Face to face with Claudia Terrade – Greed & Resilience
Face to face with Claudia Terrade – Greed & Resilience
Following the example of Thomas Cook and the first great voyages, Claudia Terrade is the pioneer of great voyages in Latin America. 37 years ago, she created her first trips for works councils, and as fate would have it, she developed her DMC business specializing in this region of the world under the brand QUIMBAYA LATIN AMERICA. Strong for having opened offices in each country of Central and South America, thousands of travelers, mostly French, discovered the new world of Christopher Columbus and beyond.
The most important French tour operators, as well as many travel agencies doing “à la carte”, entrusted him with their production.
If Quimbaya is the major player in Latin destinations, it certainly does not have exclusivity, and in this immense playground, the place is there for those who will know how to honor these cultures.
But greed and boldness in our industry exists, as does the fear of no longer existing. The post-Covid period reveals the embezzlement of all parties, without any loyalty, betrayals are legion.
We have heard such an insult to the values of the evanescent concept of “the family of tourism”, and we wanted to know more to share this bad adventure with you – for all intents and purposes – by meeting Claudia Terrade.
1/ Claudia, after "winds and tides", Covid and political instability in Latin America, how are you? How is Quimbaya doing?
Quimbaya is doing very well!
By strengthening our values and strengths and adapting to the new needs of our different markets, we have managed to get back on track.
We have worked hard to rebuild ourselves but here we are, we are again very busy, still as passionate and stronger than ever!
2/ I heard that everything was not going so well, especially on the Costa Rica side. So what happened?
Ouch, I see that nothing can be hidden from you, the journalists!
Yes, we have lived through unpleasant moments, I can’t deny it, but more from a human point of view than anything else.
Humans have as much of the disappointing and unpredictable as they can have of beauty and extraordinary.
Since then, we have recreated a great team with honest and sincere people, who love their work and their country.
3/ Your former colleague in Costa Rica seems not to have been loyal, but isn't that a business lesson?
No, I don’t think that business is necessarily unfair, it’s more of a life lesson.
Of course, it would be much better if people had the courage to assume their ambitions without trying to destroy what others have built, but this is not given to everyone.
It is simply a matter of respecting oneself and others, but this too is not clear to everyone.
We have to detect the human behind the business so as not to make mistakes!
4/ Do you still believe that the "tourism family" is just an empty expression that never really existed?
Honestly, I continue to believe that the “tourism family” exists.
In 37 years, we have created extraordinary, very strong and sincere relationships that have lasted to this day.
It is these relationships, the ones that we remember and that make us believe in the “family of tourism”.
Those who talk about CSR and Responsible and Solidarity Tourism, but do not respect the stakeholders in the tourism chain, are already forgotten!
5/ Quimbaya works in the shadow of the biggest tour operators, do you feel weakened by competition, which is also unfair?
No, we do not work “in the shadow of the biggest tour operators”.
We have chosen to work as a B2B DMC, exclusively.
Our mission is to make our 11 destinations in Latin America known to a large number of travelers.
Our customers are tourism professionals in France and in more than 50 markets.
It is a choice that has allowed us to accomplish our mission and once again, we are proud to have built strong and respectful relationships with many of our customers.
As for competition, it has always existed and it is necessary.
When it is disloyal, it is angry at first, but very quickly, we realize that it does not go far.
6/ Has Latin America become a set of complicated destinations to sell?
Selling Latin America has never been easy for many reasons, but nothing is impossible for someone who knows his job and who gives himself the means to do it properly.
Those who know the field as well as their customers, will always know how to find solutions to all situations that arise
Present.
Despite the difficulties, Latin America continues to fascinate and if it is not given to everyone, there is always a trip for every traveler profile.
Our greatest strength is that we have always been able to adapt to the constraints of the market (inflation, flight prices, availability, etc.) and we continue to do so!
We have learned to overcome difficulties and if anything, designates the “Latino” soul, it is resilience!
We are a team spread across multiple offices in multiple countries.
7/ Why would Quimbaya be the ideal production and commercial partner in the face of these complexities?
In 37 years, our company has experienced every possible and imaginable situation.
Without a doubt, our experience and solidity make us the ideal partner in Latin America.
No other DMC can “boast” of having 11 destinations with its own teams and 37 years under its belt.
To create extraordinary trips, you have to be creative and attentive, of course, but you have to know the culture of each country well and above all respect it.
We did not arrive as “conquistadors”, far from it!!
We have taken the time to build strong and friendly relationships with all the official and private stakeholders in each of our 11 countries and that makes the difference !!!
In complex situations, our customers know that we will always find the answer to their requests.
8/ What are the destinations to go to in order to make successful sales? Your Best of...
The best of according to sales are Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Mexico.
Panama is creating a nice surprise by climbing on the list of very trendy and popular destinations for the past 2 years.
Colombia has also woken up well and is bringing us some nice surprises.
Chile is promising!
Bolivia and Guatemala continue to visit each other very often in combination with Peru and Mexico.
9/ Chile, a very large country so little known; What for?
Chile recently set its National Strategy for Sustainable Tourism 2035.
The country has positioned tourism as the pillar of the country’s sustainable development.
It is a new and ambitious project that will allow Chile to make itself known at its true value and from the perspective of sustainability.
He is ready and we will continue to make him known as we have done for years.
10/ How does Quimbaya open the doors to a country of more than 256,900 km2 and 4,200 km from top to bottom?
Traditionally, Chile can be visited from north to south, from the Atacama Desert region to the vast Patagonia, passing of course through Santiago.
However, this vision is limiting because it makes Chile a seasonal country from October to April.
Quimbaya then opened the doors to Chile by making it accessible all year round and offering experiences beyond the classic.
For example, the Valparaiso region deserves much more than just a day stop.
The Chilean coast is full of hidden gems like the island of Chiloé and the Serena region north of Santiago.
And in the Atacama region, why not treat yourself to a foray into the south of Bolivia to discover the lagoons of South Lipez!
11/ How and with whom to explore Chile's firelands?
Chile is incredibly rich in
travel terms and meets all the requirements
expectations of travellers.
Whether you are a family or a couple, whether you are a hiker or a fisherman, whether you are a weekend sportsman or an extreme sports enthusiast, or whether you are simply a contemplator of the great outdoors and the stars, Chile has something to satisfy you.
Exploring Patagonia and the Chilean Firelands requires good preparation in perfect symbiosis between the client and the local DMC.
Whether it’s hiking in the national parks, sailing through it.
fjords or the discovery of local flora and fauna such as pumas, it takes perfect organization by professionals and guides
Experienced. QUIMBAYA LATIN AMERICA in Chile has proven it to you many times!
12/ And Easter Island, the navel of the world, a small pebble for rich travellers, but what else?
The price of a trip to Easter Island is certainly high, but it is not a policy of Chile unlike other destinations that have made this choice.
Easter Island remains a mythical and mystical destination, which knows how to maintain hikers or fishermen, whether you are the mysteries of its own.
The Moai statues have certainly not finished giving up all their secrets.
The proof of this is this latest recent discovery of a Moai statue in the crater of a volcano (the only one of its kind).
13/ A few words for the travel agents who will come to meet you at your booth at the IFTM show?
Booth C074 STAND OF QUIMBAYA LATIN AMERICA
2024 is a year of novelties for QUIMBAYA LATIN AMERICA and we have a lot of surprises in store for you!!!
Latin America is at Booth C074
