Eleven chefs from Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa earned medals in two major culinary competitions in October, showcasing the talent, technical skills, and dedication of the resort’s culinary team.
Nadi, Fiji, 4 November 2026: Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa is celebrating the achievements of its culinary team following a successful showing at the Fiji National Salon Culinaire 2026 and HOTEC 2026.
At the Fiji National Salon Culinaire, held at the Fiji National University’s Namaka Campus on 21 October, all nine Hilton Fiji chefs who participated received medals in their respective categories.
Leading the team’s achievements was Varsha Lata, who secured Gold for Southeast Asian Cuisine. Six chefs received Silver Medals across various categories, including Kaushik Chand and Farhaan Ali for Classic Local Dish; Etuate Tawase, Siteri Nabulagi and Elenoa Qalomaiwasa for Desserts; and Nikhil Krishna in the Junior Chef category.
Paula Tuni also received Bronze for Seafood Dish, while Ledua Raikasakasa earned Bronze for Cake Decoration.
The team’s success continued at HOTEC 2026, held at Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa on 23 October, where chefs Samuela Tamaitunasoga and Michael Wise each secured Gold Medals in the Mystery Box Challenge.
The challenge tested participants’ creativity, technical ability and composure under competition conditions, requiring them to transform a selection of mystery ingredients into impressive dishes while demonstrating their versatility and culinary expertise.
The achievements reflect Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa’s continued commitment to nurturing local talent, investing in professional development and creating meaningful opportunities for Fijians to grow and progress within the hospitality industry.
Cluster General Manager, Fiji Islands, Carey Osborne said the resort was proud of its chefs and their achievements, which reflected the importance of recognising potential and investing in people.
“We are incredibly proud of our chefs and what they have achieved. At Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa, we believe in recognising potential, investing in our people and creating opportunities for local talent to grow, develop and excel.
“Through our ongoing training and development programmes, mentorship and opportunities to participate in industry competitions, we encourage our team members to continually build their skills, challenge themselves and realise their potential. Seeing our chefs represent Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa and receive recognition at this level is incredibly rewarding. It reinforces the importance of investing in our people and creating pathways for them to achieve their career aspirations.”
The resort’s approach to team member development extends beyond the workplace, providing chefs with opportunities to test their capabilities, exchange knowledge with industry peers and gain valuable experience through participation in national competitions.
Osborne said the achievements also provided a strong lead-up to next year’s Hilton Hotels and Resorts Australasia and South Pacific Food and Beverage Masters competition, where the team will compete against colleagues from across the region.
As Hilton Fiji Beach Resort & Spa continues to champion authentic Fijian hospitality and memorable dining experiences, the resort remains committed to developing the people behind those experiences, celebrating their achievements and creating opportunities for the next generation of Fijian hospitality professionals.
