The Australian wholesaler says it has revived its specialist Tahiti division with a standalone website, a joint marketing campaign with Tahiti Tourisme and Air Tahiti Nui, and a pitch to be the trade’s go-to partner as direct air access returns.
Entire Travel Group has relaunched its Tahiti Travel brand as a standalone division with its own domain, www.tahititravel.com.au, timed to coincide with yesterday’s Air Tahiti Nui’s announcement of direct Sydney to Papeete flights launching in December 2026.
The division, which Entire Travel Group says is the only dedicated Tahiti specialist accredited by both ATIA and CATO, will sit within the broader wholesale group but operate with its own identity and trade-facing hub.
Why relaunch the brand now?
Tahiti Travel was originally founded in 2007 as Tahiti Travel Connection and, according to the company, quickly established itself as a respected Tahiti specialist in the Australian market.
While the brand was folded into the wider group during a strategic consolidation in 2019, Managing Director Brad McDonnell says the return of direct flights has created the right moment to separate it out again.
“With the return of direct flights – after a 13-year break – the destination needs a credible and secure specialist partner at the front of the market, and that’s exactly what Tahiti Travel is,” McDonnell said.
McDonnell says work on the relaunch began several months ago, with the group making a strategic decision to time the unveiling with Air Tahiti Nui’s route announcement.
Air Tahiti Nui will operate twice-weekly non-stop services between Papeete and Sydney from 14 December 2026, removing the Auckland connection that Australian travellers have relied on via a Qantas codeshare.
What does the trade proposition look like?
Travel advisors will be directed to a dedicated Tahiti Travel hub within Entire Travel Group, which the company says preserves the systems and operational support of the larger wholesale group while giving Tahiti a stronger standalone brand presence.
A joint marketing campaign with Tahiti Tourisme and Air Tahiti Nui is set to launch next week, featuring what Entire Travel Group describes as exclusive discounts and value-added inclusions.
“Our team live and breathes French Polynesia,” McDonnell said. “They know the resorts, the people and the culture, and with more than 50 collective years of experience selling Tahiti, they are uniquely placed to support Australian agents with confidence.”
What’s been happening on the ground?
The relaunch follows a recent week-long visit to Tahiti by McDonnell and Entire Travel Group’s Head of Product, Tina Heyer.
According to the company, the pair met with key resort partners and Tahiti Tourisme representatives and attended ParauParau Tahiti, the destination’s annual trade event. Discussions centred on long-term growth strategies and supporting Australian advisors as demand rebuilds, Entire Travel Group says.
The timing aligns with a strong period for French Polynesia’s inbound tourism. According to provisional data from the ISPF (Institut de la statistique de la Polynésie Française), the destination welcomed nearly 279,000 visitors in 2025, with Australia contributing approximately 8,165 arrivals.
Where does this fit in the broader Entire Travel Group picture?
Entire Travel Group has been expanding its specialist divisions in recent years, adding coach touring and rail journeys to its portfolio alongside its core independent holiday packages. The group also brought Consolidated Travel on as a 40 per cent stakeholder, adding distribution firepower to the operation.
Its recent 2026 Travel Showcase & Soirée roadshow drew more than 1,000 advisors across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, underscoring the group’s growing footprint in the trade.
KARRYON UNPACKS: For travel advisors, a dedicated Tahiti specialist backed by a major wholesale group means stronger product knowledge, co-marketing support and a single point of contact as direct Sydney flights return in December.
