Raffles International hotel group has made its inaugural move into the South Pacific region, signing an agreement with Hong Kong-based Veritas to manage a 65-villa luxury resort in French Polynesia.

The Raffles Taimana Resort Tahaa is the sixth new contract agreed in the past 16 months.

Located over 25 hectares, including three small islands in a lagoon, facilities include three restaurants, a meeting room, a spa, a tennis court and a diving centre.

Nicknamed Vanilla Island because of the traditional cultivation of vanilla on Tahaa, it is easily accessible from the nearby French Polynesia capital, Papeete.

Raffles Taimana is part of the group’s wider objective to maintain an asset-light strategy in order to continue growth within its global hotel portfolio via a mix of management and lease contracts.

Raffles currently has a global portfolio of 38 hotels in 33 destinations. Details: www.raffles.com