We are pleased to announce that the 2008 Summer Timetable of Air Moorea, effective from March 31st to October 26th 2008, is now available for download.

Please visit www.airmoorea.com for more information

We are delighted to bring you the 2008 Summer Timetable of Air Tahiti flights, effective from April 7th to October 31st 2008. All record locators affected by the schedule changes will be communicated to you shortly by the airline.

Air Tahiti is subject to follow the new check-in requirements, effective immediately. All inter-island airlines, including Air Moorea must now allow a 120-minute window for international connecting flights. This is a 30-minute increase from the 90-minute window previously allowed.

For more information on Air Tahiti, please visit www.airtahiti.pf

Classic Vacations is pleased to announce the appointment of Yvette Broussard as the new Product Manager for South Pacific.

Prior to joining Classic Vacations, Yvette was working for Virtuoso as the Senior Manager of their Strategic Alliances department. She mainly focused on managing the relationship between Virtuoso and Neiman Marcus, where she successfully expanded the travel components for their customer loyalty Program “In Circle.”

Yvette brings more than 20 years of experience in the travel industry to Classic Vacations. She started as a Travel Agent in New Orleans before moving to Seattle in 1995 to become the Vice President of Nosidam Travel Planners, now part of Stellar Travel.

Over the course of her impressive career, she got the opportunity to travel to several destinations such as Tahiti, Hawaii, Russia, Greece, France, Italy, Austria, England, Turkey, and the Caribbean to name a few. Her wide travel knowledge and accomplishments make her the ideal person to manage the day-to-day operations for Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji at Classic.

Please join us in welcoming Yvette Broussard to the Classic Team! 

Jodie Fennell, currently Assistant Buyer for the South Pacific Team, will bring her significant experience and expertise to the Europe Buying Team, effective immediately.

As many of you may know, Jodie had joined the South Pacific Team in October 2006 and most recently was promoted to the Assistant Buyer position. She will from now on bring her significant experience and expertise to the Europe Buying Team.

To keep serving South Pacific destinations with excellence, Eric Doneshwar has been appointed as the Inventory Control Specialist within the South Pacific Team.

Far from being unknown within the industry, Eric has been working with Costco since 2003 and has thus brought an incredible amount of knowledge to the South Pacific Team.

Eric will be working closely with Susie Slappey, who is currently the Assistant Buyer and Rena Peterson, Senior Buyer of the Team. Susie will assume responsibilities related to the islands, featuring Tahiti, Fiji, and the Cook Islands and Eric will oversee Australia and New Zealand.

We are pleased to announce that the Polynesian-owned catamaran, the Haumana, will continue her voyage to Rangiroa after six weeks in dry dock in the port of Papeete.

The cruise had been in dry dock since March 1st, 2008 for refurbishing and a complete upgrade of the engine and air-conditioning systems.

In addition, the Haumana  renovated its cabins, updated the menus and refreshed the decor, in an ongoing effort to provide the best quality of service and luxury.

The Haumana operates 3, 4, and 7-night cruises in the Rangiroa lagoon and offers an authentic Polynesian experience to its guests.

For more information on Haumana Cruises, please visit www.tahiti-haumana-cruises.com

Jetabout North America welcomes Mark Punshon as new Vice President of Sales for ATS Tours and Islands in the Sun, effective as of April 2nd 2008.

Mark Punshon brings many years of management performance and an impressive background to Jetabout. Mark’s wealth of experience includes his most recent position as the Distribution Development Manager for the Americas at Tourism Australia, as well as, his posts in sales and marketing and reservations for Jetabout and Qantas vacations.

Please join us in welcoming Mark!

We are delighted to announce that the Legends Resort Private Villas will open its doors in July 2008.

The new property will offer two incomparable luxurious villas, the “Villa Nui” and the “Villa Iti”, each of them featuring a flat screen TV, a fully equipped kitchen, a private Jacuzzi, and a large lanai balcony, not to mention amazing and picturesque views of the lagoon with unforgettable sunsets.

While staying at the Legends Resort, the clientele can enjoy the resorts’ incredible services including a panoramic swimming pool and a memorable home massage service.

To compliment relaxing moments, the resort offers a white sand beach located only minutes away from your villa.

Many attractions are also available to sport-driven minds such as a magnificent walking track passing through the hills of Moorea and set 200 meters above the lagoon, as well as several tennis courts, to name a few.

Do not wait any longer to find out more about the resort, visit www.legendsresort.fr

South Pacific Management, which manages Pearl Resorts and Spa, Taha’a Island Resort and Spa and the Manea Spa, announces the upcoming opening of the Manava Suite Resort Tahiti in Papeete, the portfolio’s newest resort property in Tahiti.

Scheduled to open in January 2009, the property will offer 114 guest rooms, ranging from superior rooms to multi-bedroom duplex suites and apartments. All rooms will feature a wonderful mixture of traditional and authentic Polynesian décor and contemporary amenities. 

The resort, expected to be one of the major attractions in Papeete, will also have three bars, a fitness center, the island’s largest infinity swimming pool facing the lagoon and nearby island of Moorea. The resort also boasts a wonderful over-water restaurant with terrace.

The Manava Suite Resort Tahiti is located in the island’s northwestern region, in the community of Punaauia, conveniently located five minutes away from Fa’a International Airport and only ten minutes from the city center.

For more information, please visit www.pearlresorts.com

We are pleased to introduce the new Yoga retreat available exclusively at the Manea Spa  at both the Bora Bora Pearl Resort and Spa and the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort.

With two sessions daily, you will be able to learn to use your body, breath and mind, to stretch and energize yourself. Asana Yoga, created in 1997 by John Friend, combines a Tantric philosophy of basic goodness with the universal principles of alignment. 

This retreat, now available at the Manea Spa, is among the most popular and fastest growing practices in the world.

Explore this unique experience and enjoy the exclusive yoga packages available at Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort and Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort and Spa.

For more information about the Manea Spa, please visit www.pearlresorts.com

The Warwick International Hotels group, which to date operates 40 resorts in several Pacific Islands countries, has just signed a 20-year management contract with Polynesia Authorities for the takeover of the Moorea Golf and Spa Resort.

This contract marks the beginning of a growing management process as Warwick International Hotels group plans to build or takeover about 10 new resorts by the end of 2009.

The Warwick Moorea Golf and Spa Resort, expected to open at the beginning of 2010, will be the only international Golf-Hotel Complex in French Polynesia.

The future resort will feature 154 villas and rooms, including 24 luxury suites, each offering a spectacular view over the lagoon and beach.

While enjoying magnificent views, golfers will also be able to take advantage of the resort’s luxurious services and amenities, including three restaurants and the exclusive Thalassotherapy center.

For more information, please visit www.moreagolf-resort.com