LK Group: The Sleeping Wood, New Play in Family Diversification


Le Groupe LK a inauguré le gîte Le Bois Dormant, situé dans la vallée de Kaysersberg, en septembre 2026 - Photo : cnographe

Attitude Hotels


Seven bedrooms, five bathrooms and a capacity for 15 guests. Operated since May 2025 and officially inaugurated on 22 September 2026, Le Bois Dormant is housed in a historic building in the Kaysersberg valley.

There is no key box here. Mylène Vrtikapa, head of development for the Lisela & Cap towards the East reception hub of the LK group and also in charge of the gîte, handles check-in and check-out. “I was aiming to foster a client relationship. The place deserves to be explained and for us to take the time to welcome guests.” she explains.

The 480 m² house notably features an outdoor jacuzzi, a pétanque court, a games room, a library and a vintage bar. The positioning is deliberately geared toward groups, with a maximum capacity of 15 people.

“We really wanted to keep just this one structure since there are very few gîtes that can accommodate groups of 15 people.”, emphasises Mylène Vrtikapa.

After a first year of operation, the feedback has been described as “excellent.” The gîte welcomes families, groups of friends and already repeaters.


From the Gîte to a Tourism Offering

Le Bois Dormant must not remain merely a group accommodation.

With Lisela, the group’s receptive brand specialized in the Grand Est, the aim is to build complete stays.

“With Lisela, we offer packages and build a complete offering around the stay.” explains Mylène Vrtikapa.

Transfers from Colmar, team-building activities, guided hikes or a lunch at a farm inn can be integrated into the stays. This offering makes it possible to target companies and small executive committees seeking a setting to work differently.

Well-being is another axis of development. Mylène Vrtikapa, who has been pursuing a three-year course in naturopathy, wishes to develop thematic retreats.

A first offering has been launched around yoga, naturopathic cuisine, sound baths, relaxation, making homemade remedies and hiking.

For 2027, other formats are being considered, notably focusing on women and menopause. “That’s a bit my personal touch to make the gîte not only a weekend group venue but also diversify with companies and a wellness angle.”, notes the daughter of Michelle Kunegel, LK Tours’ managing director.

The programs are available directly on the Le Bois Dormant Gîte site and listed via Ty-win. “Meetings through the France DMC Alliance network allowed us to be listed on Ty-win, which now lets us integrate the offering directly on our website.

The goal was also to avoid losing customers with a complicated journey. They land on the gîte’s site, see their wellness retreat and can book directly, without wondering why they are redirected to the Lisela site.”
, explains Mylène Vrtikapa.

Behind Le Bois Dormant is also a story of transmission. Mylène Vrtikapa belongs to the LK group’s fourth generation and has worked in the company for over ten years.

“I wanted to write my own story within the family history,” she says.

The project was supported by the group. It responds in particular to a long-standing need: having a venue for LK’s own meetings, seminars and trainings.


The Receptive Arm in Times of International Volatility


Mylène Vrtikapa, responsable développement du pôle réceptif Lisela & Cap vers l’Est et également en charge du gîte appartient à la quatrième génération du groupe LK - Photo : LK

This new step in the group’s diversification strategy comes as Lisela, created in 2020, continues to expand its Grand Est receptive offering. The brand is notably attracting foreign clients from the United States or Canada.

But 2026 proved more challenging for distant markets. “With everything that happened in the Middle East, airfares exploded,” notes Mylène Vrtikapa. “Distant clients could not afford paying a plane ticket whose price had doubled.”

The receptive arm therefore strengthened its European and regional network, working more with coaches, agencies, associations, groups of friends and companies.

This evolution, she adds, confirms the value of diversification. In the unstable context we are in, diversification is important. Tourism is directly subject to the fluctuations of world events.

The LK group, which counts more than 800 employees according to Mylène Vrtikapa, has also been working for two years on integrating AI, with several working groups involving the teams.

Behind diversification, the family group mainly aims to prepare for the future. “If we want to be here again in 20, 30, 40 years, we must adapt to the world today.”


