Following the opening of its newest resort on the tropical Dong’Ao Island, off the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, Club Med is counting on its strong watersport and teambuilding facilities to lure more business event and incentive organisers.
The new resorts are sharpening their MICE offering, says Gino Andreetta, Club Med’s China CEO. “Everything we do today is MICE-focused. This doesn’t mean that we are concentrating just on conference rooms. We want to provide a seamless product for clients, from those looking for a teambuilding itinerary to a buyout.”
At the opening of the first property on Dong’Ao Island last year, Club Med announced that it expected China to become the brand’s second largest market. Club Med currently has three resorts in mainland China with a property on Sanya set to join the fold in January 2016.
Asked what challenges the brand is facing in the region, Andreetta cited brand perception. “The biggest challenge that I have found is that people also have an idea that Club Med is only for FIT (family and independent travellers)… which it isn’t. We try to offer a hassle-free product for both FIT and corporate groups, offering an international, multilingual team, with all-inclusive benefits and no hidden charges.”
“We’ve been in the market for 65 years, and MICE has been a part of our business for much of this time. Today, it accounts for 15 per cent of Club Med’s revenue worldwide, and within Asia, between 15 to 18 per cent. But this is a growing business and I believe we can reach 20-25 per cent within the next three years.”
An hour’s ferry journey from Zhuhai, Club Med Dong’Ao Island opened in June 2014 with a 72-room a five-star property. It was joined in July 2015 by a 263-room four-star property. Guests can travel between both hotels using golf carts and have direct access to a private beach.
The resort is a key draw for groups looking for water-based teambuilding activities such as paddle boarding, sea kayaking, jet skiing, snorkelling and windsurfing. Land activities are also on offer such as flying trapeze, bungee bounce, archery and a variety of hiking excursions.
In addition to Dong’Ao Island, Club Med China has resorts in scenic Guilin, in the southwest Guangxi region, and in the northeast ski resort of Yabuli. The brand has over 80 resorts worldwide, including properties in Mexico, Turkey and Mauritius.
