With Martha Chapman
20MAR08
Melanie Paul-Huis and Olivier Offman of Maison de la France in Montreal
Elaine Farley and Margaret McFarlane of Transat Holidays
A busy show at Liberty Grand in Toronto!
C’est….Frenchanting!
Just when you thought you had a word which would sum up France for your clients (magnifique comes to mind), those clever French come up with one that even works for those who associate “French” with a brand of mustard: Frenchanting.
Enchanting indeed! Our love affair with France has now officially gone nationwide. Visits from Canada in 2006 – the last year for which stats are available – were up a whopping 39% from Canada. Average length of stay is almost 13 nights. And as of this summer, Paris is accessible from YVR and YYC with direct flights on TS. And (here’s a tip that will help close the sale): over 20% of Canadian visitors choose “alternative accommodation” such as villas or apart’hotels, which combine the facilities of your own apartment with those of a hotel such as a restaurant, bar, etc. Parfait!
These were just some of the gems shared by the Maison de la France team (essentially the French tourist office) at their annual Toronto trade show at the Lakefront Liberty Grand.
Now in its 10th year, the show also stops in Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal; and features some 50 representatives ranging from AF to various regions of France. Which means (oh la la!) you also get to speak to folks representing France’s exotic bits of real estate such as Tahiti and Saint-Martin’s French side. “Tahiti,” says Goway’s Paul Badics, “Is not a budget destination, and never will be. But that’s the whole point.” Agreed.
Just as much as we agree that France, and all things French, are truly Frenchanting.
© Open Jaw