Bresch told TTG his three main priorities as managing director would be to “reinforce” and grow Club Med’s leadership in the winter sports market, increase market share for its sun destinations, and to work closely with agents.
“Our trade partners are key – the plan is to continue to work with them on addressing the clients’ needs,” Bresch told TTG. “We want to understand how to help them to communicate with trade marketing. We can also share insights into what’s going on in the market.
“We will focus on historical partners who have been through a lot in the last few years. This shows the trust and relationships we have been able to create. The priority is making sure they have the right tools to fully bounce back.”
Bresch added Club Med would also continue looking for new potential agent partners to work with in the UK.
Club Med has enjoyed a record-breaking summer from the UK with sales well above pre-pandemic levels, particularly to short-haul destinations such as Spain and Greece, and there have also been encouraging signs for the upcoming ski season.
“The trends are extremely strong and we see ski demand picking up including the early booking trend coming back,” said Bresch. “Ski demand started in June and July, and this continued through the summer.
“We will see the peak booking activity in the next few months. So far, the booking pattern is pretty much in line with what we used to see pre-Covid.
“During Covid there was a last-minute trend because of the restrictions. We were expecting this trend to continue but we have seen a very strong early booking pattern.”
Club Med is also being boosted this winter by the opening of two new properties in the key French Alps’ destinations of Tignes and Val d’Isere in December. Club Med de Val d’Isere will be the first of the company’s upmarket Exclusive Collection resort to open in the mountains following its expansion and renovation.
Bresch added that all-inclusive resorts were likely to become more attractive for consumers worried about rapidly rising inflation because they offer a “value proposition and peace of mind” with so many services, such as childcare and kids’ clubs, included in the price.
“We believe that for reunions of family and friends, all-inclusive has a lot of advantages and we can offer easier organisation,” he said.
Cost of living conscious
Club Med also wants to develop more demand for its long-haul sun destinations in the winter, such as the Dominican Republic, Seychelles and Maldives. Currently winter-sun resorts account for around 30 per cent of its winter sales, compared with 70 per cent for its mountain programme.
The operator has also already put on sale its summer 2023 programme, with a preview launched in July and the “main second phase” planned to open in October.
“Trends are extremely strong for next summer with an early booking trend as well,” said Bresch. “We expect long-haul will most probably bounce back with more [airline] lift and the Covid situation being less impactful hopefully.”
Bresch said Club Med was “very conscious of the economical context” with the cost of living crisis worsening for many people in the UK.
“It’s something we are looking at very carefully – travel demand has been strong but we will continue looking at this impact,” he added.
