Brides Magazine designed a special contest for its 75th anniversary, starting on November 24th to find newlyweds to spend a romantic night at the Observation Deck and an Exotic Tahitian vacation.

For the winners, Brides magazine created a Mile High Honeymoon suite at the Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center’s historic observation deck. The Top of the Rock, located in midtown Manhattan, will be completely transformed into a romantic and luxurious suite 67 floors above the Rockefeller Center, boasting along the way picturesque views of the sky and the city. 

The winners will continue this incredible adventure with an all expense paid trip to the amazing island of Bora Bora offered by Air Tahiti Nui, Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora, and Tahiti Tourisme North America.

The newlyweds will spend six romantic nights in an overwater bungalow!

In addition, the Top of the Rock suite will be open to the public during daytime operating hours of January 27 and January 28.

For more information, please visit www.BridesMileHighSuite.com

Opening on December 15th, the new Spa at the InterContinental Resort Tahiti, Deep Nature Spa By ALGOTHERM, will offer top of the line products and perfectly combine the energy of the ocean with the serenity of the Spa.

Modern, yet exclusive, the Spa will be the ideal rendezvous for clients who wish to live complete exaltation, relaxation, and personal rediscovery.

The Deep Ocean Spa will offer customers unique treatments on its Spa Menu and wonderful amenities to compliment relaxing moments such as a Beauty and Energy Treatment Area, Steam bath, Tea Lounge area as well as a Fitness Area which will be open 24/7. The fitness area will be exclusively restricted to clients staying at any of the Intercontinental Resorts in French Polynesia.

We are also pleased to announce that the InterContinental Tahiti Resort has joined the Green Globe Program and has now become a Green Globe benchmarked property.

We are proud to say that all of the InterContinental Resorts in Tahiti and her Islands are now under this valuable ecological label.

Please join us in congratulating the InterContinental Resorts, French Polynesia for this wonderful achievement!

South Pacific Management Hotels, Resorts and Spa are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Jean Pierre Challeau as General Manager for Manava Suite Resort Tahiti, the newest property in their portfolio.

Scheduled to open in March 2009, Manava Suite Resort Tahiti, will offer 121 guest rooms, ranging from superior rooms, to multi-bedroom duplex suites and apartments. This property will offer ideal amenities to all types of travelers including families and business travelers.

Mr. Challeau brings many years of experience within the industry to Manava Suite Resort Tahiti. Prior to this, Mr. Challeau was the General Manager of Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa. He also greatly contributed and assisted the launch of many properties including Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Huahine Te Tiare Beach Resort, Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort, and the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa.

His wealth of experience and his reputation with successful openings undeniably represents a wonderful asset for the Manava Suite Resort Tahiti.

"The opening of a new hotel allows me to participate in the creation of something special that travelers will enjoy for decades," says Challeau. "It is a passion of mine to help craft lasting memories for each and every guest."

We would also like to inform you that a blog is available for additional information on the SPM Hotels, Resorts and Spa’s newest property.

For more information, please click here.

Mr. Alain Druet will serve as the new General Manager for Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa, effective immediately.

Known to many within the industry, Mr. Druet managed, over the course of his career, many of the South Pacific Management properties including resorts in Huahine, Taha’a, Tikehau and the Marquesas.

He has work for more than 20 years for the group. Most Recently, Alain Druet worked as the Executive Operation Director for the South Pacific Management Hotels, Resorts and Spa portfolio.

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Alain Druet to the Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa!

The “Conservatoire Artistique de la Polynesie Française” will hold the first Tahitian Dance Academy “Ori Tahiti Master Course,” throughout the entire month of March 2009, which is regulated by the Minister of Culture of French Polynesia.

After the course, participants will receive a certificate indicating their attendance as well as their dance level. The purpose of this course is primarily to pass on to next generations the art of the traditional Tahitian dance “Ori Tahiti Dance”, which is one of the main components of Polynesian culture.

For more information on the Ori Tahiti Master Course, please click here.

Paul Gauguin Shipping Ltd. announced that the Paul Gauguin would undergo renovations during its dry dock in Brisbane, Australia, scheduled from January 25 to February 5, 2009.

In an ongoing effort to improve its customer’s luxurious experience, the Paul Gauguin will remodel its staterooms by adding more balconies, remodeling its poolside restaurant, upgrading the Al Fresco dining space, upgrading the internet area, as well as upgrading the fitness center and offering new sports boats for water sport activities.