Caroline Lelievre Written by Caroline Lelievre Journalist – TourMaG.com
See all articles by Caroline Lelievre

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Authentic Egypt: Tailor-Made Family Trips to Explore Egypt

With its rich heritage and fascinating history, Egypt is a premier destination for a family trip that will appeal to every generation. Authentique Égypte designs personalized stays by offering playful activities and unique experiences for both young and old.

Egypt, the ideal land for an intergenerational journey

Egypt is a captivating country at any age. The youngest explore the world of the pharaohs, often studied at school; teenagers marvel at temples and pyramids; adults are drawn to museums or lounge on the beaches of the Red Sea. To discover it off the beaten path, nothing beats trying activities offered by locals. From a creative workshop to a boat ride, desert exploration and a zipline inside a troglodyte church, Authentique Égypte aims to propose fun yet authentic stops that let guests immerse themselves in Egyptian history and culture. All while adapting to each person’s needs, with flexible rhythms for babies, nap breaks, or dynamic visits for older children.

A local team that knows the terrain and the needs of French travelers

As a tourism professional, Mélanie Adam noticed the lack of authentic options during her own visits to Egypt. “We were forced to follow the tourist circuits; it was unthinkable to get away from the crowds or to have an authentic experience, so I decided to create one,” she explains. She teams up with an Egyptian partner to found Authentique Égypte, building a network of local providers, Egyptologists guides, and artisans who lead unique workshops. Today, the agency operates with a dedicated team based in Egypt that understands the expectations of French travelers. They are accompanied at every step of the itinerary by a Francophone representative who remains reachable throughout the stay to answer their questions. A true peace of mind, all the more essential when traveling abroad with family.

Family-Focused Itineraries

Specialist in tailor-made travel in Egypt, the agency is committed to co-creating itineraries with families, for families. One can start in Cairo, where the new museum has a very nice section dedicated to children, before discovering the pyramids and then escaping toward the Fayoum Oasis, where they can surf in the desert, learn pottery, and explore the Valley of the Whales.

For families with young children, a Cairo–Red Sea combination itinerary helps limit travel while enjoying suitable reserves, such as Wadi el Gemal, where camels and wildlife can be encountered. Finally, for larger groups, why not privatize a sailing boat for an exclusive Nile cruise? On a full-board basis, travelers stop whenever they wish, avoiding overly crowded places at peak hours. Whatever itinerary is chosen, Authentique Égypte provides comfortable and tailored services, from a baby cot to a car seat.

Thanks to Authentique Égypte’s local expertise and its tailor-made approach, each generation finds its place in the adventure, for an unforgettable journey on the land of the Pharaohs.

Authentique Égypte

+20 106 661 9098

[email protected]

https://www.instagram.com/authentiquegypte/

Royal Caribbean Announces Summer 2027 Itineraries With a Family Offer


Royal Caribbean lance sa programmation été 2027 - Depositphotos.com, djulia86

Hurtigruten


Royal Caribbean unveils a new programming for Summer 2027, accompanied by a “Kids and Teens Sail” offer dedicated to children and adolescents, with fares starting from €99 for the youngest travelers.

This promotion sits within the company’s early booking strategy for families making a new booking by September 30, 2026.

The company’s goal is to encourage long-term planning of summer vacations by highlighting onboard amenities suitable for all ages, ranging from leisure and entertainment facilities to themed dining spaces and relaxation zones.


Summer 2027: heading towards the Mediterranean, Alaska and the Caribbean

As for the summer program, the brand will position several newer ships on key sailing bases.

In Europe, the Legend of the Seas will return to offer seven-night itineraries in the Western Mediterranean, with departures from the ports of Barcelona and Rome (Civitavecchia).

In North America, the company will deploy the Anthem of the Seas and the Quantum of the Seas for seven-night cruises departing from Vancouver and Seward, focusing on discovering Alaska’s glaciers (Hubbard, Endicott Arm, Dawes).

At the same time, short three- to four-night formats will be operated in the Caribbean from Florida (Port Canaveral and Miami) via the Utopia of the Seas and the Wonder of the Seas, including calls at the private island Perfect Day at CocoCay and Nassau.

