EDV Mediterranean Convention in Shanghai: Last Remaining Spots


Convention EDV Méditerranée : cap sur Shanghai en vol direct au départ de Marseille - Depositphotos.com Auteur anekoho


MSC Croisières


The EDV Méditerranée member agencies are turning their attention to Asia.

For its 2026 convention, the regional delegation chaired by Christine Crispin will take tourism professionals to Shanghai, from December 8 to 13, 2026, with a major asset: a direct flight from Marseille, operated by Shanghai Airlines.

“A longer and more comprehensive version from December 8 to 18 will allow those who wish to discover the essence of China, still at an exceptional price” adds the president of EDV Méditerranée.

Dubbed « Dive into the World of Tomorrow Together », this convention aims to combine professional exchanges, the discovery of a metropolis in full transformation, and cultural immersion.

The program includes, in particular, working meetings, visits to Shanghai’s main districts, a discovery of Tongli village, as well as a closing dinner before the return to Marseille, also ensured by a direct flight.

The convention is open to all travel agencies, not only those affiliated with EDV Méditerranée. Note: last places available – registrations until August 31.


Sightseeing in Shanghai, and the option to extend to Beijing

Participants will discover several facets of Shanghai: the Bund, the former French Concession, Pudong, the Yu Garden, the Jade Buddha Temple, and the Shanghai Museum. The stay will also feature local experiences, such as a Tai Chi session, an acrobat show, or a tasting of culinary specialties.

Professionals wishing to extend their trip can opt for a five-day extension that will take them to Xi’an and Beijing. On the program: the Terracotta Army, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the hutongs, and the Temple of Heaven.

Departures will be from Marseille, with the possibility for professionals joining the group from another destination to participate without the international flights.

EDV Barometer: Orchestra Reservations Rebound in August, but Summer 2026 Remains Lagging


Baromètre EDV - Orchestra : les réservations repartent en août, mais l’été 2026 reste en retrait - Photo ChatGPT

MSC Croisières


Summer 2026 has not yet regained the levels of 2025.

According to the new Observatory of French Holidays EDV-Orchestra, departures recorded from August 1 to 26 show a 9.3% drop in the number of bookings and a 7% decline in business volume compared with August 2025. The rise in the average basket, from 2.6% to €2,287, only softens the decline.

However, the data reveal a positive signal: bookings made in August are rising again.

In August 2026, the number of bookings grows by 2.9% year on year while the business volume leaps by 7.6%. The average basket reaches €1,697, up 4.6%.

The average booking lead time indeed stands at 55 days, i.e., two days longer than in 2025. More importantly, the share of bookings made less than 30 days before departure drops to 46.2%, compared with 49.7% a year earlier. Conversely, bookings made more than 90 days in advance rise slightly, to 18.9% versus 18% in 2025.

The recovery in sales thus does not signal a mass shift to last-minute bookings, but rather a slight reintroduction of forward planning in booking behaviors, explains the barometer.


The infographic: numbers at a glance

Observatoire des Vacances des Français
The Travel Companies · Orchestra / Travelsoft
August 2026



01 August 2026 Departures

Confirmed slowdown compared to August 2025: business volume -7.0%, bookings -9.3%, average basket up (+2.6%) to €2,287. The rise in the basket does not offset the decline in volumes; the summer season remains downward oriented. Long-haul remains the most affected segment (-16.1% in bookings).

-7.0 %
Business Volume
-9.3 %
Number of Bookings
+2.6 %
Average Basket
€2,287
Geographic zones — August 2026 departures vs 2025
France
Medium-haul
Long-haul
Top 20 destinations — August departures (bookings by comparison with 2025)



02 August 2026 Reservations

Recovery in the trend after several months of decline: the business volume returns to positive (+7.6%), supported by a rise in bookings (+2.9%) and in the average basket (+4.6% to €1,697). The average booking lead time is 55 days, two days longer than in 2025.

+7.6 %
Business Volume
+2.9 %
Number of Bookings
+4.6 %
Average Basket
€1,697
46.2 %
Late booking < 30 days
vs 49.7% in 2025

18.9 %
Early booking > 90 days
vs 18.0% in 2025

Geographic zones — August 2026 reservations vs 2025
France
Medium-haul
Long-haul
Top 20 destinations — August reservations (bookings vs 2025)



03 September 2026 Reservations

To date, reservations for September 2026 departures remain below 2025: business volume -5.4%, bookings -5.8%, average basket almost stable (+0.4% at €1,959). Long-haul concentrates the sharpest decline (-16.6% in bookings).

