Views & Interviews

Q&A: Talking to Mr Xavier Furtado ? Managing Director, Averina Beach Club

October 2014

Mr. Xavier Furtado is the Chairman and Managing Director of Averina Beach Club. He holds a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Oklahoma University, and a Diploma in Food and Beverage Service from Cesar Ritz Le Bouveret, Switzerland. Mr. Furtado also owns the renowned ?The Fisherman?s Wharf? chain of restaurants in India ? with outlets in Goa, Bangalore and Dubai. The TFW menu captures the authentic flavours of the community, with the best cuisine options.

Mr Furtado?s favourite quote: ?Team Work Makes The Dream Work?. Here are some excerpts from an interview we did with him and his team.

Q: Is Averina Beach Club one good reason to put Goa on our holiday map?

A: Like other period style properties in Goa, Averina is designed around the grandeur of traditional Goan architecture. The entire property extends along 25 acres of prime beach. Our room facilities include one-bedroom apartments, studio units and hotel units – with exclusive spaces for children and guests who are handicapped. Our Club Rooms and Plaza rooms are set in a delightful visual canvas of swaying palms, landscaped gardens and sprawling lawns.

Our casino, discotheque, yoga & fitness center, shopping area and the children's park make Averina Beach Club Goa the most complete 5-star Holiday destination in India.

Q: We heard that the rooms offer great views – outside and inside…

A: Our single bedroom units, studio apartments, Club Room, Plaza Room and Executive Suite offer a garden / framed view of the sea. And come with wardrobes, partial kitchen, central air-conditioning, work desk and seating arrangements. Other facilities include a mini bar, tea/coffee makers, luxurious bathrooms with bath tubs, hair dryers, and more.

For families with children we have a luxury suite designed around the "Treasure Island" theme. The interiors here will take your kids into a world of fun and adventure. Facilities include private spaces for children, with bunk beds, TV, video games and a basket-load of soft toys.

Q: We’ve seen rave reviews about your F&B outlets, tell us more . . .

A: Whispers of the Orient is a fine dining restaurant with exquisite interiors. The “dinner only” restaurant presents the finest Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Indonesian cuisines. Café Mardi Gras is a multi-cuisine restaurant & our 24-hour coffee shop. The Village offers a rustic, thatched ambience closer to the shore, and has a bar-be-cue station, with our own quartet of soft strumming guitarists. Another highlight here is out daily international Dinner Buffet in an open-air tropical setting. Fish Grill is where you can enjoy your drink in a comfortable setting – with beach beds, beach chairs, beach umbrellas and more. In addition to dinner under the stars, Fish Grill serves up an unending list of snacks and hors d'oeuvres. Sundowner is another interesting stop over – it’s our theme bar overlooking the sea. Open seven days of the week, Sundowner serves light snacks, regular and premium drinks, besides exotic cocktails. On selected evenings, we even have a live band playing out here.

Q: Does Averina host corporate meetings and events?

A: For those who like to mix business with pleasure there is a well-equipped business center and two elegantly appointed conference halls with a capacity to accommodate 600 delegates. While 600 is a fairly large number, we have even organized small conferences for 20 delegates.

We have also ventured into organizing special weddings, MICE events and corporate retreats, offering the largest ballroom at 5065 sq ft - accommodating up to 800 guests. Convenient access, exclusive pre-function areas and state-of-the-art audio visual equipment, combined with support services make us the ideal destination for meetings, seminars and other events.

Q: Would you want to share a roundup of facilities at the resort?

A: Health Club, with facilities for Steam, Sauna, Jacuzzi, Massage. Fitness centre with gym equipment. Yoga & Meditation Center, Ayurvedic Massage Center. Tennis Court. Casino. Activitiy Center. Hobby Workshop. Babycare / baby sitting centre. Beauty Salon. Business Centre.

Doctor on call. Valet Service. Round-the-clock room service. 24/7 Wi-Fi. Free Parking. Laundry Service. Currency Exchange. Direct dialing facility. Safe Deposit Lockers. We also take pride in being among the few resorts in the country to provide wheelchairs and support facilities for special needs’ guests.

Averina Beach Club, is a 5-star property located along the Mobor beach in South Goa. To give you a location guideline, Averina is 17 kms from Margao and around 40 km from Dabolim airport.

Places of tourist interest nearby are Margao and Panjim; Colva, Bogmalo and Mobor beaches nearby; and your must see tourist locations - St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Mangeshi and Shanta Durga temple.