Paul Gauguin Cruises' President & CEO Richard Bailey Named 'Leader in Luxury'

Luxury Travel Advisor’s 2010 Luxury Travel Expo Honors Exemplary Service

BELLEVUE, WA – November 17, 2010 – Richard Bailey, CEO and President of Paul Gauguin Cruises, the highest-rated small luxury cruise ship in the South Pacific, has been named the Cruise “Leader in Luxury” at the 2010 Luxury Travel Expo, produced by Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Agent magazines.

The “Leaders in Luxury” awards, held in Las Vegas on December 9, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, will be presented to individuals who demonstrate superior leadership in four categories – Hotel, Cruise, Tour, and Travel Professional.  The winners are carefully selected by the editors of Luxury Travel Advisor and Travel Agent magazines.

“Our Leaders in Luxury Awards Class of 2010 truly represent excellence in luxury travel service,” commented Ruthanne Terrero, Vice President-Content/Editorial Director for The Travel and HotelWorldNetwork Group. “They are deserving recipients whose leadership, hard work and dedication are unmatched while continually exemplifying innovation in their respective travel sectors.”

With more than 25 years of experience in the French Polynesian tourism market, Richard Bailey, along with his company, Pacific Beachcomber (www.pacificbeachcomber.com), is French Polynesia’s largest luxury hotel and cruise operator.  In addition to owning and managing Paul Gauguin Cruises, the company owns six award-winning hotels: InterContinental Tahiti Resort, InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort, InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, InterContinental Moorea Resort and Spa, the Maitai Bora Bora, and the Maitai Rangiroa.

When asked what luxury experiences mean to him and his consumer, Bailey remarked, “At the end of the day, it’s about smiling faces. We at Pacific Beachcomber and Paul Gauguin Cruises strive to achieve luxury in a remote, authentic and well-preserved environment here in the South Pacific, weaving in the Polynesian way of life.”

Bailey has had a proud and successful year within the cruise industry. Recently celebrating its one-year anniversary as a member of the Pacific Beachcomber portfolio, the m/s Paul Gauguin achieved its highest guest survey results in the ship’s 14-year sailing history, scoring a 98.9% in excellence by guests of the August 7, 2010, sailing to Tahiti and the Society Islands.

Since the transfer of Paul Gauguin Cruises from Regent to Pacific Beachcomber, Bailey’s objective was to raise the bar of the already successful ship, all while maintaining a credible reputation of excellence.  Notable improvements have included revamped shore excursions, offering consumers a range of choices to experience the best of what French Polynesia has to offer, in addition to a refreshed food and beverage product aboard the The Gauguin. Bailey is proud of the company’s seamless transition, but still vows to relentlessly pursue the goal of being the best cruise offering in French Polynesia.

In addition to garnering the Gold Magellan Award by Travel Weekly, Paul Gauguin Cruises has also been recognized as the “Best South Pacific Itineraries” by Porthole Cruise Magazine, as well as “Best for a Second Honeymoon” by the acclaimed Cruise Critic.

Rated one of the “World’s Top-Ranked Small Ships” 11 years in a row by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, Paul Gauguin Cruises is a leader in luxury travel. Cruising Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific, the The Gauguin offers the highest standard in distinctive itineraries and best-in-class amenities.

For rates and reservations for Paul Gauguin Cruises, contact a professional travel agent, call 800-848-6172, or visit www.pgcruises.com. 

For more information on the 2010 Luxury Travel Expo, visit www.LuxuryTravelExpo.com.

###

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Owned by Pacific Beachcomber S.C., the leader in French Polynesia luxury destination resorts, Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the luxury cruise ship m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a luxury cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific. The Gauguin was built at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire, France. The ship is 513 feet long, 71 feet wide and has a draft of 16.9 feet. The ship can accommodate 332 guests with a staff of 215 and is one of the top Exclusive Charter and Incentive Group venues in the industry. The Gauguin has undergone more than $25 million in enhancements, has completed more than 570 South Pacific cruises and served more than 155,000 guests, including more than 14,000 honeymooners since its inaugural sail in 1998. The Gauguin has just been impressively named the Gold Magellan Award Winner in the Small Cruise Ship category by Travel Weekly.

U.S. Media Contacts:

The Brandman Agency

Iliana Carr | Stephanie Borris | Hadley Schroll

T: (212) 683-2442

iliana@brandmanpr.com | stephanie@brandmanpr.com | hadley@brandmanpr.com