TRANSAT HOLIDAYS MAKES A RETURN TO REUNION AFTER NEARLY A DECADE
(Posted 25th September 2015)
(Some of the travel agents invited by Transat to Reunion)
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 nine years.
Transat is a subsidiary of a Canadian company and offers some 50 destinations world wide. Notably did the company this year put a special offer named ‘Eden Island’ on the market, under which it will specifically promote Reunion alongside two other Vanilla Islands.
Much has changed on the island since Transat last offered holidays to Reunion in 2006 and company officials and travel agents were taken across the island to see the attractions but also inspect hotels.
Welcomed by the incoming agency Anthurium, did the group visit 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 of course 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 ‘Magic’was performed by the company Helilagon Helicopter, which allowed the group to appreciate the sheer magnificence of La Réunion while overflying the rugged interior and UNESCO World Heritate site and of course the famous Iron Hole.
After returning to the ground did 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 ‘Wild South’. After a stop in the colorful alleys of the market of Saint-Pierre were the professionals 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 too was 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 did the group then leave Reunion, having come as strangers but leaving as friends and tourism ambassadors.
There was broad agreement among the participants who found the island of Reunion magic, with a warm welcome and with excellent hotels and resorts, each with their unique selling points.
During the days of the fam trip did the smiles never left the faces of participating professionals. Clearly is this first trip to Reunion by Transat Holidays not going to be the last one.
For more information about Destination Reunion click on www.reunion.fr
