1. What was your original vision when founding Tahiti Homes, and how has the company evolved into a leading player in luxury villa rentals in French Polynesia?
The idea for Tahiti Homes came about around 15 years ago when I was working for a hotel group that launched a new concept, apartments with kitchenettes. At the time, this was very new in our destination, which was traditionally centered around overwater bungalows and beach resorts. We were initially skeptical, but it opened French Polynesia to a new type of traveler.
In 2011, I decided to leave the company and launch a real estate business dedicated to managing private homes for tourists. I started with friends and relatives who owned secondary residences in Tahiti or Moorea. Managing their homes revealed a clear gap in the market: families, groups of friends, and longer-stay travelers had very few accommodation options that suited their needs.
Coming from a four- and five-star hospitality background, I knew the destination naturally attracts a high-end clientele due to its remoteness and cost of access. From the beginning, I focused on selecting only premium properties, homes with exceptional locations, strong design, high maintenance standards, and features like pools and ocean views. This positioning naturally placed Tahiti Homes in the high-end segment.
Over time, we realized that offering beautiful homes was not enough. Guests increasingly demanded hotel-style services, especially after COVID, when privacy and tailored experiences became essential. We developed a full range of concierge services, private chefs, wellness experiences, breakfast delivery, and curated activities. Today, we operate like a decentralized four-star resort, with high-end homes spread across the islands.
2. How do you explain the global rise of private villa rentals, and why are high-end travelers prioritizing exclusivity and privacy?
Travel has fundamentally changed. Today, luxury is about experiences and shared moments with loved ones. Villas allow guests to live at their own rhythm, without schedules, crowds, or constraints.
This shift accelerated during COVID, when privacy became essential. Guests now value having their own space, a private pool, a secluded setting, and the freedom to create meaningful experiences with family and friends. In the luxury segment, this demand is even stronger. People are also overwhelmed by constant digital exposure and seek places where they can disconnect and feel protected. Villas offer exactly that.
3. In a competitive global market, how do you position French Polynesia against destinations like the Caribbean or the Maldives?
French Polynesia is truly unique. The Maldives represent standardized luxury, beautiful, predictable, and highly controlled. The Caribbean is more accessible and more mass-market.
French Polynesia, by contrast, offers emotional luxury. It’s about nature, authenticity, and sensory experiences, the scent of flowers, the presence of the ocean, the culture, the colors. There is no overdevelopment; hotels are integrated into the landscape, and there are strict limits on construction.
Luxury here is not about marble and gold, it’s about space, nature, and harmony. At Tahiti Homes, we also contribute by using existing properties rather than building new ones, which minimizes environmental impact.
4. To what extent does American clientele, especially from the U.S. West Coast, drive demand?
North American clients represent about 60–65% of our business, largely due to proximity, just a seven- to eight-hour flight from Los Angeles or San Francisco.
Another key advantage for American travelers, especially those on the West Coast, is that Tahiti and its islands share a similar time zone, with little to no jet lag.
They expect high standards: excellent maintenance, quality bedding, air conditioning, and fully equipped homes. Popular properties include hillside villas with panoramic views and private pools, or beachfront homes with multiple bedrooms.
They also seek authenticity, local experiences, cultural interactions, and activities that allow them to connect with Polynesian life.
5. How do you integrate Polynesian culture and sustainability into the Tahiti Homes experience?
Our team is entirely local, which ensures an authentic connection with guests. Each guest has a dedicated concierge who introduces them to the culture through activities, cuisine, and local experiences.
On the sustainability side, we encourage property owners to adopt solar energy and responsible waste management. We’ve developed eco-friendly bathroom amenities made locally with natural ingredients and refillable packaging. We also prioritize local sourcing, for example in our breakfast offerings.
6. What have been the main challenges in building a premium hospitality model in an island economy?
First, we are not a digital platform like Airbnb, we are a management company. Every property is carefully selected and managed by our team.
The main challenges include finding properties that meet our standards, building a flexible and skilled workforce across multiple islands, and creating operational processes for very diverse homes. Unlike hotels, each property is unique, which adds complexity.
Another constraint is the limited inventory in the destination, but this also reinforces exclusivity.
7. What was the rationale behind launching ELYT Charter Tahiti, and how does it complement your villa business?
Guests come to French Polynesia for the water experience, but beachfront properties are limited. We wanted to offer a new type of accommodation that brings guests closer to the lagoon.
With ELYT Charter Tahiti, we created a unique concept: a floating villa inspired by Polynesian canoes, designed for calm lagoon waters. It combines the comfort of a home with the experience of being on the water, without the constraints of traditional sailing.
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8. Do you see growing demand for combined villa and water-based experiences?
Yes, absolutely. Today’s travelers are looking for rare, unique, and highly visual experiences, something exclusive and memorable. The demand lies in rarity.
By combining a villa stay with a lagoon experience, we offer two complementary ways to discover the destination. This hybrid approach redefines luxury by focusing on uniqueness and emotional impact.
9. What message would you like to share with Los Angeles Times readers?
If you are looking for more than just a beautiful destination, if you are looking for meaningful experiences and emotions, French Polynesia is waiting for you.
The future of luxury travel is not about where you go, but what you feel and experience.
10. Is there anything else you would like to highlight?
Two important points. First, we are seeing strong growth in long-stay travelers and digital nomads, including families with global businesses seeking stable and inspiring environments.
Second, entrepreneurship, especially as a woman in an island economy, has been a significant journey. Innovation, resilience, and passion are essential to building something meaningful in such a unique environment.
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