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Ia ora na Partners!
For those who thought Tahiti couldn’t get any better, hold onto your socks! Numerous renovations and additions to the islands’ resort accommodations, as well as remarkable developments in island travel, stand to forge new possibilities for travel to the islands of Tahiti.
Incidentally, for those who have not yet heard, Brad Balukjian has recently and amiably departed Tahiti Tourisme North America. We all wish Brad the best of luck in his future endeavors, and for those of you on the other side of the equator, we’re sure you’ll be seeing Bradley in your neck of the woods soon!
We would also like to take this opportunity to announce that Erik Fetler has joined TTNA in the Marketing & Communications role. Please join us in extending a warm maeva to Erik. His email address is: efetler@tahiti-tourisme.com |
| Industry News | Reopening of Sofitel Resorts
Sofitel has certainly had its hands full with numerous upgrades and renovations of four of its authentic Tahitian-styled hotels. After 15 million dollars in renovations, including brand new overwater bungalows and a 230-meter infinity pool, the Sofitel Marara on Bora Bora just recently reopened its doors on May 4th. Along with the 64 individual bungalows crafted from wood and woven pandanus, the Sofitel Marara also offers a Deluxe Villa with 2 separate bungalows. In addition to the recent upgrade of the Sofitel Maeva Beach in Tahiti, the Sofitel Ia Ora on Moorea is scheduled to complete their renovations and reopen by late 2006. The Sofitel Motu on Bora Bora is currently getting a face-lift, and those renovations should be completed in the coming months. |
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Hotel Bora Bora’s Fare Pote has New Look
Hotel Bora Bora’s Fare Pote, the hotel’s beachfront thatched-roof pavilion, has a new look! Whether you’re planning a romantic dinner or an extensive wedding ceremony, the Fare Pote’s secluded location overlooking the lagoon is an unforgettable locale. And for the tennis enthusiast, Hotel Bora Bora is pleased to offer the services of tennis pro, Alain Lambert. Mr. Lambert has experience coaching for the U.S. Open and Wimbeldon, so whether you are a competitor or merely wanting to brush up your game, the hotel will cater to all levels of play. |
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InterContinental Resort & Thalasso Spa Bora Bora
For those who are looking for a traditional Tahitian experience, but still something refreshingly unique, the InterContinental Resort & Thalasso Spa Bora Bora is the chic new destination in the islands of Tahiti. Opened in May of 2006, the 80 thatched roof overwater villas provide traditional island flavor, while the sleek restaurants and innovative eco-friendly air-conditioning system adds a touch of the metropolitan. Other amenities, scheduled to open in September of 2006, include the Deep Ocean Spa by Algotherm, the first in the world to use mineral-rich deep seawater extracted from 2,500 feet below sea level, and a breathtaking overwater wedding chapel with a glass bottom floor. |
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St. Regis Resort on Bora Bora Opens
June 20th saw the opening of the St. Regis Resort on Bora Bora, which has reset the bar for luxury resort accommodations. With its 100 villas on a 44-acre spread, 3 world-class restaurants, the largest resort beach in the region, and the 13,000 square-foot Miri Miri Spa – the first spa in the islands to occupy its own private island – there is little wonder that the resort has already attracted celebrity clientele. The St. Regis resort offers 1, 2, or 3 bedroom over-the-water and beach villas ranging from 1,550 square feet, many of which have terrace whirlpools and private swimming pools. For those who want a truly memorable experience, try the 13,000 square-foot ultra-luxurious Royal Estate Suite. All rooms come with 24-hour concierge, room service, and legendary butler service. General Manager, Milton Sgarbi, confidently asserts that the St. Regis Bora Bora will enchant travelers with “the most luxurious, secluded, and breathtaking resort in the region.”
Sheraton Hotel Tahiti
The Sheraton Hotel Tahiti has just completed its monumental $10 million enhancement project, providing a whole new look and feel to the already exquisite hotel. The 200 rooms and suites have been completely remodeled in Island Colonial Style, treating visitors with mahogany and cane furnishings, coconut tree floors, plantation wooden shutters, and marble bathrooms. New additions to the hotel include a white sand beach along the hotel’s lagoon and wireless internet access throughout the hotel, even poolside! Whether for business or pleasure, the Sheraton Hotel Tahiti is now even better equipped to serve your every need.
We would also like to extend a warm welcome to the newest member of Starwood Hotels and Resorts’ sales team, Victoria Page, who will take over as Leisure Specialist in the U.S. market.
