Club Med’s President, Henri Giscard d’Estaing, aims to open five new resorts per year, on average, over the next five years.
The company also has plans to execute five major renovations to its current resorts per year to offer refreshed experiences. Deep into a brand evolution and updated technology features across all 69 existing resorts, Club Med reveals plans for its next series of openings.
“For more than 65 years, Club Med has continuously worked to improve and adapt to consumer demands and trends,” explains Xavier Mufraggi, CEO of Club Med North America. “This entrepreneurial driving spirit has allowed us to remain an energetic and diverse place for travelers with upscale accommodations, superior sports programming, enriching children’s programs, gourmet dining and legendary hospitality skills.”
The upcoming openings and renovations this year include:
Caribbean
Renovation: Club Med Turkoise – Turks and Caicos (May 2018)
The adults-exclusive Club Med Turkoise recently re-opened its doors in January to unveil a refreshed atmosphere, including: all-new Deluxe-level room with balconies, a redesigned pool and reception area, a new main bar, renovated dining space with a new wine cellar and a new wellness area.
Renovation: Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek – Martinique, French West Indies (summer 2018)
Buccaneer’s Creek will transform its existing restaurant, L’o, into a new beach lounge and the main restaurant, Pays Mélés, will also undergo a renovation.
Mexico
Expansion: Club Med Cancún Yucatán – Cancún, Mexico (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. The renovation will increase the capacity of the resort and accommodate travelers with the creation of a second resort center dedicated to families. In November 2017, the resort also completed a full renovation of all rooms and public spaces and introduced new restaurant concepts.
Italy
New resort: Club Med Cefalù – Sicily, Italy (opening summer 2018)
Located on the northern coast of Sicily, the resort will be the first full 5-Trident resort in Europe. Club Med Cefalù will offer more than 300 rooms, three restaurants and three bars. As part of the all-inclusive concept, guests can partake in various activities from sailing and electric surfboarding to tennis and archery.
France
New resort: Les Arcs Panorama – Savoie, France (opening December 2018)
As the second largest ski domain in France, the Paradiski ski region features 264 miles of ski slopes, which makes this property the ideal spot for skiers of all levels. The resort features ski-in/ski-out access, 433 rooms (Suite, Deluxe and Club levels), and three restaurants – including a new family restaurant concept, Bread & Co.
Newly opened: Club Med Samoëns Morillon Grand Massif – Samoëns, France (December 14, 2017)
The ski-in, ski-out property is situated in the heart of the Grand Massif domain, the fourth largest ski domain in France and offers 382 rooms. Expert ski instruction is included for all levels while children’s clubs are available for parents’ peace of mind for children from four months to seventeen years of age. The Skyline Gourmet Lounge offers a menu designed by two-star Michelin chef Edouard Loubet.
China
In China, Club Med is testing a new venture for the company: a brand-new hotel concept to introduce the Club Med experience to the Chinese market as part of its strategy to expand across Asia. The Club Med Joyview project will create a number of new hotels in China over the next few years. All hotels will be within a three-hour drive from a major city in China and feature upscale amenities and premium services. Club Med Joyview hotels will allow guests to choose either a bed-and-breakfast option or an all-inclusive package.
Two Joyview resorts just recently opened, with another one scheduled to open later this year:
Newly opened: Club Med Joyview Golden Coast – Hebei Province, China (January 2018)
In the Beidaihe district of Qinhuangdao City, in the Hebei province of China, Club Med recently introduced a new resort with 308 rooms.
Newly opened: Club Med Joyview Anji – Zhejiang Province, China (January 2018)
Close to the international city of Shanghai, Club Med’s recently opened Joyview Anji resort features 301 rooms.
Newly opened: Club Med Joyview Great Wall – Hebei Province, China (opening 2018)
Located at the foot of the Great Wall of China in Bakeshiyingzhen in the Hebei province, the soon-to-open Club Med Joyview Great Wall will offer the innovative Club Med Playground and the Club Med Waterland.
In addition, Club Med Guilin in China recently added a new section to the resort:
Expansion: Club Med Guilin – Guilin, China (January 2018)
Club Med Guilin just opened a 9,700-square-foot indoor sports complex. Guests will enjoy a climbing wall and trampoline, a virtual reality game room, a multi-sport playground with volleyball, basketball and badminton and a circus experience with juggling, unicycling, balance exercises and an indoor flying trapeze.
Japan
Newly opened: Club Med Tomamu Hokkaido – Hokkaido, Japan (January 19, 2017)
90 minutes from the New Chitose Airport, the resort offers a modern atmosphere inspired by Japanese culture and nature designed by French interior designer Jean-Philippe Nuel. Families and couples are encouraged to embrace the four ski trails, snow trekking and a snow garden for the Children’s Club.
South Asia
Renovations: Club Med Kani – Republic of the Maldives (early 2018)
The resort will open a new scuba-diving center and Mini Club to promote family-friendly travel activities, while the suites at the Manta Exclusive Collection space will undergo a refresh. The Manta section will also unveil a new welcome lounge, beach restaurant and bar lounge.
Looking forward
Club Med’s expansion plans will strengthen its presence in Asia through the creation of new resorts, develop its North American offering by breaking into the territory, and elevate its role in the ski vacation sector with its plan to open a new Alpine ski resort annually.
In Asia, Club Med Ho Tram will be the first Club Med to open in Vietnam country in 2021.
In Indonesia, Club Med Lombok will be the third resort in 2019 for the brand to open in the country. Club Med also recently announced it will open Club Med Ceylon in Sri Lanka in 2019 and a new resort in Seychelles in 2020.
In Africa, Club Med is planning renovations for its Club Med La Pointe aux Canonniers resort in 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 transformed restaurant.
Additionally, Club Med returns to North America: the company plans to open a new resort in 2020 in the Le Massif de Charlevoix region, an hour away from Quebec City.
Technology updates
Beginning early in 2018, 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 the 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 that allows mobility throughout the resort and a smoother arrival.
The company is giving the Club Med Resort App new capabilities to allow guests to access information about sports, dining, activities and events. The app will now allow guests to make direct requests to 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 restaurant reservations.
The company is also working with Google Street View to allow guests to tour the resorts and their rooms prior to arrival. Currently, 25 resorts worldwide offer the Street View option.
