Published by Neil ThompsonDestination of the month - PARIS!
As part of our Destination of the Month focus on Paris, Group Guru, Diane Thompson caught up with Francois Galliard, Founding President of the world famous Lafayette Group
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DT: Hi Francois, tell us a little bit about your role with Lafayette Group?
FG: I started the company in 1986 and have managed the company for 37 years, and I have just sold it 48 hours ago! I am still a share holder but no longer the president, I will finish my term at the end of June. A great group of people have bought Lafayette travel, it’s going to be an exciting and promising time for Lafayette group – it was the right time to do this.
DT: Lafayette Group is a full service DMC and I know you have been around for a long time in fact Neil (our founder) used you as his go-to DMC in Paris 20 years ago! How has the life of a DMC evolved since you started in 1986?
FG: I think first of all when you consider a DMC from 1986 to today it’s totally different with new technology, but the value of the DMC is to secure you a good service. The DMC has changed and will propose the right solution and act as a communication company.We now have a logistics department, a production company and a sports division which is focusing on the Rugby world cup and of course the Olympics and Paralympics.
DT: Do you want to tell us about any exciting suppliers you are working with?
FG: We are working with all the museums, private mansions, a new catering company, and new suppliers for transportation. It’s another generation coming through and so we try to follow the trends.
DT: What makes Lafayette Group the go-to DMC for our buyers on The Delegate Wranglers?
FG: I think today we are the largest DMC company in France with more than 40 staff, and good financial assets so we are a very secure company, naturally we have a great team of people. If you have a project manager fall sick we have another ready to handle the role.
DT: Its a really exciting time for a DMC in Paris right now with the upcoming Rugby World Cup and The Olympics/Paralympics next year, is the Lafayette team geared up and ready for the busy and fun times ahead?
FG: Yes absolutely it is a very exciting time for us at Lafayette group, we have been contacted by all of the big Rugby delegations, such as South Africa, All Blacks and the Wallabies, so we will be handling 20,000 people. We have survived 37 years without the sports division so it is important to be diverse.
For more info about Lafayette Group, visit their website: https://lafayette-travel.com/
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We have worked closely with Paris je t'aime tourist office and Atout France in partnership with the Paris Region Tourism Board to bring you this content
