Club Med eyes expanded growth in Ontario

New and upgraded resorts plus continued growth in English Canada will mark the coming year for Club Med, which launched its 2017 winter program in Toronto last night.

A select group of 60 travel industry partners attended the intimate event, where the tour operator unveiled its latest offerings for the coming travel season. Taking centre stage was the new Exclusive Collection, which will showcase Club Med’s standout properties, from the Maldives to Brazil and all points between.

Carolyne Doyon, Club Med’s senior vice-president - Canada & Mexico, told PAX that the company has seen continued growth in Ontario, with year-over-year increases of 13 per cent and 36 per cent in individual and groups bookings respectively. Doyon added that such numbers are especially notable during a year marked by developments such as the spread of the Zika virus in the Caribbean and Hurricane Joaquin; the storm damaged Club Med’s Columbus Isle village, which was recently reopened.

Central to that growth strategy is a continued development of the tour operator’s ski product, including the opening of Samoens, a new property in the French Alps (and part of the Exclusive Collection), while increased lift by Air Canada from Toronto to Geneva and Lyon will transport those travellers to Club Med’s ski villages.

“People know Club Med primarily for our sun destinations, so one of our strategic pillars is the ski product,” she said. “The Greater Toronto Area is a key market for us and we are committed to growing our business here with our travel partners.”

A continued emphasis on increasing groups sales will also mark the coming year, Doyon said, including both leisure and MICE travellers; catering to the latter market, Club Med recently expanded its Canadian Meetings & Events by Club Med team has expanded, adding Hugo Veilleux as the tour operator’s new corporate events business development manager and Mélanie St-Germain as manager, meetings and events.

“It’s beneficial to our travel partners as a way to increase commissions and revenue,” she said, “and for us, we have outstanding properties in terms of groups.”

Carolyne Doyon, Club Med’s senior vice-president - Canada & Mexico

Ultimately, continued growth in Ontario will rest with Club Med’s travel agent partners, Doyon told PAX.

“The way for us to develop the market is through the travel agent community,” she said, adding that Ontario agents can expect an increased presence of Club Med in the market; this will be emphasized by a new digital marketing campaign slated to roll out at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport in the near future.

“It’s a key market for us with tremendous potential and we’re putting everything in order to succeed, including a very aggressive commission plan for our travel partners.”

Club Med highlights

• Brazil is at the forefront for Club Med in 2017 with the upcoming opening of the 5-Trident Space La Reserve in Rio Das Pedras. This space will offer luxury suites, exclusive services, and a dedicated bar and pool. Additionally, one hour from São Paulo, Club Med will unveil a new Club Med Resort - Lake Paradise - this winter, a family Resort which also offers group facilities.

• Samoëns in the French Alps will open in December 2017, a 4-T resort ideal for international clientele, located only an hour from the Geneva airport.

• The repositioning of the Club Med Business brand is also supported by the redesign of its web tools, including a new mobile app presented at the destination for a more interactive experience that can be tailored to events; a new website launched in mid-June for group packages, compatible with tablets and mobiles devices, offering new features.