FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The French Awards** were presented in Atlanta by Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency during the gala dinner of their major trade event known as French Affairs. The six categories for the French Affairs 2015 awards and their winners are: 1. Tour Operator of the Year as voted on by consumers: Discover France 2. Tour Operator of the Year as voted by travel professionals: Villas of Distinction
3. Best online tour operator: Europe Express and GO-Today
Criteria: quality of the website, user-friendliness, easy access to France pages, Number of social media fans/followers and frequency of updates, number of posts on France 4. Best niche tour operator: Eurobound Based on the number of tours per niche, number of services offered on the niche, originality of product, marketability of product 5. Best regional tour operator: Duvine Cycling + Adventure Co.
Based on the number of French regional offers, number of services offered per tour, number of “off the beaten path” regions (i.e. Auvergne, Corsica, Franche-Comté etc…), variety of tools used to promote these programs 6. Most Active Partner: Great Value Vacations Criteria: participation in Atout France events, online campaigns, surveys and number of programs created after Atout France events 2015 marked the 12th edition of French Affairs and was held at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Organized by Atout France, it is the largest gathering of American tour operators and French travel industry suppliers from regional and city tourism boards, incoming agencies, hotel groups, transportation companies and cultural institutions.
Close to 160 travel professionals attended this year, including 67 representatives of French exhibitors, 77 representatives of tour operating and industry related companies and 13 members of the Atout France staff. The next French Affairs will take place in Atlanta.
About Atout France Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency, is the sole national organization responsible for the development and promotion of tourism to France. As an association of public and private interests, Atout France is charged with supporting tourism to France and assisting its partners internationally through its network of offices in around 30 countries. Atout France is also responsible for assisting regions, counties, towns and cities in the development and modernization of their tourism assets, as well as for administering France’s new hotel rating system. For more information about traveling to France, please visit: us.france.fr