TourMaG – The Houses of Travel celebrate, starting this October, their 35th anniversary. Is there already a program planned for this anniversary year?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: We plan to do some internal events in November; afterwards we will communicate externally at the start of 2027 and throughout the year.
For now, it is a bit early to reveal the program.
TourMaG – What is the operating model of the Houses of Travel today?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: We have a hybrid model based on three pillars: high-end tailor-made travel for individuals (FIT) which accounts for about half of our activity, the organized circuits or GIR for 25% of the activity, while the last quarter is carried out by groups (CSE, groups of friends, MICE, etc.).
TourMaG – Essentially in B2B?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: Yes, we distribute absolutely nothing externally.
We also operate a very beautiful flagship agency of 500 m² on Place Saint-Sulpice in Paris, renovated three years ago, which welcomes clients who want to spend time with our advisers. It has the particular feature of being equipped with an exhibition room, which allows us to organize many events and photo exhibitions.
Another entry point is our website, which brings together all our tailor-made products for individuals and the organized circuits.
Finally, our clients can count on about fifty advisers who respond individually to each request. The teams are divided by geographic zones: a “House of America” team, another for “Latin America”, “House of China”, etc., which are the heirs of what the houses were before they were brought together under the umbrella brand “Les Maisons du Voyage.”
It is also worth noting that we have a distinctive feature: our teams consist of advisers with a lot of experience, many bi-national or people who have spent 2-3 years in a country. This is our hallmark.
We train them regularly; they travel frequently to discover gems, verify itineraries, check the programs they designed, and to build links with our DMC partners.
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: We plan to do some internal events in November; afterwards we will communicate externally at the start of 2027 and throughout the year.
For now, it is a bit early to reveal the program.
TourMaG – What is the operating model of the Houses of Travel today?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: We have a hybrid model based on three pillars: high-end tailor-made travel for individuals (FIT) which accounts for about half of our activity, the organized circuits or GIR for 25% of the activity, while the last quarter is carried out by groups (CSE, groups of friends, MICE, etc.).
TourMaG – Essentially in B2B?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: Yes, we distribute absolutely nothing externally.
We also operate a very beautiful flagship agency of 500 m² on Place Saint-Sulpice in Paris, renovated three years ago, which welcomes clients who want to spend time with our advisers. It has the particular feature of being equipped with an exhibition room, which allows us to organize many events and photo exhibitions.
Another entry point is our website, which brings together all our tailor-made products for individuals and the organized circuits.
Finally, our clients can count on about fifty advisers who respond individually to each request. The teams are divided by geographic zones: a “House of America” team, another for “Latin America”, “House of China”, etc., which are the heirs of what the houses were before they were brought together under the umbrella brand “Les Maisons du Voyage.”
It is also worth noting that we have a distinctive feature: our teams consist of advisers with a lot of experience, many bi-national or people who have spent 2-3 years in a country. This is our hallmark.
We train them regularly; they travel frequently to discover gems, verify itineraries, check the programs they designed, and to build links with our DMC partners.
The Houses of Travel, a Global Approach
TourMaG – Do your advisers handle both booking and production?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : We have a production team that works on showcase products and organized circuits, but the adviser who makes a tailor-made sale crafts the trip largely on their own, based on the elements prepared by the production teams, yet with considerable autonomy to create the journey that fully matches the client in front of them.
TourMaG – What are your flagship destinations today?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : We hold strong positions in Japan, China, Argentina, French Polynesia, and India, but we offer a wide range of destinations.
The programs are updated every year, depending on current events and our clients’ wishes. Naturally, our hallmark remains high-end travel, with a predominantly cultural focus. But cultural in the broad sense, meaning we always incorporate elements of culture, history, art, architecture, etc. We also offer an “arty” range in particular.
We also adapt to events, for example when Vietnam celebrates its independence, or when the United States marks the anniversary of Route 66.
TourMaG – Do you, nonetheless, compare yourselves to cultural TOs like Arts et Vie or Intermèdes?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : Our production is somewhat different because we incorporate a cultural component into a classic trip. We won’t necessarily offer an ultra-niche trip with a guide or a professor accompanying the clients.
However, as I mentioned, we offer a global concept, i.e., travel, but also cultural lectures, exhibitions, and thematic workshops in the agency. It is not just a program sold on the Internet.
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : We have a production team that works on showcase products and organized circuits, but the adviser who makes a tailor-made sale crafts the trip largely on their own, based on the elements prepared by the production teams, yet with considerable autonomy to create the journey that fully matches the client in front of them.
TourMaG – What are your flagship destinations today?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : We hold strong positions in Japan, China, Argentina, French Polynesia, and India, but we offer a wide range of destinations.
The programs are updated every year, depending on current events and our clients’ wishes. Naturally, our hallmark remains high-end travel, with a predominantly cultural focus. But cultural in the broad sense, meaning we always incorporate elements of culture, history, art, architecture, etc. We also offer an “arty” range in particular.
We also adapt to events, for example when Vietnam celebrates its independence, or when the United States marks the anniversary of Route 66.
