Paris La Grand - Exterior Paris La Grand - Chambre Deluxe
Paris La Grand - Exterior View

A fabulous trip isn’t a Hot Pocket.  It’s a croque-monsieur, an oozy yet crisp grilled ham and cheese sandwich with a touch of Bechamel sauce, eaten in front of a Paris cafe.   We don’t do Hot Pockets, so members of our staff are whisked around the world on familiarization trips.  Yes, it’s a difficult job, but someone has to do it.  These “fam” trips enable our staff to check out the hotels, venues, and adventures a destination has to offer, so they can come home and craft the perfect croque-monsieur for our clients.  

The Phantom of the Opera is there inside your mind!

We arrived in Paris on a brisk but sunny day in early December.  Upon checking into the magnificent and historic InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel, we were met with the inspiring views of the adjacent world-famous Palais Garnier, home to the esteemed Paris Opera.  Run, Christine!  That’s not the Angel of Music.  That’s the Angel of Deformed-Masked-Obsession!Vive la France

The day began with us zipping through the city in classic Citroen cars painted in France’s blue, white, and red, or sassy motorcycles with sidecars.  We got to see all the nooks a tour bus never could.  From the top of one of the tallest hills in the city, we looked out and marveled at the many iconic landmarks: the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame de Paris, The Louvre, the famous Champs-Élysées Avenue, and the Eiffel Tower.  Then we dashed down the hill to see each site close up.  

I dreamed a dream of times gone by…

Near the Eiffel Tower, we boarded a riverboat on the Seine River for a unique view of the city.  We were served some delicious French cuisine and serenaded by strolling singers and performers on the boat as we floated through a stunning architectural canyon of the most quintessential Paris landmarks.

Sanctuary!

Seeking to deliver a sense of wonder, history, and place, we explored some incredibly innovative group venues.  Imagine a private evening tour of the Louvre, a swanky soirée on a rooftop overlooking the Eiffel Tower, or glamorous double-decker bus (no that’s not an oxymoron!) providing a gourmet dinner as you tour the city by moonlight.  We finished the night at a renowned restaurant along the Champs-Élysées.

Aux Revoire

Paris is all people say it is: historic, magical, romantic.  For good reason, Paris is one of the top destinations in Europe–a must-see for any world traveler.  Our two hour train ride on the Eurostar under the English Channel to London was another great reminder of how accessible this city is and how easy it is to include in any Europe group program.  For our staff, experiencing Paris firsthand showed them that even if you only have one full day to see Paris, you can plan incredible adventures your clients will talk about for years to come.  

That’s how a “fam” trip converts a tour bus Hot Pocket into a fabulous French delicacy!