2024 is an important year for France as the country hosts the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it’s the 150th Anniversary of Impressionism and it’s the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. Destination France is using the spotlight to showcase the region’s various offerings and reminding agents how easy it is to “travel better” in France as the organization starts its Destination France 2024 tour.
23 French and local exhibitors and 80 travel advisors met in Toronto on Tuesday to attend an in-depth Occitanie Region presentation followed by workshops, a cocktail and Awards ceremony and many door prizes.
Suppliers and sponsors in attendance were: Air Canada, Vacances Air Canada, l’Occitanie, Toulouse Airport, Carcassonne Patrimoine Mondial, Destination Pyrénées, Destination Pays d’Uzès et Pont du Gard, Cité Hôtels Groupe, Office de Tourisme Aix-en-Provence, l’agence régionale du Tourisme Grand Est, Château Royal d’Amboise, Club Med, Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme, 5 Continents, Croisieurope, Comité Régional de Tourisme Côte d’Azur France, La Vallée Village, Château du Clos Lucé – Parc Leonardo da Vinci, le Voyage à Nantes, Biografy Group, Musée National Picasso- Paris, Paradis Latin, Destination Pays d’Uzès Pont du Gard, l’Office de Tourisme, des Loisirs et des Congrès de Marseille, St-Tropez Tourisme, Villa Cosy Hôtel & Spa, Office de Tourisme de Saint-Martin, Trip my France et Rail Europe.
Sasha Bresse Promotional Officer USA & Canada Markets French St. Martin Tourism Office with the Consul General of France in Toronto, Mr. Bertrand Pous - Photo credit: Dan Galbraith (Photo Credit: Photo credit: Dan Galbraith)
Also attendance was the Consul General of France in Toronto, Mr. Bertrand Pous who met with attendees during the workshop.
Atout France is a key player in achieving the ambitious objectives of the Destination France Plan, which was launched by its president Christian Mantei, late last year.
In addition to the redesign of the Distinction Palace, the renewal of Atout France's websites (B2B and B2C) and its brand, the agency is taking a bold step by teaming up with Netflix (France) for an image campaign linked to television productions shot in France.
“France has always been an eye-catcher, and we're proud to highlight Netflix's partnership with Atout France, which enables them to join forces in the service of France's cultural and tourism influence,” Atout France says in a press release. “Netflix regularly puts France in the spotlight through its French and international productions shot in the Hexagone. A new study, conducted by the research institute Basis, reveals that the broadcasting of these films and series reinforces France's cultural and tourist appeal.”
The Occitanie region took center stage, as the region plays host to Rendez-Vous 2024, Atout France’s annual tradeshow happening in March. Surrounded by its 5 partnersToulouse airport, Carcassonne Patrimoine Mondial, Destination Pyrénées, Uzès Tourism office and Cité Hôtels Groupe, Occitanie's flagship product is undoubtedly L'Occitanie Rail Tour, a suggestion of eco-responsible itineraries by train (or regional coach) that allow you to tour Occitanie, taking all or part of the circuits described below and offering the promise of Fabuleux Voyages.
From left to right: Bruce Parkinson – Air Canada Vacations, Melanie Paul-Hus Director of Atout France Canada, Patricia Fargeon President of Planet France and award winner of the Product of the Year Destination France, Manuel Harbreteau Head of Product Marketing Department Comité Régional du Tourisme Côte d’Azur France, Yazdan Bakhtiary, Manager Regional Sales Air Canada – Photo credit: Dan Galbraith (Photo Credit: Photo credit: Dan Galbraith)
Patricia Fargeon President of Planet France won The Destination France 2024 Product of the Year Award for their “Live like a Real French” itinerary and received round trip tickets to France from Air Canada. Among the travel agents who voted for this award, one was randomly selected to receive a $250 gift card with Shereen Jeraratham from Globus Family of Brands taking home the prize.
After an overall prolific year in 2023, Mélanie Paul-Hus, Director of Atout France's Canadian office, thanked the industry for “its enthusiasm for Destination France's projects, and for having contributed to a vigorous recovery in the marketing of French destinations in Ontario and Canada.”
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