Thirty travel agents and Transat officials just concluded an extensive fact-finding mission on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, after the tour operators signaled their return to market Reunion after an absence of 9 years.
Transat is a subsidiary of a Canadian company and offers some 50 destinations world-wide. The company this year put a special offer named โEden Islandโ on the market, under which it will specifically promote Reunion Island alongside two other Vanilla Islands.
Much has changed on the island since Transat last offered holidays to Reunion Island in 2006 and company officials and travel agents were taken across the island to see the attractions and inspect hotels.
Welcomed by the incoming agency, Anthurium, the group visited the hotel establishments along the west coast of the island, namely the Reef, The Saint Alexis, the Residence Archipelago, the Alamanda, The Hermitage Relais, and the LUX Reunion Island. The last stop of the day allowed them to experience a treasure hunt in the hotel gardens before returning to the Reef for dinner and overnight.
The following day everyone needed to be up at dawn for a discovery tour of the island from the sky.
Overflight โmagicโ was performed by the company Helilagon Helicopter, which allowed the group to appreciate the sheer magnificence of Reunion Island while overflying the rugged interior and UNESCO World Heritage site, and, of course, the famous Iron Hole.
After returning to the ground, the participants headed to the Hermitage, where a breakfast was waiting at Le Nautile, before returning to Saint-Leu to visit the hotel Iloha. By late morning, the tour moved to the โWild South.โ After a stop in the colorful alleys of the market of Saint-Pierre, the professionals were able to try out a traditional style picnic in Arabic Well (St. Philip). A cultural walk along the cliffs of the south of the island was also in the afternoon program, followed by a visit to the Palm Hotel & Spa where they could enjoy an exotic cocktail facing the sunset of the Indian Ocean.
After a last night at Lux Island of Reunion, the group then left Reunion Island, having come as strangers but leaving as friends and tourism ambassadors.
There was broad agreement among the participants who found the Reunion Island magic, with a warm welcome and with excellent hotels and resorts, each with their unique selling points.
During the days of the fam trip, the smiles never left the faces of participating professionals. Clearly this first trip to Reunion Island by Transat Holidays is not going to be the last one.