-5.4 %
Business Volume
-5.8 %
Number of Bookings
+0.4 %
Average Basket
€1,959
Zones geographiques — reservations September 2026 vs 2025
France
Medium-haul
Long-haul
Top 20 destinations — September reservations (bookings vs 2025)

Traveler typologies — reservations September 2026
Solos
8.2 %
Bookings -2.0 % · €1,407
Duos
73.5 %
Bookings -6.6 % · €1,817
Families
5.5 %
Bookings -6.2 % · €1,564
Groups of friends
12.6 %
Bookings -4.1 % · €3,311

Categories of stays — reservations September 2026
Packages (excluding tours)
-4.7 %
Basket +1.3 % · €1,904
Accommodations
-8.3 %
Basket +4.6 % · €438
Tours
-13.1 %
Basket -0.6 % · €3,933

Top 10 destination cities — reservations September 2026

Source: Observatory of French Holidays — The Travel Companies · Orchestra / Travelsoft — August 2026
Departures & reservations August: 01/08 – 26/08/2026 · September: reservations 01/01 – 26/08/2026, departures 01/09 – 30/09/2026.
Data from travel agencies using the Orchestra platform (20+ brands, at least 2 years).

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EDV Convention in Benin: This Trip Will Truly Be Exceptional


Le vodou, cité lacustre, la nature... les atouts du Bénin - Depositphotos

Hurtigruten


The IFTM Top Resa will open its doors in a few days, signaling the return of the season for tourism professionals.

October will kick off the regional congresses of Travel Companies. It will begin in the Southwest, from October 2 to 5, to conclude with the event organized by Lionel Rabiet, from November 12 to 16, 2026… in Benin.

A choice that aligns with the desire of the Île-de-France branch of Travel Companies to showcase destinations still relatively unknown to the general public.

Besides being a destination that very few people know about, it is an incredibly welcoming country.

Regarding the convention, everything will be easy. The hotel is five minutes from the airport, the places we will visit are not far, and it’s fabulous.



It’s Black Africa, a country with a rich culture
“, we are told by Lionel Rabiet.


Voodoo, Lake City, and Nature… Benin’s Strengths

A president who was able to discover the country during a reconnaissance trip.

One must know that Benin has truly been a hub of the slave trade, part of its painful history. We will visit places connected to this past.

We will also discover voodoo, this religion which is an animist cult based on reverence for the forces of nature and for ancestors. It should be noted that Benin is its cradle.

Then the country offers unique natural scenery.

Right beside, by the way, the capital city Cotonou, where we will stay, there exists the largest lakeside city in Africa (Ganvié, ed.) and surely in the world, which we will visit.

In addition, there are very few tourists. I calculated that in a single day, in France, we welcome more travelers than Benin does in a year
“, the president reveals.

It must be said that the country has only recently begun opening up to tourism.

As we revealed to you in a previous article, under the leadership of President Patrice Talon, who has been in office since 2017, significant investments have been made to move the number of international visitors from 300,000–400,000 today to nearly 2 million per year by 2030.


AI, Creativity and Corporate Restructuring… discover the program

We have a very gradual three-year plan. At first, we move to conquer adventure tourism, then cultural tourism.

General tour operators won’t open up before 2026, with the opening of Club Med
“, we were told by Claude Blanc, commercial manager of Benin’s Office of Tourism.

The opening of the future resort of the brand with the trident should rather take place next year.

The convention, for its part, will take place at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel & Spa. Located in Cotonou, the 174-room and 19-suite property opened in September 2024. It was, at the time, the country’s first five-star hotel.

During the few days we will be together, we will address two themes with people who think outside the box. The first concerns AI. The aim is to ensure that this tool enhances us, increases our capabilities, and does not lobotomize us.

Nicolas François will speak on the second AI revolution, through the creation of tools and programming.

Another person will be present to question creativity and AI. We use AI at every turn for any creation, and I think that’s dangerous, because we lose our voice and our identity. There will be a surprise in this regard.

The second theme will be corporate restructuring. We are living through a challenging period, and it is during these times that difficult decisions must be made and restructurings undertaken.
Jacques Masson, who has served as a transition manager in many companies, will discuss how to restructure, rethink a business, and cut costs…

Then, beyond these moments of reflection, from a destination discovery perspective, this trip is going to be truly exceptional
“, we explain by Lionel Rabiet.

