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Club Med raises a glass to 65 years of partnerships
It was an evening of celebration for Club Med and its travel partners, a mixture of suppliers and travel experts who all came together last night to toast the brand’s 65 years of success, in addition to the launch of its 2016 winter brochure.
“We’re officially launching our 2016 season,” Carolyne Doyon, senior vice-president - Canada & Mexico for Club Med told PAX, “so we are presenting our new products and features, but we also just wanted to take a moment to come together with our partners, and to say thank you to them. Ontario is a very important region for Club Med Canada, and we recognize their support.”
According to Doyon, sales in Ontario have grown 14 per cent since last year, setting Club Med up nicely for the 2016 season. Club Med Groups itself has enjoyed a 17 per cent increase from winter 2014-15, seeing significant success with its one-stop-shop bookings services for agents.
The new brochure includes a host of new Club Med Villages, along with updated properties that have been mainstays of the brand for several years, such as Club Med Cancun Yucatan, part of the Club Med portfolio since 1976. It has recently received an investment of $14 million in the form of Aguamarina, a new building which includes 60 suites for families, renovations to the restaurant Las Cazuelas, and the development of a second specialty restaurant called La Estancia, serving Argentinian fare.
Club Med Punta Cana was also highlighted as part of a colourful multi-media presentation which showcased its Creactive by Cirque du Soleil playground, its adults-only space Zen Oasis, and the renovated Celestial restaurant.
Also sharing the evening’s spotlight was Club Med’s ski product, set to embark on a new “Sorry” campaign whereby the tour operator compares its product to a non-Club Med stay of the same duration in the Rocky Mountains. The product continues to attract more and more Canadians to some of the top ski areas in Europe with an increase in sales of 33 per cent in Canada.
Marking 65 year of happiness, guests were treated to a way-back video slideshow through Club Med’s history, recollecting the tents of the company’s first resort in 1950 and reaching all the way to the modern ski resort of Val Thorens Sensations, which opened last year.
Overall however, the main message of the night was togetherness, through 65 years of support and success within a growing, ever-changing industry. Guests were reminded of Club Med’s agent incentive programs, which include special rates, free nights programs, resort visit upgrades and up to 15 per cent in commissions.
“Travel agents are our ambassadors,” Doyon said. “There is a lot of competition in this industry, and agents have a lot of choices. So when they recommend Club Med to their clients, we appreciate it.”
For more information, visit clubmedagent.ca
PHOTO: Of Club Med: Amélie Brouhard, marketing and communication director; Nathalie Fauteux, business manager; Carolyne Doyon, senior vice-president - Canada & Mexico; Robert Ruttan, business development manager, Centre and Western Canada & Jacinda Lowry, national sales director