It’s always the right time for a selfie. :)
Tahiti may often be categorized as a strictly honeymoon destination, but there really is so much more that many don’t know about this tropical paradise. The Tahitian culture dates back thousands of years to the Maohi people, and it’s their stories, dance, handicrafts, music and art that keep this heritage alive today. As a visitor, you can experience both historical and present day culture firsthand, with excursions like visits to the sacred Marae sites or the Tahitian pearl farms.
Bronwyn Hodge, our Modern Day Explorer, was sent to Tahiti to discover the best experiences for visitors on tour with her family’s company, Goway Travel. As the “General Manager of Islands,” her expertise lies in finding the cultural, luxurious and culinary side of Tahiti and bringing that to travelers. Her captivating video series shows more than words ever could about the unique and enthralling moments that can be had on a tour with United States Tour Operators Association member, Goway Travel.
We interviewed Bronwyn to learn what it was like to shoot the series, interview locals and plan the perfect itinerary—the good, the bad and the challenging! Check out the interview and video below.
Kelley Ferro: How did you feel when you were asked to be a part of the MDE program?
Bronwyn Hodge: I was very grateful, excited and a bit nervous!
KF: Do you consider yourself a Modern Day Explorer in everyday life? What does that mean to you?
BH: Last month by pure coincidence, I bumped into the videographer from this shoot (Justin Weiler) on my vacation in Myanmar. I joked that I must have proved I am a Modern Day Explorer! I do really love to experience the destinations we sell (or plan to sell) and I am always seeking out opportunities to explore. In fact I would say there are a lot of people at Goway Travel that could be considered ‘Modern Day Explorers’. It is so important for our team of experts to know firsthand the destinations we are selling to our clients.
KF: What's it like to work in the family business and how did that impact your shoot?
BH: Working in a family business is tough! Not because I don’t get along with my parents or my brother (although we don’t always agree on everything) but because there is an extra layer of pressure to succeed when it’s your own business. I am extremely proud of the company my father started 46 years ago. We all deeply care about the success of the company, our employees and our clients…. So there’s a lot of shop talk at the dinner table! It was actually my brother who recommended I apply for MDE.
KF: That’s cute! How you feel about Tahiti versus other destinations?
BH: I’ve had the chance to travel to a lot of places in my life, and while this may sound super cliché, hands down, there are few destinations as naturally beautiful as the islands of Tahiti. This made the shoot a lot easier!
Bronwyn meets with islands locals to learn more about what to expect.
KF: Were there any surprises or funny situations that occurred on your shoot?
BH: Not that I expected to be sitting around sipping Mai Tais for this film…. but I always though the media/film side of the travel industry looked so fun and easy. I was grossly mistaken! Shooting in islands is particularly challenging logistically (I think I was on 8 flights in 6 days). Plus we had a very tight timeframe to get a lot of content so had to do everything very quickly. When doing the fishing excursion in Tikehau, for example, once we captured a shot of the line going in, we had to head back to the resort to continue filming. Explaining this to the guides (who assumed we were on a fishing tour to catch fish) was pretty funny. I think they thought I was a bit crazy...
KF: What was the most challenging aspect of filming this series in Tahiti?
BH: Aside from the time restrictions and logistics mentioned above, I had zero experience in speaking on camera, so this was a huge learning opportunity!
KF: Well you did a great job. What did you find to be the most fun?
BH: I loved interacting with the locals. Creating this series and interviewing people was an awesome way to get to know more about the Tahitians and their life. All the locals were delighted to share their culture with me. Filming underwater was also really fun. Rangiroa has the most amazing underwater life.
Oceanside in Tikehau
KF: If you could sum up the trip and shoot in 3 words, what would they be?
BH: Fun, exciting, and when-can-I-go-back!
Bronwyn Hodge is Islands General Manager at Goway Travel
Check out the rest of the Modern Day Explorers Series sponsored by USTOA right here!