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Last night hundreds of travel agents, suppliers, celebrities, media and representatives of French companies gathered in the ballroom of the Sydney Sofitel Wentworth Hotel for an “Elegant French Soiree” wine-themed function to showcase the tourism product of the Bordeaux-Aquitaine region. The event was part of this year’s French Tourism Workshops which are on today in Sydney, tomorrow at the Sofitel Melbourne and on Fri at the Hyatt Regency in Auckland featuring over 60 exhibitors. TD’s exclusive photos on this page were taken during last night’s gala event, which was titled ‘A wine-and-only Rendezvous’ – and it certainly lived up to its name, with guests treated to exceptional French cuisine and matching Bordeaux-Aquitaine regional wines. Major sponsors included Sofitel, Qantas and Air France, and Patrick Benhamou from Atout France is pictured above with Kylie Menzies from Qantas and Fanny Mauchien of Air France – in front of the giant ‘wine wall’ fountain at the event. new.traveldaily.com.au Taken on Sep. 8th, 2010 at 13:49 |
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The event included the official establishment of the 826th Chapter of the Confrere des Piliers Chablisiens (Brotherhood of the Wine Pillars) – an ancient Burgundian organisation whose members are dedicated to promoting Chablis and the wines of Burgundy.
Four of the new members of the not-so-secret brotherhood are pictured above from left after pledging their eternal devotion to Burgundian alcoholic beverages: Aussie culinary icon Tony Bilson, Tourism Australia chief Andrew McEvoy (who seemed to be quite thirsty), Melissa Doyle from Channel 7’s Sunrise show, and former Sydney Lord Mayor Lucy Turnbull. new.traveldaily.com.au Taken on Sep. 8th, 2010 at 13:49 |
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Christian Blondeau of France @ Leisure and Greg McCallum of Rail Plus were among the many agents and suppliers at the event.
new.traveldaily.com.au Taken on Sep. 8th, 2010 at 13:49 |
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Guests were welcomed by beret-clad children treading out the harvest in the foyer of the Sydney Sofitel Wentworth.
new.traveldaily.com.au Taken on Sep. 8th, 2010 at 13:49 |
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The new Atout France Sydney branch of the organisation was created through an arcane ritual, with curiously dressed officials from the brotherhood (pictured above) inducting eight new members in a mysterious ceremony which involved the reading of an official proclamation, group singing of a special French song, the quaffing of some Chablis by the inductees and lots of general merriment.
new.traveldaily.com.au Taken on Sep. 8th, 2010 at 13:49 |
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