Travel & Leisure Ranks Our Partners as Part of the Top Hotels Worldwide

Congratulations to our partners who were ranked in the T+L 500. Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa, Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Hotel Bora Bora, and Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa were ranked as top hotels in the category of Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. T + L 500 is a guide to the greatest hotels worldwide put together by Travel & Leisure’s team of editors and reporters around the globe.

Some of the “Don’t Miss” activities that were featured with the T+L 500 is a "4-handed massage at the Manea Spa” at Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa and “The ultimate souvenir: a Polynesian tattoo from the on-site tattoo artist” at the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa.

TripAdvisor.com announces Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa a Top 10 South Pacific Hidden Gem

Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa received another prestigious recognition in the industry! TripAdvisor.com ranked Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa in the Top 10 South Pacific Best Hidden Gems.

TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice winners are uniquely "selected" by the millions of travelers from around the world who provide their real and unbiased reviews or opinions about hotels on Tripadvisor.com and across the web.

Le Meridien Bora Bora Sea Turtle Protection Program Applauded as Marine Eco-friendly

The sea turtle protection program at Le Meridien Bora Bora was highlighted in the January 2007 issue of Green Hotelier as one of the most marine eco-friendly resort practices. The Turtle Sanctuary at Le Méridien Bora Bora is an effort to help save the magnificent hawksbill and green sea turtles. The hotel offers educational presentations to teach guests about these beautiful creatures, and guests can swim with the turtles in the picturesque lagoon or even “adopt” a turtle and help in the quest to return these animals to their natural wild habitat.

Green Hotelier is a magazine that encourages the hotel industry to be more proactive in protecting the eco-system.

International Art Scene on our Islands at Le Meridien Tahiti

Le Meridien Tahiti recently launched L’Atelier, an onsite artist space set to feature contemporary artists from The Islands of Tahiti and around the world. L’Atelier supports the local culture while offering guests a unique and rewarding interactive experience with the creative personalities behind striking works of art.

Located near the lagoon at Le Meridien Tahiti, the new space is an inviting setting for lectures, art workshops, and cocktail-fueled openings. Works of art featured include paintings, pottery, photography, sculpture and jewelry. Guests have the opportunity to learn the techniques of the artist, experience the inspirations, and even create their own original artworks to take home across the seas.

Children Welcome Program at Pearl Resorts & Spa and Le Taha’a Private Island & Spa

Pearl Resorts & Spa and Le Taha’a Private Island & Spa are pleased to present the Children Welcome Program for 2007. Pearl Resorts on Moorea, Bora Bora, Manihi, Nuku Hiva, Tikehau, and Le Taha’a will have children amenities

Children focused amenities such as beach toys, child-sized activity equipment, and kids menu will be available at the hotels. Also, resort guests traveling with children will find features such as a “Welcome Candies Basket,” a special TV channel with cartoons, and age appropriate DVDs in their rooms.

Sofitel Organizes Wedding Ceremonies

Sofitel Motu Bora Bora and Sofitel Bora Bora Beach Resort are excited to launch their new “Wedding Ceremonies.” Wedding Ceremonies are organized on request, and they include:

• Arrival of bride in traditional Polynesian canoe at beach
• Flower head crowns and leis for the couple
• 2 white pareo wraparounds for traditional attire
• Tahitian musicians and dancers
• Wedding ceremony*
• Marriage certificate
• Video cassette or DVD of wedding ceremony
• 2 fruit juice cocktails
• 2 dinners with wedding cake
• 1 bottle of Champagne served either in
the bungalow after the wedding ceremony
or during dinner
• Honeymoon gift

*This wedding ceremony does not constitute a legal marriage; it can be considered a celebration of a wedding anniversary or a renewal of wedding vows.

Videos of Intercontinental properties on the Islands of Tahiti are available on YouTube.com for net-savvy consumers who are interested in the destination and InterContinental resorts. InterContinental is still in the process of launching two more videos; one of which is an overview of their four resorts with exclusive new shots and the other is of the InterContinental Thalasso Spa Pipe Line. YouTube is an online video streaming service that allows anyone to view and share videos that have been uploaded by their members.

