French Riviera Sightseeing founder Ichrak Hancq has made it possible for visitors to capture the glamor and beauty of the region in record time.
It’s no wonder the company’s flagship French Riviera in a Day tour has become the number one tour in the South of France, and its success has allowed the company to expand its tours to cater to just about every whim of visitors.
From the glittering casinos of Monte Carlo and the sun-drenched beaches of Saint-Tropez to wine tasting in Provence and seeing the breathtaking Gorges du Verdon, French Riviera Sightseeing is the go-to for authentic, locally guided tours that showcase the best of the Côte d’Azur.
"We wanted to create tours that ticked off famous landmarks but also immersed our guests in the culture and lifestyle of the French Riviera," Ichrak explains.
Since partnering with GetYourGuide in 2019, French Riviera Sightseeing has seen exponential growth, welcoming tens of thousands of guests from around the globe each year. Here, Ichrak shares her company’s journey, the challenges of rapid growth, and how collaboration with platforms like GetYourGuide has helped put the French Riviera on the bucket lists of travelers worldwide.
Tell us about French Riviera Sightseeing. How did it all begin?
“We started with just one tour, where you could see the French Riviera in one day. It’s still our flagship tour, taking visitors through Monaco, Monte Carlo, Cannes, Antibes, and Saint-Paul-de-Vence. We’ve been around for years, but 2019 was when we really took off, thanks to our partnership with GetYourGuide."
And it’s allowed the company to grow — we now have more than 11 tours, some with a private tour option, to places like Grasse, Monaco, and Provence.
How do you keep coming up with fresh tour ideas?
“We listen to our customers. Some guests expressed interest in seeing the nightlife of the places we visit on the one-day tour, so we created the Monte Carlo by night tour. We also organize special events like birthdays or anniversaries at iconic spots like Café de Paris in Monte Carlo. It’s about creating unique experiences that showcase the French Riviera at its best and giving our clients a choice to explore the places they loved the most from our flagship tour a little deeper.”
What’s your most popular tour right now?
“We’ve created a range of options, so there is a nice mix of the classic Riviera experience with some off-the-beaten-path adventures. Our full-day French Riviera tour is still a favorite, but we’re seeing growing interest in our Gorges du Verdon tour. It’s become very popular this year. We also offer a wine-tasting tour with organic wines in Provence, which guests love.”
What makes your tours stand out in such a popular destination?
“We focus on convenience and authenticity. We pick up guests from their hotels and drop them off after the tour, which is a huge plus for those short on time. But more than that, we offer a genuine taste of the Riviera. From our full-day tours to our Monte Carlo by night experience, we aim to show the real Côte d’Azur.”
What made you join GetYourGuide?
“Until 2018, we only worked with some hotels in Nice, where guests could book tours with the concierge and wanted to expand our client base. We saw that other companies were already working with GetYourGuide and decided to give it a try. I thought it would give us the opportunity to reach more clients than through hotels alone.”
It seems like it worked. How has working with GetYourGuide impacted the business?
“It’s been transformative. Every year since — if you exclude the pandemic — we’ve doubled our clients."
About 80 percent of our bookings now come through GetYourGuide, so it’s our main booking source, and we try to maximize availability there.
"Their marketing has been incredibly effective for us. We also have access to customer contact information, which makes it easier to manage bookings and solve any issues quickly — many other OTAs don’t allow you to speak directly to the guest.”
Has this shift in strategy changed the customer demographic?
“Absolutely. Before, we mostly had French and Spanish clients. Now, we’re welcoming guests from India, Russia, Portugal, and many other countries. Young and old. It’s also pushed us to create tours in more languages, when before they were only in French. We’ve hired guides who speak multiple languages to accommodate guests from all over the world.”
How does the data help you plan?
“We can see the bookings numbers daily, both the numbers and where people are coming from, which helps us better plan our drivers and vehicles. We usually close the bookings on GetYourGuide last, so the tours tomorrow are only available on GetYourGuide, and we can better manage last-minute bookings. Our Gorges of Verdon tour is often booked two or three months in advance, but the French Riviera in a day tour is usually booked much more last minute.”
Are reviews always positive?
“We take reviews very seriously as we know how powerful they are when booking. If a customer is unhappy, we try to understand why and find a solution. Sometimes, a customer feels they don’t have enough time at a certain stop, but we can’t adjust group tours to suit individual interests, so we explain the itinerary. That said, sometimes feedback can prompt us to adjust future tours if it is a recurring issue or a great idea.”
How do you maintain the quality of your tours with such rapid growth in your booking volume?
“It’s our biggest challenge, but also our driving force. We currently don’t have the ability for an API connection, so we allocate most of our availability to GetYourGuide. We use Bookingkit for most other bookings, but for GetYourGuide, we handle bookings directly.
This allows us to be more flexible and shorten the cut-off to offer more last-minute bookings. It’s crucial in this industry where plans can change quickly. We also allow single-person reservations, where many tours require a minimum of two people. There’s nothing more frustrating as a solo traveler.”
What advice would you give to other tour operators looking to grow their business?
“Embrace flexibility. As I just said, allow last-minute bookings, and don’t shy away from single-person reservations. "
A huge number of people, especially younger travelers, travel alone and decide on tours at the last minute. Also, partnerships with platforms like GetYourGuide can be game-changers. They provide exposure that we just couldn’t afford ourselves. You’re put on the screens of clients worldwide, in their language, without any additional work.
What drives you every day?
“Meeting people from all over the world makes me incredibly happy. I love organizing special experiences for our clients, too, whether it’s a photoshoot in the Gorges du Verdon or a romantic dinner in Monte Carlo — we’re expecting a proposal at Café de Paris tonight, which is always exciting.
Proposals are a regular highlight. Seeing our guests’ joy makes all the hard work worthwhile. I hope we can keep expanding, have larger buses, and stay at the top of people’s minds when booking tours here in the South of France.”
Key takeaways
- French Riviera Sightseeing’s revenue through GetYourGuide has doubled each year since 2021 to a seven-figure net revenue today.
- Eighty percent of the company’s total bookings are made through GetYourGuide.
- The French Riviera in a Day tour has become the number one experience in the South of France.
- Increasing availability on GetYourGuide has eliminated the need for an API connection and allowed more flexibility for customers.
- French Riviera Sightseeing can better plan guides and vehicles using the daily booking numbers and data from GetYourGuide.
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