Allibert Trekking Rebrands to Broaden Its Customer Base [ABO]


Si le tour-opérateur Allibert Trekking reste un spécialiste de la montagne et des randonnées de niveau élevé, il propose également des formules avec des niveaux d’intensité accessibles. @Benjamin Feuillet

PONANT


Allibert Trekking veut dépoussiérer son image sans renier son héritage. Historiquement associé à la haute montagne et aux treks engagés, le tour-opérateur souhaite désormais montrer que l’aventure ne se résume pas à l’effort physique ni au dépassement de soi.

« Sur les salons, des gens nous disaient régulièrement : c’est beau, vos images, mais Allibert Trekking, ça doit être dur. Donc ce n’est pas pour moi », explique Frédéric Giroir, directeur général du tour-opérateur Allibert Trekking.

Cette perception ne correspond plus tout à fait à la réalité de l’offre. Près de la moitié des voyageurs choisissent aujourd’hui des formules et des niveaux d’intensité accessibles, avec des activités qui peuvent se limiter à quelques heures par jour. « Il était temps de recoller à notre réalité, tout en restant ce que nous sommes, un spécialiste de l’aventure, et sans renier l’héritage qui reste une force », souligne-t-il.

Avec sa nouvelle signature, « L’aventure est une question de point de vue », Allibert Trekking entend donc élargir son public. « L’ascension d’un sommet reste une forme d’aventure, mais dormir sous une tente, découvrir la nature ou simplement sortir de son quotidien peut aussi en être une », rappelle le directeur général d’Allibert Trekking.

Le tour-opérateur conserve ainsi son positionnement historique sur la montagne et les randonnées de niveau élevé, tout en renforçant la visibilité de ses propositions plus accessibles.



Allibert Trekking: Tailor-made travel to meet the new expectations


Frédéric Giroir, directeur général du tour-opérateur Allibert Trekking. @allibert trekking

Cette évolution de l’image accompagne une transformation de la demande. Pour Frédéric Giroir, le voyage d’aventure continue de progresser parce qu’il répond à plusieurs attentes : l’immersion dans la nature et la culture, l’activité physique et la découverte de lieux hors des sentiers battus.

« Parallèlement à la demande historique sur les grands itinéraires de randonnée, qui continue de progresser, nous observons l’arrivée de nombreux nouveaux clients, qui découvrent le concept de voyage d’aventure », précise-t-il.

Ces voyageurs recherchent une expérience plus équilibrée, entre activités et culture, effort et réconfort, pique-nique et gastronomie. Une évolution qui favorise le développement des voyages privatifs et personnalisés. « La personnalisation est particulièrement adaptée à ces nouvelles demandes : on peut sur-mesuriser en dosant les bons ingrédients », résume Frédéric Giroir.

Le développement du sur-mesure constitue ainsi l’un des principaux axes de croissance du voyagiste. Les voyages privatifs permettent aux familles et aux groupes d’amis de choisir leurs dates, mais aussi d’adapter les prestations à leurs envies.

Cette dynamique concerne désormais davantage le long-courrier. Longtemps limitées par leur coût, les formules privatives y rencontrent un intérêt croissant. Les voyageurs souhaitent partager une expérience entre proches, tout en associant les incontournables culturels aux activités de pleine nature.

Allibert Trekking développe notamment ses propositions sur les niveaux d’activité 1 à 3, en complément de son offre historique de trekking plus engagé.

Le tour-opérateur compte près de 30 000 voyageurs par an, pour un chiffre d’affaires d’environ 60 millions d’euros. La fidélité demeure un autre marqueur de son activité : la moitié de sa clientèle est déjà partie avec lui.


A 2026 disrupted by the geopolitical context


Allibert Trekking adopte une nouvelle identité visuelle pour mieux refléter la diversité de son offre. @allibert trekking

Cette stratégie s’inscrit toutefois dans un environnement commercial incertain. La guerre au Moyen-Orient et ses conséquences sur les liaisons aériennes ont pesé sur les décisions de départ au printemps.

« Entre mars et juillet, la demande était en recul de 15% », indique Frédéric Giroir. Cette période est particulièrement importante pour les inscriptions, qui conditionnent une grande partie de l’activité annuelle.

