The all-inclusive segment is growing in interest for incentive travel planners due to the inherent value proposition in the pricing model, but there hasn’t always been a good variety of resort product outside the Americas.
Club Med has over 65 resort villages worldwide, and it just opened two more recently in high-demand destinations. In December, the new Club Med Val Thorens opened in The Three Valleys area in the French Alps just south of Geneva. The contemporary design is a “modern interpretation of the mountain spirit” with clean lines, edgy interior decor and large windows everywhere framing the Alps.
According to Club Med, an all-inclusive group package rate with air from La Guardia and all F&B is less expensive than an a la carte program at a similar category resort in some upscale U.S. ski areas.
In the Val Thorens kitchen, two Michelin-star chef Edouard Loubet oversaw the design of the fine dining Epicurious restaurant and creation of the menus. For more casual dining, the Comptoir Gourmand restaurant serves robust mountain sandwiches and authentic regional Alps comfort cuisine.
In January, Club Med then opened Finolhu Villas on a private island in the Maldives. Part of Club Med’s Villas & Chalets category, the solar-powered property includes 52 gorgeous villas perched over the pristine teal blue sea.
Each villa comes with its own private pool, in-room iPads and personal butlers. On-island, there’s a 3,000-foot white sand beach and pool located near the Club Med Spa by ILA. Dinner is served at the upscale Motu Restaurant, or you can order villa-service, of course.
Club Med City Stops
For 2015, Club Med added a unique twist to package inclusions with the launch of the Club Med City Stops Program. The hotel company is now packaging overnight urban destinations at major gateway cities on air routes to Club Med destinations, such as Paris, Dubai, New York and Miami.
Participating hotels are available in different budget tiers, and at present, planners book through Club Med group sales.
“It’s especially interesting for international travelers, so for example, North American travelers love Paris so we have a range of 3- to 5-star hotels they will be able to add to the resort component,” says Xavier Mufraggi, CEO of Club Med North America. “This is very new right now but it will add to the overall group experience and provide more exciting options around the world, which is what we do.”
