Human Archives - Com Namibia

E.Leclerc Travel: Michel-Edouard Leclerc Champions the Human Choice

November 3, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Voyages E.Leclerc : Michel-Edouard Leclerc revendique le choix de l’humain. Sur la photo à gauche, Guirec Le Morvan, directeur Voyages E.Leclerc - Photo CE

Attitude Hotels

In a LinkedIn post, Michel-Édouard Leclerc, president of E.Leclerc, defends “ the choice of a human welcome “ in the travel sector at a time when ” banks, the telecom sector and even La Poste are trimming their agencies and jobs. “

“ Tech without humans is a nightmare “ sums him up.

According to him, lessons were learned from Covid. “ Without an interlocutor, apart from an answering machine that questions you like AI: “Are you in Venezuela? Press 1” ; “In Chișinău? Press 795, but type slowly!” ; “In the Glénan? Hoist the sails!” ; “In Oman? Dial 972” ; “In the Landes? Go green!” “

He adds that 18 new travel agencies opened this year, and that six more will join the Voyages E.Leclerc network by the end of the year in Anet, Pontchâteau, Varennes-Vauzelles / Coulanges-lès-Nevers, Bayonne, Bellaing…

Voyages E.Leclerc: a network of more than 260 agencies

These new points of sale bring the network’s agency count to more than 260.

“ For information, given the anxiety-inducing climate at the moment, the most sought-after destinations are domestic, focused on our regions and the Mediterranean-bordering countries “

Ah, and there’s no need to feel guilty: everyone is chasing good deals! Young people or seniors alike, the race is on for last-minute promos!

We had met Michel-Édouard Leclerc last February, in his office at the group’s headquarters in Ivry-sur-Seine.

Find Voyages E.Leclerc catalogs on Brochuresenligne.com

AERTiCKET CMSV: An Autumn of Commercial, Human, and Technological Intensity

October 25, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Image générée par IA © Aerticket

CroisiEurope

The mood? Friendly, smiling, and supportive, with that extra soul that makes the difference. The exchanges were rich, discussions constructive, and projects tangible. On the human side, a shared pleasure: the joy of gathering again, of speaking face-to-face, of understanding the real on-the-ground needs.

A special thanks to AIR AUSTRAL, French bee, and Air Caraïbes. Thanks to their support, AERTiCKET CMSV was able to reward its agencies directly at the show — a strong gesture that illustrates our commitment to valuing those who move the sector forward every day.

The team leaves energized, inspired… and already looking ahead to the next on-site encounters.

Paris Versailles 2026: running together, performing together

On September 27, AERTiCKET CMSV took part in the mythical Paris-Versailles race, alongside its agencies, in partnership with LATAM Airlines. A sporty moment, but above all a moment of cohesion, sharing and commitment.

Because proximity goes beyond business meetings:

• it is built through effort,

• in life’s moments,

• in experiences that bind.

Running together means advancing together. And this 2026 edition will be remembered as a symbol: humans at the heart of commercial performance.

APC Marseille: the afterwork that brings people together and accelerates

On November 19, head to Marseille for a new edition of the AERLines Partner Connect. A convivial, dynamic afterwork, designed for Southern agencies, with a clear objective: strengthen on-site presence and accelerate projects.

After Paris in spring, Marseille in autumn confirms a strong will: to be as close as possible to the agencies, across France.

From on-site meetings to everyday operational solutions

These on-site meetings — IFTM, Paris Versailles, APC Marseille — are not gaps in AERTiCKET CMSV’s activity. They are the natural continuation of a clear strategy: to be present beside the agencies, on the ground as in the daily handling of their files. Beyond moments of gathering, it is an entire organization that is mobilized to serve the concrete needs of professionals: group management, reservation optimization, Corporate support, technology tools designed for productivity. This continuity between human proximity and operational solutions lies at the heart of the AERTiCKET CMSV promise: to create an environment where agencies feel at once heard, supported, and equipped to perform.

The Groups service: responsiveness, mastery, and premium support

Beyond events, AERTiCKET CMSV relies on a key expertise: the Groups service. A dedicated, reactive, and expert support for all collective requests — associations, professionals, schools, incentives…

With a specialized team, proven operational mastery and tailored pricing solutions, AERTiCKET CMSV guarantees smooth, homogeneous, and reliable management, even for the most complex files.

A committed partner, designed to simplify the organization of groups and secure every step of the trip, for the benefit of IATAS and NON IATAS agencies.

