The charter airplane carrier Air Archipels recently unveiled their new website, www.airarchipels.com. The company is completely revamping its fleet, introducing two new B200 planes in March.
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Tahiti & Her Islands' domestic carriers, Air Tahiti and Air Moorea, have announced their winter flight schedules, effective until the end of March. The schedules can be accessed at www.airtahiti.pf and www.airmoorea.com.
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Air Tahiti Nui and Virgin Atlantic Airways have partnered to allow travelers to fly around the world, with stops in Tahiti. Virgin Atlantic, which offers New York-London, Los Angeles-London, and Sydney-London (via Hong Kong) routes, combines its flights with Air Tahiti Nui's Sydney-Papeete, Papeete-New York, and Los Angeles-Paris routes. Passengers will now be able to book such round-trip itineraries as Sydney-Hong Kong-London-New York-Papeete-Sydney, taking them literally around the world. Other News: Starting March 26, Air Tahiti Nui will add a third weekly flight from Sydney, Australia, to Papeete. Sydney-Papeete flights will now be available Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, departing at 9:15 am. Air Tahiti Nui has announced plans to launch a weekly New York to Paris flight.
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The freighter/cruise vessel Aranui III will make 16 voyages in 2006, with some minor adjustments to the itinerary. Formerly 16 days and 15 nights, the trip will now be 15 days and 14 nights, with a morning departure from Papeete. Rather than stopping at the Tuamotu atoll of Takapoto on the way to the Marquesas, Aranui III will now stop for the day in Fakarava. On the return trip, the ship puts in at Rangiroa rather than Fakarava. The complete schedule and itinerary are now available from CPTM.
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Bora Bora Cruises's flagship yachts, the Tu Moana and Ti'a Moana are going on dry dock January 16-March 23 for repairs. Australian technicians will be working on the boats, which return to the water on March 27.
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Back by popular demand, the Paul Gauguin returns to the Marquesas for two 14-night cruises in 2006. The cruise ship has also expanded its nine-, 10-, 11-, and 14-night itineraries to the Austral, Tuamotu, and Cook Islands. Other news from the Paul Gauguin: Radisson Seven Seas has signed a contract with Paul Gauguin Shipping Limited to extend their management of the ship through the end of 2008. The Paul Gauguin went on dry dock January 7-February 15 in Brisbane, Australia for a $6 million renovation. The renovation includes construction of a new lounge/piano bar, 14 new staterooms, and redesign of the Internet café.
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Tahiti Cruises has ventured into the sport fishing market with its new all-inclusive cruises in the Tuamotu Atolls, aboard the Haumana. Guests stay in one of the 17 spacious cabins aboard the 110-foot yacht, which operates year-round from Rangiroa. Three, four, and seven-night itineraries are available; the four and seven-night options also include a stop in Tikehau. A professional fishing guide provides equipment and instruction in fly fishing, and numerous other activities and excursions are available.
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Princess Cruises's ship Tahitian Princess will expand its 12-day cruises between Papeete and Honolulu to six sailings starting in May. The 10-day Polynesia & Cook Islands and 10-day Polynesia & Marquesas Islands itineraries will again be offered, with 29 sailings to choose from.
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Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa was named the leading resort in Australasia, a region comprising Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, at the World Travel Awards in London. One-hundred fifty-six thousand travel professionals from more than 140 countries voted to select the world's best destinations, airlines, and hotels. Other news from Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa: After stints in several Michelin-rated restaurants in France, Cedrik Ollivault recently returned to Bora Bora to work as Executive Chef of Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa. Ollivault had previously served as Chef de partie at the resort in 2000. Eric Pere has been named new general manager of the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa. He most recently served as hotel manager at the Hotel Port Palace in Monaco.
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Hotel Kia Ora recently opened three new Deluxe Beach Bungalows, complete with outdoor bathtubs and swimming pools with jets. In addition, the hotel is beginning renovation of its overwater bungalows in January. They will be refurbished one by one, with the accommodations remaining open to guests. The bungalows will get new roofs, siding, varnishing, and furniture. Other news: Evelyn Gaudin has been appointed as their new sales representative in the US. She is located in Santa Monica, California and is reachable by email at Info@EvelynesCollection.com
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Gearing up for Grand Opening...At the new InterContinental Resort and Thalasso Spa Bora Bora, it's all overwater villas, all the time. Eighty of them stretch into Bora Bora's lagoon in two U-shaped formations, divided into “Diamond,” “Sapphire,” and “Emerald” classes. The resort is situated on Motu Piti Aau facing the dramatic spire of Bora Bora's Mount Otemanu, and will open for business on May 1. All villas come with a private sun deck, high-speed Internet connection, and two flat-screen TVs. Guests can dine at Le Reef Restaurant or sip tropical drinks at Sand's, the bar and restaurant located on a white-sand beach. The Algotherm Thalasso Spa will be completely operational on September 1. Unique in Tahiti and Her Islands, the spa features thalassotherapy treatments, which use the curative benefits of reheated sea water. The InterContinental Resort and Thalasso Spa Bora Bora will also be the world's first hotel to have a sea water-based air conditioning system. Check out www.boraboraspa.interconti.com for updates as the resort approaches its grand opening.
