A move by the French region of Seine-et-Marne near Paris to engage more productively with UK group travel professionals has been hailed a success.
A two-day trade workshop held at the Phoenix Artist Club in Covent Garden in central London on 14 and 15 June gave coach operators, tour wholesalers and group travel organisers the opportunity to spend up to an hour with representatives from the Seine-et-Marne region.
Severine Camblong, media and communications manager with Seine-et-Marne Tourism, who led the initiative, says: “We were really pleased to be able to come to London to meet coach operators, tour wholesalers and group travel organisers. The longer one-to-one meetings gave us all more time to discuss group packages. I would like to thank all the coach tourism professionals who took the time to meet with us, and look forward to welcoming them and their groups to Seine-et-Marne soon.”
Mandy Keating, product development manager with Market Harborough-based Diamond Holidays, was one of the UK group travel professionals to attend. Commenting on the workshop she says: “It was great to have time to talk about an area of France that I’m not very familiar with, and beneficial to have a whole hour of one-to-one to really get to know and understand what Seine-et-Marne has to offer. I’ve come away from the workshop with ideas for new tours and new experiences to add to our existing tours.”
The trade workshop is the latest initiative from Seine-et-Marne to encourage more UK group and tour planners to take a closer look at the region that sits just to the east of Paris.
In May the tourist office re-launched its one-stop-booking service that makes it easier for the UK market to find out more information and book tour packages.
Group-friendly attractions include the three chateaux of Fontainebleau, Vaux le Vicomte and Champs-sur-Marne, the medieval walled town of Provins, and the historic town of Meaux.
Tour planners wanting more information should email Marjorie Sebille at sebille@tourisme77.fr, or go to www.visit.pariswhatelse.fr
The Phoenix Artist Club, located under the Phoenix Theatre in Charing Cross Road in Covent Garden in central London offers tour planners an unusual venue for pre-West End show meals. For more information, go to www.phoenixartistclub.com
