STB stages high profile event in Moscow |20 September 2016

The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) led by its chief executive Sherin Francis accompanied by the board's European director Bernadette Willemin and Russian market manager Karen Confait together with the Russia-based representative Access Russia, conducted a two-day promotional tour in the Russian capital, Moscow, from September 13-14.

A series of meetings was organised with both local travel trade, press and media culminating with a special Seychelles evening.

The gala dinner held at the famous Casta Diva restaurant in the heart of Moscow was well attended by the Russian travel trade, press, hotels, airlines and DMC partners as well as celebrities.

The timing was ideal, at the beginning of the season, to refresh those well versed on the destination and to also bring forth to the newcomers the unique selling points which set us apart, through a destination presentation. 

Before taking the guests on a journey to the Seychelles islands, Mrs Francis addressed the evening highlighting the importance of the Russian market for the Seychelles both in volume and yield.

She stated “our past achievements and future market development can only materialise through your continued support and collaboration. The industry at large recognises the role played by each and everyone one of you and for this I thank you all”.

Mrs Francis continued by providing some updates on new developments taking place in the country. The latter was discussed and presented at length in addition to other topics relevant to the individual publications and or television through various interviews.  Travel magazines such as Voyage, travel trade publication TTG Russia, Russia business daily Vedomosti and fashion TV LIS Channel, to name a few, each had their slot for a tête à tête with the tourism board's CEO to put forward their questions and seek clarifications on their different points of interest.

Other well-known high profile publications from different segments: Feminine glossies, lifestyle, travel magazines, such as Elle, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Forbes, National Geographic, Condenast Traveller were also present for the event.

Mrs Francis and her team left the Russian capital very satisfied after witnessing the enthusiasm and optimism of the Russian travel trade industry for the Seychelles tourism. All the ingredients are present to reinforce this conviction which is further boosted by the current airline dynamics to pull business not only from Moscow but also other regions in Russia.