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Le Taha’a Private Island and Spa Refurbishment
Exciting news from Le Taha’a Private Island and Spa! Starting January 7th 2007, this resort location will close its doors to the public for extensive additions and renovations. When they reopen in March of 2007, they will have two new Presidential Suites on the beach and one overwater Presidential Suite. They will also have a new “Fare Pilates,” a fitness room, and a relaxing lounge with pool table, library, media room, and internet “web corner.” The existing Manea Spa will be enlarged, and the Diving Center by the lagoon will be relocated. |
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Air France to Increase Number of Weekly LAX-PPT Flights
Starting November 1, 2006, Air France has set to increase its number of weekly flights from Los Angeles to Papeete from three to four. The airline, who now uses 433-passenger Boeing 747 aircraft, will switch to the smaller 272-passenger Airbus A 340. Though the number of flights will increase, the weekly capacity will actually drop from 1,299 to 1,088, thereby allowing for fewer empty seats per flight. |
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New Study: The Psychology of Vacationing
For those who can’t seem to make comfortable transitions between work and vacation, you might be in luck. Air New Zealand has teamed with a group of former NASA scientists at Alertness Solutions to conduct the most intensive study of travelers to date. The study was intended to observe the psychological effects on leisure travelers before, during, and after their vacations. The online survey of 1,200 Americans was conducted in April and included 46 questions about work and stress, the vacation experience, and the mental and emotional transitions people make between work/home and vacations modes. While age and gender tend to be factors when determining levels of stress, Air New Zealand is confident that the results of this study will help them identify and explore new ways to accelerate the vacation mindset and extend it for travelers once they return. |
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Air Tahiti Nui Scoops Top Honors
For the fourth consecutive year, Air Tahiti Nui captured two of the prestigious Skytrax awards, coming away with both the ‘Best Airline in the Pacific Region’ and the ‘Best Airline Staff’ in the Australia/Pacific region. The survey, taken between September 2005 and May 2006, included over 13 million respondents from 93 nationalities who were asked to measure 35 different aspects of passenger satisfaction for product and service standards. Air Tahiti Nui is not a stranger to honorable recognition, having received ‘Onboard Service Excellence for a Smaller Airline’ earlier this year in the Skytrax Annual excellence Awards. |
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Aranui 3 Cruising South this Winter - To the Austral Islands
In an unprecedented addition to her annual schedule of 15-day cruises out of Tahiti exploring the enchanting Marquesas Islands, the 207-passenger-freighter Aranui 3 will embark on a one-time, first-ever, eight-day Austral Islands cruise in January of 2007. Aranui will sail out of Papeete and visit Rurutu, Rimatara, Raivavae, and Rapa, offering passengers the opportunity to explore a totally different group of Polynesian Islands. |
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Bora Bora Cruises Signs Agreement with Edmiston
Bora Bora Cruises signed an agreement with EDMISTON, one of the world’s foremost yachting companies, to offer their customers the islands of Tahiti! Besides the existing program covering the Leeward islands, namely Bora Bora, Taha’a, Raiatea, and Huahine, Bora Bora Cruises has designed new itineraries to visit Tahiti, Moorea, and beyond to several other islands within the Tuamotu archipelago. | 
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| Promotions | Vacation.com Vacation.com is a travel agency marketing organization with a network of 6,000 travel agencies across the U.S. and Canada. The International Conference and Tradeshow consists of four days of seminars, panels, and keynote speakers covering the state of the travel industry, also providing information and educational tools to help expand travel agents’ business. Tahiti Tourisme participated in Partner Air New Zealand’s “World of the South Pacific” Seminar series on June 20, along with Air New Zealand’s partners Tourism New Zealand, South Australia Tourism Commission, Tourism Victoria, Cook Islands Tourism Corporation, and Fiji Visitors Bureau. Brad Balukjian gave 2 15-minute presentations, which provided a basic overview of the islands and a description of the most popular activities, including snorkeling, scuba, and lagoon and 4x4 tours. On Wednesday, June 21, there was a trade show for travel agents from 10:00-2:30 pm. |
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Scuba Show Long Beach Convention Center recently hosted the Scuba Show where TTNA and our participating partners had the opportunity to promote the world of scuba diving in our islands. On June 24 and 25, roughly two thousand people attended the tradeshow. Approximately 200 of which came by the Tahiti Tourisme booth to speak with representatives from TTNA, Air New Zealand, and TOPdive. Other companies, such as Happy Vacations, Blue Nui, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Air Tahiti Nui, Pleasant Holidays, and Caradonna Dive Adventures provided collateral for the TTNA booth. Though many of the visitors confessed to having already traveled to the islands of Tahiti, nearly everyone confirmed a desire to return. Most stopping by the booth expressed interest in vacation packages with air, hotel, and diving included. There were also a handful of requests regarding family-friendly destinations. |
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Carlson (Radisson) Hotels and Regent Seven Seas Cruises Training Following a recent familiarization trip to the islands of Tahiti for the US based Carlson / Radisson sales staff, TTNA held a training seminar and trade show last month at their offices in Omaha Nebraska.
On June 20th, approximately 65 agents attended 5 sessions of training, providing information on both cruise and hotel accommodations throughout the islands of Tahiti.
The trade show portion of the day consisted of a personal video tour of the islands organized by the sales staff who had visited the islands earlier this year. They also had table-top displays for collateral distribution highlighting the Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti, Regent Sevens Seas Cruises, and hotel co-partner, Bora Bora Lagoon Resort. | 
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This Just In…According to Travel & Leisure Magazine’s 11th Annual World’s Best Awards for the “Top 25 in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific,” The Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Spa has moved from #11 last year to #3 this year, a tremendous feat for the resort. Along with this achievement printed in the August edition, The Bora Bora Lagoon Resort and Spa has previously won accolades in Gourmet’s “Rooms at the Top”, Condé Nast’s “Gold List”, Bride magazine’s “Top Honeymoon Spot”, and an amazing three #1 placements in Modern Bride’s annual Honeymoon survey for the categories of “Ultimate Honeymoon Suite”, Ultimate resort for Seclusion”, and “Most Scenic Honeymoon Spot”. | |
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For more information, please contact us at media@tahiti-tourisme.com
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