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EVENT – THE "CRÈME DE LA CRÈME" OF TRAVEL ENCHANTED PARIS FOR ITS FIRST EDITION (France)

The latest addition to French travel shows brought together around a hundred international tourism operators and French-speaking luxury travel agencies for three days of meetings and activities.

Catégorie : Europe - France - Économie du secteur - Expériences exclusives - Tourisme - Événements
Article rédigé par Romane Le Royer le mercredi 22 octobre 2025

The first edition of Crème de la crème took place in Paris from October 13 to 15, bringing together luxury receptive operators and travel agencies.
Crédit photo © Romane Le Royer / Journal des Palaces

Crème de la crème is now a must-see event on the fall calendar. The first edition of the trade show organized by Nicolas Zimmermann took place from October 13 to 15 in Paris, bringing together a selection of 46 international exhibitors, including hotels, resorts, DMCs, luxury cruise lines, and airlines, with the participation of Dorchester Collection, Singita, Banyan Tree Phuket, Corinthia Brussels, Jumeirah, DMC Pure Escapes, and of the Vienna Tourist Board. These major players in the tourism industry met with the press and travel agencies from France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Monaco for three intense days.

Crème de la crème kicked off at the Salons de l'Hôtel des Arts et Métiers in the 16th arrondissement of the City of Light, with an afternoon dedicated to a select group of hand-picked tourism journalists. After this special event, where the receptive operators were able to present their destinations to the press, the opening ceremony took place in the salons of the Hôtel Le Meurice on Rue de Rivoli.

Gathered around a gastronomic interlude designed by chefs Alain Ducasse and Cédric Grolet, the exhibitors and around fifty buyers enjoyed a first moment of conviviality and exchange. Then, Thomas Mesmin, partner at the MAD consulting firm, specialist in the luxury and ultra-luxury sectors, and special guest of the evening, officially launched Crème de la crème: "With more than five million wealthy individuals, the French-speaking market is a key market for the luxury hotel industry. This clientele shares the same language and a broadly similar vision of luxury, based on authenticity, discreet distinction, cultural richness, and a culture of refined service. For the French-speaking elite, luxury is not a performance, it is a conversation." While he observes a global slowdown in the traditional luxury market, Thomas Mesmin notes that “the experiential luxury sector, and therefore tourism, continues to grow, driven by an ever-increasing number of committed French-speaking consumers.”

Following this subtle introduction, the hundred or so participants gathered in the historic salons of the Shangri-La Paris for a series of fifteen-minute meetings. The aim, at the very inception of the show, was for all the receptive operators, both hoteliers and destinations, to meet with all the French-speaking agencies and private concierge services present. This meant more than forty meetings spread over two full days, in an elegant and well-thought-out setting across the palace's three event spaces.

But the appeal of Crème de la Crème lies not only in its professional aspect, as all participants unanimously agreed: beyond high-quality meetings with the French market, a true community was created during the show. Small group dinners, lunches with music, but above all, activities to meet potential business partners in a different way: a cruise on the Seine, a ride in a sidecar or a “2 CV,” or a visit to the Maison Epigenetic wellness center. Many exhibitors testify to the importance of forging friendly ties between meetings, such as Filipa Cabral, sales manager for the Viceroy at Ombria Algarve hotel: "Everyone here today is used to attending these travel shows. But often, with one meeting after another, you can forget people, encounters, moments. At this show, I feel that my contacts will go home and think back on our more informal discussion on the boat, and by extension remember our property."

After three intense days, the show closed a few steps from the Arc de Triomphe, in the heart of the opulent Galerie Bourbon, for a relaxed moment over a glass of champagne. It was a unique opportunity to enjoy these last moments and deepen the bonds created throughout the week.

Building on this initial success, Crème de la Crème has already announced a second edition, which will also take place in Paris, from October 12 to 15, 2026. Nicolas Zimmermann told the Journal des Palaces of his desire to develop the travel agencies and private concierge services that attend each year “so that everyone, from receptive operators to buyers, has the chance to discover something new every year.” The event is already thinking bigger: more than 70 exhibitors are expected for the next edition in October 2026.