To mark its 30th anniversary, Parfums du Monde, a tour operator specializing in group travel, has launched a new project: Namaste, a brand dedicated to well-being and discovery. The first trip took place in April in Bali, offering a small-group experience between 10 and 15 participants for travelers seeking to reconnect with themselves and immerse themselves in the places they visit.

We had the opportunity to put a few questions to Valentine Jean-Richard, the founder of Namaste.

1 – Can you tell us a bit about yourself and Namaste’s mission?

I’ve been working for Parfums du Monde for over 5 years, as a tour operator specializing in group travel. We work on a BtoB basis with tourism professionals and organize white-label trips all over the world. Parfums du Monde is a family-run business where I now hold a general management position.

On a personal level, I’m an avid traveler and yoga practitioner. I discovered this discipline on a trip to Bali shortly after completing my studies. This experience enabled me to see the benefits of combining exploratory travel with the practice of yoga.

It was at the end of 2022 that I made the decision to diversify our offering. The realization was clear: today’s travelers are no longer content to simply visit the sights of a destination. They aspire to give meaning to their travels and to live unique experiences. The difficult years of the health crisis have accentuated these expectations, to which we have added a growing demand for well-being.

Namaste invites all travelers to slow down and discover a destination, others and themselves. We have created trips that combine the discovery of the most beautiful sites with the authenticity and spirituality specific to each destination. These trips are accompanied by experts who punctuate the journey with wellness workshops dedicated to promoting self-recognition, personal fulfillment and the awakening of the senses during yoga, meditation, personal development or sophrology sessions.

2 – Can you tell us about the launch of the brand?

Namaste by Parfums du Monde is an adventure that began less than a year ago. Its starting point was my last yoga-focused holiday, an exceptional wellness experience but one that came with a limited travel offer. I decided to capitalize on our existing expertise in creating group trips, combining my knowledge of wellness. Initially, Namaste was conceived as a product for individual travelers, but quickly evolved into a new offering that could be privatized and customized for travel agencies.

3 – What are the most popular destinations for wellness travel?

The Namaste offer includes a dozen fascinating destinations. Without a doubt, Bali stands out as the most popular destination. South Asia remains particularly well-suited to this type of travel, but I’d like to point out that we have an offer in Europe that I’d like to develop further. My aim is to make wellness travel more accessible to a wider public, democratizing this enriching experience for all.

4 – Why did you choose Travel-Insight to help you create your website?

I appreciate the speed with which I can bring my projects to fruition, and Travel Insight stands out as the most responsive agency on the market. Their wide range of skills means I can plan with confidence, and benefit from expertise on a multitude of subjects. What’s more, their in-depth knowledge of the tourism sector represents real added value, which translates into considerable time savings.

5 – What are Namaste’s future projects and objectives?

My aim is to build a genuine community of travelers around Namaste, uniting individuals who share common values such as sharing, understanding the world, exploring and, above all, reconnecting with oneself. This year, we will be stepping up our presence in the BtoB sector, with the aim of making the wellness travel offer accessible to a public that was not initially sensitive to this market.

6 – What message would you like to convey to French tourism professionals and travelers?

I firmly believe that travel can be a transformative experience, not only in terms of discovering the outside world, but also in terms of discovering our own inner being. That’s why we want to enable a wider public to benefit from these enriching journeys by accompanying tourism professionals in the distribution of these products. Our vision is to make well-being and reconnection accessible to all, while continuing to share our passion for exploring and discovering the world around us.

7 – A final word?

Namaste 🙏