Le long-courrier a été particulièrement touché. Il représente environ 25% des voyageurs d’Allibert Trekking, mais près de la moitié de son activité en valeur. Les difficultés de desserte en Asie et en Afrique orientale, notamment en raison de la dépendance aux compagnies du Golfe, ont pesé sur les ventes.

Depuis juillet, la situation s’est néanmoins améliorée. « La demande est revenue à un niveau comparable à celui de l’année précédente, après plusieurs mois d’hésitation des clients », précise Frédéric Giroir.

Pour 2027, le voyagiste reste attentif à l’évolution des prix du pétrole et à leurs répercussions sur le coût des voyages.


Retrouvez ici toute l’actualité touristique liée à la crise au Moyen-Orient


Sophie’s Travels Rebrands as LVDS


Les Voyages de Sophie changent de nom et deviennent LVDS ! - Photo LVDS

CroisiEurope


Founded in 2014, Les Voyages de Sophie changes its name. The brand officially becomes LVDS.

This transition is accompanied by a rethought visual identity, featuring a clean logo, and the launch of a new digital platform.

This digital space evolves into a true marketplace platform. For the first time, it is now possible to book and pay for your cruise directly online, all “while keeping human support”, says a press release.

“Launched over the summer and completely redesigned by a specialized agency, the new digital platform offers optimal ergonomics and intuitive navigation” the press release states.

“After more than ten years spent shaping exceptional getaways, making LVDS my official signature felt like an obvious choice. This decision embodies the maturity of the house and its assertion as a fully-fledged brand in the world of luxury travel. This new logo celebrates this evolution while preserving, under a discreet signature, the original history of Les Voyages de Sophie and the standards that have driven me since day one.” announced Sophie Vives Apy, founder of LVDS.


With this new identity and redesigned digital platform, LVDS highlights itineraries that blend cultural discovery, experiences, and gastronomy. The cruises are offered aboard privatized ships, with a culinary offering crafted by a brigade of chefs led by Michel Roth, which brings together several Meilleurs Ouvriers de France.

LVDS also announces several new trips for the coming months. Starting in September, travelers will notably be able to discover the Rhine region of Europe, focusing on theater, music, and gastronomy. In November, one itinerary will be devoted to the Mekong, between Vietnam and Cambodia. In March 2027, LVDS will offer a discovery of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

The program also includes destinations such as Alaska and the Austral Islands in French Polynesia.



A lire aussi:
Les Voyages de Sophie privatizes the ex-Exploris One for a 2027 cruise

CFC Cruises Rebrands as Ambassador Cruises: A New Identity to Strengthen Its Ambition in the French Market


What stays the same: the Francophone experience aboard Renaissance

Renaissance sous les couleurs d’Ambassador Croisières. © Andy Humbert

Climats du Monde


It is perhaps the essential takeaway: becoming Ambassador Croisières does not mean giving up what defines the identity of Compagnie Française de Croisières.

French‑speaking guests will again encounter aboard Renaissance its distinctive atmosphere, its traditional décor, a warm, convivial ambience, and the high standard of the cuisine and the crew’s service. The company will also continue to offer a cruising approach that is distinct from the largest ships, leaning more toward destination discovery, the quality of calls at ports that are sometimes out of reach for the biggest vessels, and the pleasure of taking one’s time, all within a Francophone setting.

Ambassador Croisières will maintain its European North and Mediterranean itineraries, exclusively departing from the French ports of Dunkerque and Marseille, allowing travelers to reach Renaissance without necessarily flying before the start of their cruise. Winter Caribbean sailings designed for an international clientele, offered aboard Renaissance from Pointe‑à‑Pitre since 2025, remain on the programme for upcoming seasons as well.


2028: an expanded lineup and new destinations

Another important development: the new itineraries for 2028 will soon be available for sale. This refreshed schedule aims to preserve the carrier’s DNA by continuing to visit its flagship destinations: Norway, Iceland, the Baltic, as well as Greece, the Adriatic, Spain, and the Caribbean, while introducing several new options and particularly appealing itineraries.

Among the highlights announced, Egypt will join the program with a 14-night cruise from May 28 to June 11, 2028, including notably a two-day stop in Alexandria to explore the legendary pyramids of Giza.

Ireland will make a strong comeback with an itinerary from July 16 to 24, 2028 that blends British and Irish coasts and offers the chance to visit Cork, Dublin, Liverpool and the Isles of Scilly.

