Organisers of corporate retreats and incentives will have a greater chance to “hire an island or rent a resort” as the world’s largest premium resort provider embarks on more openings in Asia.
Club Med’s senior Asia Pacific executives were in Hong Kong to sign a deal with Dynasty Investments to open a beach resort south of Ho Chin Minh City, the brand’s first property in Vietnam.
Plans to open the first two Club Med Joyview resorts in China and another Club Med in Japan with Tomamu Hokkaido in late 2017 were also highlighted at the sidelines of the HICAP hotel-investment conference.
More openings, including Sri Lanka (2020) and on the Indonesian island of Lombok (2021), are in the pipeline as part of a global expansion programme for Club Med with 15 new resorts planned over the next three years and the upgrading or extension of nine existing properties.
Vietnam: steering a dual-city course
Sebastien Portes, Club Med’s general manager for Hong Kong, said that thanks to Club Med’s presence in the Maldives and other island destinations it was possible for group organisers to book a resort or even hire an island.
Though Club Med is primarily targeted at family and leisure market, the MICE segment is becoming increasingly vital, in line with patterns across the hospitality sector.
Xavier Desaulles, Club Med’s CEO of East and South Asia and Pacific, said the company found that more delegates who experienced the resorts during corporate events were returning with their families.
“For the most part during the weekdays, there is very much a focus around incentives and other corporate activities, and what we find is that many people at these event like to return as leisure with their families or partners,” said Desaulles.
Cultural Vietnam draws US travel organisers
Although conventional hotels held a far higher share of the MICE business, Desaulles said Club Med’s outdoor facilities were attracting groups that wanted meetings in the morning followed by teambuilding and recreation in the afternoon.
The 300-guest room Club Med Ho Tram, in Vung Tau province, a 90 minute drive from Ho Chin Minh International Airport, is due to open in 2021 on a 13 hectare site. There will be an emphasis on Vietnamese culture, cuisine alongside Club Med’s leisure activities and meetings facilities.
Olivier Do Ngoc (pictured above with Xavier Desaulles), managing partner of Vietnam-based Dynasty Investments Group, said: “We are thrilled to bring the Club Med brand to Vietnam and have no doubt that its world class unique all-inclusive hospitality concept combined to Vietnam’s natural beauty, rich history and culture will make this a one of kind tourism offering for both the domestic and international market.”