Family Travel: From Kid-Friendly to Family-Friendly


From ‘kid-friendly’ to ‘family-friendly’

© Tristan Scohy

Hurtigruten



The distinction may seem subtle, yet it reshapes how a stay is designed. A product labeled as “kid-friendly” primarily answers the specific needs of children. The “family-friendly” concept encompasses them and pushes further: it aims to craft programs that captivate and involve both parents and children at once.

It isn’t about replacing the “kid-friendly” approach, but about weaving it into a broader framework. A pool, a family-friendly hotel, or services tailored for kids remain important—they form the comfort baseline families expect. But they don’t automatically guarantee distinction anymore.

The question shifts from “Is this suitable for children?” to “Will parents and children want to experience it together?”

This evolution represents a real challenge for agencies and tour operators. It invites evolution not only in product development but also in selling points: beyond comfort levels and facilities, one must be able to tell what the family will actually do and share during the trip.


Not just keeping kids busy, but giving them a real place

The shift also changes the child’s role during the trip.

It’s no longer enough to merely plan an activity to occupy them while adults explore. The child becomes an active participant in discovery: getting hands-on in a workshop, learning a local craft, spotting wildlife in its natural setting, or exploring a city through a game.

This approach also lets parents view the destination differently. Travel becomes less a sequence of must-see sites and more a program built around discoveries accessible to several generations.

For professionals, this evolution opens a space for differentiation. In a market where many offers claim to be “family-friendly,” the ability to provide genuinely original experiences tailored to different ages becomes a standalone selling point.


From Bali to Japan: when the offering embodies this evolution

This trend is becoming visible especially in how some destinations package experiences.

At Shanti Travel, for instance, this thinking led to the creation of a dedicated family-focused GIR in Bali. The lineup includes: an introduction to the art of pottery with a craftsman, a treasure hunt through the Ubud countryside, a catamaran excursion around Nusa Lembongan, and a sunset jeep ride at the foot of Mount Batur. Different formats, but a single objective: empower children to participate without turning the journey into a program built solely for them.


© Tristan Scohy


In Japan, experiences take a different shape: a sumo-themed dinner show, a manga workshop with a Japanese artist in Nakano, a kimono photoshoot, an origami workshop, or a glimpse into the world of samurai. Again, these are not “activities for children,” but offerings that children can enjoy alongside their parents.

For distributors, this type of content also provides a fresh sales angle: you’re no longer selling merely a destination or an itinerary, but the moments that will allow the family to recount the trip after they return.


© Tristan Scohy


Adventure, but in the right measure

The “family-friendly” approach also helps escape a binary view of family travel: on one side, a comfortable, highly structured stay, and on the other, an adventure reserved for experienced families.

Between them, there is a whole spectrum of possibilities. An accessible hike, a boat outing, a cycling excursion, or a night in an unconventional lodging can deliver real novelty without turning the trip into an obstacle course.

The professional’s job is to strike the right balance between discovery and comfort, taking into account the children’s ages as well as the parents’ desires.


Rethinking pace and priorities


Memory as the new criterion of success

In essence, shifting from “kid-friendly” to “family-friendly” reflects a broader evolution in how travel is conceived.

Families want to travel in good conditions, of course, but they also seek what everyday life doesn’t always allow: to discover, to learn, to marvel, and to share a different kind of pause.

For tourism professionals, the challenge is less about building trips where children don’t get bored and more about offering trips where every generation can find its place.

Because a few years down the line, a family is likely to remember less the hotel and more that tuk-tuk ride through the tea plantations, that harvest in the rice fields, that bicycle ride, or that night with a local host.

In other words: “family-friendly” isn’t just about tailoring the trip to children.

It means designing a journey that the whole family will want to experience.



Le voyage en famille sort du « kids friendly » : place au « family friendly »
Mélissa Pébrocq
B2B Sales Manager
[email protected]
www.shantitravel.com/fr
+33 6 52 77 86 09

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>> SHANTI TRAVEL in the DESTIMAG Directory


TUI Launches Family Offer: Children Aged 2–11 Travel for Free


TUI France lance une opération de gratuité totale pour les enfants cet été, Despositphotos.com, Photo by PR-PhotoDesign

CroisiEurope


As the summer season approaches, the tour operator TUI France is launching a new promotional offer. The travel company is betting on completely free travel for children aged 2 to 11, for all departures scheduled through October 31, 2026.

