MONTREAL — Ahead of its upcoming Destination France roadshow, Atout France in Canada is inviting tour operators to submit their applications for the Product of the Year Award.

The award, which is voted by travel agents, was first created to thank tour operators for their role in promoting France as a travel destination.

To be eligible to participate, tour operators must present a new product from their 2019 travel program in France, or its overseas regions (tours, stays, etc.). Only one product is accepted per tour operator.

The application process is as follows:

• Step 1: Review the technical file
• Step 2: Fill out the registration form
• Step 3: Prepare two photos and a brief description of the product.

Tour operators must send all elements by email to quan.wen@atout-france.fr before Jan. 31, 2020, 11:59 p.m. (EST).

The products submitted will be selected by a jury on the basis of their originality and exclusivity. The tours selected for the award will be put online on the Destination France website and undergo a voting process by travel agents from Feb. 7-17, 2020.

To encourage agents to vote, a prize will be drawn at random for two vouchers for two people (lunch or dinner) at Restaurant La Bauhinia in Shangri-La Hotel in Paris, with two aperitifs and two glasses of wine included. The vouchers, which have a value of € 776 and offered by 4 roues sous un parapluie, must be used before Dec. 31, 2020.

The winners will be announced and presented with trophies at the Destination France cocktail event in Montreal on Feb. 25, and in Toronto on Feb. 26.

The recipient of the Product of the Year award will be featured on ca.france.fr as well as in an article to be published in two editions of the Atout France in Canada consumer newsletter.