It is 10 years now since I moved to Corsica and it doesn’t cease to surprise me. I came here to organise incentive trips for companies. What I have discovered is not only the tremendous potential but also the complexity of this amazing island. Follow me on my journey between laughter and tears, tradition and modernity, and the sea and the mountain villages…
Discover your Ideal Incentive Destination…
I realised that when I talk about Corsica to my foreign clients and friends, most don’t know anything or very little about it.
– It is in the Mediterranean Sea, right?
– Yes! good.
– A bit like Malta?
– Not at all!
– Is it Italian?
– Well, It used to be but not anymore.
– I know! This is where Napoleon was born.
– That’s right!
So my enthusiasm always gets their attention and not long after I am on Google, showing them pictures of these wonderful landscapes, turquoise blue sea, cute mountain villages, and I explain about the food, the traditions, Napoleon… That’s it they’re hooked!
– Wow, this sounds fabulous!
– It truly is.
– So why have we not heard about it then?
In an embarrassed smile, I joke that the French selfishly keep it for themselves…
… You may need a little patience to manage an event here.
That’s when it gets a little bit more delicate. The first task is to get flights from abroad, if possible cheaper than a flight from Paris to NY.
We have very few direct flights even if our excellent regional company Air Corsica makes tremendous efforts to accommodate foreign groups.
This year we fly direct to London on a Thursday to Sunday pattern, which is excellent for our DMC business.
Once you have sorted the flights, you will need to arrange the accommodation, if possible at the same place as your arrival flight. And for the same dates.
There are only 75 miles between Figari airport and Ajaccio so you might expect it to it to takes 1.30 hours but in fact it takes a minimum of 2h30 by car and about 3hrs by coach, maybe with a little paper bag. But you will never have seen such a wonderful landscape…
… and you will get to see boars on the way!
There is a train between Bastia and Ajaccio. It is less than 85 miles, you might think it will take you about 1h30, as it is a direct line. Well, actually it takes more like 4hrs but such a tremendous view!!!
So let’s imagine, we’ve made it: we have the flights and the accommodation. We will now only need to focus on little things like: transfers, guides, beach restaurants, a caterer, activities… and that’s when it gets personal.
See, we don’t have suppliers as such here, we have family, friends, people we know, people we speak to and people we don’t. It would be way too long to explain but luckily, I’m here to translate/interpret these little oddities for you…
There is one thing I can promise. It is that you will be way better off with a local DMC. Our activities are amazing and you and your clients will remember them for the years to come!
Trust me, I know.
There is simply no better reward than Corsica!
If you wish to know more about Corsica and its potentials, local suppliers or need a hand with your on site operations, please contact me I would be more than happy to assist!
Laurence BENOIT 