Part-time director of Saint-Vallier tourist office, Julien Liotaud had been thinking for a long time about setting up an incoming agency that specialised in high quality events linked to gastronomy and wine. It was a meeting with a businessman who subsequently became his business partner that finally led to him achieving his objective. At the end of March, Destination Provence saw the light of day in Valence… new gateway to the Drôme Provençale !

Even though we’ve already organised a meeting for a transport company in June, including a visit to a local vineyard and a wine tasting, we’re still just at the start, explains Julien Liotaud. We want to be able to offer a range of different packages that can be used by companies as well as by individuals. Our target date is to be ready for after the summer holidays, in September. At the moment I’m working on building up our list of suppliers, including meeting rooms, accommodation providers, leisure and sporting activities to run alongside corporate meetings. I’m really trying to find more prestigious venues, with a distinctive style, such as the Château de Rochegude, Maison Pic or the Université du Vin in Suze-la-Rousse .

Destination Provence only offers tailor-made events across a whole range of sites and themes in the Drôme but will probably branch out to neighbouring areas such as the Ardèche. My initial contacts with event organisers tell me that they are looking primarily for venues that are easily accessible, particularly from the TGV station at Valence, comments Julien Liotaud.

And whilst most of our options are located in the Drôme Provençale, I can adapt to whatever our clients want – which is exactly what I’ve done for the first meeting that I’m organising for September for a group of 15 people. It will last two days and will include a wine tasting at the end of the afternoon’s meeting. We’ll have a specialist in Côtes-du-Rhône wines on hand who will provide information about the wines being tasted. There will also be a meal, with the dishes chosen to match the wines .

Destination Provence, who has no direct competitors in the Drôme as all the other incoming agencies specialise in nature and sporting activities, is targeting meeting business for between 15-20 people to suit the capacity of the region’s hotels. Unfortunately groups of more than 80 people cannot be accommodated in just one hotel, says Julien Liotaud. Prices, including room hire, midday meal and one refreshment break, start at 50 € per person at Suze-la-Rousse.