Cook Islands Tourism Marketing Conference 2008
The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is pleased to announce that the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Conference will be held from Tuesday 15th – Friday 18th January 2008. This year the Cook Islands Tourism Corporation hopes to try something different in the way the event is coordinated – that is hosting the event over a 4 day period, rather than the usual one day industry meeting. This new format is designed to provide all accredited members with one on one time to discuss 2008 business plans with all CITC Marketing representatives. In attendance from CITC overseas offices will be - Angie Sloan & Anne Morris (UK), Karin Zwiers & Andrea Walz (Europe), Rick Buecking & Marilyn Scott (North America), Mereana Taruia (Australia) andChris Ingram (New Zealand). The CITC objective is to also provide their industry with access to other regional tourism perspectives. south-pacific.travel’s chief executive Tony Everitt and Air New Zealand Americas, Agency Business Development’s Charles Schuler are confirmed guest speakers at the event. For more information, e-mail: PapaRa@cookislands.gov.ck (Source: Drumbeats - News from the Cook Islands September-December 2007 Issue)

Dot-travel Registrar Reports Surge in New Domain Name Registrations
Dot-travel registrar EnCirca has announced that there was a surge in new .travel domain name registrations ahead of the travel registry rule changes scheduled that was to have  taken effect from December 21, 2007. “Companies are deciding to secure the names they are already authenticated for” says Tom Barrett, President of EnCirca. “On Friday, all dot-travel domain names become first-come, first-served and will be available to any travel company”. This includes nearly 300,000 reserved destination names. Effective with the new relaxed eligibility policy, Tralliance, the .travel registry is planning to release thousands of reserved place names, such as cities, iconic cultural sites and world heritage landmarks. “EnCirca is the only travel registrar offering pre-registrations for all available names”, says Barrett. “We will automatically submit applications to the dot-travel registry once the new rules take effect.” For more information, click here. (Source: Forimmediaterelease.net 19 December 2007)

Traditional Ceremony Welcomes Star Flyer in Port of Papeete
The 170-passenger sailing cruise ship Star Flyer, a reminder of the sailing schooners that visited Tahiti long before its international airport opened, received a traditional Tahitian welcome Saturday as it arrived in its new homeport of Papeete Harbor. The blowing of conch shells, an escort of sailing and paddling outrigger canoes and a traditional Tahitian dancing and singing performance by the professional group O Tahiti E" provided the welcome on a cloudy day. Many of the four-masted ship's crew that sailed the vessel empty of passengers from Panama to Tahiti's sister island of Moorea and then to Papeete, lined the main deck of the Star Flyer to witness the welcoming reception. Tourism Minister Marc Collins welcomed the 85-cabin ship, whose arrival culminated two years of work initiated by last year's Temaru government. "This is a real successful partnership," Collins said, obviously pleased that the ship is 100 percent booked with passengers for its first three months of what is scheduled to be a four-year stay in French Polynesia. Eric Krafft, vice president of the Monaco-based Star Clippers and son of the company's Swedish founder, Mikael Krafft, was among those at the honor wharf to greet the Star Flyer's arrival. "We have never seen such a welcome like this in all of the countries where we have been up until now. "Today is the start of something important that will be beneficial to all parties concerned," Krafft said. For more information, click here. (Source: Tahitipresse 30 December 2007)

US Follow Up Familiarization in Fiji
The Fiji Visitors Bureau, Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Air Pacific and ATS Pacific hosted a familiarization tour as a follow up from a road show conducted in early 2007 through the Mid West in the United States of America. Representatives from Helms Briscoe, Carlson Marketing Worldwide, Docherty Incentives, Maritz Travel and Butwin Associates attended the familiarization tour which covered the Northern Islands, Coral Coast and Denarau Island. The guests were treated like royalty and had a real “wow” experience during their trip to Fiji. For more information, please contact ATS Pacific C & I Groups Manager, Ms Sally Cooper on sally@atspacific.com.fj (Source: Fiji me MICE e-newsletter 01 January 2008)

Tourism Industry Forms New Lobby Group
The Cook Islands tourism industry is forming a new national body to serve as a more powerful lobby group. The proposed Cook Islands Tourism Industry Association will be an umbrella group embracing accredited hospitality, accommodation and tour operators who already have their own associations. It's to be formed at a public meeting on 7 January where a draft constitution will be presented and an executive committee elected. The council will have the powers to promote or oppose legislative, administrative and other measures directly or indirectly affecting tourism in the country. Interim committee member Robert Skews says there are various councils among tourism operators in the Cook Islands such as accommodation owners, dive companies, tour providers and local tourism councils just to name a few. The new national council will represent all accredited tourism operators, although membership can also be approved by the executive council. Skews adds that the new body will also envelop the existing tourism council which is chaired by Don Beer junior and the accommodation council chaired by Des Eggelton.  Beer told Cook Islands News that the notion of such a body has been around for at least six years and finally it is now being formalised as a legal entity. He said the council will act as a lobby group or the sole voice from the private sector for all businesses that are tourism accredited. (Source: Cook Islands News Online 29 December 2007)

