Situated on a picturesque oceanfront location with panoramic views of Papeete Harbor and the island of Moorea, the 200-room Outrigger Hotel Tahiti features many unique and luxurious touches, including a grand staircase, pandanus-decorated vaulted ceiling with mother-of-pearl chandelier, custom-made Tahitian quilts, and beautiful murals evoking a Polynesian ambiance and decor reminiscent of a romantic bygone era.  The Outrigger Hotel Tahiti is built on the 6.2-acre site of the former Hotel Tahiti�the 1960s Tahitian gathering place originally owned by the late Hawaii restaurateur and businessman Spencer F. Weaver Jr. The property was acquired in 1996 by Tahiti businessman Louis Wane. The hotel�s location makes it uniquely convenient for vacationers, cruise passengers and international business travelers.

Wayne Sterling, general manager for the Outrigger Hotel Tahiti, said that Outrigger placed a very high importance on creating a hotel that would be true to its special location. �We�re very proud of the Tahitian sense of design that is reflected in the rooms and public areas of the property,� Sterling said. Traditional Tahitian colors were used in the guest rooms and richly appointed exotic woods were utilized for the furnishings. The resort�s buildings are also surrounded by a tropical garden displaying native plants and flowers.  Sterling credits the resort�s special ambiance to the involvement of the hotel�s Tahiti-based owners, Louis and Lulu Wane, in the design and construction of the hotel. �Our employees are overwhelmed by the dedication displayed by the owners,� he said.

Complementing the Tahitian theme in the guest rooms are modern amenities such as air-conditioning, refrigerator, in-room safe, coffee maker, cable TV, data port, 110 volt a/c power and lanai. An exclusive Voyagers Club concierge level of accommodations is also available, offering a private hospitality room, extensive library and club lounge where daily continental breakfast and evening snacks are served.  Other resort amenities include a business center, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, complete water sports activities program and shops. The health and fitness center is scheduled to open in 2000. Dining options include Moevai, an �over-water� restaurant, and two cocktail lounges�TeAma Bar and Quinn�s. Meeting and banquet facilities can accommodate up to 500 persons.

Located five minutes from Faa�a International Airport (PPT), the Outrigger Hotel Tahiti is one of the most conveniently situated properties on the island. It is also just minutes from the capital of Papeete.  Tahiti has an average temperature of 79 degrees. Tahitian and French are the official languages but English is commonly understood. The French Pacific Franc is the local currency but major credit cards are accepted.  A valid passport is required for all non-French citizens. Most visitors are required to have a visa and all must have an outbound ticket.

Outrigger Planning Additional Expansion

According to Perry Sorenson, chief operating officer for Outrigger Hotels Resorts, the company is considering further expansion in French Polynesia. �These are exciting times for Outrigger,� Sorenson said. �The Outrigger Hotel Tahiti is now open. The Outrigger Moorea Lagoon will open in mid-2000. The Outrigger Bora Bora is in the design stage. And we�re considering another three possible resorts in French Polynesia.� Sorenson added that full-service island resorts like the Outrigger Hotel Tahiti represent the future face of Outrigger Hotels Resorts. �Over the past few years we�ve seen the birth of a new Outrigger brand focused on deluxe resort properties in island destinations. With its exceptional architecture and amenities, the Outrigger Hotel Tahiti exemplifies the new direction for Outrigger.�

The Outrigger Hotel Tahiti is owned by Louis Wane of Tahiti and managed by Outrigger Hotels Resorts, a division of Hawaii-based Outrigger Enterprises, Inc., the largest lodging company in Hawaii and one of the fastest growing lodging companies in the Pacific. Outrigger currently operates or has under development 45 hotels and resort condominiums throughout the Pacific region, representing more than 12,000 hotel rooms and condominium units in Hawaii, Micronesia, Australia and the South Pacific.

Outrigger�s affiliate, Outrigger Lodging Services, manages nearly two dozen hotels and resorts throughout the U.S. Mainland.