COCKPIT: the booking platform designed for professionals.

The technological core that boosts agencies’ productivity

As the true technological engine of AERTiCKET, COCKPIT has established itself as one of the most comprehensive B2B solutions on the market. Multi-IATA, NDC-compatible, integrating regular, low-cost, GDS and more, the platform provides access to the richest flight content in the world.

Designed for the concrete needs on the ground, COCKPIT offers:

• an intuitive and customizable interface,

• full autonomy (book, modify, cancel, refund),

• enhanced productivity,

• optimal reliability and speed.

Each feature has been crafted to simplify the daily work of agencies, secure their operations and maximize their performance.

COCKPIT is not merely a tool: it’s a growth lever, a productivity accelerator, a technological partner at the service of the field.

AER360: next-generation bespoke travel

With its Dynamic Packages tool, AER360 enables agencies to create fully customized trips from a single interface, with complete visibility over every component of the stay.

The new version of AER360 marks a major evolution:

• flight engine even more powerful,

• complete integration of NDC content (+70 airlines),

• new suppliers,

• the arrival of Rail in France and internationally for Slow Travel enthusiasts,

• expanded additional services,

• payment on account preserved,

• strengthened dedicated team.

A solution designed to offer simplicity, efficiency, and freedom of creation. AER360 becomes a true travel design workshop, where every adjustment is instantaneous, smooth, and readable.

CORPO360: opening up business travel easily

The white-label Corporate solution that changes the game

AERTiCKET CMSV takes a new step with CORPO360, a white-label solution enabling agencies to position themselves easily in the corporate travel market.

Designed to simplify access to the Corporate segment, CORPO360 offers:

• a turnkey solution,

• a fully customizable interface,

• high value-added billable services,

• access to negotiated rates,

• without heavy investment.

And above all: comprehensive support. Training, setup, ongoing assistance… everything is put in place to ensure smooth and optimal operation of the service.

CORPO360 allows agencies to cross a strategic threshold: enter the corporate market without complexity, risk, or barriers.

A winning strategy: technology + proximity + sustainable vision

In a market undergoing rapid change, AERTiCKET CMSV demonstrates that a successful strategy rests on three pillars:

• technology,

• Corporate and Groups expertise,

• on-ground proximity.

By combining global content, tailored solutions, and human encounters, the group builds an organization that is more agile, more legible, and resolutely future-oriented.

A sustainable approach, designed to:

• support agencies’ performance,

• accompany the growth of SMEs,

create together the next generation of business travel.

Trains: The French Want More Human Touch

September 24, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

A droite, Jérôme Fourquet, directeur du département "Opinion" de l'IFOP. Au centre, Clément Bretagnolle, directeur commercial de Trainline.

Climats du Monde

To celebrate its 10 years in France, Trainline—presenting itself as the leading independent platform for booking train and bus tickets in Europe via its website and mobile app—commissioned an IFOP study to identify the major trends shaping rail travel over the past decade.

According to this study, conducted in July with a sample of 1,000 people representative of the French population and presented, Thursday morning to the press, by Jérôme Fourquet, head of the IFOP “Opinion” department, and by Clément Bretagnolle, France Country Manager of Trainline, the train has a promising future ahead.

Indeed, so much has changed in ten years! Not only are the French using the train more and more—and increasingly often—but the “train is not a thing for old folks”. Even better, the younger generations are leading the way.

The 18–24 age group, the most digital, is also the one that projects the richest imagery onto the train: 66% associate it with a positive feeling (66% vs. 48% on average across all French generations) and 57% of them prefer the train when choosing among several modes of transport, compared with 37% of the French overall.

The Train: The Choice of Disconnecting

Jerôme Fourquet, directeur du département "Opinion" de l'IFOP © PB

Is it out of ecological concern? Or the choice of a way of life? As lives become more rationalized, 73% of the French reckon that the train lets them enjoy the journey itself and decide how to spend that time.

And, 45% prefer to make the most of it without aiming to be productive, compared with only 10% who seek first to work or progress on their tasks.

Among those who have traveled by train this year, this choice of disconnect rises to 53%.

This “pause” is fueled by concrete moments: 60% of the French have already watched the scenery unfold with nostalgia, 39% have interacted with new people in stations or on board, 38% have felt the thrill of knowing that loved ones were waiting for them on the platform.

It is true that “in the French imagination, the train is far more than just a means of communication”, as Jérôme Fourquet reminded. The train holds a place in collective memory because it is closely linked to major chapters in French history, starting with deconfining and regional development, the advent of paid holidays, the arrival of the TGV, etc.

