TRAVEL

Exceptional Journeys Relocates and Innovates with Tailor-Made Travel

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Lionel Rabiet lors de l'inauguration des nouveaux locaux de Voyages d'exception. Photo: TB


Attitude Hotels


It blew like a breath of revolution, on October 8, at Voyages d’exception. In the figurative sense, because the tour operator invited about a hundred people – suppliers, partners, guides, employees – to inaugurate its new Paris offices, located on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine.

For the occasion, its founder and chief Lionel Rabiet (also president of Entreprises du Voyage Ile-de-France) asked everyone to dress in white and blue and, upon arrival, to wear a cockade and, for the bolder, a Phrygian cap!

In the literal sense as well, since just a stone’s throw away, on the Place de la Bastille, high school students and police clashed in a cloud of tear gas, preventing some guests from reaching their destination…


A single workspace to boost efficiency

« Revolution is a word I quite like. It represents both a sudden change and the idea of taking a step back on oneself and returning to the starting point, like the revolution of a planet. Change and continuity, in a way, similar to Voyages d’exception » joked Lionel Rabiet – never short of a parable – during a brief speech.

The leader sees in this move the symbol of four revolutions, or at least four major changes in the history of the young company, which will celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2027.

First, the chance to think bigger and gain efficiency by bringing his team together on a single workspace, whereas until now it had been spread across two floors.


The development of tailor-made travel offerings

Nestled at the back of an elegant tree-lined courtyard, on the second floor, the new 160 m2 offices — which Voyages d’exception bought while it was still renting the previous premises — bring together about thirty employees: reservations, production, transport services, marketing, accounting…

Additionally, a reception area has been created, capable of welcoming the public. This marks the second “revolution”; previously specialized in GIR group trips with lecturers (notably cruises and train journeys…), Voyages d’exception now aims to develop tailor-made travel.

For the occasion, two people will be tasked with accompanying clients, around an offer set up by Pascal Bouchet. “It is the tourism segment that is experiencing the strongest growth” justifies Lionel Rabiet.


Explorator, a winning acquisition?

The third “revolution” was sealed a few weeks ago, with the acquisition of tour operator Explorator, a specialist in small-group travel, which had been placed under judicial administration.

“It was a revolutionary company of its own kind when it was created in 1971, with a pioneering, trailblazing approach,” adds the leader.

The brand and positioning will be preserved and the four employees taken over should allow Voyages d’exception to develop an offer of cultural circuits off the beaten track, by leveraging commercial, marketing and technological synergies.

Also read : Voyages d’exception accelerates its diversification for its 15th anniversary


A slightly declining activity in 2026

Finally, technology constitutes the fourth revolution, especially artificial intelligence. “It changes the way we work, makes us more productive, and helps us integrate Explorator. It is invisible to the client but essential for the company.”

Voyages d’exception is expected to generate a turnover between €15 and €16 million in 2026 (fiscal year ending December 31), down by about 10% compared with the previous year (constant scope), due to the geopolitical turbulence of the spring.

Add to that around €3 million achieved by Explorator. In the end, “the year will be solid, with profits still in the green,” concludes Lionel Rabiet.

Solo Travel in Europe: Popular Destinations Among the Riskiest

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Traveling alone abroad allows you to discover a destination at your own pace, without having to take into account the wishes of others. But some countries are less suited to this type of trip… A ranking conducted by TripSIM scrutinized 40 European countries to evaluate the risks that solo travelers may face. Crime, road safety, the quality of care, or the feeling of safety in the streets: several criteria were taken into account. And some very popular tourist destinations appear among the lower-ranked.

Italy, Greece, Albania… These tourist destinations are among the riskiest

Grand Est Travel Agencies Weather a Turbulent Market

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Fabrice Poulain, nouveau président des EDV Grand Est, a ouvert la convention qui se tient actuellement au Shandrani Beachcomber, à l'Ile Maurice - Photo CE

Attitude Hotels


« I’m pleased to have filled up in the current context » a lancé Fabrice Poulain, directeur général de Fensch Voyages, qui ouvrait sa première convention des EDV Grand Est, qui se tient actuellement au Shandrani Beachcomber à l’Ile Maurice, sous sa nouvelle casquette de président.

