One of the first all-inclusive resort groups, Club Med (or “The Club” as its fans call it) is not resting on its laurels. Now with some 60 resorts around the world, the chain is renovating and expanding.
Hosts Jacinda Lowry, AVP Sales Canada and BDMs Natasha George (Ontario & Western Canada) and Tyler Mattioli (Ontario & Maritimes) shared all the fun details with a group of about 180 travel advisors at the Club Med Unpacked industry update on 26AUG.
Held at the colossal Cineplex Vaughan, north of Toronto, the company had the chance to treat the audience not only to appetizers and popcorn but also to big-screen images of some of the beautiful properties.
Today’s Club Med comprises some 60 resorts from Japan to Brazil, France to South Africa, and of course, the Caribbean and Mexico.
Worldwide, two-thirds of the resorts are beach destinations, while one-third are ski villages. And don’t forget the five-masted, 184-cabin Club Med II sailing ship.
The Club now also has a second tier of resorts: its 21 “Exclusive Collection” properties, featuring villas, chalets, and other upscale amenities, including some standalone properties and resorts-within-resorts.
The Miches property in the Dominican Republic, complete with over-water chalets, is the first Exclusive Collection resort in North America.
The group said Cancun, Punta Cana and Martinique are currently undergoing major refurbishments and refinements, while new resorts are planned for St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands, San Sicario in the Italian Alps and a second ski resort in Quebec.
By 2035, the group anticipates reaching the 100-resort mark.
What the resorts all share is a cosmopolitan vibe, with clients from all over the world - and fabulous cuisine. While there may not be the 10-12 à la carte restaurants found in some of their competitors’ properties (at Club Med, there are usually only two or three restaurants), the food is top quality, prepared by loving and talented chefs.
“Anyone who goes to Club Med comes home talking about how well they ate,” said Lowry.
It’s all quite a journey from 1950 when the first Club was opened by water polo champion Gérard Blitz on the Spanish Island of Mallorca. Far from the lavish resorts of today, this first one consisted of tent accommodation, communal cooking and simple activities.
Part vacation, part social experiment, Blitz reasoned that the French people, exhausted by the anxieties and privations of World War 2, needed to enjoy “freedom, community and outdoor happiness."
Now 76 years later, some of that thinking remains. Guests are still called GMs (“gentils membres,” translated as “gracious members”), while staff are still called GOs (“gentils organizateurs” or “gracious organizers”). GOs hail from all over the world and speak at least two languages, one of which must be English. If clients wish, they can dine with GOs in the restaurant at dinner. GOs also supply the evening entertainment, which can range from surprisingly impressive to cutely corny, all lapped up by the GMs.
And as in the past, most of the client-facing GOs change resorts every six months, keeping the mood fresh.
Another Club Med innovation was the introduction of Mini-Clubs for kids in 1967. Today’s family clubs welcome children as young as four months to age 17. Activities and facilities are extensive and age-appropriate, from in-room strollers and bottle warmers for the wee ones to the hugely popular Circus School, including Pyjama Clubs for kids 7 to 11.
Even teens, often the toughest customers, are kept engaged and involved. “This,” Lowry told the audience, “gives the parents a real vacation.”
Some tips about selling Club Med:
So who goes to Club Med? The average age is 40, with 1/3 couples and about 2/3 families.
Repeat factor: Once clients have tried Club Med, they tend to go back, enjoying the same vibe at resorts around the world, even in the most exotic locales. (There are inevitably some bragging rights around the bar: “So how many Clubs have you been to?”)
For the sporty client: 15 or more sports are available at the resorts, all including instruction – a great way to pick up a new passion at no extra cost.
For the skiers: Clients are often surprised to hear that there is such a thing as an all-inclusive ski vacation and love the idea of having their instruction and lift tickets (not to mention all their meals and drinks) prepaid.
Agents can keep up with news of The Club at the Club Med with Tyler and Natasha! Facebook page.
