DUCO France Buyers Event Presentation

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DUCO!

DUCO is a niche, destination-oriented travel summit to promote on a year-round basis the Best of Spain & Portugal to top producers from English-speaking markets (mainly USA) and other global markets on smaller scale.

DUCO organizes one annual event in Marbella to promote the networking between high-end Spanish and Portuguese hospitality providers and some of the world’s most qualified travel advisors.

Portfolio of Events

What to expect

A true immersion in France to enhance your knowledge, networking and leverage in this specific market.
Up to 48 scheduled appointments with an incredible selection of hotels and experiences – only the Best of France.
By invitation only, approximately 170 guests travel advisors.
Boutique, elegant, exclusive.

Benefits of attending DUCO:

Strengthen business partnerships with core suppliers in DUCO destinations.
Establish new business relationships through face-to-face meetings and networking.
Learning of off-the-beaten path properties and under-the-radar suppliers who do not reach advisors in their home destinations.
Representing the host and agency to exhibitors and the potential of future business.
Peer-learning through duo appointment pairing and networking events.

Becoming a DUCO Buyer

DUCO’s invitation is personal and non-transferrable, based on advisors’ business criteria.

Criteria:

Front line sellers with a B2C focus.
Once in a 3-Year Opportunity! Buyers can attend a summit in a particular destination once every 3 years.
Representatives of the Next Generation of travel (gen-x and millennial clients).
Consolidated business, minimum USD 1m book of business.
Consolidated bookings in the destination for minimum annual sales of USD 200k (reference check).

NOTE:

Companies that work with B2B such as TO, OTA and DMC, participation at DUCO is restricted to Exhibitor format.
In case B2B operation is not disclaimed during Buyer Application process, participation can be canceled at any time with no claim of losses.

DUCO France 2026

Event Program -

Paris, November 02^nd to 06^th

day1

Monday, Nov 02^nd

Registration and Press Program at HÔTEL DE CRILLON, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL
Opening Cocktail and DUCO Awards hosted by ACCOR and ORIENT EXPRESS

day2

Tuesday, Nov 03^rd

1^st day of scheduled appointments at SHANGRI-LA PARIS
Lunch at leisure
DUCO Apéritif at SHANGRI-LA PARIS

day3

Wednesday, Nov 04^th

2^nd day of scheduled appointments at SHANGRI-LA PARIS
Lunch at leisure

day4

Thursday, Nov 05^th

3^rd day of scheduled appointments at SHANGRI-LA PARIS
Lunch at leisure
Networking Cocktail at INTERCONTINENTAL PARIS LE GRAND

day5

Friday, Nov 06^th

Check-out and departure

Lunch Arrangements – DUCO does not include lunch functions as part of the Official Event Program. The appointment schedule provides a lunch break for participants to use at their discretion.
Guests choosing to leave the venue for lunch are kindly asked to return on time for the afternoon appointments.
Guests staying on-site will enjoy a continued coffee break service throughout the interval.
Mandatory Participation – Attendance in the Official Event Program is mandatory for all Buyers.
Program Changes – The Official Event Program is subject to change. Please refer to the online version for the latest information.

Ex

hibi

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Exhibitors

DUCO gathers, a selection of France’s highest-end hotels and suppliers, from all over the country and the French overseas regions.

Hotels represent the majority of our Exhibitors, followed by a few select DMCs, villas, cruises, private jets, destination partners and bespoke experiences.

To view DUCO France 2026 curatorship list of suppliers, click here.

DUCO Application Process

Agents interested in attending DUCO are invited to:

step1

Application Qualification

Travel Advisors interested in attending DUCO are invited to submit their interest through the DUCO Buyers Interest Application.DUCO will review the information submitted, and the DUCO Buyers Team will be in touch to confirm your attendance status.

step2

Invitation Form and Administrative Fee

Once the application form is validated and if there is availability, applicants will receive the DUCO Invitation Form. This document presents the event details for your consideration, enabling you to determine whether DUCO aligns with your company’s needs and interests. At the end of the invitation form, you will be requested to pay an administrative fee of Euro 350 + VAT. This fee is personal, non-transferable, non-refundable and it will be charged upon DUCO Team approval. Once the Invitation Form is submitted, please wait up to 48 business hours to hear back from DUCO with an update on your status and next steps.