« Je m’inscris dans la continuité du travail accompli par Michelle Kunegel (dirigeant de LK Tours et ex-présidente des EDV Grand Est, ndlr). » a-t-il poursuivi.

Le président, accompagné des administrateurs et d’un bureau composé de Delphine Schwanger (Josy Tourisme) vice-présidente Alsace, Bertrand Billerey (FAB Travel) vice-président Champagne, Sandra Fagnoni (Sangio Horizons) trésorière et Laetitia Jacques (EuroMoselle Loisirs) secrétaire, souhaite aussi engager une dynamique de recrutement de nouveaux adhérents.

L’événement réunit 46 participants, dont deux agences non adhérentes aux EDV, autour de conférences, de tables rondes, du traditionnel workshop inversé et d’ateliers pratiques.


The Role of EDV


Guillaume Beurdeley a rappelé le rôle et les missions des Entreprises du Voyage - Photo CE

Guillaume Beurdeley, secrétaire général adjoint des Entreprises du Voyage, a ainsi rappelé que l’organisation repose sur deux grands piliers : la défense collective des intérêts de la profession et les services proposés aux adhérents.

Ces derniers comprennent notamment un accompagnement juridique, social et fiscal, la mise en place de webinaires d’experts et la publication de ressources consacrées à la facturation électronique ou encore à l’intelligence artificielle, sans oublier les services de formations via Travel Pro Formation.

Sur le volet de la défense des intérêts collectifs, le secrétaire général adjoint a ajouté que le syndicat intervient auprès des pouvoirs publics français et européens, notamment sur la directive Voyages à forfait, la convention collective, la réglementation aérienne ou encore la lutte contre l’exercice illégal de la profession.

Eva Gonzalez, cofondatrice de l’agence de voyages Rev’ d’Evasion qui n’est pas adhérente aux EDV a apprécié les échanges : « There is a real exchange; we discover a lot of things. The inverse workshop was also great. The conferences are also very good. But above all, the act of exchanging is important. Everyone is listening, there is sharing.

Ça rebooste, et cela donne de nouvelles idées. On réapprend finalement à connaître les EDV ».


EDV Barometer: “In terms of bookings, there is a certain return to normal”


Les participants à la convention EDV Grand Est dans le hall d'entrée du Shandrani Beachcomber à l'Ile Maurice - Photo CE

Au-delà de ces missions, la convention a également été l’occasion de faire le point sur la conjoncture et sur l’activité des opérateurs de voyage.

Guillaume Beurdeley a rappelé les chiffres du dernier baromètre des Entreprises du Voyage, issu des données Orchestra.

After a difficult spring, affected by the Middle East conflict, August showed early positive signals. However, September 2026 remains below September 2025 in departures, although the decline is less pronounced than in the previous month.

Le nombre de dossiers en départs diminue ainsi de 5,5% sur un an, contre -9% en août. Le volume d’affaires recule de 4,1%, tandis que le panier moyen progresse de 1,5%, à 1 853 euros.

« En termes de prises de réservation, on trouve un certain retour à la normale », a toutefois précisé Guillaume Beurdeley lors de la convention. Les réservations enregistrées en septembre reculent en effet de seulement 1,7% en nombre de dossiers, tandis que le volume d’affaires progresse de 3,3%. Le panier moyen atteint 2 004 euros, soit une hausse de 5,1%.


Les opérateurs du Grand Est sont plus résistants

Sur le terrain, Fatima Faivre, directrice du réseau Prêt-à-Partir, constate que la classe moyenne n’est plus là : « Les familles nous ont manqué cet été et ont été compensées par des personnes qui ont davantage de temps et d’argent, notamment des actifs et des retraités.

On perd des passagers, cela m’inquiète et m’interroge, mais c’est compensé par un prix moyen très important.

Nous avons aussi réalisé cet été des dossiers d’un montant que nous n’avions pas l’habitude de faire auparavant. Je reste cependant très optimiste. Cette année a quand même été positive. »

Pour Fabrice Poulain, les opérateurs du Grand Est sont plus résistants à la crise actuelle : « Notre positionnement géographique nous permet de bénéficier d’un grand nombre de possibilités, au départ de Strasbourg, de Bâle-Mulhouse mais aussi du Luxembourg.

