Nelson Levy
Encyclopedia
Nelson Levy also spelled Nelson Lévy, was a leading figure in French Polynesia tourism
and the founding head of Air Tahiti Nui
, the national airline of French Polynesia
.
in the 1970s. However, Levy soon changed careers and began working in French Polynesia's booming tourism industry.
In January 1992 Levy took over the management
as head of Tahiti
Tourism Promotion Office, which was the French Polynesia's main tourism marketing
and information agency. Levy helped transform the office into the present day GIE Tahiti Tourisme. Tahiti Tourism is based in Papeete
and currently operates a worldwide promotional and advertising campaign
called, Tahiti and Her Islands. Levy left Tahiti Tourisme in August 1998 to become the first CEO of Air Tahiti Nui.
Levy helped found Air Tahiti Nui
in 1996 as French Polynesia's international airline. The airline launched its first international flights in 1998, the same year that Levy became Air Tahiti Nui's first CEO. Levy helped to guide the international expansion of the airline while CEO and earned a reputation for his managerial efficiency. As CEO of Air Tahiti Nui, Levy was nominated in 2002 by Travel Agent Magazine for "Manager of the Year" in the Asia Pacific region.
Levy was very well connected in the tourism industry, as well as in French Polynesian politics
. Levy was a prominent supporter of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party, a pro-French political party which opposes independence for French Polynesia from France
. He was replaced as CEO of the airline when the coalition of pro-independence parties led by Oscar Temaru
took power in a surprise election victory. However, Levy returned to the board of directors of Air Tahiti Nui following the 2005 presidential election win of French Polynesian President Gaston Tong Sang
, a pro-French candidate from the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party. Sang asked Levy back to help revive the ailing airline, which was suffering from "recurrent" financial shortfalls and problems. (The Government of French Polynesia is a 61.7% shareholder
in the airline.)
Additionally, Levy also served as head of the local French Polynesian post and telecommunications company, OPT.
Levy's last tourism venture was the June 1, 2007, launch of easyTahiti.com http://easyTahiti.com, a specialist travel web site for Tahiti
and other French Polynesian islands. EasyTahiti.com has been described as "Tahiti's biggest virtual travel agency" in a press release from Air Tahiti Nui.
of easyTahiti.com. Levy had hosted barbecue
for employees of easyTahiti.com at his home just hours before his death. His funeral took place in Papeete, Tahiti on June 6, 2007. Levy was survived by his wife, Vaea, and two daughters, Vaiarava and Poerava.
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
and the founding head of Air Tahiti Nui
Air Tahiti Nui
Air Tahiti Nui is French Polynesia's flag carrier airline with its head office in the Immueble Dexter in Papeete, Tahiti. It operates international services for the low and high-end leisure travel markets. Its main base is Faa'a International Airport, Papeete.- History :Air Tahiti Nui was...
, the national airline of French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
.
Career
Levy originally began reporting as a journalistJournalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
in the 1970s. However, Levy soon changed careers and began working in French Polynesia's booming tourism industry.
In January 1992 Levy took over the management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
as head of Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
Tourism Promotion Office, which was the French Polynesia's main tourism marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
and information agency. Levy helped transform the office into the present day GIE Tahiti Tourisme. Tahiti Tourism is based in Papeete
Papeete
-Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront esplanade*Bougainville Park -Sights:* Interactive Google map of Papeete, to discover the 30 major tourist attractions in Papeete downtown.*The waterfront...
and currently operates a worldwide promotional and advertising campaign
Advertising campaign
An advertising campaign is a series of advertisement messages that share a single idea and theme which make up an integrated marketing communication...
called, Tahiti and Her Islands. Levy left Tahiti Tourisme in August 1998 to become the first CEO of Air Tahiti Nui.
Levy helped found Air Tahiti Nui
Air Tahiti Nui
Air Tahiti Nui is French Polynesia's flag carrier airline with its head office in the Immueble Dexter in Papeete, Tahiti. It operates international services for the low and high-end leisure travel markets. Its main base is Faa'a International Airport, Papeete.- History :Air Tahiti Nui was...
in 1996 as French Polynesia's international airline. The airline launched its first international flights in 1998, the same year that Levy became Air Tahiti Nui's first CEO. Levy helped to guide the international expansion of the airline while CEO and earned a reputation for his managerial efficiency. As CEO of Air Tahiti Nui, Levy was nominated in 2002 by Travel Agent Magazine for "Manager of the Year" in the Asia Pacific region.
Levy was very well connected in the tourism industry, as well as in French Polynesian politics
Politics of French Polynesia
Politics of French Polynesia takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity, whereby the President of French Polynesia is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government...
. Levy was a prominent supporter of the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party, a pro-French political party which opposes independence for French Polynesia from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was replaced as CEO of the airline when the coalition of pro-independence parties led by Oscar Temaru
Oscar Temaru
Oscar Manutahi Temaru is a French Polynesian politician. He has been President of French Polynesia , a French dependency with broad powers of self-rule, on five occasions: in 2004, from 2005 to 2006, from 2007 to 2008, in 2009, and again since 1 April 2011.-Career:He first served as the President...
took power in a surprise election victory. However, Levy returned to the board of directors of Air Tahiti Nui following the 2005 presidential election win of French Polynesian President Gaston Tong Sang
Gaston Tong Sang
Gaston Tong Sang is the former President of French Polynesia. He served terms as President of French Polynesia from November 2009 until April 2011, from April 2008 until February 2009 and from December 2006 until September 2007.; he is currently the Mayor of Bora-Bora...
, a pro-French candidate from the Tahoeraa Huiraatira Party. Sang asked Levy back to help revive the ailing airline, which was suffering from "recurrent" financial shortfalls and problems. (The Government of French Polynesia is a 61.7% shareholder
Shareholder
A shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
in the airline.)
Additionally, Levy also served as head of the local French Polynesian post and telecommunications company, OPT.
Levy's last tourism venture was the June 1, 2007, launch of easyTahiti.com http://easyTahiti.com, a specialist travel web site for Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
and other French Polynesian islands. EasyTahiti.com has been described as "Tahiti's biggest virtual travel agency" in a press release from Air Tahiti Nui.
Death
Nelson Levy died unexpectedly of an heart attack on June 3, 2007, at his home in Tahiti, just two days after the official launchLaunch
Launch may refer to:In boating:*Launch , a large motor boat*Motor Launch , a small military vessel used by the Royal Navy*Ship naming and launching, when a ship or boat is dispatched from a slipway, prior to fitting out and commissioning...
of easyTahiti.com. Levy had hosted barbecue
Barbecue
Barbecue or barbeque , used chiefly in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia is a method and apparatus for cooking meat, poultry and occasionally fish with the heat and hot smoke of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of...
for employees of easyTahiti.com at his home just hours before his death. His funeral took place in Papeete, Tahiti on June 6, 2007. Levy was survived by his wife, Vaea, and two daughters, Vaiarava and Poerava.