Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

with Martha Chapman
21NOV08

The stunning new logo for tourism in France

Who better to sip champagne with than “The Wine Ladies” Susanne and Georgia?

Read all about it in FranceGuide

Vive La France!

What better way to celebrate the first snowfall of the season than by sipping Moet and Chandon bubbly and nibbling foie gras? Easily done when you’re whiling away the evening with some gracious people from France. For a few hours recently, The Fifth Club in downtown Toronto - with the snow falling gently outside - was as chic as the French Alps. But without the mountains.

Not to worry. Canada’s charming director of Maison de la France – France’s national tourist board – was on hand to make us all feel like honourary Parisians. One reason for the event, according to Caroline Putnoki, was to launch the new 76 page France Guide Prestige. A gorgeous marriage of a travel magazine and tour brochure, the Guide is distributed in North America in French restos and retailers and in AF VIP lounges. It features stories on everything français from shopping and cuisine to architecture and design.

Also unveiled was the new national tourism logo and slogan “Rendez*vous en France.” According to Putnoki, the logo has been designed to look feminine, generous and witty (and simply oozes style).

Perhaps even more appetizing than the tasty morsels on the menu (which also included duck magret and Evian water in bottles designed by Lacroix, bien sûre!) was the delicious news that France continues to lead the world in tourism stats – 82 million estimated for this year, including a whopping one million from Canada.

Seems the French not only have savoir faire…they have savoir vivre, in spades!