Plus, new resort app assists guests with activity planning, while millennial community managers at each resort keep guests engaged from near and far.
MIAMI – Club Med, the pioneer of the all-inclusive resort concept, is using 360-degree virtual reality technology to make vacation planning even more exciting and immersive. As the first global all-inclusive resort operator to use this technology, Club Med unveils a video series through the brand’s YouTube channel and Facebook page providing virtual tours of its resorts.
Escape on vacation before you’ve even left home!
From flying high on the trapeze at Club Med CREACTIVE by Cirque du Soleil in Punta Cana (Dominican Republic) and checking into your luxe over-water bungalow at Club Med Finolhu Villas (Maldives) to snorkeling at Club Med Kani (Maldives) or mountain biking in Peisey-Vallandry (French Alps), the Club Med experience comes to life via these 360-degree immersions. Each video tour takes guests to visit Club Med’s beautiful locations and rooms, to dive into sports activities, and to meet its multicultural staff, the iconic G.O.s (Gracious Organizers). The series has launched with four featured resorts:
- Kani: http://clbmd.co/YouTubeKani360
- Finolhu Villas: http://clbmd.co/YouTubeFinolhu360
- Punta Cana: http://clbmd.co/YouTubePuntaCana360
- Peisey Vallandry: http://clbmd.co/YouTubePeisey360
Additional resorts will be added with Club Med Cancun Yucatan (Mexico), Club Med Val Thorens (France) and Club Med Sanya (new seaside resort in China) coming next!
“Club Med pioneered the all-inclusive vacation concept to ensure guests would disconnect from their stressful daily lives, thanks to a hassle free and seamless experience where everything is taken care of and included in one price,” says Sabrina Cendral, Vice President of Digital and Marketing for North America. “As we continually innovate to modernize the in-demand all-inclusive travel segment, technology plays a big role in how we communicate with our guests at all stages of the customer journey. From our new virtual tours and resort app to digital maps and live stream hangouts, we’re committed to providing our guests with a contemporary vacation experience affording them a truly relaxing Escape a la Club Med.”
Resort App, now primary source of resort information
So that guests may access information about the wide array of sports, activities, dining options and events at their fingertips, Club Med has introduced a resort app that guests can download prior to visiting or once they are onsite. From restaurant and spa hours to activity schedules and a wealth of useful resort information, guests can plan their day and even chat with one another avoiding international charges for texts.
Starting this summer, additional functions will be added to the app including the ability to make spa and restaurant reservations. For groups staying with Club Med for social events or business retreats, the app will provide a dedicated portal featuring schedules for the group, speaker/event profiles and even special notifications (think “meeting in 10 minutes in ballroom” or “cocktails on the beach in 20 minutes!”).
Club Med Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), Club Med Cancun Yucatan (Mexico) and Club Med Sandpiper Bay (Florida) are among the resorts that are already accessible on the resort app with Club Med Columbus Isle (Bahamas) and Club Med Turkoise (Turks and Caicos) launching this summer – leading to a planned total of 50 resorts covered all over the world by the end of 2016, a 72% coverage of Club Med’s global resort portfolio.
Millennial e-G.O.s, ambassadors of the Club Med Spirit on Social Media
While many resorts employ global citizens and provide warm and friendly service, there is something special about the Club Med G.O. (Gracious Organizer) acting as the ambassador of the Club Med spirit and upholding the company’s values. They lead activities, provide expert instruction and assist guests with anything they might need while anywhere on the property. Given the connection that guests have to Club Med resorts and staff, many look to keep in touch or follow the buzz on social media. By hiring a cast of multicultural and talented millennials into newly created Resort Community Manager positions, designated as “e-G.O.s”, Club Med makes this easier than ever. Guests can feel the pulse of authentic resort life by following Club Med’s dedicated Facebook and Instagram pages. e-G.O.s will:
- Engage with followers and answer questions about the resort (best rooms, weather, events etc.)
- Create a true window into the resort’s life for fans all over the world – e-G.O.s provide images, videos and content from the resorts to share on social media, as well as share user generated content provided by guests
- Capture Club Med in real time – as they keep up to speed on the latest technologies, they host Facebook Live moments or Periscope hangouts.
“It’s an exciting time for Club Med as we continue to leverage our digital ecosystem to make our vacations even more exciting. At the booking stage, guests can utilize virtual reality to experience our resorts as if they were there, and then employ a range of digital tools to prepare for their stay, such as early online registration for children’s clubs,” says Sabrina Cendral, Vice President of Digital and Marketing for North America. “Thanks to our resort app and onsite digital touch screens, guests can fully grasp everything that’s on offer – a true antidote to an otherwise frequent FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)! Once they return home, the best way for our fans to keep living the Club Med Spirit is through the lens of our millennial e-G.O.s via our resort social media pages. This is just the beginning: Club Med will continue to evolve and reinvent the all-inclusive resort experience through digital innovations.”
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
