French TMC Travel Planet is currently under investigation in France following allegations of fraud, money laundering and improper use of corporate assets, according to local news reports.
The company’s co-founder and chair Betty Seroussi and CEO Tristan Dessain-Gelinet have reportedly been charged with tax fraud, money laundering and the misuse of corporate assets after being taken into police custody last week, as reported by Deplacements Pros.
The TMC recorded €130 million in gross sales in 2024 and is the 11th largest travel management company in France, according to BTN Europe’s Leading TMCs 2025 report.
The accusations, however, date back to 2018, BTN Europe understands, when the TMC’s operations were based in Lille. Authorities from the region last week travelled to the executives' current office in Sophia-Antipolis, in the country’s south, to take them into custody, according to reports.
Local news reports have speculated the charges may relate to a 2018 dispute between the TMC and Air France.
According to French tourism publication, TourMag, Travel Planet had been ordered to pay €100,000 in damages to Air France in 2018 following accusations of illegal markups on air tickets. After several attempts by Travel Planet to appeal the ruling, a Paris court in 2020 reportedly confirmed the “unfair nature” of the TMC’s practices.
Seroussi, who also served as the co-president of French Tech Côte d'Azur, an association supporting entrepreneurs and startups in southern France, resigned from this position on Monday (6 October).
In a statement shared with BTN Europe, the French Tech Côte d'Azur said it has accepted Seroussi’s resignation as it “aims to preserve the serenity and integrity of the association’s work in a sensitive context”.
“The board of directors wishes to clearly and responsibly state its position by reminding that our association, independent and non-profit, strictly distinguishes between the professional activities of its members and their voluntary involvement,” the association said.
BTN Europe has contacted Travel Planet for comment.