Smooth Sailing for Tahiti Traffic Online

July 20, 2007 - PRLog -- French Polynesia, July 21, 2007 -- Accor Asia Pacific is helping the travel industry and consumers better navigate their way through Tahiti and her islands, launching a new web portal Accor Resorts in Tahiti - French Polynesia to promote its four Sofitel and two Novotel resorts in French Polynesia.

With six hotels in the region, Accor is one of the most pervasive and popular hotel groups to operate in the destination.

Accor's Regional Director of Sales & Marketing for French Polynesia, Stephane Sonnet, says the new regional website initiative is both functional and aspirational; the homepage providing direct access to dedicated hotel websites for Accor's portfolio of six resorts located on Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and Rangiroa.

"Accorhotels.pf provides us with an opportunity to guide guests on a virtual visit through our newly decorated and refurbished resorts in order to pre-plan and tailor their itinerary," says Mr Sonnet.

"While 85% of clients still purchase a Tahiti holiday via traditional tour operators, our research suggests that the majority of these travellers still select their hotel of choice from research made online.

"With this in mind, a strong presence on the web and via hotel e-brochures is fundamental to the continued success and interest in our destination."

Accor's new portal features extensive photography and visuals accompanied by succinct yet specific hotel information. It also includes updated and comprehensive descriptions, spa menus, maps and pictures.

For added convenience, Accor has incorporated a user-friendly booking engine and reservations link from the homepage to quickly locate current rates, specials and accommodation availability for travellers.

Progressively, the website will be enriched with additional, activity and tour options, online videos, destination information and be available in additional languages (i.e French and Japanese) to service other key international markets besides Australia, North and South America, the UK and New Zealand.

Targeting tour operators, travel agents, journalists and the general public, the new site further assists holiday and decision makers by providing updated destination news and current event details such as the annual 'Heiva' festival and Billabong Surf Pro event in Tahiti.

In addition the comprehensive website imparts fundamental 'bread and butter information' for each separate resort (including guest room types, restaurants and leisure facilities available) plus thoughtful advice for those with special interests such as Tahitian wedding planning; snorkeling and diving excursions; and conferencing, meetings and events management.

Accor is the leading hotel operator in Tahiti and was the first international group in the region, opening its first hotel (Sofitel Tahiti Beach Resort) in 1969. Accor currently has six resorts dotted around the islands: including four Sofitel Resorts -- the Sofitel Tahiti Resort, Sofitel Moorea Beach resort, Sofitel Bora Bora Beach Resort and the Sofitel Motu Bora Bora (a private island) -- and two Novotel resorts -- the Novotel Bora Bora Beach Resort and the Novotel Rangiroa Lagoon Resort.

Accor has been a major presence in French Polynesia for over 35 years with management of the region more recently overseen by Accor Asia Pacific, at a time of increased air access into the island paradise from both Australia and New Zealand.

About Accor
Accor, the European leader in hotels and tourism, and a global leader in corporate services, operates in nearly 100 countries with 166,000 employees. It offers to its individual and corporate clients 40 years of expertise in its two core businesses:
- Hotels, with the Sofitel, Novotel, Mercure, Suitehotel, Ibis, All Seasons, Etap Hotel, Formule 1 and Motel 6 brands: 3,800 hotels and 450,000 rooms in 90 countries, as well as strategically related activities, such as Lentre;
- Services to corporate clients and public institutions: 23 million people in 35 countries benefit from Accor Services products -- meal and food vouchers, people care, incentive and loyalty programs.

# # #

Accorhotels, online hotel reservation from economy to luxury hotels worldwide, for leisure and business travel.

Website: www.accorhotels.pf?DCSext.dept=2&WT.mc_id=100018