Interview with Pros – Chems Tounsi, Sales & Development Manager at Otentic Travel
A graduate of the Panthéon-Sorbonne University and Dauphine University, Chems Tounsi built his career at the intersection of tourism and digital technology, working at PerfectStay and lastminute.com before joining Otentic Travel, the tour operator founded by his father, Hakim Tounsi.
He now embodies a new generation of professionals who combine strategy, innovation, and a human touch.
In this interview, he shares his vision of authentic travel in 2026, a vision that blends heritage, ambition, and transformation.
Summary
Reviving a historic brand with a new vision
InfosTourisme.com: After several years in tourism and digital, what led you to join Otentic Travel and participate in the relaunch of the Authentique brand?
Chems Tounsi:
My career has been built around two very formative experiences. I first spent two years at PerfectStay as an Account Manager dedicated to the Veepee account, then three and a half years at lastminute.com, where I managed the relationship with French tour operators across all destinations.
These years have allowed me to gain a deep understanding of how digital tourism works: distribution, the product, performance… but above all, the human element. I met many passionate professionals who greatly contributed to shaping my vision of the sector.
Last September, I felt the need to add a more personal and entrepreneurial dimension to my journey. So I joined Otentic Travel to participate in the relaunch of Authentique, founded by my father, Hakim Tounsi, in 1998. It's not a new beginning, but a continuation: evolving a tour operator with a real history, adapting it to current challenges – technology, distribution, product – while remaining true to its DNA, that of a committed player that champions more authentic and experiential tourism.
Differentiation and added value: the Otentic bet
InfosTourisme.com: You currently lead the overall development of the tour operator, including product creation, premiumization, and brand strategy. In your opinion, what are the key differentiators for a tour operator like Otentic in 2026?
Chems Tounsi:
In an increasingly competitive market, differentiation can no longer rely solely on price. At Otentic, we have opted for a wide range of products, but with a very clear focus: offering high-quality, high-value products while remaining accessible to the general public.
Our main lever is experience. The Otentic brand is built around this idea, particularly through the Otentic Collection: carefully selected trips, tested and approved by our teams, designed to offer something truly different. More human, more immersive experiences, but always at competitive prices.
Finding the balance between authenticity, performance and modernity
InfosTourisme.com: How to reconcile authenticity, performance and modernity today in a market dominated by OTAs and online distribution?
Chems Tounsi:
It is precisely in this balance that the value of a tour operator lies today. At Otentic, we remain true to our DNA of authentic and experiential products, while making them accessible and attractive to a general public, including on major distribution platforms.
The goal is not to directly compete with the ultra-automated processes of bedbanks. Our value lies elsewhere: in creating exclusive experiences, unique products that cannot be automatically replicated and that restore meaning to the role of the tour operator.
At the same time, we maintain a strong competitive edge in more traditional holiday packages thanks to our airline commitments and solid partnerships with select hotels. This allows us to combine authenticity, commercial performance, and modernity without compromising our identity.
To restore meaning to the word “authenticity”
InfosTourisme.com: The term “authentic travel” is often misused. What is your own definition of authenticity, and how do you translate it concretely into your products and experiences?
Chems Tounsi:
There is clearly a trend today around the word “authenticity”, often used incorrectly, and sometimes simply to justify higher prices without any real content behind them.
For us, an authentic journey is first and foremost an immersive experience: respectful of the local area, fostering encounters with local people, and showcasing the region's expertise. Authenticity cannot be decreed; it is built on the ground.
In practical terms, at Otentic, this translates into locally designed products, regularly tested by our teams, and an extremely rigorous selection process for our partners. We also strive to encourage our customers to truly discover their destination through enriching experiences accessible to all budgets.
This approach is also reflected in our catalogue. We try to highlight something other than the classic holiday. In Tunisia, for example, we are now among the very few, and probably the only French tour operator, to have branded a desert camp, to offer a powerful, cohesive and distinctive experience.
