If I didn’t know before, I know it now: I want to live in Tahiti – as do, I’ll warrant, the three dozen or so travel advisors who turned out on the coldest day of the year (can you say polar vortex?) in Mississauga Tuesday to get the latest news on the South Pacific destination courtesy of The Islands of Tahiti, a collection of a dozen suppliers whose job it is to inspire people, if not to live, but at least visit the idyllic islands.
And if it was cruel and unusual punishment for attendees to be subjected to two hours of turquoise water, white (and in some cases black sand) beaches, striking volcanic mountain peaks, beautiful tattooed Polynesians, and exotic overwater bungalows, then at least the visitors were shivering too – though as Tahiti Tourisme’s Canadian travel trade lead Veronica Petcoff joked, “I told them this is the time of year when Canadians want to go to Tahiti.”
Trip prizes were also in store for agents, which promised to make the excursion even more worthwhile for lucky winners.
On hand for the road show event, which was to be reprised last night in Montreal and Thursday in Vancouver, were reps from Air Tahiti Nui, Paul Gauguin and Windstar Cruises, plus several hotels and ground agencies.
Advisors learned that the islands’ national carrier promises to start the “Tahiti in the Air” experience as soon as guests step on board in Los Angeles or Seattle – and accessible to Canadians via interline agreements with Air Canada and WestJet, and codeshares with United and Alaska Airlines.
Tahiti as a stopover was also suggested for those travelling onwards to New Zealand and/ or Australia, while agents were encourage to register on the airline’s portal for access to discounted rates flight rates.
Cruise
Cruising in the Society and Marquesas islands, that former including Tahiti, Moorea, and Bora Bora, is enormously popular – so much so that Windstar, which has been sailing for 36 years in the islands, swapped out its Wind Spirit vessel for the larger (but still boutique) Spirit Breeze, which can still reach the islands’ stunning small bays. New itineraries also include the Marquesas islands, a thousand miles distant from Tahiti.
For its part, Paul Gauguin Cruises – perhaps the line most associated with the islands – has been sailing for over a quarter century and has been a part of Ponant since 2019. The cruise line has a “Take Your Sweetie to Tahiti” offer in the market until Feb. 14.
Another cruise option – sailing via Aranui Cruises freighter to the Marquesas, delivering cargo and mail along the way – is utterly unique for guests and offers access to otherwise inaccessible islands and a completely culturally immersive experience. Importantly, it does not lack for luxury, though not at the highest end of the scale.
Accommodations
Among the hoteliers on hand were Pearl Resorts, Conrad Bora Bora, Hilton Tahiti and Moorea (the latter to undergo renovations in 2026), Sofitel, Westin Bora Bora (just opened in September), St. Regis, Nui Beach, and the exclusive Motu Nao Nao on Raiatea, for those discerning clients with a million bucks to spare who can afford to buy it out for their group stay.
Meanwhile, Tahiti Travel Services and Tahiti Nui Travel, can satisfy all manner of on-island needs, from accommodation to greetings, transfers, cruises, activities, and more.
(Ed. note: It might be good time to mention that ‘nui’ means big in the local lingo).
But for all the useful and inspiring input for agents on the night, it was observed by one of the presenters that, “You can look at a lot of (stunning) photographs of the islands, but they can’t really describe the feeling you get when you step off the plane.”
Indeed, echoed Tahiti Tourisme’s Petcoff: “Tahiti is more than a destination – it’s the feeling of a lifetime.”
If only I lived there.
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