Club Med, the pioneer of the all-inclusive concept that started some 70 years ago, is not sitting on its glory days. The company is modernizing and becoming that much more of an accessible, cost-effective choice for vacation-bound travelers with plans to open 17 new resorts by 2024.
“Since 1950, Club Med has continued to shape the all-inclusive industry by introducing new destinations and experiences to travelers worldwide,” says Carolyne Doyon, President & CEO of Club Med North America and the Caribbean. “Throughout our 72-year history, we’ve successfully adapted our portfolio to appeal to upscale travelers and families, as well as demonstrated our leadership in the all-inclusive mountain experience. Maintaining our ambitious expansion plan, we are on track to open 17 new resorts, as well as complete 13 renovations or extensions of existing resorts, by 2024.”
Some of the upcoming openings, renovations, and upgrades from Club Med include continued expansion momentum that started last year with four resort openings: Club Med Seychelles (Africa), Club Med Lijiang (China), Club Med Québec (Canada), and Club Med La Rosière (French Alps). The brand also completed four renovations, including Club Med Albion (Mauritius), Club Med Peisey-Vallandry (French Alps), Club Med Pragelato-Sestriere (Italian Alps), and Club Med Marrakech (Morocco).
NORTH AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
NEW RESORT – Club Med Utah, USA (2024)
The brand’s renowned all-inclusive mountain concept will be expanding to the United States with an Exclusive Collection (5-Star) resort in Snowbasin, Utah. Located 35 miles from Salt Lake City, the Snowbasin resort is one of the most accessible and oldest operating ski resorts in North America. The 320-room four season resort will combine American luxury with Club Med’s French savoir-faire, appealing to every type of traveler including families, couples, and meetings & events groups. Accommodations will include spacious 2-bedroom Deluxe rooms & Family Suites, while private Penthouse Suites will be available for those seeking added luxury. Club Med will also offer its award-winning children’s clubs from 4 months to 17 years old for families seeking a more tailored, family-fun experience. In addition to all-day dining available at the resort’s restaurants and lounges, guests can also enjoy included group ski and snowboard lessons with ski-in/ ski-out access, lift tickets, and a heated swimming pool during the ski season. During the warmer months, there will be opportunities to explore more than 3,000 acres of surrounding mountains and valleys through guided activities like hiking programs, mountain biking, and Club Med’s trademark circus activities.
EUROPE
NEW RESORT – Club Med Magna Marbella, Spain (May 2022)
Located 45 minutes from the Malaga International Airport in the Andalusia region of Spain, Club Med has retaken one of Spain’s most mythic destinations to open a brand-new resort. With a focus on the cultural and natural richness of southern Spain, the resort will mix tradition and modernity to offer an experience focused on wellness, nature, family experiences, and discovery of the destination. Guests will find unique features in the 485-room resort, such as a family fun zone, garden parties, 14 hectares of Andalusian gardens, a Club Med Spa by Cinq Mondes, and five different swimming areas.
NEW RESORT – Club Med Tignes, French Alps (Dec. 2022)
A historic destination that has been home to Club Med since 1958, Tignes Val Claret is a natural sports paradise located at an altitude of 2,150 meters. The brand-new Club Med Tignes resort will be located in the center of the liveliest part of town, making it a hotspot for winter sports and nightlife. The resort will feature 430 rooms, including 25 Exclusive Collection (5-Star) suites, two restaurants, a full spa and wellness salt wall, the largest Club Med pool in the Alps, a full childcare program, and a ski domain suitable for every level.
NEW RESORT – Club Med Val d’Isère, French Alps (Dec. 2022)
Located in the Tarentaise Valley at an altitude of 1,850 meters, this authentic village is home to an internationally-recognized ski mecca. The resort is undergoing a complete transformation worthy of its soon-to-be Exclusive Collection designation. As such, it will be the brand’s first entirely 5-Star mountain resort, with a total of 216 rooms available for booking in both winter and summer. As well as offering fabulous skiing, gourmet dining, childcare starting at age 4, and a welcoming spa and yoga program, the resort will redefine luxury by combining intimacy, conviviality, and relaxation.
NEW RESORT – Club Med San Sicario, Italian Alps (Dec. 2024)
A new addition to Club Med’s mountain portfolio in the Italian Alps, the bi-seasonal Club Med San Sicario, will feature 200 rooms located on a prime ski location from the 2006 Turin Olympics.