Nous pouvons profiter des prix très compétitifs des tour-opérateurs allemands, et bénéficier aussi de la qualité des produits Luxair et LuxairTours, qui est le premier le tour-opérateur dans le Grand Est. »


C’est surtout vrai pour les agences situées dans une zone proche des frontières.

Philippe Blanchet, directeur commercial d’Euro Moselle Loisirs le confirme. Son réseau situé en Moselle et Meurthe-et-Moselle profite de la proximité notamment du Luxembourg : « Notre clientèle française se compose à la fois d’actifs qui travaillent pour beaucoup au Luxembourg, où les salaires sont plus élevés, et de retraités qui ont également travaillé de l’autre côté de la frontière. Ils sont donc moins sensibles à l’inflation.

D’autre part, nous pouvons nous appuyer sur le large réseau moyen-courrier de Luxair qui nous permet de proposer un large éventail de destinations. »

Un constat partagé par Régis Heitzler, fondateur de Voyage De Rêve à Neuf-Brisach dans le Haut-Rhin, une commune proche de la Suisse et de l’Allemagne, où de nombreux Français travaillent, passant chaque jour de l’autre côté de la frontière : « Les salaires sont plus élevés, les problématiques de pouvoir d’achat moins prégnantes et nous bénéficions d’offres particulièrement compétitives de la part des voyagistes allemand[s]. »


Gamification: Travel Agent, Create Your Own Pekin Express to Engage Your Community

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Gamification : agent de voyages, crée ton "Pékin Express" pour faire vivre ta communauté ! - Image générée par IA

Attitude Hotels


In previous installments, we talked about personal branding, storytelling, and building a community. You learned to present yourself more effectively, to tell your craft in a different way, to create connection, and to inspire travelers to follow you.

Very well. But once your community is there, a question quickly arises: how do you keep it alive?

For this, there is a simple, powerful, and often underestimated lever: gamification.

Behind this somewhat marketing-y word, the idea is very concrete: use game mechanics to create interaction, convey messages, and engage travelers. Quizzes, challenges, votes, puzzles, simulations, raffles, Advent calendars, community challenges… all of this is gamification.

And honestly, who doesn’t like to play? Even the person who claims that “it’s not their thing” often ends up answering the quiz from their sofa.


Playing doesn’t mean losing your seriousness

Attention, gamification does not mean throwing caution to the wind. This isn’t about turning your agency into an amusement park, nor about launching contests every few hours with confetti, a wheel of fortune, and “tag 27 friends to win a baggage tag.”

The goal is more interesting: engage your community while delivering a message. And in our line of work, there are plenty of messages to convey: the value of advice, the formalities, the insurance, the traps of fake good deals, realistic budgets, seasonality, or the behind-the-scenes of the trade.

A good game is a bit like a step in Pékin Express: a clear instruction, a goal, a touch of suspense, and the desire to see it through.


Find all JC’s best tips by clicking here


A lever already used by our partners

Gamification, our suppliers and partners have been using it for a long time: destination quizzes, sales challenges, incentives, interactive training, badges, rankings, raffles, sweepstakes, Advent calendars.

If it works in B2B, why not adapt it to your community of travelers? No need for an enormous budget. A solid concept, a well-posed question, a coherent reward, and a bit of regularity can already generate a lot of engagement.

First concrete example: the Advent calendar. It’s an excellent way to animate your community during the holidays because it creates a daily appointment.

Each day you can propose a question, a challenge, a destination riddle, a travel anecdote, or a scenario. The prize doesn’t need to be huge: a scarf, a passport holder, a guide, a gift card, a baggage tag, or a small supplier prize can be enough.

What matters isn’t just the prize. It’s the ritual, the desire to return, and especially the possibility to teach without feeling like pulling out a whiteboard.

For example, you can pose a simple question:

“What are the three essential elements to legally open a travel agency?”

Your community participates. Then you explain the answer: registration, financial guarantee, professional liability insurance. In a few lines, you bring clarity to a sector where shortcuts can move very quickly.

There, you deliver useful content, but in a playful form.


