On 14 February, Henri Giscard D’Estaing, president of Club Med was invited to the Reims campus as part of the “Inspiring Meetings” series. Alongside Michel-Edouard Leclerc, school president, and Delphine Manceau, school dean, he spoke openly with the students of NEOMA Business School about his career as a company director. He was also asked about the changes currently taking place in tourism, such as digitalisation, societal and environmental issues and new consumer expectations. 

A company that reinvented itself

He spoke of the two major upheavals in the tourism market that the company had to face in the 2000s. First was the advent of the internet. “Today, 73% of our revenue comes from stays booked online”. The second was the expansion of low-cost airlines. In this context, “Club Med had to reinvent itself”. He talked about the company’s major transformation project based on two pillars: having exceptional sites and having a far-reaching presence. “The world is so uncertain that geographical diversity is a way to protect yourself”.

The Glocal concept

Henri Giscard D’Estaing acknowledged the impact of traveling on the climate. “That’s why we have the ‘Glocal’ strategy, meaning global and local at the same time. We are adapting to the markets and destinations where we are located. But tourism is about more than activities. It involves a peaceful life. It has a very important societal role”, he said.

Revenge travel

The Club Med president saw a trend for “revenge travel” after Covid, meaning a desire to make for lost traveling opportunities. “In 2023, we recorded a 32% increase in comparison to 2022”, he said. In ten years, families will still want to manage their budget, even if it is a big one. ‘All-inclusive’ packages remain our strength”.

3G Holidays

There is also the trend for 3G holidays. “They have become an experience that sometimes brings together three generations, grand parents, parents and children”, Henri Giscard d’Estaing explained. It accounts for 20% of the customers in Europe and 30% in China. Along with the continued desire to discover places is the desire to be with people. It’s also a strength that we have with our GOs, who include ten to twenty-five different nationalities in the same location”.

The 5 values of Club Med 

Henri Giscard d’Estaing talked about the five values of Club Med. The “G” in GO stands of kindness, multiculturalism, freedom, a pioneering spirit (the mini-club for children, the first to popularise mountain holidays in 1956, the first to go to all the global destinations (Bali, Cancun, Marrakech) and responsibility. “Today they give our Clubs their uniqueness”.

Club Med by the numbers

• 1950: date of its founding. A concept that helps break down social barriers.
• 2 billion euros turnover each year
• 100% of Club Med locations will be upscale at the end of 2024
• 70 Club Med resorts around the world
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