It is a writing contest that is carving out a place on the agenda of aspiring writers, and even established authors.
“Everybody told me, you’ll see, you won’t receive anything. The site Texte à la pelle runs contests, and when they have 50 stories, that’s the maximum, so I think travel and writing captivate people,” enthuses Nathalie Pierret, founder of the agency and of the contest.
And it’s no understatement to say that the 2026 event found its audience.
There were more than 2,700 people registered for 570 submissions, compared to 415 the year before.
The success is very real and, as in the previous year, an awards ceremony was organized in the presence of the four winners, but also of a few loyal clients.
“There were about sixty people present. It was a fantastic evening. This is the kind of event that helps distinguish a travel agency from a traditional one. Not only does it shape our brand image and our notoriety, but it also makes us somewhat more relevant in our communications,” shares Charly Verchère, the CEO of Colombus Voyages.
It must be noted that beyond the prestige of winning, the winner left with two tickets to the destination of her choice on Air France’s long-haul network.
“Everybody told me, you’ll see, you won’t receive anything. The site Texte à la pelle runs contests, and when they have 50 stories, that’s the maximum, so I think travel and writing captivate people,” enthuses Nathalie Pierret, founder of the agency and of the contest.
And it’s no understatement to say that the 2026 event found its audience.
There were more than 2,700 people registered for 570 submissions, compared to 415 the year before.
The success is very real and, as in the previous year, an awards ceremony was organized in the presence of the four winners, but also of a few loyal clients.
“There were about sixty people present. It was a fantastic evening. This is the kind of event that helps distinguish a travel agency from a traditional one. Not only does it shape our brand image and our notoriety, but it also makes us somewhat more relevant in our communications,” shares Charly Verchère, the CEO of Colombus Voyages.
It must be noted that beyond the prestige of winning, the winner left with two tickets to the destination of her choice on Air France’s long-haul network.
The contest “gives a great image of Colombus Voyages”
On the other end of the line, the winner, Sarah Jeanmonnot, takes us on an internal and personal journey, in which her heroine revisits the places where she spent the early weeks of her life, thousands of kilometers from her current daily life.
It is in India, like in many stories of this second edition, that the journey unfolds.
“We receive testimonies from participants that are incredible. I recall a couple who reimmersed themselves in a trip cut short because of Covid. They were supposed to depart for six months.
Ultimately, by writing within the contest, the urge to escape and to continue this stay returned to them. Recently, they sent us an email from Patagonia to thank us for organizing the contest. They were finishing their journey after spending three months in Latin America.
” They restore their faith in travel through writing, and this is remarkable.
I feel that writing triggers something incredible in people. Rewriting their story makes them relive emotions and powerful moments.
In response to this enthusiasm, we decided to organize a third edition.
The fact that the contest is open to everyone, even to those who have never written, creates something around the agency. It gives a great image of Colombus Voyages.
Whether among clients or in the industry, I am regularly approached and congratulated for this initiative, explains Nathalie Pierret.
To read : Colombus Voyages: journeys of a mother… into a son !
For this second edition, the Nîmes-based agency forged partnerships with Le Petit Futé and a writing school called Les Mots.
This latter probably partly explains the better quality of the narratives read by the jury.
The Colombus Voyages team also had to implement a social media communications strategy, then approach bookstores to give the contest more visibility.
The workload is real, but the agency’s image is enhanced by it. And this isn’t the only advantage: the contest also serves as a source of inspiration for the store managers.
It is in India, like in many stories of this second edition, that the journey unfolds.
“We receive testimonies from participants that are incredible. I recall a couple who reimmersed themselves in a trip cut short because of Covid. They were supposed to depart for six months.
Ultimately, by writing within the contest, the urge to escape and to continue this stay returned to them. Recently, they sent us an email from Patagonia to thank us for organizing the contest. They were finishing their journey after spending three months in Latin America.
” They restore their faith in travel through writing, and this is remarkable.
I feel that writing triggers something incredible in people. Rewriting their story makes them relive emotions and powerful moments.
In response to this enthusiasm, we decided to organize a third edition.
The fact that the contest is open to everyone, even to those who have never written, creates something around the agency. It gives a great image of Colombus Voyages.
Whether among clients or in the industry, I am regularly approached and congratulated for this initiative, explains Nathalie Pierret.
To read : Colombus Voyages: journeys of a mother… into a son !
For this second edition, the Nîmes-based agency forged partnerships with Le Petit Futé and a writing school called Les Mots.
This latter probably partly explains the better quality of the narratives read by the jury.
The Colombus Voyages team also had to implement a social media communications strategy, then approach bookstores to give the contest more visibility.
The workload is real, but the agency’s image is enhanced by it. And this isn’t the only advantage: the contest also serves as a source of inspiration for the store managers.
India, revelation of the contest and Colombus Voyages’ new destination
During the ceremony, Maxime Jammes, author of “Qui roulera verra“, won five nights at You & Me Maldives, a resort on a private island.
This time, the story does not unfold in India, but a few dozen kilometers away… in Sri Lanka.
The journey does not go as planned. A couple traveling around the island are involved in a scooter accident. The man suffers a serious fracture of the femoral neck and ends up hospitalized on site.