Please await communication from DUCO before proceeding with any travel arrangements. We recommend reading the Terms and Conditions carefully and saving a copy for your reference, as penalty fees may apply for cancellations at this stage.

step3

Attendance Formalization & Flight Information

Once the completed form and Administrative Fee have been received, DUCO will request the participant’s flight details in order to integrate them into the event system (including accommodation, duo pairing, agenda creation, and other logistics).

Should the participant fail to provide flight information within the required timeframe, their participation may be cancelled, and the spot may be offered to a waitlisted advisor, without any claim for losses.

DUCO’s Appointment Format

Each appointment lasts 20 minutes, with a full schedule featuring 16 appointments per day, offering up to 48 appointments over the 3 days of the program.
Appointments are pre-assigned by DUCO, and it is not possible to self-select based on preferences. DUCO qualifies all suppliers exhibiting at the event and considers them all suitable to host your esteemed clients.
Exhibitor tables are positioned in a sequence, and advisors move from table to table (Buyers do not meet with all Exhibitors during appointment tracks).
Each appointment table features one or multiple suppliers, and representatives will divide their presentation time accordingly.
Buyers joining DUCO can be grouped in duos to attend the appointments (agents share the appointment track with another advisor, from the same or different company), maximizing the reach of the educational session.
DUCO’s appointments may take place in different locations (transfers will be provided to and from hosting hotels not within walking distance).
The DUCO programme may include exhibitors offering experiences that are non-commissionable. As many high-end advisors already adopt a service-fee / professional-fee model billed directly to their clients for non-commissionable services, we encourage this approach for these specific situations.

Get ready to become a destination specialist!

In addition to their customized appointment schedule, Buyers can meet with Exhibitors not featured on their schedule by taking advantage of networking opportunities provided in DUCO’s Official Program.

Pre or Post FAM Trip Opportunities: Due to limited availability, if an official tour is not available, advisors are encouraged to contact their preferred DUCO suppliers and arrange their own FAM Trips.

DUCO Invitation Inclusions

includes:

Four nights’ hosted accommodation including breakfast per advisor.
Up to 48 appointments of 20 minutes each.
Transfers between host hotels and DUCO appointments and events. When applicable, consider walking distance venues.
One exclusive networking evening event.
Possibility to apply for a DUCO Trip (limited availability). Possibility to apply for a DUCO Trip (limited availability).

does not include:

Flights/Trains or any other travel arrangements to DUCO´s host city.
Arrival and departure (airport or station) transfers.
Monday: Transfer to and from the registration venue (as it is an all-day event, agents are free to join at their leisure).
DUCO does not include lunch functions in the program. The appointment schedule includes a lunch break for advisors to use at their discretion. Participants may have the opportunity to join sponsored luncheons hosted by Official Partners (once confirmed, attendance is mandatory).
Personal expenses or any extras not mentioned above.

The invitation is personal and non-transferable. All Buyers are required to comply with the Terms & Conditions when accepting an invitation to attend DUCO.

Transportation

Daily shuttles between the host hotels and the event venues will be provided at pre-scheduled times, which will be communicated by the organizers closer to the event.
Shuttles will depart strictly at the scheduled times to ensure the proper flow of the event, and late arrivals will be responsible for their own transportation.
Transfer times and routes cannot be modified or negotiated directly with drivers under any circumstances.
Please note that certain venues are located within walking distance; in such cases, transportation will not be provided.
Transportation will be shared with other event participants and may include multiple stops.
As transfers operate on a rotating schedule, some waiting time may be expected.

best

moments

DUCO Spain & Portugal 2025 Previous Edition

beyond the

summit

As a destination specialist, DUCO provides advisors with year-round materials to assist in planning the perfect Best of Spain & Portugal itineraries for clients.

DUCO social media

Follow @ducospainportugal for daily inspiration and insider tips on the rich heritage of Spain & Portugal.

DUCO Best of Spain & Portugal

Explore the essence of Spain & Portugal through the DUCO Spain & Portugal Website and the Best of Spain & Portugal, our online catalogue showcasing each Spanish or Portuguese region and its highlights.

the buyers

team

Your trust & partnership are
what moves our work and gives us the inspiration
to promote the best of France.

Merci beaucoup!

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