Travel Services: Facilitating Journeys

Travel Agencies: Reinvention Imperative

Traditional agencies transform or perish:

• Specialization: Adventure, luxury, cultural niches
• Service fees: Replacing commission models
• Experience curation: Beyond booking
• Corporate travel: Remaining stronghold

Sylvie Moreau (agency owner, Toulouse): "We can't compete with Booking.com on price. We sell expertise, connections, problem-solving. When volcanic ash strands you, apps won't get you home—we will."

Tour Operators: Package Evolution

Package holidays decline but specialized products grow:

• River cruises: 450,000 passengers annually
• Cycling tours: 10% annual growth
• Wine tours: Premium pricing accepted
• Educational travel: Student groups vital

Digital Platforms: New Intermediaries

French platforms struggle against global giants:

• Voyage-sncf.com: Successful niche player
• Regional booking systems: Fragmented efforts
• Startup ecosystem: Innovation but scaling challenges
• Data sovereignty: Growing concern