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The secrets behind Club Med skiing success
ski resort in each of the past 6 years.
The recent openings include new 4* hotels with 5* spaces in Valmorel, Val Thorens, Samoens, Les Arcs and opening for the 2021 ski season is a new slopeside hotel in La Rosiere. In 2022 a new Club Med resort will open on the East Coast of Canada in the Quebec area, the first North American resort for Club Med.
Planning has also been approved for a replacement new hotel in Tignes, currently, code-named “Ski Line”. This remarkable new hotel will be highest in Europe and will include an indoor ski slope, perfect for guests visiting in the summer months.
The group are not only building new hotels but also carrying out a multimillion Euro upgrades were completed last winter at the resorts in Alpe d’Huez to add more luxury rooms, and an indoor/outdoor swimming pool and Val d’Isere to upgrade rooms to a 5* standard and complete fit-out to the public areas within the hotel.
5* space in a 4* hotel
Several of Club Med’s ski resorts, now have 5* areas, while the hotel is rated 4*, a limited number of rooms are graded 5*, guests see a number of added benefits besides larger and nicer rooms, these included, private resort transfers, access to exclusive 5* lounges and spas, concierge services and room service. Priority bookings in the spa and speciality restaurants.
Another new concept from Club Med are their private chalets. These 2, 3- or 4-bedroom apartments have a private butler and access to 5* spaces. (not available in all resorts) Guests have full access to the other areas in the hotel but have their own private space, very popular with family groups.
Club Med pioneered the concept of the all-inclusive holidays which was quickly copied by hotels and tour operators. The reality of most all-inclusive holidays is a typical “tour operators” idea of all-inclusive, a Greek hotel forced by the tour operator to include limited free local drinks and a beer, canteen styled dinning and if you are lucky ice cream for the kids, which was proudly announced to be all-inclusive.
Club Med pushed the all-inclusive to the limited to include everything you need on a skiing holiday except travel insurance and Ski equipment rental, if its required, many skiers have their own equipment.
Everything that’s included in the Club Med all-inclusive price.
In the past 10 years, one holiday brand has been investing in skiing and broadening its appeal beyond its traditional French client base. The secret to Club Med’s growth in popularity, especially with British skiers, is simple – huge investments in new luxury hotels across the Alps, and constantly delivering value for money.
Since this well known French hotel group was acquired by a group of Chinese billionaires, the company have gone from strength to strength. Access to billions of Euros of investment capital has enabled the business to expand quickly with the opening of a new - Flights from most regional airports including resort transfers (ATOL bonded)
- Full area ski pass
- Full days ski lessons (5 days)
- Qualified ski guides for off-piste skiers- safety equipment provided
- Kids clubs and childcare
- All acholic drinks and cocktails- (Champagne only included in 5* hotels spaces)
- A massive buffet Breakfast
- 4-course buffet lunch with unlimited wine
- 4 or 5-course evening meal either buffet styles or in the table service speciality restaurant
- Unlimited wine and cheese with evening meal
- Après ski high tea and soup
- Snack and hot drinks throughout the day
- Pre-dinner canapes
- Evening entertainment
- Room with interconnecting rooms
- Free ski carriage on all Club Med’s charter flight
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Skiing used to be big when I was at school as an outing and a few students would go to the Alps for a few days, but it was always reserved for a small number of people because it was quite a special thing and pretty pricey too. It’s more accessible these days to do it and that’s great, but there’s still something about its general image that makes it more reserved for those with money. I guess in part because a lot of celebs and royals like their ski holidays. I’m not surprised places are investing more in luxury travel, I wouldn’t expect any different from Club Med.
I always cringe when you read of companies being bought out and some mega rich Chinese or whatever billionaires taking over because it seems like such a shame, but you can’t deny they’ve done pretty well. A new ski resort every year for 6 years, that’s impressive. It’s interesting to see what’s actually included in the all inclusive package too, you get quite a lot for your dosh by the looks of it. I never used to go AI when going on holiday but the last couple of times I have and I think I prefer it, pretty sure I’ve saved money doing it that way as well. I like that they offer a buffet option for dining, I love those, much prefer it to formal sit down dining on a restrictive set menu.
All Inclusive simply gives you a more relaxed holiday. The worst type of holiday for me is where you casually sign for extras all week and then get faced by a huge bill on checkout.
When you are on All Inclusive it’s simply more relaxing knowing that you can have a coffee, drink or snack whenever you want it. I like the idea of not having to worry about money for a few days.
I get very, very hungry when I go skiing. I don’t want to be worrying about what I’m are ordering. All inclusive is all good for me.
For me the fact that Club Mex is an international brand is an added bonus. I like talking to people from different countries. I like getting their take on international issues. Last year I had some very interesting talks about Brexit. Also, people on a ski trip are usually very sociable and chatty, which makes for a good time.
I like that mix, too. And you can get a much more enriching experience with a diversity of people and cultures. Brexit though? I’d avoid that topic of conversation like the plague!
I love an all-inclusive resort where you don’t have to worry about the small details. And I’ve known about the reputation of Club Med for years now and would trust that I would be taken care of every time I come to visit. It’s the sort of place I would go to splurge or get pampered. They even have family friendly packages, one of the things that actually drew me to their services.
It’s always good to stop for a moment and think about what makes a company successful and to focus on what its customers like. Usually the answer has something to do with great people. Then then of course the final questions is, “Its great but is it right for me?”