The Brando, a luxury resort on French Polynesia’s beautiful private atoll of Tetiaroa, composed of a dozen idyllic islets surrounding a sparkling lagoon 30 miles north of Tahiti, officially opens today to guests.
The Brando is a pioneering model of sustainable technology with seawater air-conditioning and renewable energies, without any sacrifice to luxury or comfort. Designed to reflect Polynesian lifestyles and culture, the all-inclusive resort features 35 deluxe villas, each with its own private beach area and plunge pool and offers carefree luxury in the midst of pristine nature. Exclusive and private, access to The Brando is a 20-minute flight from Tahiti by Air Tetiaroa to Tetiaroa’s airfield.
“There is nothing like The Brando in the world, and we look forward to sharing this paradise with our guests and making their stays with us truly memorable and life enriching,” said Silvio Bion, General Manager, The Brando.
The award-winning cuisine of Guy Martin of the Michelin two star restaurant Le Grand Vefour in Paris is featured in all dining venues and in-room dining. The resort’s two restaurants showcase Polynesian-inspired dishes, East/West fusion and classic French cuisine. Les Mutines is The Brando’s fine dining restaurant with a world-class wine cellar. The Beachfront Cafe offers indoor and beach dining. The resort’s Te Manu Bar features lagoon views and private tree-top seating areas reached on walkways through a palm canopy. Bob’s Bar is a casual setting on the beach.
The Brando’s Varua Polynesian Spa specializes in the finest holistic treatments which are inspired by ancient Polynesian traditions coupled with modern techniques. The spa includes private massage and treatment villas, steam baths, a tea and relaxation lounge overlooking the pond, a yoga shelter and a special spa suite for couples high up in the palm trees.
An abundance of activities are available at The Brando including snorkeling in a coral garden, paddle boarding, kayaking, Polynesian canoeing, scuba diving, tennis, biking, swimming, exploration of the untouched private islets surrounding the lagoon, and guided tours by naturalists. The resort also has a Library and Explorer Center where guests can read books about French Polynesia and attend lectures and demonstrations about Polynesian culture, history and lifestyle. Onsite research scientists will speak with guests about their research and the species of birds and marine life found on the atoll. A luxury pearl shop and a boutique are also located on the property.
The Brando was inspired by Marlon Brando’s original vision to create a venture of sustainable development that resonates with visitors and fosters opportunities to get to know both the place and people of French Polynesia.He was passionate about preserving Tetiaroa’s natural beauty, biodiversity and cultural richness and was determined to find a way in which it could be a center for research and education and a model of sustainability.
In 1999 Brando asked Richard Bailey of Pacific Beachcomber S.C., a long-time resident of Tahiti who shared his passion for the environment and who had created some of the region’s finest resorts, to help him conceive a plan that would help him achieve his dream. Together, Brando and Bailey pursued a vision of creating the world’s first and foremost post-carbon resort—an island where innovative new technologies would enable a self-sustaining luxury environment for resort guests, residents and scientific research. The Brando is the legacy of that shared vision and the resort is committed to protecting the precious biodiversity of Tetiaroa.
“The mission of The Brando is to provide one of the most luxurious, authentic, and enriching travel experiences available anywhere, in an environmentally sensitive, sustainable and culturally rich manner,” said Richard Bailey, President and CEO of Pacific Beachcomber. “We are committed to preserving and protecting the natural splendor and precious biodiversity of Tetiaroa; respecting and supporting Polynesian culture, hospitality and traditions; and striving to be a model for the rest of the world.”
An Ecostation on Tetiaroa has been established in pursuit of Brando’s dream with its operation entrusted to Tetiaroa Society, a 501 (c)(3) U.S. non profit dedicated to inspiring sustainable interdependence through education, conservation, and creative science. Current projects include a survey of the archaeological sites of Tetiaroa, a GIS mapping of the atoll, and ocean acidification research. Guests of The Brando will be able to experience first hand Brando’s vision of having a “University of the Sea” by visiting the Ecostation, interacting with scientists in the field, and actively participating in studies conducted by some of the world’s leading research institutions.
The Brando is also working closely with Te Mana O Te Moana, a Tahiti-based nonprofit organization devoted to the conservation of marine wildlife—particularly the green sea turtle on Tetiaroa, but also marine mammals, sharks, rays, and coral reef across French Polynesia. Pacific Beachcomber has collaborated closely with Te Mana O Te Moana over the past ten years. Te Mana O Te Moana is consulting on implementing excursions on Tetiaroa’s lagoon and motu and is also developing a variety of youth-oriented educational programs. The organization has developed educational materials and programs approved by the local authorities, reaching more than 50,000 school children to date.
