Voyages C.Mathez, a family-owned travel business specializing in corporate travel and events, has introduced a luxury-focused division called Maison Laget to strengthen its events portfolio. The initiative follows Fanny Herbaut Chauveau assuming operational leadership as deputy managing director, while her mother, Michelle Laget Herbaut, retains control over finances and strategic oversight.
The new brand debuted on September 15, 2026, targeting high-end clients in public, private, and corporate sectors. This marks the third generation of family leadership since the company’s founding by Jean Laget in 1972. Though Voyages C.Mathez has long managed events through its existing framework, limited online visibility—especially in searches for event agencies—restricted its market reach.
Launching Maison Laget to Boost Visibility
“Clients recognized our event capabilities, but we were invisible in digital searches,” Herbaut Chauveau explained. “This brand lets us attract new customers while showcasing our expertise.” The name Maison Laget honors the founder, blending heritage with a premium positioning.
Herbaut Chauveau’s promotion reflects a strategic evolution. After joining the company nearly 14 years ago as an event coordinator, she led the Paris events team for four years before her current role. Now overseeing business ticketing and commercial operations, she expands her responsibilities beyond human resources, where she managed 47 full-time employees and seasonal cruise guide payrolls.
Modernizing Digital Strategy While Preserving Service
The launch aligns with efforts to modernize Voyages C.Mathez’s digital strategy, including enhanced marketing and search optimization. Yet the company maintains its signature personalized service, rejecting efficiency-driven automation. “We could streamline logistics, but removing the human element would strip away the value,” Herbaut Chauveau said. The brand’s initial online presence includes a website, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles, with plans to highlight the group’s decades-long event experience.
Behind the scenes, diversification has been central to the company’s stability. Voyages C.Mathez operates in three areas: cruise reception at French ports, business travel, and events. The division between Michelle Laget Herbaut, who leads northern operations from Paris, and her sister Brigitte Bailet, overseeing southern France from Nice, ensures balanced regional coverage. This structure has helped the business adapt to challenges like climate disruptions and geopolitical risks.
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Financial Gains and Future Outlook
“Some years favor cruises, others business travel; we adjust as needed,” Laget Herbaut said. The company’s financial performance improved in 2026, with business travel securing new corporate clients and cruise operations adding three shipping lines, increasing port calls by nearly 40.
Herbaut Chauveau’s expanded role includes advocacy for tourism sector reforms through her position on the Commission paritaire permanente de négociation et d’interprétation (CPPNI). A key focus is gender equality, addressing the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions.
The next phase for Maison Laget depends on securing major bookings while Voyages C.Mathez prepares for 2027, a year with presidential elections and potential cruise itinerary changes due to regional instability.
Michelle Laget Herbaut’s influence extends beyond daily operations. As vice-president of the Manor network, administrator and treasurer of the APST, and member of the École de Développement du Voyage, she shapes industry standards. Her involvement stems from her father’s legacy, Jean Laget, the founder, was known for his hands-on approach to institutional engagement, a tradition she continues. “This level of involvement has always defined our approach,” she stated, emphasizing how her background in financial oversight and high-level negotiations has sustained the company through regulatory changes, including tax reforms and labor law updates.
Herbaut Chauveau’s leadership reflects the family’s intentional succession planning. Unlike many third-generation leaders, she grew up embedded in the business, accompanying her grandfather on cruise ships and assisting her mother with client preparations as a child. This immersion supported an early appreciation for the company’s meticulous service standards. Though she holds a master’s in human resources, her mother’s mentorship was key. “She guided me from the start,” Herbaut Chauveau noted, crediting the family’s collaborative culture for her smooth transition into leadership.