Team Otentic © Chems Tounsi
A comprehensive view of the market, between tour operators and digital technology
InfosTourisme.com: You've worked in several sectors: tour operators, online travel agencies, brands, and startups. How do these experiences help you today in your vision of tourism development and products?
Chems Tounsi:
My experiences at PerfectStay and lastminute.com gave me a comprehensive view of leisure tourism. I discovered a sector that is much more complex than it seems, encompassing distribution challenges, operational constraints, customer expectations, and economic realities.
Over time, this has allowed me to better understand the French and European travel sales market, from the perspective of both customers and resellers/platforms. We continue to learn every day, but this foundation is essential for gaining perspective.
Today, my role is precisely to bridge the gap between this very concrete understanding of the market and Otentic's DNA, which is different from what I've experienced before. The challenge is to remain true to our vision while meeting the real needs of the market.
Otentic: a brand for a new generation of travelers
InfosTourisme.com: The launch of the Otentic brand seems to represent a new stage for Authentique Voyages. What are your medium-term ambitions for this brand?
Chems Tounsi:
Otentic represents a new strategic step for Authentique Voyages. In the medium term, our ambition is to make it a strong, identifiable and desirable brand, capable of embodying another way of travelling, more experiential and more committed, while remaining accessible.
Beyond the product offering, we primarily want to create a brand reflex. When a traveler is looking for a distinctive, high-value, and meaningful stay, regardless of the destination, we want Otentic to naturally be among their options.
This involves structuring the Otentic Collection, establishing a clear brand identity, and maintaining a controlled presence across distribution channels. Ultimately, Otentic aims to become a trusted brand for both travelers and distributors.
Key trends in the premium sector by 2026
InfosTourisme.com: In your opinion, what are the major trends in tailor-made travel and the premium segment for the coming years?
Chems Tounsi:
The premium sector is clearly evolving towards more immersive and authentic experiences. Travelers expect less ostentatious luxury and more meaning, encounters, and a connection to the destination.
Expectations are also diversifying. Some are looking for highly customized, almost artisanal experiences, while others prefer pre-planned, well-structured trips that save them time while guaranteeing real added value.
Finally, the sector is undergoing a major technological transformation. After the internet, connected data streams, and dynamic packaging, AI is ushering in a new era. These developments present tremendous opportunities to enhance the user experience.
B2B media as levers for understanding and vision
InfosTourisme.com: At InfosTourisme.com, we work to create tools to support professionals in the sector (reports, benchmarks, data, etc.). What role can these B2B media play, in your opinion, in the skills development and transformation of the sector?
Chems Tounsi:
In tourism, it is essential to stay constantly informed. It's a sector that evolves very quickly, and you can quickly find yourself behind if you don't maintain a clear view of what's happening around you.
The B2B press allows you to take a step back, follow trends, market developments and new tools. It helps to maintain a comprehensive understanding of the sector.
I often tell my teams that you always need to understand the ins and outs of what you're doing. Whatever the task, to do it well, you need to know how it fits into a larger picture. B2B media helps to provide this broader perspective.
Team Otentic in Tozeur © Chems Tounsi
Heading towards 2026: between ambition and continuity
InfosTourisme.com: Finally, if you had to summarize your mindset for 2026 in one sentence, what would it be?
Chems Tounsi:
I am very optimistic for 2026, with the desire to continue to grow Otentic and to enable more and more travelers to give meaning to their travels.
Key points to remember
- Otentic wants to redefine authentic travel by anchoring it in the reality on the ground.
- Differentiation is based on the experience, sincerity and quality of the partners.
- The future of premium travel is immersive, human, and technologically intelligent.
Article published in the "Words from the Pros" series – January 2026
InfosTourisme.com – B2B media for tourism and innovation
Contact Chems Tounsi / Otentic Travel
chems@otentic.com or on LinkedIn
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