TORONTO — Club Med’s Global CEO and President, Henri Giscard D’Estaing, said today Club Med aims to open five new resorts per year, on average, over the next five years.
Club Med also has plans to execute five major renovations to its current resorts per year.
The announcement of the company’s international growth strategy comes in the wake of the December 2017 openings of Club Med’s new mountain resorts of Samoëns Morillon Grand Massif in France, and Tomamu Hokkaido in Japan.
Club Med is in the midst of a brand evolution that includes new properties exclusive locations, renovations to family-favourite resorts and updated technology features across all 70 existing resorts.
“For more than 65 years, Club Med has continuously worked to improve and adapt to consumer demands and trends,” says Xavier Mufraggi, CEO of Club Med North America. “This entrepreneurial driving spirit has allowed us to remain an energetic and diverse place for travellers with upscale accommodations, superior sports programming, enriching children’s programs, gourmet dining and legendary hospitality skills.”
Here’s a quick look at some of the global upcoming openings, renovations and tech upgrades for 2018 and beyond:
CARIBBEAN
RENOVATION – Club Med Turkoise – Turks and Caicos (May 2018): The adults-exclusive Club Med Turkoise re-opened its doors in January to unveil a refreshed and redefined atmosphere. The resort will earn its fourth Trident (the company’s unique star rating system) as of May 1, 2018.
RENOVATION – Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek – Martinique, French West Indies (summer 2018): Buccaneer’s Creek will transform its existing specialty restaurant, L’o, into a new beach lounge. The venue will support all-day dining within a secluded area of the resort. The main restaurant, Pays Mélés, will also undergo a renovation.
MEXICO
EXPANSION – Club Med Cancún Yucatán (summer 2018): Set to open in July 2018, the Aguamarina area featuring accommodations and spaces dedicated to families will receive an expansion to introduce 60 new family rooms – 30 Family Club rooms and 30 Family Deluxe rooms – along with a new oceanfront pool. In November 2017, the resort also completed a full renovation to all rooms and public spaces, and introduced new restaurant concepts.
EUROPE
Club Med Cefalù – Sicily (opening summer 2018)
Les Arcs Panorama – Savoie, France (opening December 2018)
Club Med Samoëns Morillon Grand Massif – Samoëns, France (newly opened, December 2017)
CANADA
As announced in 2017 Club Med is returning to North America with plans to open a new resort in 2020 in the Le Massif de Charlevoix region, an hour away from Quebec City. The 4-Trident resort with a 5-Trident space will be the first Club Med resort in Canada and will feature year-round activities.
ASIA
In Asia, Club Med Ho Tram, close to Ho Chi Minh City in the southeast of Vietnam, will be the first Club Med to open in the country in 2021. In Indonesia, Club Med Lombok will be the third resort for the brand to open in the country, set to open in 2019. Club Med also recently announced it will open Club Med Ceylon in Sri Lanka in 2019, and a new 5-Trident Exclusive Collection resort in Seychelles in 2020.
CHINA
Club Med Joyview Golden Coast – Hebei Province, China (newly opened, January 2018)
Club Med Joyview Anji – Zhejiang Province, China (newly opened, January 2018)
Club Med Joyview Great Wall – Hebei Province, China (opening 2018)
Club Med Guilin – Guilin (Expansion, January 2018):
JAPAN
Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido – Hokkaido, Japan (newly opened, December 2017)
SOUTH ASIA
Club Med Kani – Republic of the Maldives (renovations, early 2018):
AFRICA
In Africa Club Med is planning renovations for its Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers resort in the Mauritius to expand the resort with 108 new rooms. Current rooms will also undergo renovations, and the resort will play host to a new spa, family pool, Zen space and a refreshed specialty restaurant.
TECH UPDATES
Beginning early in 2018 Club Med’s French and Italian resorts will offer ‘Easy Check-In’ that automatically opens a property account for guests prior to arrival without requiring a stop at reception, followed by ‘Easy Check-Out’ that directly charges the credit card on file so there is no need to close out an account.
Resorts will also engage guests with mobile welcomes and digital assistance throughout their stay using a specialized bracelet.
This year, Club Med is installing new capabilities to the Club Med Resort App that allows guests to access information about sports, dining, activities and events. The app will now allow guests to make direct requests to the housekeeping or technical teams to save time. Guests will also have the ability to book services through the app, such as spa appointments, excursions and specialty restaurant reservations.
Club Med is also working with Google Street View to allow guests the chance to tour the resorts and their rooms prior to arrival.
Currently 25 resorts worldwide offer the Street View option, including Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Florida, Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and Club Med Cancún Yucatán. The company is working on expanding the list throughout the year.