Air Moorea resumed its flights between Tahiti and Moorea on Monday, October 8 after 17 days of grounding. Currently, only one of Air Moorea’s three Twin Otter turboprop planes is in use. The second will begin flying on October 20th and the third is scheduled to begin flying in approximately 2-3 weeks.

The staggered schedule on flight resumption is a decision by Air Moorea to allow the three Twin Otters to be individually examined by Civil Aviation Inspectors.

Air Moorea announced that flights to and from Moorea will be offered from Monday to Wednesday from 6am-12pm and 3pm-6pm, and 6am-12pm and 3pm-9pm from Thursday to Sunday.

While the first nine holes of the Nicklaus Design Moorea Golf Resort were inaugurated on May 12, 2007, the back nine holes of the golf course will be ready for golfers by the end of the year.

The Moorea Golf Course is Nicklaus Design’s first venture in the islands of Tahiti. It has been created to preserve the unspoilt natural heritage of one of the most beautiful coastlines in all the world, while providing a challenge for the professional and an inspiration to the amateur.

For more information on the Moorea Golf Resort, please visit MooreaGolf-Resort.com

Accor won numerous awards at the prestigious HM Awards for Hotel and Accommodation Excellence. Congratulations to the Sofitel Bora Bora Beach Resort who won the Best South Pacific Property!

HM Awards recognizes the leading properties in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific for excellence in the accommodation industry. The 2007 HM Awards, presented by Panasonic and held at the University of Sydney’s MacLaurin Hall on Friday August 17, awarded properties, departments and people across 39 categories in front of over 350 industry guests.

South Pacific Management is pleased to announce the takeover of management, sales & marketing of the Te Tiare Beach Resort on the island of Huahine. This 4-star resort becomes the ninth property in SPM’s portfolio and will add a new hotel experience in the Leeward Islands.

Wayne Sterling remains as Manager of the property to the benefit of Te Tiare Beach Resort’s valuable guests.

For more information, please visit TeTiareBeach.com.

After six months of renovation work that cost 250 million French Pacific francs (Approximately $2.94 million USD), the 32-bungalow Relais Mahana, located on the island of Huahine, has reopened as a 3-star hotel with three categories of modern accommodations.

The renovation work involved redoing the interiors of 22 of the existing bungalows. Also, 10 new bungalows were added. Each bungalow offers a mini-bar, television, telephone and soon an internet connection.

South Pacific Management, which manages Pearl Resorts & Spa, Le Taha'a Private Island & Spa, Te Tiare Beach Resort, and Manea Spa is pleased to announce the official rebranding of the Le Taha’a property. The resort will now be known as Le Taha'a Island Resort & Spa, in an effort to more accurately reflect its secluded location.

Please find Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa’s new logo at www.pearlresorts.com/pro

Opened in October 2002 as a member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection, the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa will mark its five-year anniversary this fall with a first ever, month-long tribute to the arts. A special Calendar of Events has been planned for this October at the resort, with special presentations by local and internationally known authors, musicians, photographers and entertainers.

While this year Polynesian-owned catamaran Haumana continues her voyages in Rangiroa and Tikehau, some changes are coming up for 2008:
 
• The Haumana will no longer call on Tikehau but will remain in Rangiroa all year round. The itinerary has been completely revised to offer the best of Rangiroa on 3, 4 or 7-night itineraries
• Haumana Cruises will decrease the number of cabins from 17 to 12 to further improve the quality of service and guests’ experience
• The Haumana has recently been through a 3-week dry dock for refurbishing and a complete upgrade on the engine and air conditioning system

Haumana Cruises will also launch dive charters and fishing charters. Three or 4-night dive charters will be available, with all dive equipment and assistance included. Furthermore, Haumana Cruises will offer different types of fish charters, including fly-fishing, trolling, and hand-line fishing. All equipment will be provided by Haumana and a fishing guide will also be available for assistance to guests.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, voted the world’s #1 large-ship operator by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, is announcing its Circles of InterestSM enrichment program for 2008. Circles of Interest offer Regent Seven Seas Cruises guests exclusive onboard and shore-side experiences, featuring world-class lecturers, instructors and authorities from the realms of art, cuisine, history, environmental conservation, photography and wellness.
 
Thanks to a well-established partnership with renowned culinary institute Le Cordon Bleu®, the line offers exclusive food and wine programs and workshops. In addition, celebrity chefs including Walter Scheib, the White House executive chef from 1994 to 2005, will share their world-class culinary skills with guests during summer Mediterranean voyages. Regent’s partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau and his Ocean Futures Society drives unique educational programs for young guests through Ambassadors of the Environment programs in Alaska and Tahiti. Special art and photography Circles of Interest complete the program.

“Personal discovery and unparalleled experiences are trademarks of Regent,” said Sophie Vlessing, vice president, customer strategy and marketing for Regent. “The breadth of our 2008 Circles of Interest programs provides our guests with opportunities to gain insight and enrichment focused on their personal interests. Through access to expert hosts, a community of like-minded fellow travelers, and events onboard and ashore, these programs truly deliver memorable experiences.”

Circles of Interest voyages will be offered throughout 2008 on the 330-guest luxury vessel Paul Gauguin®. Paul Gauguin’s program, “Environment and Marine Life; Ambassadors of the Environment program with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society,” will be available on June 7, 14, 25; July 5, 16, 26; August 2, 9, 16, 27; December 20 and 27.

Pleasant Holidays Welcomes New President and CEO

Pleasant Holidays welcomes a new President and CEO, Jack Richards, to their company. Richards brings more than 20 years of executive leadership and management experience in travel wholesale operations and online travel agency experience to Pleasant Holidays.

Richards' wealth of experience includes his most recent post as senior vice president, product marketing and strategy at Hotels.com, as well as president and CEO of The Leisure Company, which operated the America West Vacations brands. Richards was also CEO at Adventure Tours USA, Inc., and he served as vice president tour operations at ATA airlines.

Accor Appoints New Tahiti-Based Marketing Specialist

Accor has appointed Mathilde Baillehache to the position of Marketing and Communication Manager for its French Polynesian hotels, effective as of September 25th. Baillehache will report to Stéphane Sonnet, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing who joined Accor’s French Polynesia Team in January 2007. Baillehache’s responsibilities will reach across Accor’s portfolio of six hotels and resorts in French Polynesia which includes four Sofitel and two Novotel resorts on the islands of Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea and Rangiroa.

A graduate of the esteemed EDHEC Business School in France, Mathilde Baillehache previously studied and worked in New Zealand, providing a strong introduction and insight into the Pacific region’s travel industry. She also offers a background in product and marketing management, with previous experience in tour operation. In her new role, Baillehache will oversee product, operational and commercial marketing, in addition to external and internal communication and website content management.