(Posted 10th November 2026)
Courtesy of Mr. Joey Nicles
The news was announced as the World Travel Market (WTM) opened in London. Attending the event at ExCeL London with his daughter Aurélie, Christian Lefèvre, founder and Managing Director of Coquille Bonheur, had good reason to celebrate. The Mauritian destination management company (DMC) had just received the Partnership Ecellence Award 2026 from Emirates Holidays at the tour operator’s annual dinner, held on Monday, 02nd of November, at Shangri-La The Shard in London, alongside this major international travel industry event.
The award ceremony took place in the presence of several senior Emirates Holidays executives, including Leif Vase Larsen, Divisional Senior Vice President, and Anita Kongson, Managing Director. The evening also brought together partners from various Indian Ocean destinations, notably the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Mauritius was therefore among the destinations recognised by the tour operator. The award acknowledges several years of collaboration between the two partners.
The distinction also carries particular significance at a time when the tourism industry is facing considerable challenges, especially in the wake of the crisis in the Middle East, which severely disrupted travel arrangements and holiday plans for many tourists.
For Christian Lefèvre, this recognition goes beyond the quality of the services provided to travellers.
“We had a large number of clients affected by this situation, with bookings that had to be reviewed and stays reorganised. We had to find solutions, support travellers and provide our partner with all the assistance needed,” he explains. This commitment, together with the dedication shown by the teams during a particularly challenging period, also played a part in securing the award.
The UK Market Loses Momentum
Beyond the award, Christian Lefèvre’s presence at WTM London also served another purpose: taking the pulse of the British market, which has historically been important to Mauritius but is currently experiencing a less favourable period.
“As is the case across the industry, we are seeing a decline. I estimate it at between 8 and 10%,” he says. This assessment relates to the British market served by Coquille Bonheur. Several factors account for this trend, starting with the cost of airfares, which remains particularly high on routes between London and Mauritius.
Routes via Dubai are also attracting less demand. The geopolitical situation and travel advisories have contributed to changes in booking patterns, affecting departures from the United Kingdom to Mauritius.
For the Mauritian tourism professional, WTM London also provided an opportunity to meet with partners, assess changing demand and explore ways of reviving sales. “One of the reasons we are here is precisely to see what strategy we should adopt to make up this lost ground,” he says.
Having participated in WTM London for several years, Coquille Bonheur intends to continue promoting Mauritius as a destination among British travel professionals. The award from Emirates Holidays recognises the progress made through its partnership with the company. However, in a less favourable market environment, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining long-term relationships with tourism industry stakeholders and keeping a close eye on changing market trends.
