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The Brando Resort
The Brando is a private resort on the Society Islands' Tetiꞌaroa atoll in French Polynesia. It serves as a regulated airstrip, research facility, eco-resort and spa on the Onetahi motu. It consists of 80 staff and facilities management personnel.[1] The atoll's inside on which The Brando is located is on a 99-year lease contracted by Marlon Brando. Condé Nast Traveller described a site of "unspoiled beauty", "outlandish in its technicolor".[2] Travel  Traveling to The Brando can only be commercially done by air. Air Teti'aroa flies private planes between the island of Tahiti and Teti'aroa. The airline's departure is located in a private terminal at the Faa'a International Airport in Tahiti.[3] Air Tetiaroa rates to The Brando Resort on Tetiaroa fluctuate with the regular, high and festive seasons.[4] HistoryConstruction of The Brando Resort began in 2009 by Teti'aroa Pacific Beachcomber SC. In September 2010 Pacific Beachcomber announced it was investing US$60 million in construction.[5] The first phase of the building included repairing the airstrip runway for smoother plane landing and lengthening the tarmac to meet current aviation standards. Additionally, a reef dock was constructed to enable shipments from the ocean to the lagoon side of the reef.[6] In February 2014, it was announced that construction on The Brando Resort was officially completed. In July 2014, The Brando was officially open to the public.[7][8] Eight of Marlon Brando’s eleven children were involved in the project along with the Brando Estate.[9] Since 2013, the resort had been in conflict with Teiki Pambrun, a navigator who had been living on a boat in the lagoon of the Tetiaroa atoll and who criticized the resort for its “environmental damages.” In 2014, a court issued a summary order requiring Pambrun to remain more than 10 kilometers from the atoll, under penalty of a fine of 100,000 CFP francs per day. In the absence of payment or leaving, on January 22, 2016, a court of appeal confirmed Pambrun’s expulsion from the lagoon. On July 8, 2016, the two parties announced in a joint press release that an amicable agreement had been reached, with the terms of the agreement not disclosed. Pambrun subsequently relocated to Huahine with his family.[10] In October 2016 the resort was named the world's best resort by Condé Nast.[11] EcologyThe buildings are made using materials that are of local or certified origin, renewable, or recycled. There is a deep seawater air-conditioning (SWAC) system to reduce energy demands. Renewable energy sources such as solar power (from PV panels) and coconut oil (biofuel) are used. The zinc-bromine[12] flow batteries (used for storing the power from the PV panels) are made from recyclable materials. The resort's vehicles are electric or human-powered.[13] References
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