Put your community in the shoes of a travel agent

Another effective idea: role-playing. You invite your travelers, for the duration of a post, to step into the role of a travel agent.

No need to craft a three-page scenario. A short prompt suffices:

“A couple wants to go away for three days in Europe with 700 € per person, including flights, hotel, and breakfast. They want an easily accessible, romantic city that’s pleasant to walk. What do you propose, and why?”

There, you trigger responses. Then you do your teaching work: you explain what is coherent, what isn’t, the traps to avoid, the importance of flight times, hotel location, the real budget, or the pace of the stay.

Result: your community participates, but they also understand your trade. They realize that a real proposal isn’t simply typing “cheap weekend in Europe” into Google.

Gamification can also involve travelers in your content and even in your own projects.

You can ask them to choose the next destination to analyze, the theme of the next post, or the destination of your next scouting trip. You present three options, they vote, and then you take them along behind the scenes: preparation, hotel choices, visits, good addresses, favorites, and cautions.

The benefit is double: you create interaction and you gather valuable information about what truly interests your community. It’s content, engagement, and a mini real-time customer study.

Most importantly, travelers no longer feel like mere bystanders of your posts. They participate in shaping them.


The real objective is to create a rendezvous


JC, whose real name is Jean-Charles Franchomme, has been active in tourism for more than 20 years.

Since 2024, he has been a commercial executives and web administrator for groups at Steam Evasion, where he leverages his dual field and digital expertise.

He is also the founder of the Facebook community “100% voyages bons plans et expertises” which gathers 3,800 travelers.

An entrepreneur at heart, he co-founded two influential Facebook groups in the sector: CDMV (Collectif de Défense des Métiers du Voyage) and Helpdesk des Pros du Tourisme, which have become essential exchange spaces for professionals.

Q3 Corporate Bankruptcies: What About the Tourism and Travel Sector?

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Défaillances d'entreprises au 3e trimestre : quid du secteur du tourisme et du voyage ? - Photo IA Chat GPT

Attitude Hotels


Corporate insolvencies stabilized in France in the third quarter of 2026. According to the Altares study, 14,652 procedures were opened between July and September, representing a year-over-year rise of just 0.5%. Across a twelve-month period, however, nearly 72,000 businesses defaulted, a record-high level.

The accommodation sector is among the weakest links. Insolvencies there rise by more than 30%, with hotel insolvencies up by 28%. Short-term tourist accommodation accounts for 32 procedures, i.e., twice as many as a year earlier. The restaurant industry also deteriorated, with 1,694 insolvencies, up by almost 10%. Fast-food establishments grow by 15.8%, versus 6.3% for traditional dining.

In the travel sector, 28 insolvencies were recorded in Q3 2026, up from 24 a year earlier (+16.7%). Travel agencies remained stable with 13 procedures, while tour operators increased from 5 to 7 insolvencies. Booking services and related activities rose from 6 to 8 procedures.

See infographic

In the realm of passenger transportation, the trend is upward: 208 insolvencies were recorded in Q3, versus 181 in the corresponding period of 2025, a rise of 14.9%. Taxis account for 197 procedures, up from 168 a year earlier (+17.3%). Regular passenger road transport and other road passenger transport remain stable.


Direct judicial liquidations decline slightly (-1.2%)

Developments remain mixed across other sectors. Construction, the leading sector by insolvencies with 3,452 procedures, records a 3.1% decrease. Manufacturing industry also improves (-11.8%), as do transport and logistics (-1.6%).

Business services retreat by 1.7%. Conversely, difficulties persist in the food trade (+15.3%) and beverage outlets (+13.4%). Agriculture continues its decline, with a 3.9% rise in insolvencies.

Commerce related to personal care is also in the red (+11%), spanning from pharmacies to optics and orthopedic goods. The same goes for bookstores (+10%), sporting goods stores (+16%), and hardware stores (+18%).

On an economy-wide scale, direct insolvencies declined slightly (-1.2%), while judicial reorganizations increased by 4.2%. Enterprises with fewer than three employees accounted for 75% of procedures, with 10,960 defaults, up 2.9%.

For Thierry Millon, head of Altares’ studies, “the surge in insolvencies seems to have passed, but corporate financial fragility remains.” The study also identifies 50,510 threatened jobs in the third quarter, a figure down by nearly 3% year over year.


