December '03 - January '04

ia orana i te matahiti api!

Happy New Year!

Suzanne Lustig has been appointed director of sales, national accounts for Pleasant Holidays. Her career in travel began with Pleasant Holidays in 1996, following her graduation from San Diego State University in Tourism-Systems Management. In 1987, she transferred from Pleasant Holidays' marketing department and became sales manager for the company's Asia and South Pacific, with responsibilities for travel agency cooperative advertising, tradeshows, and training.

Her role was further defined in 2000 as sales manager, national accounts, where she oversaw the implementation of sales and marketing programs for Pleasant's Asia and South Pacific products with preferred travel agency accounts, including AAA, American Express, Carlson Wagonlit, LTG, Uniglobe, and WESTA. In her new position, Lustig will assist the company's preferred accounts in their sales and marketing efforts for all Pleasant Holidays' products-Hawaii, Mexico, Asia, Tahiti and the South Pacific, and the Caribbean. She is based in Pleasant Holidays' San Diego, CA office.

As Travel Weekly celebrated its 45th anniversary in October, the November 17th issue published a supplemental edition on this year's U.S. Travel Industry Survey Studies. They examined various business practices of the travel industry. Some of the topics included:

- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
-Travel Consumers & the Internet
- Marketing Research
- Cruise Line - Retailer relations
- Vacation Packager - Retailer relations
- Hotel - Retailer relations
- Car rental - Retailer relations

We were reminded of the challenges that occured during the year 2003, but as the economy has been improving and current events stabilizing, this issue offered interesting insight for the industry in the upcoming year.

Source: Travel Weekly

New CEO for Air Tahiti Nui

Geoffry Salmon has been appointed as the new CEO for Air Tahiti Nui, having been elected unanimously on December 22nd by the airline’s board of directors. Salmon replaces Nelson Lévy, who resigned as CEO to become chairman of Tahiti Nui Telecom, a joint venture between the French Polynesia's Post Office and Telecommunications Service (OPT), France Telecom and its international affiliate, France Câbles Radio.

French Polynesia's President and Senator, Gaston Flosse, appointed Salmon Minister of Transportation, Archipelago Development and the OPT (Post Office and Telecommunication) in 1986. He served as the managing director of the OPT for 25 years. On November 26th, 2003, Salmon left this position and became the OPT’s board chairman, a function he will continue to hold along with his new position.

Salmon noted there were some “large files that are in the process of being studied, such as whether or not to purchase a fifth aircraft. The most important things in this mission are to encourage more tourists to visit the destination and look for a sort of optimal addition of different links in the tourism chain... transportation being one of the fundamental ingredients in the tourism product.”

The Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort is pleased to annouce its reopening on December 20th of this year with the following updates:

- The Premium Overwater bungalows will have their own sundeck with a ladder leading directly to the lagoon
- All bungalows and public areas will have been renovated. Due to unforeseen delays in delivery for the interior design, the eight new Overwater Suites will be available on May 1st, 2004.

Sports Events in Moorea

Tahiti Nui Half Ironman – Saturday, February 07, 2004
Swimming: 2 Km/ 1.2 mile
Biking: 99 Km/ 61.5 miles
Running: 21 Km/ 13 miles

15th Edition of Tahiti Nui Sunrise Marathon – Saturday, February 14, 2004
Distance: 42 Km/26 Miles – 21 Km/13 Miles – 5 Km/3 Miles
Exotic Raid Adventure – Saturday, May 29, 2004
Kayak: 3 Km/1.8 Miles
Mountain Biking: 20 Km/12.4 Miles
Mountrail Race: 5 Km/3.1 Miles

For more information or to register, please contact:
Youth and Sports Organization
Tel. (689) 56 25 79
Email: Moorea@sjs.pf
www.sjs.prf

- A.S. Te Moorea Club
Tel: (689) 56 3 4 56
www.Moorea-events.org

- Ministry of Youth and Sports
www.jeunesse.gov.pf

*The conversion in miles is an approximate

Le Meridien Tahiti
“Le Carre’ the resorts new trendy restaurant will offer a unique concept when it opens in February of 2004: new décor, new design, exotic furniture and lounge music with DJ.
Le Meridien Bora Bora
This hotel actively participates in the protection of the marine turtles. Last November, the turtle sanctuary , located in the heart of the hotel, welcomed many new baby turtles. Clients can still enjoy swimming and feeding these amazing creatures surrounded by a variety of fish.

Windstar Cruises has announced a more than $6-million enhancement to its 3-ship fleet. The 148-passenger Wind Star ship sailing in Polynesian waters will impress guests with a reception lobby area boasting intoxicating aromas of Tahiti and Her Islands from the signature fresh tropical floral display daily kept year-round. A center-ceiling dome with faux-painted sky scene above a plush circular settee complements the floral installations. Main lounges will echo the intimate onboard ambience with newly designed seating configurations, enhanced updated flooring, bar cabinetry, furniture, skylights, and artworks. State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment will offer movie screenings and fulfill the needs of Windstar’s extensive charter, incentive and retail group business.

The popular pool bar and pool areas will be enhanced with an inviting permanent food station for continental breakfast, afternoon tea, evening appetizer and dessert service. The teak bar area will be totally refinished, complemented by teak tables, chairs, and towel stations.

Guest accommodations are set for a complete modernization, including: state-of-the-art entertainment centers featuring flat screen TV’s and DVD players; new artwork and hand-held magnifying mirrors; new telephones and mattresses; all new bathroom fixtures and shower curtains. In addition, all soft goods will be replaced such as mattresses, bedding, carpets, and curtains.

A rigorous change and enlargement of the gymnasium will take place on both ships with a new floor plan and lighting, glass-etched door addition, and fresh paint on walls and ceilings. All new up-to-date cardiovascular equipment such as elliptical trainers and recumbent bikes will complement a ballet bar, free weights and flat screen TV for an overall mind-body workout.

In addition to the extensive work in public spaces and guest accommodations, the ship will also receive substantial attention in mechanical areas, including a significant investment in the air conditioning units.

Examples of other extensive work include: replacing wall coverings and window treatments; new marble floors, counters, and new fixtures and sinks in restrooms; a new massage bed, marble floor, granite counter top, sink, wall tile and window treatments in the salon/spa; new chaise lounges on deck; and installation of a permanent outdoor awning adding covered dinning facilities to the Veranda café.