Rooted in our daily lives, the train is also a way to reach major moments of celebration (concerts, sports events), asserted Clément Bretagnolle, noting, in passing, the doubling of bookings driven by Céline Dion’s concerts in Paris next week.

More Autonomous and More Strategic Travelers

Over the past ten years, trip planning has become largely digital, as Jérôme Fourquet noted, “travelers, including the oldest generations, have embraced the new tools.”

Indeed, 91% of travelers report changing at least one booking practice: 49% say they book more online or via an app, 38% say they adjust their schedules and dates more in line with price, 35% say they compare more the departure times or days, 35% say they book further ahead than ten years ago.

With Trainline, the shift is even sharper: the share of the app in the booking channel mix rose from 63% in 2023 to 71% in 2026.

The Price Is No Longer a Burden

Clément Bretagnolle, directeur commercial chez Trainline © PB

Moreover, price is no longer a constraint to endure; it has become a lever with which to shape one’s trip.

This autonomy expanded further with the entry of new operators, producing tangible effects on fares: the average price on Paris–Lyon dropped by 43% between 2019 and 2023 after Trenitalia’s arrival, and on the Paris–Marseille axis by 29% since the operator began on the southern route last year, highlighted Clément Bretagnolle.

“We are trying to simplify access to rail offerings, giving consumers the choice so they can pick the right train at the right price”, Bretagnolle added, before noting “Spain is our laboratory market because there are now four operators on its high-speed lines. Consumers here thus have as many options for train travel as for air travel”.

In short, according to Trainline, more offers and more departure times translate into greater latitude to balance budget, constraints, and desires. But, “people have understood that you need to act early to get the best fares”.

“Tomorrow, More Human but No Rocket on Rails”

And tomorrow? “Our trains have already evolved a lot. The French do not expect a fresh technological leap, nor a rocket on rails”, summarized Jérôme Fourquet.

On the contrary, the French seem to be seeking more sobriety, while also wanting innovations to ease the booking journey (and refunds if something goes wrong).

Finally, 63% would also prefer more human presence in stations and on board (versus 20% wanting more automation).

Regarding the network’s future, the French desire “the maintenance of the existing system”. In other words, a modernization of a network that is often aging, particularly on lines where travel times have risen in recent years. A tall order.

This is, as Jérôme Fourquet pointed out, “a set of very heavy investments while France already strains under a public debt above 3.5 trillion euros…”

Visiting Museums Every Week Could Slow Human Aging, Science Says

June 14, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

What if visit prescriptions were about to become standard practice? For a year now, Yvelines has been testing a scheme that allows caregivers to offer patients a free museum visit. A model already adopted in Canada for several years.

And for good reason, in 2019 the WHO confirmed in a report that art has positive effects on mental and physical health. While several research studies have corroborated this report, a new British study suggests that art could influence biomarkers of aging.

This study conducted by scientists at University College London (UCL) and published Monday, May 11, 2026 in the journal Innovation in Aging asserts that a weekly artistic or cultural activity could slow the pace of aging, and as much as a weekly physical activity.

“Our study provides the first evidence that engaging in an artistic or cultural activity is linked to a slowing of biological aging”, declares Feifei Bu, an epidemiologist at UCL and senior author of the study, as reported by Science Alert.

A study conducted on 3,500 people

To reach their conclusions, the researchers analyzed health data from more than 3,500 adults in the United Kingdom, while measuring how often they participated in artistic or cultural activities. The scientists included visits to a museum or library, attending an art exhibition, crafts, singing or painting.

They then used epigenetic clocks (a biochemical test that measures the accumulation of methyl groups on DNA), thereby measuring the biological age of these individuals. In general, study participants who practiced at least once a week one of the activities mentioned above showed less pronounced signs of aging than those with a less varied cultural life.

According to the PhenoAge clock, their biological ages were on average one year younger than those who did not engage in artistic activities. The DunedinPACE clock, which measures the pace of aging, indicates a 4% slowdown for weekly practice.

Is art as effective as exercise for health?

Their findings indicate that artistic activities reduce stress, inflammation and improve cardiovascular disease risk, i.e., benefits similar to those of physical activity.

“These results prove that engaging in artistic and cultural practice should be recognized as a health-beneficial behavior, on par with physical exercise,” says Daisy Fancourt, an epidemiologist and lead author of the study, who has been studying the health benefits of art at UCL for nearly ten years.