Altares · Corporate Insolvencies
Insolvencies in the Travel & Passenger Transport Sector
Safeguard openings, restructurings and direct liquidations · Q3 2026
Q3 2026
vs Q3 2025

National context
Altares study — October 13, 2026
14,652 insolvencies in Q3 2026 (all sectors combined) (+0.5%)
With 14,652 procedures opened between July 1 and September 30, the third quarter marks a stabilization at a historically high level. September alone sets a record with 7,100 insolvencies. Over a rolling 12 months, nearly 72,000 companies defaulted. The number of threatened jobs fell by 3% year on year to 50,010 employees. “The peak of insolvencies may be behind us, but the fragility of companies’ finances remains,” summarizes Thierry Millon, head of Altares’ studies.
14 652
Q3 procedures

52 700
in 9 months

50 010
threatened jobs (−3%)

72 000
over 12 rolling months

Key figures · Q3 2026 – Travel & Transports

Travel Sector
28
insolvencies
▲ +16,7 % vs Q3 2025

Travel Transports
208
insolvencies
▲ +14,9 % vs Q3 2025

Combined total
236
insolvencies
▲ +15,1 % vs T3 2025



Focus
Travel Sector
28 insolvencies in Q3 2026

Travel agencies
7911Z

13
= 0,0 %

vs Q3 2025 · Q3 2024

Q3 22Q3 23Q3 24Q3 25Q3 26

Tour operators
7912Z

7
▲ +40,0 %

vs Q3 2025 · Q3 2024

Q3 22Q3 23Q3 24Q3 25Q3 26

Booking services
7990Z

8
▲ +33,3 %

vs 6 in Q3 2025 · 6 in Q3 2024

Q3 22Q3 23Q3 24Q3 25Q3 26

Travel Sector — Annual Insolvencies History
Travel Agencies + Tour Operators + Booking Services
96
93
97
94
72
90
103
120
104
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Analysis : After a peak of 120 insolvencies in 2024, the travel sector fell back to 104 in 2025 (−13.3%). In Q3 2026, it records 28 insolvencies, up from 24 in Q3 2025 (+16.7%). The rise is driven by tour operators (7 vs 5) and booking services (8 vs 6), while travel agencies remained stable at 13. Over the first nine months of 2026, the sector totals 84 insolvencies, vs 82 over the same period in 2025 (+2.4%).



Distribution of the 28 Travel insolvencies · Q3 2026
Agencies 46.4%
Tour operators 25.0%
Booking services 28.6%

Travel agencies (13)
Tour operators (7)
Booking services (8)



Transport
Passenger transport
208 insolvencies in Q3 2026

⚠
Taxis & VTC — Sector under intense pressure
4932Z
197
insolvencies in Q3 2026
▲ +17,3 %

Taxis and VTC account for 94.7% of passenger transport sector insolvencies. The rise has been ongoing since 2021 (305 → 857 in the 2025 annual figure). In Q3 2026, the sector shows 197 insolvencies, up from 168 in Q3 2025, after 281 in Q1 and 254 in Q2 2026.
319
515
571
339
305
395
470
648
857
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Other transport sub-sectors · Q3 2026
Sub-sector
Q3 2025
Q3 2026
Evolution

Maritime transports
1
4
+300 %

Inland waterways
0
0
—

Air transports
3
1
−66.7 %

Regular road transport
3
3
= 0 %

Other road transport
7
7
= 0 %



Summary
Annual comparative evolution
Travel Sector
Annual insolvencies 2017–2025
2017
96
2018
93
2019
97
2020
94
2021
72
2022
90
2023
103
2024
120
2025
104

Total Passenger Transports
Annual insolvencies 2017–2025
2017
453
2018
650
2019
669
2020
413
2021
341
2022
454
2023
543
2024
726
2025
925

Source : Altares — Insolvency statistics
Safeguard openings, restructurings and direct liquidations · Q3 2026
NAF codes: 7911Z, 7912Z, 7990Z (Travel) · 5010Z, 5030Z, 5110Z, 4932Z, 4939A, 4939B (Passenger Transports)

Travel Planet Placed in Judicial Reorganization [ABO]

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Travel Planet placée en redressement judiciaire - DepositphotosJose Hernandez Camera 51

Attitude Hotels


Travel Planet, its holding TPW, and the company MAKITIZY were all placed in receivership by judgments of the Grasse Commercial Court issued on July 17, 2026.