Click here to access the videos.

Air Tahiti, Tahiti’s domestic carrier, will launch its first international flight on April 3rd , coinciding with the end of Air New Zealand’s service from Papeete to Rarotonga. This will be a code-share service with Air Rarotonga that operates twice a week.

This three hour service will operate from Papeete to Rarotonga on Tuesdays at 7:15 am and Saturdays at 12:15 pm and from Rarotonga to Papeete Tuesday at 10:55 am and Saturdays at 3:55 pm. Air Tahiti announced a special promotion fare of 39,000 XPF (433 USD) for a roundtrip ticket and around 25,000 XPF (300 USD) for a one-way, taxes not included.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 2007 ‘Grand Asia Pacific Voyage’

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced the operation of its longest ever Grand Asia Pacific Voyage, a 107-night journey featuring calls to 53 ports in 19 countries. Guests will sail on the 700-guest all suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Mariner. The voyage begins in Vancouver, Canada on September 5, 2007, calling on some of the most memorable sights on earth: Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, the ancient treasures of the Far East, New Zealand, and the wonders Down Under, and the intoxicating islands of French Polynesia.

The journey is split into a total of eight segments which allow guests to select specific regions or combine them for up to 15 weeks of extended adventure. The Islands of Tahiti will be part of the last segment (December 3 – 21) which begins in Auckland and ends in Los Angeles.

Archipels Croisières Renews Fleet of Catamaran

Archipels Croisières is excited to announce that they have decided to renew their fleet. They will gradually replace their current boats (Marquises 56') by larger catamarans (Eleuthera 60'), as they offer greater comfort, and are fitted with a fifth passenger cabin.

Geffry Salmon Returns as Air Tahiti Nui’s CEO for 3rd time

Geffry Salmon once again joins Air Tahiti Nui as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Eric Pommier who was appointed a year ago. Salmon will also assume the positions of President and Chairman of the Board.

Air Tahiti Nui North America Welcomes New Members to their Sales Team

ATN is pleased to introduce their newest sales team members: Angela Restivo and Debbi Boyle.

    Angela Restivo, Director of Sales, Western Region Air Tahiti Nui is proud to announce the appointment of Angela Restivo to the position of Director of Sales Western Region. She will be based in their El Segundo CA regional office and will oversee the sales activities for the western region. Angela brings 11 years of travel industry experience from her previous positions with Happy Vacations, Brendan Worldwide Vacations and her own retail travel agency which specialized in honeymoons and destination weddings. arestivo@airtahitinui-usa.com

  Debbi Boyle, Area Sales Manager Air Tahiti Nui is proud to announce the appointment of Debbi Boyle to the position of Area Sales Manager. Debbi joins Air Tahiti Nui with Airline experience spanning over 20 years in many departments such as LAX ticket counter, SAS Cargo Operations and Passenger Sales, Virgin Atlantic Airways Executive Administration and QANTAS Airways Business Development Department. Also a licensed and certified Massage Therapist of ten years she has a special interest in Spa Destination Vacations! dboyle@airtahitinui-usa.com

Le Meridien Announces New Sales Representation in the US

Le Meridien Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora are pleased to announce that they have contracted Evelyn League-St.Germain to head their group and tour operator sales efforts in the U.S.A. League-St.Germain will work for the luxury South Pacific resorts on a consultancy basis through her management and consulting company.

Evelyn brings 26 years of experience in hospitality sales and “has excelled at sales for some of the most prestigious resorts in French Polynesia, and [Le Meridien] is delighted to have her overseeing efforts in the U.S.” (Samantha Spurgeon, Director Sales & Marketing for Le Meridien French Polynesia Resorts).

Huahine’s Hotels Closed for Renovation Huahine’s Te Tiare Beach Outrigger Resort and Relais Mahana are both closed for renovation. Te Tiare Beach Outrigger Resort will be closed from January 27th to March 3rd 2007; Relais Mahana has been closed from November 1st 2006 and will reopen March 1st 2007.