There are still a few places left to participate in the convention.

EDV Barometer: Orchestra – Reservations Fall 18% in May as Summer Slowdown Widens

French Vacation Observatory — June 2026

The Travel Agencies of France — Orchestra / Travelsoft

June 2026

The summer of 2026 looks set to be challenging for travel distributors. The latest edition of the French Travel Companies Observatory (EdV) and Orchestra confirms a clear slowdown in bookings. May departures still temper the overall drop.

Regarding departures through the end of May, the number of files is down 1.7% compared with the same period in 2025, while the business volume falls by 1.3%. The average basket edges up slightly by 0.4% to reach €1,555. It is worth noting that a significant portion of May travel had already been booked before the worsening situation in the Middle East.

France itself even records a 6.4% increase in business volume, while the medium-haul segment remains broadly stable. By contrast, the long-haul sector remains under pressure, with the number of files down 11.5% and turnover down by nearly 10%.

Destinations in the United States (-34.3%), Mexico (-22.7%), and Cape Verde (-12.6%) are among the hardest hit. Conversely, Albania (+342.6%), the Dominican Republic (+14%), and Croatia (+12.6%) continue to grow.

Summary:
– Bookings plunge in May
– An ever more retreating summer

Observatory — June 2026

Departures in May 2026

Market activity shows a slight dip: files down 2%, business volume down 1%, and the average basket nearly steady at €1,555. It should be noted that a significant share of May departures had already been booked prior to the deterioration in the Middle East situation.

Key indicators for departures through the end of May:
– Business volume: -1.3%
– Number of files: -1.7%
– Average basket: +0.4% (€1,555)

Geographic zones — departures May 2026 vs 2025

Top 20 destinations — departures May (number of dossiers vs 2025)

Note: A geographic breakdown and the list of top destinations are shown to illustrate regional and market concentration, with France and major outbound corridors highlighted.

Section 2 — May 2026 Reservations

Reservations in May 2026 show a sharp retreat: business volume down 21%, number of files down 18%, and the average basket down 4% to €1,632. The average lead time also contracts to 63 days, down 4 days versus 2025, signaling that bookings are being made increasingly closer to departure amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Key indicators for reservations in May 2026:
– Business volume: -21.3%
– Number of files: -17.9%
– Average basket: -4.3% (€1,632)
Lead time to departure: 63 days (-4 days vs 2025)

Geographic zones — reservations May 2026 vs 2025

Top 20 destinations — reservations May (number of dossiers vs 2025)

Geographic patterns and popular destinations for May reservations are presented, illustrating shifts in demand by region and corridor.

Section 3 — Summer Holidays 2026

Summer 2026 (July–August) reservations are down by 10.5% compared with 2025, both in terms of dossiers and business volume. The average basket remains stable at €2,710. All zones show declines, with long-haul the most affected, posting a 20% drop in dossiers.

Key indicators for Summer 2026:
– Business volume: -10.5%
– Number of dossiers: -10.5%
– Average basket: +0.0% (€2,710)

Geographic zones — reservations summer 2026 vs 2025

Typologies of travelers — Summer 2026

A snapshot of traveler types for the summer shows the following profiles:
– Solos: 3.1% of dossiers; -15.7% in dossiers; €1,700 on average
– Duos: 34.3% of dossiers; -11.8% in dossiers; €2,302 on average
– Families: 48.0% of dossiers; -10.1% in dossiers; €2,753 on average
– Groups: 14.5% of dossiers; -7.6% in dossiers; €3,748 on average

Categories of stays — Summer 2026

The distribution of stays by category for the summer shows:
– Packages: -9.8%; Basket up 1.2% to €2,772
– Accommodations: -11.8%; Basket up 0.1% to €1,141
– Circuits: -15.9%; Basket down 3.9% to €5,823

Top 10 destination cities — Summer 2026

Top 10 destination cities for the summer of 2026 are presented, illustrating the geographic spread of demand across leading urban and resort destinations.

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Source: Observatoire des Vacances des Français — The Travel Companies of France (Les Entreprises du Voyage) · Orchestra / Travelsoft — June 2026
Data drawn from travel agencies using the Orchestra platform (20+ brands, minimum of 2 years).