Club Med jako przykład wiosek wakacyjnych z ofertą typu all inclusive

Abstract

Club Méditerranée is an European precursor (or even worldwide?) in respect of one type of hotels development, called ‘holiday villages’. The first holiday village was established in the 1950 and in those years it was an offer without the equivalent in the holiday departures market. The holiday villages, called ‘clubs’ offer very wide range of additional services most of which are included in the price of stay. Package also covers two way transports. Club Med’s villages are located almost all over the world, however their distinct concentration is mostly visible in the Mediterranean Sea region, what is in accordance with the name of the organization. The idea for all inclusive tourist products very quickly has found many imitators in the market (Robinson Club, LTI, SuperClubs, Sandals, and etc.) and that was the reason why Club Med experienced some difficulties and financial losses which are evident in the published year statements. Club Med’s holiday villages are an example of the tourist product ‘aging’ and very expansive competition in this type of service market. Therefore, to survive on the market, in 2004 the strategic decision was made to sale a big package of shares to the French hotel industry giant called Accor. The consequence of this decision was not only preserving the capital in French hands (which for French customers is a very important element while choosing their hotel facilities), but also far going changes connected with organization and corporation management. Unfortunately, according to the information published in the year statements it was not yet possible to stop the declining tendency of the tourist movement size. The main customers of the Club Med are tourists from West European countries (France, Belgium, Italy), US, Canada or Japan. However, the number of tourists from those countries visiting holiday villages during last five years (2003–2007) reveal visible declining tendency. New, very dynamically developing markets are Russia and South-East Asian countries.