Finally, from September 28 to October 4, 2028, travelers will be able to explore the south of Norway, with its iconic capital Oslo and the northern Denmark region in just six nights.

With this 2028 schedule, Ambassador Croisières intends to continue a strategy that combines enduring classics—those that helped drive CFC’s success—with new propositions, featuring itineraries crafted to emphasize the richness of the ports of call and the discovery of destinations.


New tools for travel professionals

Along with this new brand, the entire ecosystem aimed at travel professionals is evolving as well. To assist travel agencies in discovering and promoting the offer, new tools and sales materials will be rolled out progressively.

The 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 seasons will notably benefit from new brochures, crafted in an elegant Italianate format, more immersive and richly illustrated. Intended as true invitations to travel, they will let readers dive into the Renaissance experience both on board and at the proposed destinations, while equipping advisors with the essential keys to present the offer to their clients.

This new identity will also be accompanied by a range of point-of-sale materials designed for shop floors: small countertop stands, easy to set up, and a large-format Tribeca-style totem to boost the brand’s visibility within agencies.

Through these new aids, Ambassador Croisières seeks to empower professionals to better promote the brand, enhance its positioning, and ignite the desire to travel. This approach reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening its ties with French and Francophone distribution networks and to making travel agencies a key partner in its growth.


A new identity, the same commitment

With this new identity unveiled at the IFTM trade show in Paris, Ambassador Croisières opens a fresh chapter of its development in France, built on the foundations laid by CFC Croisières and reinforced by the strength of an international group. This evolution clearly signals an ambition: to offer Francophone travelers an ever richer and more distinctive cruising experience, while strengthening closeness with its sales partners. Stay tuned over the coming weeks to discover the new 2028 lineup and the many innovations that will enrich Ambassador Croisières’ offering.

“This evolution is fully in line with CFC’s continuity, at sea as on land, with the same ambition and the same teams to carry it forward. The name change to Ambassador Croisières does not compromise our presence in France: our French office remains at the heart of our development and our teams continue to support our passengers, our partners and our agencies daily. We preserve what defines our identity and uniqueness, while benefiting from the group’s strength to sustain growth and open new opportunities. It is a new chapter in our history, but above all a step forward that lets us face the future with confidence.” — Maëlysse Pierrot-Guibourt, President of Ambassador Croisières.


Contact Ambassador Croisières


CFC Croisières devient Ambassador Croisières : une nouvelle identité pour une ambition renforcée sur le marché français
Information and reservations at 04 84 89 02 90 and on www.ambassadorcroisieres.fr


CFC Rebrands as Ambassador Cruises: Name Change, Same Direction


Renaissance change de couleurs, mais Ambassador Croisières promet de conserver l’ADN français de CFC @CFC

Climats du Monde


As of September 15, the Compagnie Française de Croisières will adopt the name Ambassador Croisières, marking a new step in its integration into the British Ambassador group.

A evolution likely to raise concerns about diluting its French identity. Maëlysse Pierrot-Guibourt, president of Ambassador Croisières, wants precisely to put an end to this worry.

« We change our name, we change our color, but we do not change our vision of cruising », she assures at the IFTM show where the company has a stand. « Our fundamentals remain the same, we change the name but not the course »

The leader acknowledges that the rapprochement with Ambassador, which occurred in 2025, had already raised questions. Some feared then that CFC « would become English ». « We have shown that this is not the case », she recalls.


Renaissance changes colors, not its mission

The change will be clearly visible. Renaissance completes its transition to the colors of its parent company.

After a gradual transformation of its visual identity, its emblem abandons notably the CFC acronym in favor of Ambassador’s “A”.

But the ship will preserve its Francophone positioning, its ambiance, its gastronomy and a largely Francophone hotel crew. The company also aims to continue distinguishing itself from the very large ships, with calls sometimes inaccessible to the biggest units and more time devoted to destinations.

Not a question either of reconsidering French departures: Marseille will remain the gateway to the Mediterranean, Dunkirk the gateway to Northern Europe and Pointe-à-Pitre the gateway to the Caribbean.

The new branding chosen by the company sums up this positioning: « Voyager. Au plus près ».

« A journey isn’t necessarily about going far. It’s also about getting closer. », explains Maëlysse Pierrot-Guibourt. Destinations and cultures, but also the other passengers, the common French language aboard should foster encounters.


