Air Moorea Announces Summer Schedule
Air Moorea recently announced its summer flight schedule, effective March 26-October 28. A 5:30 a.m. flight from Papeete and 5:45 a.m. flight from Moorea are being added on Mondays and Saturdays to connect with flights to/from Japan and New Zealand.

InterContinental Thalasso Still On Pace for May Opening
The all-overwater bungalow InterContinental Resort and Thalasso Spa Bora Bora will open as planned on May 1. The resort will have limited occupancy for the first couple of months while the final touches are put in place. Le Reef restaurant and Bubble’s bar will both be completed during the soft opening, and the newly coined Deep Ocean Spa is slated to open in September.

Air Tahiti Nui Garners Top Honors
National airline Air Tahiti Nui won the 2006 SKYTRAX Award for “Onboard Service Excellence” in the Small Airline category. The SKYTRAX Awards recognize excellence in customer service and product quality in the global airline industry, and are determined by SKYTRAX executives and their panel of business travelers. Air Tahiti Nui has finished consistently high in SKYTRAX rankings.

Manea Spa to Open at Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort
Pearl Resorts’ signature spa, Manea Spa, will open a facility at the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort this spring. At 600 square meters, Manea will be the largest spa in Tahiti, and will feature 2 steam rooms, 2 saunas, five treatment rooms, a double Vichy shower, and a fitness room.

Sofitel Marara Bora Bora Set for Reopening
After undergoing a major facelift, the Sofitel Marara Bora Bora is set to reopen on March 1, complete with new overwater bungalows and a 230-meter infinity pool. A new spa, “Spa by Accor,” and a restaurant, “Sakura,” are scheduled to open at the resort on June 1.

St. Regis Bora Bora Announces New Opening Date
Tahiti welcomes its first St. Regis property with the debut of the St. Regis Resort Bora Bora, now slated for June 20. In order to guarantee the St. Regis standard of quality and to coincide with the opening of their signature restaurant, the grand opening has been pushed back from its original April date. The new deluxe resort will feature 74 one-bedroom villas and St. Regis’ world-renowned Butler Service.

Other News from Starwood:
-Starwood French Polynesia named Brian Lynx its new Area Director of Marketing this past November. Lynx, most recently Director of Sales and Marketing for the Westin Maui Resort & Spa, is based in Los Angeles and is responsible for developing co-op and advertising plans for the North American market to meet and exceed revenue goals for Starwood’s French Polynesia properties.

-Starwood French Polynesia has named Benjamin Sinclair, formerly of Four Seasons Maui, the new Director of Sales and Marketing for the St. Regis Resort Bora Bora and the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa.

-Starwood French Polynesia has named Milton Sgarbi the General Manager of the St. Regis Resort Bora Bora.

Le Meridien Names New Director of Sales & Marketing
Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts has named Samantha Spurgeon its new Director of Sales and Marketing for its French Polynesia properties.

41-74 Club of New York Tradeshow
The 41-74 Club of New York, an organization of female travel professionals, held a Tahiti Tradeshow for its members February 9 in New York City. TTNA and Partners Air Tahiti Nui, Air New Zealand, Creative Leisure, Happy Vacations, Island Escapes by Goway, and Jetabout Island Vacations exhibited at booths during a cocktail reception attended by Club members. Each Partner had a chance to present their product, with TTNA and Air Tahiti Nui splitting the main 25-minute presentation. About 50 Club members, a mix of travel agents and suppliers, participated in the event.

Attendees at the 41-74 Club of New York's Tahiti Tradeshow