Mauritian hospitality is embracing inclusion. The Sunlife Group welcomed French Paralympic champion Michael Jérémiasz this week as part of an accessibility audit mission across its hotels.
Hosted at the Sugar Beach Resort, the former world No. 1 wheelchair tennis player, four-time Paralympic medalist, and ambassador for inclusion used his expertise to support a clear goal: making Sunlife hotels fully accessible to people with reduced mobility.
An Audit for More Human Hospitality
During his stay, Michael Jérémiasz assessed the infrastructure, reception, and services available to guests with disabilities. His recommendations will help Sunlife strengthen its commitment to accessibility and reinforce its position as a pioneer of inclusive hospitality in the Indian Ocean.
“At Sunlife, we want every guest to feel free, respected, and fully included,” said Joelle Edwards-Tonks, Chief Commercial and Operations Officer of the group.
“Offering accessible spaces and services is more than a commitment — it’s how we embody a truly human and caring approach to hospitality.”
Michael Jérémiasz: A Story of Inspiration
A true icon of French parasport, Michael Jérémiasz started playing tennis at age six. At 18, a skiing accident changed his life forever — but instead of giving up, he chose to continue playing tennis in a wheelchair. That decision turned him into one of the greatest champions in his field.
Over the years, he won four Paralympic medals, including gold in Beijing, and seven Grand Slam doubles titles, notably Roland-Garros with Stéphane Houdet and Wimbledon with Tom Egberink.
He also served as chef de mission and ambassador for the French delegation at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Off the court, he advocates passionately for inclusion through Handiamo!, a platform he co-founded in 2011 with his brother to promote elite sports for athletes with disabilities and to organize awareness events.
Michael Jérémiasz emphasized the importance of making leisure and tourism accessible to everyone:
“Sport and tourism should exclude no one. Every person, whatever their disability, must be able to fully enjoy activities and facilities.”
A Memorable Moment at Sugar Beach
The highlight of his visit was a sports and community event held on Thursday, October 30, at the Sugar Beach Resort tennis court. The champion hit a few balls with several Mauritian athletes from the Mauritius Tennis Federation, including Sanjeev Annaut, Nooreshan Alleeare, Matthieu Lambin, Dilshad Rosun, Kesavadee Rungapen, Jennifer Rosalie, Jacqueline Khadhun, Meetasha Seechumdur, Brandy Perrine, Jean-Claude, and Kunal Ramnauth — under the guidance of their coach Véronique Marisson.
An Inspiring Experience for Mauritian Players
For Véronique Marisson, coach and head of wheelchair tennis in Mauritius, the encounter was unforgettable:
“It was a unique and enriching experience. We haven’t had many tournaments this year, so this initiative gave us the chance to play, share, and learn. It will help our players improve for the next tournament planned for next year,” she said, praising Sunlife’s support for the sport.
She added that Michael Jérémiasz’s presence was a true source of motivation for the Mauritian players, who got to interact directly with a model of resilience and success.
