The First 5-Star Address in the Comorian Archipelago

Vanilla Bay
Resort & Spa

Lac de Salé · Grande Comore · Union of the Comoros

50 Luxury Mini-Villas · 60 Rooms · Gastronomic Restaurant · Spa · Gym · Catamaran · Boat Fleet

Executive Summary

A pioneering 5-star hotel resort in the heart of the Indian Ocean — located in the Lac de Salé zone, between Dos du Dragon and Turtle Island, Grande Comore.

The concept combines 50 individual luxury mini-villas, a 60-room hotel building, and a wellness hub with a gastronomic restaurant, spa, rooftop, gym, Sunreef catamaran, and fleet of excursion boats.

Total investment: €11,900,000 — Project IRR: 14.6%

View Business Plan

Concept & Positioning

Three complementary hubs on a single site — accommodation, dining/nightlife, and wellness/active leisure — addressing multiple client segments across nine revenue pillars.

  • Exclusivity — first mover in the 5-star segment
  • Authenticity — local materials, Comorian cuisine, traditional dance
  • Active Experience — gym, snorkelling, volcano treks, catamaran charters

No operator in Comoros currently offers a concept combining luxury mini-villas, a hotel building, gastronomic restaurant, event rooftop, gym and boat fleet in the 5-star segment.

Accommodation & Amenities

110 units in Bali/Phuket style with reinforced concrete construction for cyclone resistance.

  • 40 one-bedroom mini-villas with private pool
  • 10 two-bedroom mini-villas for families
  • 30 single + 30 double rooms
  • Fully-equipped gym (€250,000) — included for residents
  • Sunreef catamaran + 4 excursion boats + 2 Toyota 20-pax
View Suites
€11.9M
Total Investment
110
Units
14.6%
Project IRR
€5.75M
Residence Upfront

Suites & Rooms

Bali/Phuket architectural style with modern luxury amenities

1-Bed Mini-Villa

King bed, private pool, terrace, Bali/Phuket design. 40 units.

From €350/night

2-Bed Mini-Villa

Two bedrooms, private pool, spacious for families. 10 units.

From €500/night

Hotel Room

King bed, modern comfort in the hotel building. 60 rooms.

€250/night

Spa & Wellness

Main infinity pool, spa treatments, sea-view relaxation.

Included for guests

Experiences & Discovery

Beyond the resort — explore the Comorian archipelago

Residence Program

6% pool return · 8 weeks annual owner occupancy

  • 30 residence units at €200,000 avg — gross proceeds €6,000,000
  • Hotel manages rental pool, pays 6% p.a. to owners
  • Program setup cost: €250,000
  • Net upfront cash inflow: +€5,750,000
  • Equity enhancement: +€2,750,000 after debt allocation
View Financial Impact

Market Opportunity

Comorian tourism grew +179% from 2021 to 2024 — no 5-star competitor

22,760
Tourists 2014
80,248
Tourists 2024

Continuous growth backed by the Plan Comores Émergent 2030 strategy. 500-600 new hotel rooms under construction. No operator offers a 5-star concept combining luxury mini-villas, hotel, restaurant, event rooftop and gym.

Competitive Landscape

  • Golden Tulip Grande Comore (4-star business/leisure)
  • Itsandra Beach Hotel (67 rooms, $138-418/night)
  • Retaj Moroni Hotel (~$66/night, entry-level)

No 5-star luxury mini-villa concept exists in the market.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

  • First mover in the luxury 5-star segment in Comoros
  • Diversified offering across nine revenue pillars
  • Prime location: Lac de Salé, Dos du Dragon, Turtle Island
  • Experienced project sponsor in financial structuring

Weaknesses

  • No operating track record (new-build asset)
  • Dependence on international air links
  • Execution risk during construction phase

Opportunities

  • National tourism growth + government strategy support
  • UNESCO cultural application expected 2027
  • Indian Ocean market seeking new destinations

Threats

  • Cyclone and volcanic risk in the Indian Ocean zone
  • Competition from 500-600 rooms in national pipeline
  • Sensitivity to exogenous shocks

Financial Projections

Moderate pricing model (€250/night) — 50% occupancy first 2 years — Residence Program IRR enhancement

Investment Budget

ComponentCost
50 mini-villas (40 x 1-bed + 10 x 2-bed)€4,500,000
60-room hotel building€2,800,000
Restaurant-bar, kitchen & cold room€500,000
Rooftop bar & dance floor€300,000
Main infinity pool, spa & wellness€600,000
Gym (fully equipped, 250 m²)€250,000
Vanilla Conference and Ballroom€300,000
Sunreef used catamaran (deployable)€600,000
Excursion boats (4 x €60,000)€240,000
Toyota 20-passenger (2 x new, Dubai import)€90,000
Pick-up vehicles (6 x €25,000)€150,000
Solar power plant, desalination, sanitation€600,000
Landscaping, pools, outdoor amenities€470,000
Design, permits, engineering€300,000
Residence Program setup€250,000
Contingency (10%)€100,000
Total Investment€11,900,000

Revenue Projections — Moderate Pricing

Hotel rooms €250/night avg. 50% occupancy Y1-2, 70% Y3, 80% Y5. Residence net after 6% owner distributions.

Revenue StreamYear 1Year 2Year 5
Mini-Villas (50 units, 50% occ.)€3,467,500€3,467,500€5,547,500
Hotel rooms — standard (30, €250, 50% occ.)€1,368,750€1,368,750€2,190,000
Residence pool net (30 units, after 6% return)€802,500€802,500€1,284,000
Restaurant & dining€1,141,200€1,141,200€1,711,800
Spa & wellness€456,480€456,480€684,720
Gym (included + non-resident)€126,000€156,000€210,000
Vehicle rental (6 pick-ups + 2 Toyota)€210,000€240,000€315,000
Boat excursions + Sunreef catamaran€600,000€720,000€960,000
Vanilla Conference & Ballroom€292,000€380,000€584,000
Excursions (volcano, city, charters)€403,468€520,000€1,048,537
Total Operating Revenue€8,867,898€9,252,430€14,535,557

Residence Program — Originating Cash Flow

ItemAmount
Residence units sold (30 x €200,000 avg)€6,000,000
Program setup cost−€250,000
Net upfront cash inflow+€5,750,000
Allocated to debt reduction−€3,000,000
Net equity enhancement+€2,750,000

Key Financial Metrics

MetricYear 1Year 2Year 5
Occupancy rate (hotel)50%50%80%
Total Revenue€8,867,898€9,252,430€14,535,557
EBITDA€3,280,000€3,610,000€7,420,000
EBITDA Margin37%39%51%
Debt Service (post residence)€1,200,000€1,200,000€1,200,000
DSCR2.73x3.01x6.18x

Project IRR — Original Investors

10-year hold, incorporating Residence Program and 50% initial occupancy

ScenarioIRRCash-on-CashPayback
Base case (no Residence Program)9.8%1.8x6.5 yrs
With Residence Program14.6%2.7x4.2 yrs
With Residence + 50% occ. first 2 yrs12.1%2.3x5.0 yrs
With Residence + ramp to 80% Y516.8%3.4x3.5 yrs