Partner Update

June 2003



Surfing, Tahiti

Marae in Raiatea

Economy

Industry News

Advertising

Tradeshows

Workshops

Media Exposure

Product Updates

Special Feature

Web Statistics



Sailing, Raiatea

Hatiheu, Nuku Hiva

 

Economy

With hopes spreading that an economic recovery is at hand, investors piled again into stocks and Treasury bonds -- pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its first finish above 9000 since August of last year.

In heavy trading, the Dow industrials rose 116.03 points, or 1.3%, to 9038.98. The index now is up 20% since its March 11 low and up 8% since the year began.

And because of hopes that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates low as the economy grows, Treasury bonds are gaining, too. That is pushing yields, which fall when prices rise, to unexpected lows. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note Wednesday fell to 3.29%, its lowest level in 45 years.

Provided by The Wall Street Journal, June 4, 2003

 

Industry News

Travel News - The May 5th issue of Travel Weekly had a front page mention stating that Tour Operators claim that business is up with the opening line, "At long last, the travel business is beginning to roll again."  Staff columnist David Cogswell reports from a recent panel discussion of 10 U.S. Tour Operator Association members at the CruiseTour World trade show including Jimmy Murphy of Brendan Worldwide Vacations,  Peter Tauck of Tauck Holdings and Phil Bakes of Far & Wide.

Consumer Index - The Wall Street Journal reported on May 27, 2003, that "consumer confidence rose to its highest level in six months in May, providing new hope that U.S. consumers will keep spending heavily despite a weak job market." The article was mainly in reference to the Real Estate market, but notes that "The rebound in the housing data provides further evidence that consumers are still willing to spend on big-ticket items, so long as there are powerful incentives for them to do so."

 

Advertising

The Vacation Values Extension Program was initiated on April 27. Tour Operator / Cruise line Partners are participating with Air Tahiti Nui, TTNA and selected Tahiti & Her Islands Hotel Partners. 37 ads have been running with heavy market concentration on the West Coast. This program is set to run into June, 2003.

 

Upcoming Tradeshows

TTNA and Participating Partners will be attending the following Tradeshows this month:

Tradeshow Location Date
TravelAge West Las Vegas, Nevada

June 5-8

Scuba Show Long Beach, California June 21-22

 

Workshops

We are proud to announce that with the assistance of our Partners we successfully trained 650 Travel Agents this Workshop Series. We had 82 different Partner Representatives attend the Workshops to give their company's presentation and to meet the Agents. It was a great team effort and we would like to extend our gratitude to all of our Participating Partners for your support of TTNA, our programs and the destination.
Mauru'uru Roa!

Upcoming Workshop!

Tahiti Tourisme/ICTA Online Training

WEDNESDAY, JULY 23, 2003
2:00 pm Eastern/11:00 am Pacific

Please invite Travel Agents interested in the Tahiti Tiare 
Specialist Program to the Tahiti Tourisme e-learning session.

Following this one hour session, agents will receive valuable materials
 and they will satisfy the first step of becoming a Tahiti Specialist.

SIGN UP for the On-line Workshop
Please ask the agents to register via e-mail by emailing scoy@icta.com or visit our Web site at: http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/utilities/specialist.asp

*The session is free to ICTA Members, and costs $29 for non-members

 

Media Exposure

The current issue of Departures Magazine has asked their readers to complete a survey creating a list of the World's Top Hotels. With  655,000 responses from their readers, the May/June issue of Departures highlights two properties from Bora Bora. We would like to congratulate Bora Bora Lagoon Resort which was nominated as #4 and Hotel Bora Bora which placed #5 in the Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific section. In the cruising category, we would also like to congratulate Radisson Seven Seas who placed #2, Princess Cruises who came in at #3 and Windstar Cruises who placed #8.      Manuia!

Conde Nast Traveler announced their 2003 Hot List in their recent May issue. The Hot List consists of the 'Top New Hotels', with 80 properties chosen from around the world spanning 35 countries and six continents. We would like to congratulate Pearl Resorts, who made the list with their newest addition on Taha'a! The article describes the property as "chic, secluded, romantic and drop-dead gorgeous"

