99 million), cushioned heavier depreciation and lease finance charges.

Profit attributable to parent shareholders swung to a narrow loss of MUR8.28 million ($173,820) from a MUR8.9 million ($186,819) profit last year as non-controlling interests absorbed MUR165.67 million ($3.48 million). Still, the board raised its interim dividend 14.3 percent to MUR0.4 ($0.0084) per share from MUR0.35, payable around Dec. 18, 2026.

Domestic resorts anchor revenue growth

Group revenue advanced 6.9 percent to MUR3.85 billion ($80.94 million) from MUR3.61 billion ($75.75 million), lifted by a 3-percentage-point occupancy gain to 69.5 percent. Total revenue per available room rose 4 percent to MUR14,589, while disciplined cost controls pushed group EBITDA up 13 percent to MUR836.87 million despite persistent operating inflation.

Mauritius operations generated 81 percent of group revenue and 74 percent of EBITDA, with domestic turnover climbing 6.9 percent to MUR3.11 billion ($65.4 million) on renovated properties and brisk catering activity. Other operations gained 14.3 percent to MUR432.4 million, offsetting mixed results across the group’s broader regional hotel footprint.

In the Seychelles, revenue edged up 3.4 percent to MUR116.78 million ($2.45 million) while EBITDA climbed 9 percent to MUR122.29 million ($2.57 million). Conversely, seasonal headwinds pulled Morocco revenue down 4.9 percent to MUR192.99 million ($4.05 million), resulting in an EBITDA loss of MUR30.89 million ($648,723) for the quarter.

African expansion fuels bullish outlook

Led by CEO Stéphane Poupinel de Valencé, the group partially reopened Trou aux Biches Beachcomber in mid-October after beach upgrades, targeting full operations by late November. Management is also nearing completion of its Zuri Zanzibar acquisition and preparing early-2027 construction on a Morocco resort extension ahead of peak travel.

Capital investments expanded total assets to MUR52.5 billion ($1.1 billion) at quarter-end, up from MUR52 billion ($1.09 billion) in June 2026, while market value rose 9 percent to MUR8.1 billion ($170.1 million). Backed by solid second-quarter bookings, executives project full-year EBITDA to hit MUR6.5 billion ($136.5 million), up from MUR 6.1 billion ($128.05 million).