FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Recent evidence has shown France to still be the predominant leader of the luxury market in the United States, Paris hosts from 13 to 16 November, more than 150 leaders in the high-end travel industry for Virtuoso’s annual major event known as the “Chairman’s event”; which aims to honor agencies that produce the most sales, engagement, and largest development and increase in sales. The major objective of this annual event is to develop itineraries and destinations that agencies can promote thereafter.
With an unparalleled reputation in its industry, Virtuoso has become a "specialist in the art of travel". The organization was founded on the principle of membership exclusively by invitation only. Virtuoso currently holds 390 branches and more than 11,400 professionals in 40 countries around the world. The company works with more than 1700 top travel providers and destinations. The network of member travel agencies generates more than $ 15.5 billion in revenue annually, making Virtuoso the largest group in this niche of high-end travel.
Atout France has thrived since its entry into this exclusive network and in 2014 France was chosen as a "Preferred Destination", culminating in France as the host for this year’s event.
Virtuoso has chosen to support our elected destination and Paris since the 2016 edition, after Puglia in Italy in 2015, Abu Dhabi & Dubai (2014), Switzerland (2013) The river cruise in Europe (2012), China (2011), Kenya (2010), Scotland (2009), India (2008), Prague (2007) and Peru (2006).
As a result of the exceptional mobilization of all professional members of the consortium, participants will have the opportunity to discover France in a new light thanks to an exceptional development of the art of French living that involves unique experiences, extraordinary, places unexpected activities and exceptional meals.
Atout France, along with the close collaboration of the Office of Tourism and Congress Office of Paris; are partaking in a partnership with all hotels, the DMC, and Virtuoso members have proposed and implemented a program of activities that aims to leave a lasting impression. In addition to business meetings to be held at participating hotel groups (The Four Seasons Hotel George V, Le Bristol Paris and Hôtel Plaza Athénée) there are more than twenty experiences that have been curated, including: the visiting of the Foundation Louis Vuitton, the studio at Hermes, the jewelry houses of Cartier, Chaumet and Jaeger Le Coultre, experiencing the art of perfume, and learning about Golf National where will the next Ryder Cup will take place in 2018, personalized shopping in Galeries Lafayette, the Fouquet's Barrière spa, the Picasso museum, Paris Opera and more. Receptions will also follow at Ore - Ducasse at the Chateau de Versailles, InterContinental Paris le Grand, City Hall and onboard the Yachts of Paris.
Groups will also have the opportunity to go and discover the latest and newest offerings from various regions of France, ranging from Lyon to Bordeaux. Gastronomy, oenology, well-being, and the exquisite skills of craftsmanship and haute cuisine will be explored at L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges, the manufacturing factory of Hermes, and Château d'Yquem which is known as the source for Caudalie.
This year’s major partners include:
The Office of Tourism and Congress of Paris, Lyon and the CRT Nouvelle Aquitaine, agencies and Lafayette Travel, Discoveries, Bordeaux Excellence, transportation agencies Aristos, Chabé Limousine and Limousine First, Galeries Lafayette, the Accor group and LVMH, hotels including Le Bristol Paris, L'Esprit Saint Germain, Paris Le Fouquet's, the Four Seasons George V Hotel, Intercontinental Paris Le Grand, the Mandarin Oriental Paris, Le Meurice, the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, the Peninsula Paris, Hôtel Plaza Athénée, the Prince of Wales, La Réserve Paris, the Paris Ritz, Shangri-la, Trianon Palace Versailles and Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris and Air France and Rail Europe.