EXTENSION – Club Med Pragelato-Sestriere, Italian Alps (2022)
Nestled in the Piedmont region of Italy, Club Med’s Pragelato Sestriere resort consists of a hamlet of wooden chalets. The expansion plan will include 17 new chalets housing 105 new rooms. Construction will be completed following the architectural style of the region.
RENOVATION & EXTENSION – Club Med Gregolimano, Greece (2023)
One of the brand’s flagship summer resorts in the Mediterranean Basin, located on the Greek Island of Evia, will undergo both a renovation and extension including newly renovated beachfront bungalows.
ASIA
RENOVATION & EXTENSION – Club Med Phuket, Thailand (2023-2024)
Visitors traveling to Club Med Phuket, located on Kata Beach, can look forward to newly refreshed facilities and experiences aimed at recreating an authentic Thai atmosphere for everyone. Enhanced with an eco-chic, modern, and upscale twist, the refreshed resort spaces will include a redesign of the main restaurant, meetings & events center, pool and sun deck, and more.
NEW RESORT – Club Med Hokkaido, Japan (2023)
Following the success of its two other mountain resorts in Japan, Club Med will open a third property on the northern island of Hokkaido. Known as one of Asia’s top travel destinations, Hokkaido offers a fun-filled family experience, perfectly powdered snow for skiing and trekking, natural landscapes, and local culinary delights.
NEW RESORT – Club Med Borneo Kota Kinabalu, Malayasia (Opening 2024)
Adding to its portfolio in Southeast Asia, Club Med will build a new resort on the Malaysian side of the island of Borneo. The destination is known for its beaches, biodiverse rainforest, Mount Kinabalu (Southeast Asia’s highest peak), famed dive site Sipadan Island, and native species such as orangutans and clouded leopards. This forthcoming resort embodies Club Med’s pioneering spirit, as it will bring a brand-new resort to a secluded destination.
New Product Novelties and Digital Innovations
New Programming for Teens
As family travel evolves, Club Med is enhancing its existing teen programming (Club Med Passworld for teens ages 11–17). Club Med’s new teen program will feature unique activities and social-forward events that give teens the opportunity to have exciting vacation moments and experiential content to share online. As part of this new programming, teens will also be able to take part in Club Med’s Happy To Care mission. The pilot program is launching this spring in Club Med Punta Cana and Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda.
New Resort Experiences
Over the past year, numerous studies have shown that travelers are eager to get outdoors in destinations that offer plenty of room to roam, are prioritizing health and wellness, and are interested in vacation options that cater to the entire family. With this market research in mind, Club Med enhanced its existing resort experiences, including:
– Circus School by Club Med, an acrobatic playground with activities like flying trapeze, tightrope walking, and aerial silk in Club Med Punta Cana
– New and/or upgraded pickleball courts in all resorts in Florida, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Coast of Mexico
– Club Med Amazing Family Program, a fun-filled agenda of weekly activities designed to help families bond and reconnect, launched in all resorts across Florida, the Caribbean, and Mexico
– Club Med Spa by Sothys opened in three resorts including Club Med Sandpiper Bay, Club Med Québec, and Club Med Ixtapa Pacific
– Wing foil watersport activity in Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda
– All-day yoga programming in Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda and Club Med Québec, with planned expansion to other North American resorts
– The “sunset ritual”, a weekly lifestyle experience on the beach in Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda, with planned expansion to Club Med Cancun and Club Med Ixtapa Pacific.
New dining concepts in existing resorts:
“Lucky Lime”, an all-day Mexican taqueria at Club Med Sandpiper Bay
“From Jungle to Table”, a sustainable dining concept at the Coco Plum Beach Lounge in Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda
“Altamar”, a premium seafood restaurant in Club Med Punta Cana
“Le Chalet”, a gourmet lounge in Club Med Québec featuring locally-sourced, family-style dinners “a la bonne franquette” – meaning cozy, friendly, and without any fuss
Author: Lark Gould
Lark Gould has been a travel industry journalist for more than 30 years. She shares her insight on cruise travel, air travel, hotels, resorts, popular activities, attractions and destinations to assist travel advisors and travelers with the current news and information they need to travel well.
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