For the first time since before the pandemic, New Caledonia Tourism invited a group of wholesalers from a range of markets to the New Caledonia Rendez-Vous Workshop 2022 taking place in Noumea earlier this week.
New Caledonia Tourism and the national airline Aircalin hosted a group of Australian wholesalers during the workshop on the 10th of November alongside wholesalers from New Zealand, Singapore, Japan, and France. In addition to the B2B event, the attendees were treated to famil activities during the week leading up to the workshop giving them the opportunity to personally experience this little French slice of paradise.
The workshop took place at the only overwater bungalow resort in the region, the DoubleTree by Hilton Noumea îlot Maître Resort, formerly known as L’Escapade Hotel which underwent an upgrade before it opened as a DoubleTree resort in 2021. During the day, approximately 30 wholesalers from the four different markets took part in speed dating-style meetings with around 40 number of local industry partners. In the afternoon, the group were treated to a delicious barbeque lunch true to the Melanesian mix of culinary offerings of the destination followed by aperitifs and an afternoon show with a traditional Kanak dance performance.
As the nation removed the last of its entry restrictions in August, the tourism board was quick to jump on the opportunity to invite wholesalers to give them an introduction to the region.
“With the uncertainty of the past few years, the need for customised and tailored trips is more important than ever to Australian travellers. That is why we’re so excited to have wholesalers visiting New Caledonia and experience all that is so amazing with Australia’s closest neighbour and to communicate this to their customer base,” Rebecca Marchal, Account Director for New Caledonia Tourisme Australia said about the workshop.
“We’re thrilled to finally re-start this key event for the travel industry and look forward to extending the invitation to the wider travel industry to further highlight why New Caledonia is a destination for Aussies to put on their bucket lists for 2023,” said Marchal.
The itinerary for the days before the workshop included a visit to the West Coast with an overnight stay at the Sheraton Deva Spa & Golf Resort in Bourail, two days of excursion on the idyllic islands of Lifou and Isle of Pines, a day of exploring the capital Noumea and a day of hiking in the national parks in the Great South.
New Caledonia is Australia’s next-door neighbour (less than 3 hours from Sydney and 2 hours from Brisbane). An amazing archipelago and holiday destination thanks to its combination of unique Melanesian culture, exotic South Pacific charm, and cosmopolitan French chic. Surrounded by the largest lagoon in the world that has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Caledonia is famous for its variety of landscapes, cultures, activities, and unique biodiversity.
For more information on the destination, please visit:
https://www.newcaledonia.travel/au