TourMaG – Do you, nonetheless, compare yourselves to cultural TOs like Arts et Vie or Intermèdes?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : Our production is somewhat different because we incorporate a cultural component into a classic trip. We won’t necessarily offer an ultra-niche trip with a guide or a professor accompanying the clients.
However, as I mentioned, we offer a global concept, i.e., travel, but also cultural lectures, exhibitions, and thematic workshops in the agency. It is not just a program sold on the Internet.
Around €55 M€ in Revenue in 2026
TourMaG – Does that help you rally a community around your brand?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : Yes, we have formed a community, notably by leveraging the cultural lectures organized at the agency, and also via video, with sometimes 300 to 400 people logging in to follow a lecture.
The themes are varied, but it is mainly an opportunity to meet our clients, in the presence of very qualified speakers. At the end of the lecture, our advisers also talk about their travels.
And then, every 3-4 months, we offer a new free exhibition, often with the Photoclimat association. The exhibitions are always of high quality, tied to sustainable tourism, wildlife and flora protection. We try to cultivate beauty at the agency.
TourMaG – Were you affected by the war in the Middle East?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : We lived a year in three phases. First, January-February began extremely well, with double-digit reservation growth.
Then the war arrived on February 28. For three months, bookings fell by 20%. Then activity gradually recovered from August onward.
September is a very good month. Let us hope October, November and December continue on this trend, provided there are no geopolitical or economic problems.
Overall, I think we will have a year roughly flat compared to last year, around €55 million in revenue for about 15,000 clients.
TourMaG – Many generalist TOs have spoken of a rebound in bookings as early as June. For you, the rebound was slower.
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : Unlike the generalists, our trips require a long preparation time. There is a significant gap between the booking date and the departure date, around 3 to 4 months on average. Afterwards, the gap can be shorter for a trip to Italy, and much longer for a trip to Polynesia.
The average baskets are also fairly large. People take their time, carefully reviewing what they want to do.
I would also like to highlight a trend we’ve observed since 2022: autumn has become our primary season, accounting for more than a third of our departures. This evolution has been very steady and durable for several years.
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : Yes, we have formed a community, notably by leveraging the cultural lectures organized at the agency, and also via video, with sometimes 300 to 400 people logging in to follow a lecture.
The themes are varied, but it is mainly an opportunity to meet our clients, in the presence of very qualified speakers. At the end of the lecture, our advisers also talk about their travels.
And then, every 3-4 months, we offer a new free exhibition, often with the Photoclimat association. The exhibitions are always of high quality, tied to sustainable tourism, wildlife and flora protection. We try to cultivate beauty at the agency.
TourMaG – Were you affected by the war in the Middle East?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : We lived a year in three phases. First, January-February began extremely well, with double-digit reservation growth.
Then the war arrived on February 28. For three months, bookings fell by 20%. Then activity gradually recovered from August onward.
September is a very good month. Let us hope October, November and December continue on this trend, provided there are no geopolitical or economic problems.
Overall, I think we will have a year roughly flat compared to last year, around €55 million in revenue for about 15,000 clients.
TourMaG – Many generalist TOs have spoken of a rebound in bookings as early as June. For you, the rebound was slower.
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon : Unlike the generalists, our trips require a long preparation time. There is a significant gap between the booking date and the departure date, around 3 to 4 months on average. Afterwards, the gap can be shorter for a trip to Italy, and much longer for a trip to Polynesia.
The average baskets are also fairly large. People take their time, carefully reviewing what they want to do.
I would also like to highlight a trend we’ve observed since 2022: autumn has become our primary season, accounting for more than a third of our departures. This evolution has been very steady and durable for several years.
China, destination of honor for the 35th anniversary
TourMaG – Do you know why this destination is highlighted?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: I think it’s a phenomenon that goes beyond the economic aspect.
Our travelers want to step away from peak periods and enjoy milder temperatures, encounters, and calmer landscapes.
Our relatively wide palette of destinations lends itself well to autumn travel: Japan, Italy, India, Canada, Brazil, Peru.
This slight emphasis on autumn helps us balance our internal resources and avoid handling a peak of activity in certain months.
TourMaG – How do you anticipate 2027?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: We have perhaps captured 10-15% of the 2027 portfolio, but there isn’t really a clear trend yet, except perhaps India and China doing well, Japan continuing its momentum, and Polynesia as well.
A lot will take shape in October and November.
For China, we will indeed communicate a lot about the destination on the occasion of our 35th anniversary, and not only for its traditional side, but because it has also become an ultra-modern destination. We talk about robotics, AI, the transformation of urban landscapes, this mix of tradition and ultra-modernity, etc. China’s soft power is very strong right now.
Additionally, Latin America, especially Brazil, performed very well in 2026. It remains to be seen whether elections will impact French interest in going there in 2027. Argentina is also doing well, even though the destination has become very expensive due to air travel.
On the other hand, we have seen strong declines in the USA over the past three years, a mix of Trump effects and inflation, while Canada has slowly progressed, though the two countries are not comparable in terms of volumes.