Pricing will be adjusted accordingly. It was also noted that guests who have already booked will be protected by those adjustments.

Silversea cruises officially announced its decision not to position the Prince Albert II in Tahiti next year, instead to begin an Arctic Cruise program on June 1st.

Silversea stated that the cancellation was due to the lack of forward passenger bookings for the rotations in the islands of Tahiti. Due to the current financial crises, Silversea Cruises decided to remain a key player in what they noted as “more profitable markets”.

According to Amerigo Perasso, Silversea Cruises’ President and CEO, “the new plans to operate the Price Albert II in Northern Europe, in easy proximity to several of our major markets such as the US, the UK and Continental Europe, is all the more justified in the present economic times.”

The absence of the Prince Albert II in Polynesia’s waters will have severe consequences for Tahiti’s struggling tourism industry. In addition to the Silversea cruise ship; the Tahitian Princess will leave the islands by the end of the year.

The Prince Albert II was initially scheduled to operate five 11-day Austral Island Adventure cruises, four 14-day journeys to the Marquesas Islands and five 10-day Tuamotu Expeditions.

Silversea’s regional director for Australia and New Zealand assured that people who booked for the Tahitian itineraries would be fully reimbursed.

The Tahitian Government and Tahiti Tourisme North America have put quite a bit of effort into this partnership including initial scouting of all five archipelagoes with the Silversea team as well as promotional launch events on both the east and west coasts of the US. We remain hopeful that Silversea will reconsider positioning one of their vessels in Tahiti at some point in the future.

South Pacific Management Hotels, Resorts and Spa has introduced a new treatment, the Rumiavai aquatic massage, which is available at the Moorea Pearl Resort and Spa’s Manea Spa.

The Rumiavai is a gentle form of body therapy performed in warm water, perfectly combining the element of water and Shiatsu therapy. Considered one of the most popular massage treatments, the Rumiavai is executed in a spa pool, where the body is firmly massaged and stretched and offers clients nourishment and relaxation.

Without the weight of the body, the spine, joints and muscles can be manipulated and freed in a way unique to water work.

Air Tahiti Nui, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, French Polynesia, Tahiti Legends and Tahiti Tourisme North America sponsored a prize at the annual Black Tie Event, held on November 22 at the Sheraton Dallas, Texas. We are proud to announce that the prize raised approximately $26,500 for the organization!

Black Tie Dinner, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender supportive organizations serving North Texas by throwing an annual premier event of education, and entertainment in partnership with the community.

The Black Tie Dinner is the largest in the nation, and now has set the record for fundraising as well. The success of the last year's event was directly related to the outstanding support of the North Texas community. In 2007, this support resulted in a $1.27 million net distribution, the largest distribution of any gay and lesbian fundraising dinner in the nation, and brought the organization’s cumulative 26-year distribution total to nearly $12 million. 

This year, Air Tahiti Nui, Sofitel Hotels & Resorts French Polynesia, Tahiti Legends and Tahiti Tourisme joined forces to design and sponsor a wonderful prize titled the “Black Tie Dinner Fed Club Luxury Package.” 

The package boasts a fabulous South Pacific get away starting with sedan service to and from DFW airport provided by 360 Limo. Once at DFW the winners will board American Airlines Two Round Trip FIRST CLASS flight to Los Angeles, CA. where they will break the journey for two nights at the luxurious Sofitel Hotel LA. Then they will fly BUSINESS CLASS courtesy of Air Tahiti Nui to spend two nights at Sofitel Hotel Tahiti, three nights at Sofitel Hotel Bora Bora Marara, and three nights on the private island of Bora Bora Motu at the Sofitel Hotel Bora Bora Motu. While on the Islands, Tahiti Legends has arranged transportation, dinner at the famed Bloody Mary’s restaurant, and an exotic snorkeling excursion. Tahiti Tourisme will be hosting the inter-island air, a jet-ski excursion, and dinner for two at the Villa Mahana. 

Tahiti Tourisme North America would like to thank Sofitel Hotels & Resorts French Polynesia for bringing this opportunity to fruition – as well as Air Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Legends for pulling together the  wonderful package that was auctioned off at this event.