Sonaisali Island Resort Retains Rating
Sonaisali Island Resort has retained their AAA 4 ½ star rating following the recent re-rating and inspection of the resort, which remains the only officially rated 4 ½ star island resort in Fiji. Managing Director, Aaron McGrath says “I am extremely proud that we have retained our 4 ½ star rating with AAA. It is pleasing to maintain this level of service and to be rated as such by an independent international rating system. It was such a wonderful result for the Sonaisali Team”. For more information, please contact Sonaisali Island Resort Sales & Marketing Manager, Ms Karyn Blenkiron on sales@sonaisali.com (Source: Fiji me MICE e-newsletter 01 January 2008)

Five Star Hotel to Open Soon
The Solomon Islands will soon have a five star hotel, the Heritage Park Hotel, opened to the world as work on it is progressing well. This was mentioned by Bill Mathews, Project Manager of Lamana Development Company who is currently constructing the hotel. Facilities soon to be completed include staff residential apartments, administration offices, the five seafront hotel buildings, catering for restaurants and club plus other things. Also, soon to be completed is the sea wall. “Everybody has put in an extra effort toward building up this place and reaching this far, especially the locals. “I would say we are very much fortunate to have accomplished one quarter of what we aimed for,” Mr Mathews said. “The company and contractors are really happy with such progress. With such work going on like this, we can be able to complete the building sooner then schedule,” he said. Administration officer, David Torrance commended the Solomon Islands community at large saying that the people have contributed a lot. “It won’t be long till we have this place up and running,” Mr Torrance said. (Source: Solomon Star News 19 December 2007)

4 Million Budgeted for Airport Improvements in 2008
This is the first of several improvements that Sétil Aéroports has programmed for the coming year with a budget of 330 million French Pacific francs (US$4.13 million/€2.77 million). The overall objective is to make the airport more modern and more dynamic, answering the needs of today’s travelers as well as making the airport a more attractive place for those arriving for the first time. A lot of the budgeted improvements will involve renovation work, starting with the waiting lounge for passengers who have cleared customs and immigration and will be boarding international flights. Furniture will be replaced, the areas facing outdoors and the ceilings will be changed in an overall effort to create a new, more friendly and comfortable area for passengers. The present upstairs bar in the waiting lounge for boarding passengers will be moved to the ground floor and rebuilt next to a garden. And a 500 m2 (5,382 sq. ft.) commercial area will be created. “There is only one store that groups everything today, and that’s not enough,” said Frédérique Mermillod of Sétil Aéroports. (Source: Tahiti Tourisme Weekly Bulleting News Update Vol.5 no. 237 – 28 December 2007)

Air Pacific Celebrity Pro Am Golf Tournament
The inaugural Air Pacific Celebrity Pro Am will be held on Denarau Island, Fiji from 6th – 10th September 2008. The tournament is aimed at New Zealand corporate companies wanting to participate in an event with a difference. It is a great incentive package that is new to the market and is already attracting a lot of interest. The concept is that each corporate company purchases a team of 3 players who will compete in the 54 hole tournament. Each team will be drawn with a celebrity or professional golfer at the arrival cocktail party in Fiji and play with that celebrity or professional golfer for the 54 holes. A scholarship will be formed as part of this event for a young Fijian which could be golf related, educational or for some other course. If you would like to enter a team from New Zealand for the Air Pacific Celebrity Pro Am, please contact Andy Hayden at Sporting Contacts on Andy@sportingcontacts.co.nz or Jennie Burt on jennib@worldaviation.co.nz (Source: Fiji me MICE e-newsletter 01 January 2008)

Joint Country Strategy 2007-2017
The Cook Islands Joint Country Strategy (JCS) has been prepared by the Government of the Cook Islands and the International Development Agencies of New Zealand and Australia. It supports the National Development Strategy of the Cook Islands Te Kaveinga Nui 2020 vision and the National Sustainable Development Plan 2007-2010. The JCS provides the guiding framework for development and delivery of New Zealand and Australian aid to Cook Islands. It seeks to enhance aid effectiveness by strengthening partnerships between the three governments and maximising the benefits of harmonisation. The goal for the JCS is to: Contribute to a sustainable future that meets the economic and social needs of the Cook Islands, particularly in the Outer Islands. This strategic goal reflects support to the Cook Islands’ own outcomes set out in ‘Te Kaveinga Nui – Living the Cook Islands Vision, a 2020 Challenge’ and ‘National Sustainable Development Plan 2007-2010’. (Source: Drumbeats - News from the Cook Islands September-December 2007 Issue)

People Magazine Exclusive on Eddie Murphy Marriage Sparks Worldwide Promo for Bora Bora
A People Magazine exclusive report on Eddie Murphy's New Year's Day "marriage" touched off a worldwide promotion for Bora Bora where the couple reportedly tied the knot "in front of 25 friends and family". The article reported "a sunset ceremony on the beach" with the bride walking "barefoot down the aisle to Gladys Knight's 'Markings of You'. "The wedding was designed by event designer Colin Cowie, who created a gazebo on the beach made out of 6,000 shells for the ceremony," People Magazine reported. Sam Godfrey of Perfect Endings in Napa, Calif., prepared the wedding cake. "After the ceremony, guests celebrated at a private dinner and after-party, where DJ Darrin Ebron from Los Angeles kept the guests dancing," People reported on its Internet Web site. Click here for more information. (Source: Tahitipresse 02 January 2008)