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: I think it’s a phenomenon that goes beyond the economic aspect.
Our travelers want to step away from peak periods and enjoy milder temperatures, encounters, and calmer landscapes.
Our relatively wide palette of destinations lends itself well to autumn travel: Japan, Italy, India, Canada, Brazil, Peru.
This slight emphasis on autumn helps us balance our internal resources and avoid handling a peak of activity in certain months.
TourMaG – How do you anticipate 2027?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: We have perhaps captured 10-15% of the 2027 portfolio, but there isn’t really a clear trend yet, except perhaps India and China doing well, Japan continuing its momentum, and Polynesia as well.
A lot will take shape in October and November.
For China, we will indeed communicate a lot about the destination on the occasion of our 35th anniversary, and not only for its traditional side, but because it has also become an ultra-modern destination. We talk about robotics, AI, the transformation of urban landscapes, this mix of tradition and ultra-modernity, etc. China’s soft power is very strong right now.
Additionally, Latin America, especially Brazil, performed very well in 2026. It remains to be seen whether elections will impact French interest in going there in 2027. Argentina is also doing well, even though the destination has become very expensive due to air travel.
On the other hand, we have seen strong declines in the USA over the past three years, a mix of Trump effects and inflation, while Canada has slowly progressed, though the two countries are not comparable in terms of volumes.
Travel, a Vital Need More Than a Distraction
TourMaG – Do you anticipate a slowdown in sales linked to the presidential elections?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: I do not think the elections themselves will have an impact, except for a delay of a few weeks in departures and bookings.
What could have an impact, however, is an economic crisis, with effects on the stock market, geopolitical context, conflicts that could alter destinations, block hubs, cause kerosene prices to rise, etc.
The positive point is that travel today is part of fundamental consumption trends. Our clientele truly wants and needs to travel. It has become a vital need, more than a distraction. Especially since we craft smart travel, culturally rich travel.
In these times, I would even say we have a mission to bring cultures closer together, to bring people closer. The more we understand what the world is, who people are, the different cultures of thought, the better the world will be.
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: I do not think the elections themselves will have an impact, except for a delay of a few weeks in departures and bookings.
What could have an impact, however, is an economic crisis, with effects on the stock market, geopolitical context, conflicts that could alter destinations, block hubs, cause kerosene prices to rise, etc.
The positive point is that travel today is part of fundamental consumption trends. Our clientele truly wants and needs to travel. It has become a vital need, more than a distraction. Especially since we craft smart travel, culturally rich travel.
In these times, I would even say we have a mission to bring cultures closer together, to bring people closer. The more we understand what the world is, who people are, the different cultures of thought, the better the world will be.
The Houses of Travel Labeled Travelife
No International Expansion Strategy
TourMaG – Could you consider opening up to B2B sales or being listed in a distribution network?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: No, our model is truly based on B2C, except — and this is really experimental — the resale of a circuit by an agency that asks us in a somewhat exceptional way. But that is not our business model.
TourMaG – Who are your direct competitors?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: We have a lot of admiration for the Voyageurs du Monde group, which is really the model, the undisputed leader of the sector, particularly their tailor-made activity, i.e., the brands Voyageurs and Comptoir des voyages.
After that, we identify a range of competitors, including other traditional generalist TOs — excluding Voyageurs and Comptoir — like Cercle des Voyages, Intermèdes on the cultural side. And also pure players in the digital space, such as Evaneos or Tourlane.
Finally, there are many new competitors by destination. DMCs trying to build their own products to offer on the French market: a safari specialist in Tanzania, a specialist in Japanese circuits, etc.
TourMaG – Do you foresee expanding internationally, like Voyageurs du Monde did?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: No, except for possible extensions into neighboring French-speaking countries in the form of partnerships or acquisitions of niche specialists for trips we do not produce in France, we do not have an international expansion strategy.
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: No, our model is truly based on B2C, except — and this is really experimental — the resale of a circuit by an agency that asks us in a somewhat exceptional way. But that is not our business model.
TourMaG – Who are your direct competitors?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: We have a lot of admiration for the Voyageurs du Monde group, which is really the model, the undisputed leader of the sector, particularly their tailor-made activity, i.e., the brands Voyageurs and Comptoir des voyages.
After that, we identify a range of competitors, including other traditional generalist TOs — excluding Voyageurs and Comptoir — like Cercle des Voyages, Intermèdes on the cultural side. And also pure players in the digital space, such as Evaneos or Tourlane.
Finally, there are many new competitors by destination. DMCs trying to build their own products to offer on the French market: a safari specialist in Tanzania, a specialist in Japanese circuits, etc.
TourMaG – Do you foresee expanding internationally, like Voyageurs du Monde did?
Jean-Emmanuel Chometon: No, except for possible extensions into neighboring French-speaking countries in the form of partnerships or acquisitions of niche specialists for trips we do not produce in France, we do not have an international expansion strategy.
Publié par Anaïs Borios Journaliste – TourMaG.com Voir tous les articles de Anaïs Borios
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