This initiative, valid for bookings made between June 4 and June 30, applies to a selection of seven Lookéa and Marmara clubs. It was designed to substantially reduce family budgets, including those of single-parent families.

TUI France covers all costs: not only the stays but also air travel, airport taxes and any fuel surcharges. For children under two, the usual 90% discount remains unchanged.

This comprehensive freebie program applies to seven Lookéa and Marmara properties across three major Mediterranean destinations. In Italy, the offer covers the Sicilian facilities of Club Lookéa Athena Resort Sicily and Club Marmara Sicilia. In Spain, it is offered at Club Marmara Oasis Menorca on Menorca island.

Finally, in Greece, four properties participate: Club Lookéa Sun Palace and Club Marmara Zorbas in Kos, Club Marmara Doreta in Rhodes, as well as Club Marmara Sandy Beach in Corfu.


A general discount across the entire summer catalog

To cover its full lineup, the tour operator extends this promotional campaign as price reductions applied to its other sites. Thus, the 55 other Marmara Clubs and Lookéa Clubs open for the summer season offer a 50% discount for children aged 2 to 11, valid under the same booking and departure-date conditions.

This preferential rate includes all the elements of the club package: round-trip flights, transfers to the hotel, accommodation, full board with beverages, as well as access to daily activities in French and to children’s clubs supervised by professional teams.

With this large-scale rollout, available both through travel agencies and on its online platform, the brand aims to optimize occupancy rates at its properties while addressing vacationers’ current concerns about budgeting.

Azores Destination Webinar: Family Vacations in the Azores – June 29, 2021





Thematic :

Family holidays in the Azores

Date :

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Time :

10:30


Webinar description

Just four hours by plane from Paris, SATA Azores Airlines and Visit Azores invite you to discover the Azores archipelago. Outdoor activities, whale watching, and much more; the Azores abound with riches to delight both young and old.


Other sessions

● Nature and a change of scenery just four hours from Paris : Replay


Our other tools for tourism professionals

Consult our online brochures to learn more about the destination in general and to discover all the potential the Azores offer for diving enthusiasts.

✔ See Visit Azores brochures


Who we are:

Visit Azores is on a mission to promote the Azores as a nature-oriented travel destination focused on experiential travel, and to grow the volume/number of stays across all the Azores islands, as well as the revenue of all players in the sector.

Since 1941, the SATA group has been involved in air transport, tourism promotion, airport management, and ground handling services for all airlines landing on the Azorean soil. Its fleet is divided between SATA Air Açores (SP) and SATA Azores Airlines (S4), which operate flights to continental Portugal and the islands, Europe, the Cape Verde, the United States and Canada, with a network that combines codeshare and interline agreements.

Its mission: Connect the Azores to the rest of the World and the World to the Azores.

Irish Tourism Webinar: Family Tour of Ireland – March 1, 2022





Theme: Family-friendly Ireland tour

Date: March 1, 2022

Time: 11:00 AM


Webinar Description

Ireland is a quintessential family destination: with its charming towns and breathtaking landscapes, a range of activities can appeal to everyone in the family.

Two inbound travel operators will share their best itineraries and tips so that vacations work well for the little ones, the grown-ups, and even the teenagers.

The speakers will also be happy to answer your questions in a Q&A session at the end of the session.


Upcoming Sessions

● Responsible travel on the Island of Ireland

Date: April 5, 2022 | Time: 11:00 AM | Registration to follow

● Outdoor activities on the Island of Ireland

Date: May 12, 2022 | Time: 11:00 AM | Registration to follow

● Luxury offerings on the Island of Ireland

Date: May 19, 2022 | Time: 11:00 AM | Registration to follow


Our other tools for tourism professionals

We provide travel agencies with all the tools necessary to energize sales in agencies, such as brochures, totems and posters, but also the management of a website with banners, videos and photos.

✔ Training sessions

✔ Online brochures

✔ Toolkit for our current campaign


Who We Are

Tourism Ireland is the official promotional body for Ireland abroad. The team in France includes a dedicated unit for tourism professionals to support them in marketing the destination through arranging trainings and educational tours, while also prioritizing meetings with industry professionals from Ireland.