FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, November 2, 2020 – Atout France held its first large-scale virtual trade event and show October 19-22, 2020. With 47 French suppliers meeting 245 tour operators and travel agents, France 360 was a resounding success. Tourism professionals from the United States (135), Canada (58), Mexico (26) and Brazil (22) including 25 from Brazil, Peru and Argentina, connected with the 47 French exhibitors during 2,067 one-on-one virtual appointments held over three days. For a list of exhibitors, click here. In addition to the virtual appointments, France 360 also offered members of the trade conferences and training sessions to help them adapt to these challenging times and bring to them the expert insights and perspectives of travel industry leaders.
Day one featured France 360’s Opening session, a panel discussion titled “Who Innovates? Developments & Opportunities Arising from the Health Crisis.” The panel discussion was opened by Anne-Laure Tuncer, Director of the Americas of Atout France and lead by by Brian Quinn, Editorial Director | Events of Skift. The panel featured, Joost Schreve of kimkim, Melissa Biggs Bradley of Indagare, Andy Levine of DuVine Adventures, Jean-Michel Petit of VizEat & EatWith and Botond Melles of Air France. Click here to view the Opening Session. (56 minutes).
The first day also featured a MICE panel discussion, with six leading industry professionals. The panel was moderated by Lisa Grimaldi, Editor at the Northstar Meetings Group on the topic: “The State of the Mice Industry | How to resume Business Travel to France?” Click here to view the MICE Event. (1 hour). This was followed by training sessions on three regions: Occitanie, Burgundy and the Loire Valley.
On Tuesday, October 20, France 360 held a press preview featuring 16 French Destinations and video presentation to inform journalists on the major news and developments for travel to France in 2021. View the France 2021 press preview here. (52 minutes).
During France 360, Atout France’s digital team offered France enthusiasts a Facebook Live series, “FranceTravelFest”, taking the audience to the castles of the Loire Valley, to the shores of Marseille, the art scene of Nice, to craftsmen workshops of Nîmes, and to the wine making world of Bordeaux and beyond. The series garnered 3.6K RSVPs, +50.000 views and close to 10.000 engagements, which underscores the success and popularity of Atout France’s Facebook Live series with its audience. To view the series click here..
“We at Atout France and our 47 exhibitors are very encouraged by the U.S. and the Americas travel industry’s continued interest in France” said Anne-Laure Tuncer at the close of France 360. She went on to say: “During our 4-day event we conveyed to the trade that even in this uncharted situation, that our destination has kept on innovating, investing, developing new products more in line with today’s travelers needs and interests. All of this will help make the French travel industry and what it has to offer even more relevant.” Ms. Tuncer concluded: “The real success, will of course be the lifting of the mutual travel restrictions, so that we can once again warmly—and safely—welcome our North and South American friends.”