FACCI Interview with Christian Blondeau, Founding Director of France at Leisure
How would you concretely describe the core activity of France at Leisure?
France at Leisure is a specialist French travel agency dedicated to helping Australian travellers discover France through personalised, professionally planned travel experiences.
Our philosophy is simple: France is best experienced with local knowledge, personal advice and the right connections. While the internet provides an enormous amount of information, it cannot replace the knowledge of people who have travelled extensively throughout France and understand the country, its culture, regions and way of life.
Our team, many of whom are of French origin, combines first-hand knowledge of France with an extensive network of trusted local partners and licensed service providers. We know Paris extremely well, but our expertise extends far beyond the capital — from the back roads and villages of the French countryside to historic monuments, gourmet restaurants, vineyards, châteaux and less-known places that can make a French holiday truly memorable.
We help Australian travellers make the most of their time, interests and budget by designing tailor-made itineraries throughout France. Whether someone is visiting Paris for the first time, returning to explore a particular region, travelling with family or friends, or looking for a specialised French experience, our role is to provide expert advice and take care of the practical details.
In many ways, organising your holiday with France at Leisure is like having a knowledgeable French travel expert on your side — helping you avoid the common pitfalls of independent travel while discovering experiences that may not be easy to find online.
Our focus is on personal service, quality and authentic French experiences. We carefully select the travel products and local services we recommend, and many of our clients return to us for their next French holiday — a reflection of the trust we have built over the years.
Our services and travel experiences include:
- Paris apartment accommodation, centrally located and fully furnished for families, couples and groups of friends.
- Château stays throughout the French countryside, offering travellers the opportunity to experience French heritage and hospitality.
- Self-drive and self-cruise boating holidays, allowing visitors to explore France at their own pace.
- Luxury canal barge cruises through some of France's most beautiful waterways.
- ANZAC and Australian military history tours in the Somme, including travel to the ANZAC Day dawn service.
- Long-term French car leasing, including new vehicles, tax-free arrangements where applicable, insurance and support.
- Small-group and private themed tours covering French wine, history, gastronomy, education and regional culture.
- Tailor-made itineraries combining accommodation, transport, sightseeing, tours and local experiences throughout France.
France at Leisure is also an Australian travel industry business with professional industry affiliations, including AFTA and ATAS, and is a member of the Helloworld Travel and American Express networks.
Our objective has always been to make travelling in France easier, more personal and more rewarding for Australians.
Can you describe your personal background, the history of France at Leisure and your role as Director?
I was born and raised in south-west France, near Biarritz, and France has always been an important part of my professional and personal life.
I spent the first 20 years of my career in the international hospitality industry, working in four- and five-star hotel groups including Hilton, Inter-Continental, Sheraton and Beaufort. I held a number of Food & Beverage management positions in France, the United Kingdom and Greece.
I then came to Australia for the opening of the Heritage Hotel in Brisbane, which is now the Stamford. Originally, I expected to remain in Australia for only a few years. However, I fell in love with both Australia and my wife, Lisa, and ultimately decided to make Australia my home.
That decision also presented an opportunity. I recognised that Australian travellers interested in France could benefit from a specialist travel service combining genuine French knowledge with an understanding of the Australian market.
In 2002, following in my wife's footsteps — she already had her own travel agency — I founded France at Leisure. From the beginning, the objective was to be a specialist rather than a generalist. Instead of trying to sell holidays throughout the world, we wanted to become experts in one destination: France.
My background in hospitality, combined with my experience living and working in Australia, gave me a strong understanding of both sides. I understood France, but I also understood Australian travellers, their expectations and the way they like to travel.
The business grew quickly. Within three years, France at Leisure had a team of 10 people. One of the significant milestones in our history came with the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, when we became an official agent and sold approximately $1.8 million worth of tickets.
Today, we assist approximately 600 travellers each year with their French holidays and travel arrangements.
As Director, my role remains very hands-on. I maintain direct contact with new clients so that I can understand their interests, expectations, available time and budget before we begin planning their trip.
I work closely with our team of French travel specialists to coordinate the different elements of each journey. This can include accommodation, transport, car leasing, cruises, sightseeing, private guides, regional tours and unique local experiences.
I also continue to travel to France regularly. As a guest of the French Tourism Bureau, I attend major French tourism industry events where I meet existing suppliers, establish new partnerships and research new travel experiences that could appeal to Australian visitors.
This ongoing first-hand research is particularly important to us. France is constantly evolving as a tourism destination, and we want our clients to benefit from new accommodation, restaurants, cultural experiences, language and cooking programs, regional tours and other opportunities.
Alongside travel planning, I remain involved in the company's marketing, partnerships, sponsorships and French travel seminars.
What differentiates France at Leisure from an online booking platform or a traditional travel agency?
The internet has transformed the travel industry, and we recognise that travellers today have access to more information than ever before.
However, having access to information is not the same as having expert knowledge.
A generalist travel agency or online platform may offer accommodation, flights and activities in thousands of destinations around the world. Our strength is different: we specialise in France.
Our team understands the practical realities of travelling throughout the country. We know the regions, the different styles of accommodation, the transport options, the seasonal considerations and the experiences that are worth prioritising.
Most importantly, our advice is based on first-hand experience and long-standing relationships with local French suppliers.
We don't simply sell a package. We listen to what a traveller wants to experience and then use our knowledge and network to build an itinerary around those expectations.
That personal approach is particularly valuable for Australian travellers because France can be surprisingly diverse. A first-time visitor to Paris has very different requirements from someone wanting to explore Provence, Bordeaux, Normandy, the Loire Valley, Burgundy, the Dordogne or the French Alps.
Our role is to make that complexity easier to navigate.
How do you see the future of France at Leisure?
We are very positive about the future because our specialist positioning remains highly relevant.
Travellers can now research almost anything online, but the volume of information can also make planning a complicated trip more difficult. People increasingly want trusted recommendations, authentic experiences and someone who can help them put everything together.
Our goal is therefore not to compete with the internet but to complement it with human expertise, local knowledge and personalised service.
We want to continue developing original ways for Australians to experience France beyond the traditional tourist routes. This includes adventure and active holidays such as cycling and cross-country skiing, as well as culinary, wine, cultural and historical experiences.
We also see considerable potential in developing our corporate travel and events activities through our Events at Leisure division.
This includes incentive travel, conferences and bespoke corporate programs in France. As with our leisure travel business, the principle is to create experiences around the specific objectives and expectations of the client rather than offering a standard package.
We believe the future of travel is increasingly about personalisation and meaningful experiences. People don't simply want to visit France; they want to experience France in a way that is relevant to them.
That is precisely where France at Leisure can add value.
How can FACCI help France at Leisure achieve its objectives?
The French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a natural partner for France at Leisure because it connects businesses and professionals with strong links between France and Australia.
We see an opportunity to work with FACCI members who travel to France for business, conferences, incentives or leisure, as well as French businesses and professionals visiting Australia.
Our specialist knowledge of France means that we can assist members with a broad range of travel requirements, from accommodation and flights to car leasing, cruises, private tours, travel insurance and tailor-made itineraries.
Through our corporate and events activities, we can also help businesses create incentive programs, conferences and memorable corporate experiences in France.
We look forward to developing stronger relationships with the French-Australian business community and providing FACCI members with access to our specialist French travel expertise and preferential travel opportunities.
Ultimately, our objective is the same as it has been since France at Leisure was founded: to make travelling to France easier, more personal and more memorable for Australians.