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Starwood Capital Group Global, L.L.C. announced its purchase of Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts on November 28, 2005. Starwood will take ownership of Le Meridien's 32 properties, including Le Meridien Tahiti and Le Meridien Bora Bora, expanding Starwood's portfolio to six properties in Tahiti & Her Islands. Starwood also includes Sheraton Hotel Tahiti, Sheraton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa, Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa, and the St. Regis Resort Bora Bora, opening soon. No plans have been announced to change the name of the Le Meridien properties.
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After meeting a rigorous criteria of 1,200 standard points, the Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort was recently inducted into the elite association of The Leading Small Hotels of the World. The organization includes more than 420 hotels worldwide, all of which have fewer than 100 rooms and are recognized for exceptional service and accommodations. The Manea Spa at Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort is set to open in April. A complex of thatched-roof pavilions set on stilts above a small lake, the spa will celebrate the tradition of Taurumi, the Polynesian word for massage. Treatments will use locally made 100% natural products that mix monoi with plant parts and extracts...A Manea Spa beach bungalow also opened recently at Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort. More information on the spa can be found at www.maneaspa.com. Eight new overwater suites opened earlier this year at Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort. At 1,001 square feet, they are the largest overwater accommodations in the entire Pearl Resorts portfolio. Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort was recently refurbished and is again open for business...Manihi Pearl Beach Resort will close for refurbishment on January 23 and reopens on February 28. The opening of a Manea Spa bungalow is also scheduled for February 28. There are now five air-conditioned premium overwater bungalows at the resort.
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After a six-month overhaul, the Sofitel Maeva Beach Tahiti reopened this past September. The lobby and all 216 rooms were completely renovated to create a more modern look, and the swimming pool was rebuilt and expanded. Le Bougainville restaurant was also rebuilt and now offers cooking shows to guests. Alain Blondeau is the new general manager at the resort. Other news from Accor properties: Construction and renovation continues at the Sofitel Marara Bora Bora, now scheduled to reopen February 10. New overwater bungalows are being built, along with a new 230-meter infinity pool. Guests currently staying in the garden and beach bungalows have access to the beach and facilities of the neighboring Novotel Bora Bora Beach Resort.Sofitel Motu Bora Bora is refurbishing its bungalows, adding new pandanus roofs, bedding, and flat-screen TVs. The Sofitel Ia Ora Moorea closed in October for extensive renovations. Nineteen new overwater bungalows are being added, and all exisiting overwater bungalows and deluxe beach units are being renovated. The resort's original 80 bungalows will be torn down and replaced with 65 new units, each with its own private garden. Every room in the resort will now have wireless Internet access, flat-screen TVs, and air conditioning. Reopening is scheduled for June...Thierry Delahaye has been named new general manager of Sofitel Ia Ora Moorea...
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The first St. Regis Resort in Tahiti & Her Islands, operated by Starwood, is scheduled to open in April. The St. Regis Resort Bora Bora will have 101 overwater and beach villas spread over 44 beachfront acres, including the Royal Suite, an 8,000 square foot palace that will be the largest suite in all of Tahiti & Her Islands. The resort will also feature a manmade hoa, allowing important nutrients to pass back and forth between the ocean and lagoon. Other news from Starwood: All guest rooms at the Sheraton Hotel Tahiti are being renovated for completion in the first quarter of 2006. Hardwood floors, marble bathrooms, and colonial style furniture are all being added...Bora Bora's technical school, Bora Bora CETAD, has established a partnership with Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa. Students from the school present and sell their arts and crafts every other Thursday at the resort's beach grill.
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The Te Tiare Beach Resort on Huahine is doing a soft refurbishment on its bungalows. The overwater bungalows are completed, with the garden and beach bungalows scheduled to be done by March. Also, the resort named a new general manager, John Marshall, effective this past November 16.
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