For Travel Planet France, the date of the cessation of payments was fixed at November 27, 2025.

The TPW holding, based in Valbonne (Alpes-Maritimes), was also placed in receivership. The date of cessation of payments was set at January 22, 2026.

Finally, the company MAKITIZY, also based in Valbonne and specialized in providing services and resources to economic agents, is likewise subject to a receivership procedure opened by the same court on the same date. The cessation of payments date was fixed at March 4, 2026.

The opening notices for these proceedings were published in Bodacc on July 24, 2026. The observation period for the three entities is to continue until January 17, 2027.



Amine El Bernoussi took the group’s reins in late 2025

It is the SCP Ezavin-Thomas, represented by Me Nathalie Thomas, who has been designated as the judicial administrator. The SELARL MJ Lefort, represented by Me Yann Lefort, was appointed as the judicial agent.

A little over a year ago, Betty Seroussi, President, and Tristan Dessain-Gelinet, co-founders of the company, had been taken into custody and presented before a judicial officer “for presentation” within a procedure targeting acts of “money laundering,” “fraud,” and “misuse of corporate assets,” according to Nice Matin.

This case concerns an instruction proceeding opened by the Lille prosecutor’s office, linked notably to the 2016 Air France dossier, as specified by Tribuca (see boxed text).

The publicity surrounding this custody request occurred just 15 days after Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, former French minister in charge of transport (2019-2022), was appointed president of Travel Planet’s strategic council, a role he would leave a few weeks later in November 2025.

On October 8, 2025, a press release announced the appointment of Laurent Pfeiffer as President of the Travel Planet group (TPW) and of its subsidiary Makitizy, with immediate effect. He succeeded Betty Seroussi.

Yet governance would last only a few weeks: Laurent Pfeiffer left his position in mid-November 2025, before Amine El Bernoussi succeeded him, details Le Journal des Entreprises,

Since June 2024, Amine El Bernoussi had been at the head of Travel Planet MEA, based in Casablanca, Morocco.


Several public markets that are Travel Planet clients relaunched calls for tenders in 2026

Selon nos informations, Travel Planet travaillait notamment avec au moins une quarantaine de marchés publics (universités, mairies, régions, départements, grandes écoles, ministère…) dont près de la moitié ont relancé des appels d’offres en 2026.

C’est le cas de la région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté qui s’est vue couper l’accès à la plateforme de réservations de billets de train et de billets d’avion dès janvier 2026, comme le témoigne cet agent, représentant du personnel (UNSA), dans une vidéo postée sur You Tube. La région a ainsi relancé un appel d’offres mi-mars 2026.

D’autres auraient choisi de travailler de gré à gré en off line avec de nouvelles TMC, le temps de relancer des appels d’offres.

« Ce qui est dingue », nous confie un observateur du secteur « c’est que ces marchés publics ne semblent pas retenir les leçons de ce qui se passe et choisissent à nouveau des TMC qui ne sont pas les plus clean du marché en proposant des frais à zéro… »

Pour rappel, Travel Planet avait remporté en 2025 l’appel d’offres pour la distribution des billets SNCF pour les groupes, en devenant ainsi le prestataire de la compagnie ferroviaire sur ce segment. Mais la collaboration a tourné court début 2026, la SNCF avait suspendu les réservations sur sa plateforme dédiée aux voyages en groupes.


Travel Planet en conflit avec Air France il y a quelques années

Travel Planet avait déjà connu des démêlés judiciaires, notamment dans un litige l’opposant à la compagnie Air France, cette dernière reprochant à l’entreprise des marges injustifiées sur les billets d’avion.

Plusieurs décisions de justice ont été rendues sur ce dossier. En 2018, nous l’évoquions dans nos colonnes, Travel Planet a été condamnée à payer 100 000 € à Air France.

En 2020, une sixième décision avait été rendue en faveur de la compagnie tricolore.


