TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards Honors Two Cook Islands Properties

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is proud to announce that not one, but two Cook Islands properties have been honored in the Ninth Annual TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice® Awards in both the Luxury and Romance categories.

From the main island of Rarotonga, the Little Polynesian has been voted one of the Top 10 Resorts for Romance in the South Pacific. "We are thrilled to win this highly sought-after award from TripAdvisor. Little Polynesian has been catering to international guests seeking a romantic South Pacific experience for the last 30 years, and we are very pleased to be recognized for this fact on a global scale", said Te Tika Mataiapo - Dorice Reid, Managing Director of the Little Polynesian. Known for its traditional architecture, attention to detail and world-class surroundings, the Little Polynesian boutique hotel exudes romance from every angle.

From the idyllic island of Aitutaki, Pacific Resort Aitutaki has been voted one of the Top 10 Luxury Resorts in the South Pacific as well as the Top 10 Resorts for Romance in the South Pacific. "We are absolutely delighted and honored to receive these prestigious awards", said Greg Stanaway, chief executive officer for Pacific Resort Hotel Group - Cook Islands. "We are thankful to Michael Shah, Resort General Manager, and his team for underpinning the excellence of what is today known as one of the World's Leading Island Resorts. Pacific Resort Aitutaki will continue to build on its high standards in all the areas that awarded us this great recognition."

Unlike any other hotel honors in the world, TripAdvisor® Travelers' Choice® winners are based on the millions of real and unbiased reviews from travelers on TripAdvisor.com--one of the most trusted sources of travel advice in the world.

Cause for further celebration for the Cook Islands is Air New Zealand's announcement earlier this month that it will operate direct services between Sydney and the Cook Islands from July 2011, making it the only airline to operate direct services between the two nations. Flights will operate once a week from July 4, 2011 until March 2014. In addition, North American travelers can visit the Cook Islands aboard the once-weekly nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Rarotonga on Air New Zealand.