In what we believe is the first such survey conducted among the nation’s travel trade, travel agents in France have selected the Top 3 French tour operators, as well as the top favorites in some other categories. They are: 1. ; 2. Asia; and 3. Kuoni.
The results are a bit of a teaser from Tour Hebdo, the French travel trade publication, which announced the survey several weeks ago, and its most recent issue announcing the Top 3, Tour Hebdo indicated that full results would be announced a future issue.
As it was, the publication said that 442 travel agents in France voted by answering its online survey “Travel Agents, what are your favorite Tours Operators?”
It reported that, among the top 20 French tour operators, including generalists and specialists, the Marseille-based Exotismes, which doesn’t appear according to its website, to sell any North American product, was selected by 214 respondents out of 442. It was closely followed, Tour Hebdo said, by Asia, whose brochures considered very successful and high value-added production are its best assets. Kuoni came in third ahead of Fram and Jet tours.
—Among the generalist tour operators, the Top 3 are: TUI (cited by 33 percent of travel agents); 2 Jet tours (30 percent); and Fram (28 percent). Kuoni and Voyamar are 4th and 5th in the standings.
—In the specialist tour operator category, travel agents voted from a list of 12 finalists, selecting as No. 1, Exotismes (35 percent of travel agents), followed by No. 2 Asia (32 percent); and Héliades (24 percent). Next were Austral Lagons and Beachcomber Tours.
—Tour operators with the favorite brochures selected by travel agents are: No. 1, Asia; No. 2, Kuoni; and No. 3, Voyamar.
—The 3 best performing B2B websites (French agents are heavily reliant on the B2B operator websites) are: No. 1, TUI; No. 2, Exotismes; and No. 3, Fram & FTI (tie).
—Tour Hebdo said that travel agents praised the 2019 brochures of the winning tour operators in this category: No. 1, Asia; No. 2, Kuoni; and No. 3, Voyamar.
—The 3 best performers rated by agents in terms of training and commercial animation are: No.1, Voyageurs; No. 2, Voyamar; and No. 3, Fram.