Travel Agencies: Several Storefronts Vandalized During Protests

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Un policier dans les rues à Marseille le samedi 17 octobre - Photo RS

Attitude Hotels


Following the interministerial crisis cell convened on Monday, October 19, Sébastien Lecornu, Prime Minister, announced several measures to address the consequences of these acts of violence.

Serge Papin, Minister for Small and Medium Enterprises and Trade, notably stated that « at least 3,000 shops have been looted or vandalized. »

Among them, several travel agencies have been damaged. Laurent Abitbol, chairman of the Marietton group and head of Selectour’s board, announced that more than a dozen Havas Voyages and Selectour agencies had been damaged. Shop windows were mainly targeted.

The agency Aux 5 Continents of Prêt-à-Partir, located near Place Bellecour in Lyon, where the tourist office was set on fire, was also damaged. Its display window was shattered. « This is the third time this agency has been vandalized », François Piot, head of the Prêt-à-Partir network, told us. (see video below)

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, October 13, the TUI Store Montparnasse agency also saw its storefront smashed (See the images)



The Travel Industry Firms and Networks Document the Damages

On their side, FRAM and Promovacances reported no damage, Cyrille Fradin, President of the group, told us. Same sentiment within the Salaün Holiday network: « We had a small crack on a storefront in Amiens, but otherwise the network has nothing to report. We were lucky because during the Yellow Vests protests, then the demonstrations in 2023, several of our agencies were damaged », explains Michel Salaün, president of the eponymous group.

To gauge the extent of the damages, The Travel Companies sent a communication to their members on Monday morning to survey the damage suffered by the agencies. TUI did the same with its network, made up of more than 200 agents. We learned that the TUI agency in Clermont-Ferrand suffered damage to its storefront.

The CEDIV has also launched a survey and remains in contact with its member agencies. As for Tourcom, the network has so far received no reports of damages.

In light of the scale of the damages, Sébastien Lecornu announced that prefects could impose partial and highly localized curfews to protect, notably, commercial premises. The government also announced the launch of a 100% short-time work scheme, in consultation with the Minister of Labour, Jean-Pierre Farandou. A dedicated support fund should also be established, while talks have begun with insurers to speed up assessments.

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

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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

Luxury Travel: A Rapidly Evolving Industry

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Hôtels, agences et destinations haut de gamme ont multiplié les rendez-vous avec les "buyers" dans les salons du Sangri-La Paris © PB

PONANT


Second edition a success for Crème de la Crème!

 

This Luxury Travel Show, created by Nicolas Zimmermann, also founder of Exclusively Yours, a commercial representation agency specializing in luxury travel, brought together in Paris, from October 12 to 15, 80 international exhibitors and 90 buyers specialized in Francophone luxury travel, in the elegant salons of the Shangri-La Paris palace.

With 5,440 business meetings and press encounters scheduled, the show asserted “ its role as the reference meeting point and privileged observatory of the major evolutions in the luxury travel sector ” according to a press release issued by Nicolas Zimmermann the day after Crème de la Crème.

With more than fifteen years of experience in high-end hospitality, notably with La Réserve Paris, Ascott and Shangri-La, Nicolas Zimmermann launched this selective gathering in 2025. Following the second edition, he sketches a reading of the changes at work in the world of luxury travel.


Even more exclusive journeys where travel planners break onto the scene


Nicolas Zimmermann, founder of the Exclusively Yours consulting firm, organizer of the Crème de la crème fair © Crème de la crème

According to Nicolas Zimmermann, this second edition first highlighted the fact that “travel is becoming ever more exclusive,” with “budgets on the rise,” but also “a clientele whose expectations in terms of personalization and service keep refining themselves.”

For agencies and conciergeries, this evolution implies an ever more precise knowledge of destinations, the search for rare addresses and experiences, as well as support capable of going beyond initial requests. The expertise and quality of the partner network thus become increasingly decisive criteria.

Another novelty: long dominated by traditional agencies, luxury travel consulting now sees new profiles emerging. In France and Belgium alike, independent agents and independent travel planners occupy a growing role as new influencers among wealthy clientele.

Inspired by North American and British models, this approach allows advisers to develop their own clientele while benefiting from the support of a large agency or host structure.