Tossed between different facilities, his ordeal becomes a true crucible that, instead of creating distance between the two young people, gives rise to great solidarity and reveals the strength of their love.
India seems to be a popular destination among lovers of adventure and writing, at least among those who took part in the event. With its guaranteed sense of immersion, its strong culture, and its many facets, this country-continent attracts and inspires.
“This is not a destination we sold a lot of up to now. But, as we read the readings and heard the jury’s feedback, we decided to put India more in the foreground to ride this traveler appeal.
One of our salespeople went on an education tour just a few days ago to become familiar with the destination.
We are not organizing this contest for commercial purposes, but beyond nudging us toward destinations to push, the event also brings us customers.
We have added new contacts to our newsletter and, during the contest, we received about ten inquiries, even though there was no commercial strategy behind it,” continues Charly Verchère.
The other countries most frequently appearing in the candidates’ writings are Morocco and Mauritius.
This time, the story does not unfold in India, but a few dozen kilometers away… in Sri Lanka.
The journey does not go as planned. A couple traveling around the island are involved in a scooter accident. The man suffers a serious fracture of the femoral neck and ends up hospitalized on site.
Tossed between different facilities, his ordeal becomes a true crucible that, instead of creating distance between the two young people, gives rise to great solidarity and reveals the strength of their love.
India seems to be a popular destination among lovers of adventure and writing, at least among those who took part in the event. With its guaranteed sense of immersion, its strong culture, and its many facets, this country-continent attracts and inspires.
“This is not a destination we sold a lot of up to now. But, as we read the readings and heard the jury’s feedback, we decided to put India more in the foreground to ride this traveler appeal.
One of our salespeople went on an education tour just a few days ago to become familiar with the destination.
We are not organizing this contest for commercial purposes, but beyond nudging us toward destinations to push, the event also brings us customers.
We have added new contacts to our newsletter and, during the contest, we received about ten inquiries, even though there was no commercial strategy behind it,” continues Charly Verchère.
The other countries most frequently appearing in the candidates’ writings are Morocco and Mauritius.
Colombus Voyages: “a third edition that could be the last”
The two last prizes were awarded to Axelle Simon for Sans filtre.
She will be able to travel five nights to Zanzibar thanks to her story recounting a border crossing between Slovenia and Italy that did not unfold as planned, due to an unaccommodating taxi driver.
This year, a special prize for emotion was also awarded to the tale “Revenir vers elles.”
A moving account of a father in mourning who rebuilds himself gradually through travel, after the loss of a child. If the first stay does not erase the pain, it opens the way to possible rebuilding.
To read : An agency launches a writing contest around the… travel!
It is on Belle-Île-en-Mer that his renaissance takes place, during an off-season stay that will give rise to other getaways on this sea-swept island, now a place of introspection and a calmer reconnection with his daughter.
The author, Alain Thiesse, was given a voucher to spend with Colombus Voyages. After two successful editions, what can the agency hope for next?
“There will be a third edition, which could be the last. It takes a lot of energy to run the contest. Then it becomes increasingly difficult to find channels to disseminate the information. There may be other editions; we are still thinking about it. It is also possible that the contest adopts another format, such as a photo contest. We do not want to stage the edition too many times, but, whatever happens, we will always stay within the artistic realm,” confides the agency’s CEO.
This time, the best entries will not be published, but the organizers are considering having storytellers read the texts to immortalize this opus in a novel way.
The theme of the next edition is currently under discussion. It could take the form of a starting phrase that budding writers, or more experienced ones, will have to complete to begin their tale.
And you, which phrase would you like to start your next story with?
She will be able to travel five nights to Zanzibar thanks to her story recounting a border crossing between Slovenia and Italy that did not unfold as planned, due to an unaccommodating taxi driver.
This year, a special prize for emotion was also awarded to the tale “Revenir vers elles.”
A moving account of a father in mourning who rebuilds himself gradually through travel, after the loss of a child. If the first stay does not erase the pain, it opens the way to possible rebuilding.
To read : An agency launches a writing contest around the… travel!
It is on Belle-Île-en-Mer that his renaissance takes place, during an off-season stay that will give rise to other getaways on this sea-swept island, now a place of introspection and a calmer reconnection with his daughter.
The author, Alain Thiesse, was given a voucher to spend with Colombus Voyages. After two successful editions, what can the agency hope for next?
“There will be a third edition, which could be the last. It takes a lot of energy to run the contest. Then it becomes increasingly difficult to find channels to disseminate the information. There may be other editions; we are still thinking about it. It is also possible that the contest adopts another format, such as a photo contest. We do not want to stage the edition too many times, but, whatever happens, we will always stay within the artistic realm,” confides the agency’s CEO.
This time, the best entries will not be published, but the organizers are considering having storytellers read the texts to immortalize this opus in a novel way.
The theme of the next edition is currently under discussion. It could take the form of a starting phrase that budding writers, or more experienced ones, will have to complete to begin their tale.
And you, which phrase would you like to start your next story with?
Published by Romain Pommier Journalist – TourMaG.com See all articles by Romain Pommier
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