Jacinda Lowry, National Sales Director, Club Med Canada; Robert Ruttan, BDM, Center & Western Canada; Carolyne Doyon, V.P., Club Med Canada; Stephan Drouin, Director Transportation North America and Nathalie Fauteux, Group Sales Manager
Valmorel
Val Thorens Sensations
Children's Club ski lessons
The Club Med team couldn’t have come to Toronto at a better time. With so many rainy days here in the city, it was nice to be inside the Studio Event Theater mingling with agents, talking about the company’s new 2015 Trident Catalogue and reminiscing about the recent Club Med FAM I recently enjoyed in tropical Cancun.
Some of the the Club Med gang from Cancun was actually at the event: Carolyne Doyon, V.P., Club Med Canada; Jacinda Lowry, National Sales Director, Club Med Canada and Stephan Drouin, Director Transportation North America along with new faces Robert Ruttan, BDM, Center & Western Canada and Nathalie Fauteux, Group Sales Manager.
The night revolved around the hotel chain’s newest additions, renovations and its transformation to becoming more family friendly. Ruttan gave an overview of the additions coming to Club Med properties worldwide including a new village in Donghai China which will feature 72 rooms; a new spa, renovated rooms and kite surfing academy in the Bahamas; a new golf program and room zoning in Punta Cana and the opening of 60 ocean front family rooms in Cancun which Open Jaw had the opportunity to experience last month.
“People aren’t used to this from Club Med,” Ruttan said. “We are refocusing on our 4 and 5 trident resorts and making our brand image more upscale but still maintaining the active approach our clients are accustomed to.”
Valmorel is one of the 4 trident resorts that Club Med is pushing this winter season. Located in Grand Domaine, France, Valmorel was adapted to cater to families and stay in line with Club Med’s ‘active’ image. Close to it, the company has announced the opening of a new 4 trident resort - Val Thorens Sensations – which will also be geared towards families. It will open this December in the French Alps - Club Med actually closed the previous Val Thorens resort and will be re-opening the new one in the same ski area. The company offers air-inclusive packages with a non-stop AC flight from Montreal to Geneva. The transfer to and from the airport and the ski resort is included in the package and arranged by Club Med.
Lowry told the travel agents in attendance that the new product Club Med is introducing presents a huge sales opportunity for them. “We are making it easier for you to sell us,” she said. “Help us grow our market share and we’ll help you with sales opportunities,” she said, pointing out the company’s Great Agents Reward Program which gives agents the opportunity to earn free nights at any Club Med resort with every booking.
As a new comer to the travel trade, Dalia Paul, Cruise & Vacation Consultant, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, said the event presented Club Med in a new light. “It’s great to learn that they’re focusing on families and updating their product to reflect that,” Paul said. “I think this will open up people’s minds about the company.”