A hallmark of this new generation: some professionals come from fashion, technology or finance and put their networks at the service of clients with very high purchasing power.


A diversified field of activity


Le Shangri-La Paris, un écrin adapté pour Crème de la crème © PB

In his post-show press release, Nicolas Zimmermann points to other notable evolutions:

-The field of intervention for luxury travel professionals is expanding. Beyond private stays, specialized agencies and concierge services are increasingly sought to design incentive trips, orchestrate events, and accompany VIP guests of major luxury houses and companies, including technology firms. In France, proximity to luxury houses fosters this diversification, opening new commercial prospects for travel professionals


-Bookings are two-speed: on one side, departures organized in 48 hours (especially in Europe and the Mediterranean basin), and on the other, departures planned up to two years in advance for exploratory trips, expeditions and multi-generational stays spanning several weeks.


-Geopolitical upheavals (the ongoing war in Ukraine, tensions in the Gulf region) weigh on destination choices (the Indian Ocean has been among the affected markets since early March 2026), nevertheless early 2027 prospects remain encouraging for the French market, particularly for trips booked far in advance.

Finally, Nicolas Zimmermann notes a growing interest from international players in the Francophone clientele, now more sought after, whereas it has long been viewed as secondary in sales volume compared to the United States, the United Kingdom, Latin America, or the CIS countries.

“ Exhibitors notably highlight the travel culture, the level of education, and the high budgets of Francophone clientele, whose knowledge of destinations and service expectations they value ”, observes the founder of Crème de la crème, suggesting that this evolution echoes the very vocation of Crème de la crème.

The third edition of the Crème de la crème fair will be held in Paris from 11 to 14 October 2027.

Until then, Nicolas Zimmermann invites the luxury travel world to Mykonos, from May 10 to 12, 2027, for an event named this time “Crème de la Grèce”.


PAULA BOYER Published by Paula Boyer Journalist LuxuryTravelMaG – TourMaG.com
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Will Travel Become a Luxury Item Again? [ABO]

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Le voyage va-t-il redevenir un produit de luxe ? Depositphotos.com Auteur IgorVetushko

PONANT


Contrary to the conditions that favored the rise of low-cost airlines and the success of last-minute deal clearance steered by online agencies in the early 2000s, travel appears gradually, but surely, to become a privilege reserved for the wealthier.

The Concorde symbolized travel for an elite. Ryanair and other low-cost carriers embodied its opening to those who were previously financially – or geographically – excluded from flying.

The shift is already perceptible. In the Brest area – and this is true in Bordeaux and Lyon as well – there are more travel plans thwarted by cancellations of Volotea routes.

The airline itself is facing rising fuel costs that its business model, built on cheap tickets, struggles to absorb.



The Volotea Symbol

So many travel hopefuls will stay home during the October holidays while they had hoped to discover Faro or the Canary Islands.

And driving from Brest to reach Nantes airport to seek alternatives wasn’t exactly comfortable, but today it has become very expensive and the government’s promise of a few extra pennies at the pump won’t change the situation.

And, let’s face it, train travel isn’t a cheap alternative.

Despite these already adverse economic winds, the travel and transport industry remains a prime target for the government in its quest for new revenue sources to reduce the deficit. The 2027 Finance Bill (PLF 2027) takes aim at all players in tourism.


A Lepine-Style Tax Showdown

It notably plans to make the tax on the operation of long-distance transport infrastructures (TEITLD), with the rate possibly rising from 4.6 % to 12.2 % for the most profitable operators, and to raise from 20 € to 22 € per passenger the ceiling of the security and safety tariff (T2S) applicable to small regional airports.

The government also plans to draw 125 M€ from the surplus cash of the National Agency for Holiday Vouchers (ANCV) – risking weakening its efforts to help the poorest travelers – and to tighten the taxation on owners who rent out their properties via Airbnb.

No more, enough is enough.

When the cash cow has completely dried up, the tourism sector will have only one way to survive: continually raise the price of its services and cut the now-unprofitable offerings, risking forcing many would-be travelers to stay at home.


Laurent Guéna Publié par Laurent Guéna Journaliste – TourMaG.com
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