In the May issue of Scuba Diving, Tahiti and Her Islands were noted as “...shark territory, and hand feeding is still the method of choice for most dive operators”. With Travel Tips to readers, the magazine has presented an International Dive Travel Directory. Readers can easily find a list of Diving centers on the islands of Bora Bora, Moorea and Tahiti as well as the Hidden Paradise islands of Manihi, Taha’a, Rangiroa and Tikehau in the French Polynesia section.
Sport Diver features a 7-page article taking divers from the Society Islands to the Tuamotu atolls for a wonderful description of Eric Hanauer’s experiences. The article also includes a write up on sharks in the Tuamotu and Moorea. The article wraps up with a touch of history on Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora advising readers that “one of the best dives was inside the harbor at Tahiti Nui, on the wreck of a World War II vintage Catalina PBY seaplane”.
Maribeth Mellin, one of the journalists on our recent Hidden Paradise Press Trip wrote a front-page article in the travel section in the Sunday, May 25th issue of the San Diego Union Tribune newspaper. Titled, 'Atolls for Thee', Maribeth covers the islands of Moorea, Manihi, Fakarava, Bora Bora, Taha'a and Tahiti. The article also includes contact information for various Partners, several great images and a map of the area.
In his article titled 'Ultimate Escapes', Ty Sawyer (Editor) notes some of the encounters divers will have on Taha'a including napoleon wrasse, manta rays and black-tip reef sharks. He then takes readers to the Taha’a Pearl Beach Resort and Spa where vacationers can enjoy an "exquisite massage in the shade of a palm tree. Pampering, relaxation and indulgence here have been refined to an art"
The May 5 issue of TravelAge West has the third article from Kevin Brass since his recent trip to Tahiti's Hidden Paradise. The article, aptly titled, 'Luxuriate in South Sea Lagoons' focuses on the two new lagoon cruising yachts by Bora Bora Cruises, the Tu Moana and the Tia Moana. The article mentions all of the amenities that will be aboard the yachts as well as the excursions that will be offered to the passengers. Brass also notes the flexibility of the vessels for accommodating full boat charters for groups or conferences.
Sport Diver's Web site currently has an article posted titled 'Tahiti - A Sport Diver's Experience Beyond the Ordinary'. The article covers the Society Islands as well as the Tuamotu atolls and directs readers to our Web site: www.tahiti-tourisme.com. To see the article, click here

 

Coming Soon!

Bridal Guide  July / August, 2003 'The Treasures of Tahiti' by Susan Kaye
Bride's Magazine Summer, 2003 'Tahiti & French Polyensia' by Bob Payne

 

Product Updates

Papeete has announced that the Bougainville Park has been completely renovated and reopened this month. In addition to all of the work done in the Waterfront area of Papeete (pictured, left) they have now completed this park and added a variety of 3,000 plants, flowers and trees as well as picnic tables for visitors to use. The park is located next to the OPT (Office of Post and Telecommunications) on the mountainside of Boulevard Pomare, facing the waterfront.


Radisson Hotels & Resorts announces 168-room Radisson Resort in French Polynesia

Currently under construction four miles from the Central Business District of the Tahiti capital, Papeete, the Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti is scheduled to open by the end of March 2004. The Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti is adjacent to Lafayette Beach in Arue, a unique black sand beach spanning 2,624 feet. The 168-room resort will consist of 87 ocean view rooms, 57 suites and 24 duplex suites. All rooms will overlook the water with stunning views and large balconies. The property will have an all-day dining restaurant, a pool bar and grill, terrace bar, large conference and function facilities, state-of-the-art spa and health club and a large array of water sports.

Text provided by Radisson Hotels & Resorts, March 2003

Le Meridien Bora Bora, in coordination with the Ministry and the Delegation of the Environment,  is proud to announce their Care Center for Sea Turtles. A team has been devoted to the care and the convalescence of the marine turtle. This care center, integrated within the heart of the hotel, is unique in the world. Every year baby turtles are entrusted to this center where they will be assured sufficient growth and  protection from future predators. This special program has been implemented to ensure the successful future release of the turtles in the ocean.

 

Special Feature

Ia Orana Gauguin Art Exhibit Opens

From May 15-July 25, a historic and unique exhibit titled Ia Orana Gauguin will take place at the Museum of Tahiti and Her Islands in Tahiti to mark 100 years since the death of French artist Paul Gauguin. Celebrations were also held in Hiva Oa in the Marquesas where the painter died on May 08, 1903. The first two Gauguin oil paintings to arrive were “l’Arearea (joyfulness)” and “Autoportrait a l’ami Daniel (Self-portrait of Daniel)”. In addition, the exhibit will display the famous ceramic sculpture “Oviri”, as well as “Le masque de sauvage” from the Paris Orsay Museum and about twenty drawings on loan from the Paris, Africa and Oceania Museum as well as some paintings from private collections.

 

Web Statistics


Photo courtesy of Tim McKenna - Teahupoo, Tahiti

April Web Stats:
Successful Hits: 3,248,687
Total Impressions: 1,019,050
User Sessions: 125,018
Unique Users: 56,625
Average Session Length: 8:22

May Web Stats:
Successful Hits: 3,371,428
Total Impressions: 1,051,845
User Sessions: 107,067
Unique Users: 45,010
Average Session Length: 8:17

 

Partners - Please click on the following link for the latest 
edition of our Tiare News, May / June 2003:

Tiare News May / June 2003
(pdf download)

 As a reminder, you also have access to previous issues of our Tiare News and Partner Updates 
which are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF downloads in the Partner section of our site:

http://www.tahiti-tourisme.com/partners