90% occupancy in 2026

Ambassador Croisières approaches this brand change with encouraging results. “We had a very good year in 2026. We are averaging a 90% occupancy rate to date,” announces its president.

Dunkirk, in particular, has found its audience. The occupancy rate there also reaches about 90%, or slightly more depending on the executive.

The northern port has allowed the company to reach new customers, some of whom had never taken a cruise, and also to move closer to the Belgian market.


Travel agencies account for 60% of bookings

The next step will come very quickly. The 2028 program will be unveiled at the end of September, one month earlier than last year, with its long list of novelties including Egypt entering the program and Ireland making a comeback, with an itinerary including Cork and Dublin.

The move to the Ambassador brand will finally be accompanied by a significant communication effort.

Ambassador Croisières will thus launch a television campaign in October, aimed at quickly establishing its new identity with the general public. Specific materials will be offered to agencies to facilitate the transition from CFC to Ambassador and to improve the brand’s visibility at points of sale.

New brochures in Italianate format, counter stands, or large-format totems are expected to appear in agencies.



Itinerea Group: Calafell Evasion Rebrands to Support Its Growth


Calafell Evasion devient Itinerea Group ce 1er juin 2026. @itinerea group

Top of Travel


At the origin, the name Calafell Evasion directly referred to the town of Calafell, on the Costa Brava, where the activity began three decades ago. « Back then, we specialized in Costa Brava products and we worked as a local receptive operator for this destination », explains Jérôme Pouil, Chief Executive Officer.

But over the years, the company significantly broadened its scope. From the Costa Brava, the activity expanded to Spain, then to Portugal to cover the entire Iberian Peninsula. A gradual transformation that saw the company grow from three employees to nearly fifty today.

The recent acquisition of the Portuguese receptive Promenade, in April 2025, has also accelerated the consideration around a more global identity. « Calafell Evasion, Promenade… this was becoming complicated. We needed a name capable of representing the whole group and our long-term vision » says the leader.


A new identity, but the same spirit

The choice of the name Itinerea Group was not immediate. Several months of reflection were needed before finding a legally available and unifying appellation for the teams. « It is only a commercial brand; there is no change in the company or its spirit. We remain the same family business, close to our clients », insists Jérôme Pouil.

The company, historically oriented towards French coach operators, progressively diversified its client base by also working with tour operators and travel agencies. Despite this growth, the company maintains an artisanal positioning, particularly in group tourism.

« The receptive business remains a very human and artisanal métier, especially for groups. The current priority is to protect our teams, recruit, train and invest in technology », explains the leader.


Madeira and Portugal at the heart of development


Les équipes de Calafell Evasión et de Promenade réunies sur le stand de Calafell Evasión à l'IFTM top Resa en septembre 2025. - Photo CE

Among the recent novelties is the opening, since April 1, of a delegation in Madeira. A local colleague now officially represents the company there.

The destinations offered today cover Spain, Portugal, the Balearic Islands, the Canaries and Madeira, with a clear intent to stay focused on the Iberian Peninsula rather than dispersing into other markets.

The acquisition of Promenade already appears as a strategic success. According to Jérôme Pouil, activity in Portugal should record this year a growth between 30% and 40%.

The operation was conducted in a spirit of continuity with Mariana Delgado, former head of Promenade, with whom the leader had professional relations for more than twenty years.

« It was a logical evolution to strengthen our presence in Portugal in a lasting way », he says.


Technology and artificial intelligence

On the technology front, Itinerea Group is currently working on the development of new tools dedicated to group tourism, in partnership with a Spanish player.

Artificial intelligence is also among the priorities for the next two years.

« We have a technology migration program spanning one to two years. These are significant evolutions that require time and training », explains Jérôme Pouil.

If other opportunities for external growth could be studied in the future, the group primarily aims to consolidate its expertise in the Spanish and Portuguese markets, mainly with francophone clients.


Quebec and MICE in the sights

Simultaneously, Itinerea Group begins to develop the Francophone Canadian market, notably in Quebec, with longer stays and a different approach to cultural tourism.

The group also notes An increase in requests in the MICE and seminars segment, even though its core activity remains cultural tourism and leisure travel, particularly among the senior clientele.

« Calafell Evasion, that was our history and origins. Itinerea is the direction we want to take for the future », sums up Jérôme Pouil.