New Retail Campaign, Total All-Inclusive(TM) Enhancements And Partnerships
Headline What's New This Winter At Club Med
Club Med, originator of the all- inclusive vacation concept, today unveiled an array of new productions for the 2003-2004 winter season at its villages in the U.S., Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico. Topping the list are the premiere of an innovative new retail campaign; enhancements to its recently launched Total All-Inclusive(TM) vacations; the introduction of MyClubMed.com, an online community for Club Med members; and new partnerships that bring fresh programming to Club Med villages.
CLUB MED IS "NOW PLAYING"
Kicking off the winter season at Club Med is the introduction of the new "Now Playing" movie-themed retail campaign, which takes a fresh approach to marketing the vacation giant to travel agents and consumers.
Produced around four Club Med genres -- action, romance, family and adventure -- the campaign combines Club Med's popular Trident brochure with a miniature brochure and interactive CD-ROM that brings the experience of a Club Med vacation to life through a series of theatrical trailers. Complete with voiceovers, music and wide-screen footage, viewers are treated to uncut screenings that highlight each of Club Med's 11 villages in North America. In addition, screening rooms for each of the 11 village trailers feature links to the village Web page on www.clubmed.com, location maps and behind-the-scenes photo tours.
"Heading into this winter season, our goal was to develop a creative, experiential way to communicate the spirit of a Club Med vacation to travel agents and consumers," said John Vanderslice, president and CEO, Club Med Americas. "Our 'Now Playing' campaign does just that while differentiating Club Med from its competition in a contemporary way relevant to our target."
The campaign will launch in September with direct mail of the Winter 2003- 2004 Trident brochure and interactive CD-ROM to consumers and distribution to travel agents.
TOTAL ALL-INCLUSIVE(TM) ENHANCEMENTS
In May, Club Med launched "Total All-Inclusive(TM)" vacations, whereby all Club Med vacations now include all-day premium open bar service, new afternoon and evening dining options including light meals and snacks, and new room amenities -- all for one Total All-Inclusive(TM) price.
The launch of Total All-Inclusive(TM) was just the initial phase of a multi-year strategic initiative by Club Med to reinvent the concept of an all- inclusive vacation by dramatically refining the composition of all-inclusive events, activities and amenities within each location. Under this initiative, Total All-Inclusive(TM) offerings at each Club Med village are in the process of being enhanced, and tailored to meet the lifestyles of travelers frequenting a given village.
Moving forward in customizing the Total All-Inclusive(TM) offerings this winter at its North American villages, Club Med is pleased to announce new Total All-Inclusive(TM) enhancements at Columbus Isle, Bahamas and at their family-oriented Club Med Sandpiper, Florida.
Sandpiper -- Florida, Port St. Lucie
At Sandpiper, families are in for an unparalleled Total All-Inclusive(TM) vacation experience, which is good news for the 46 percent of U.S. travelers that include a child on their trip, according to the Travel Industry Association (TIA).
New "Family Suites" provide everything a family could want in a vacation: mini-fridges stocked with juices, yogurts and other snacks for the kids; DVD/VHS players keep little ones entertained during down-time; twice-a-day housekeeping keeps your room tidy; evening kids room service provides all the milk and cookies a child could want; and best of all unlimited evening Siesta Club (childcare) and Baby and Petit Club Med(TM) are included!
Rounding out the Total All-Inclusive(TM) offerings for Sandpiper are parents-only and family activities like "Parent's Night Out," where parents attend a special dinner or party while Gracious Organizers (staff known as G.O.s) throw a party for the kids, and "Family Movie Night," where classic movies for all ages are screened by the village pool.
Columbus Isle, Bahamas
Total All-Inclusive(TM) enhancements catering to the tastes of upscale adult travelers at Columbus Isle, Bahamas are plentiful.
A new connoisseur food and beverage program offers posh cuisine such as lobster and filet mignon, plus special feasts like a Sunday Champagne Brunch. Additionally, meals will be paired with specially featured wine selections.
The village's "Epicurious Fun" offering consists of interactive, chic adult events such as Chocolate Moonlight Madness, Afternoon High Tea and Martini Night. And last, but not least, enriched services including pool and beachside food and beverage service, breakfast in bed and luxurious room amenities featuring a stocked mini-fridge, feather pillows and heavyweight towels and robes are also included.
PARTNERSHIPS & PROGRAMMING
Keeping with its tradition of offering unmatched programming to its G.M.s, Club Med heads into the winter season with many new offerings sure to keep adults and kids active and stimulated throughout the day. These include partnerships with CRUNCH Fitness(R), Putumayo World Music and Hip Hop Kidz(TM).
CRUNCH Fitness(R)
Club Med is proud to introduce CRUNCH Fitness' world renowned exercise programming into our villages! CRUNCH Fitness(R) (www.crunch.com) is a bold and vibrant expression of fitness, fashion, music, entertainment and style.
Recognized for having the most unique classes in the country, CRUNCH continually changes the way the world looks at exercise. Now G.M.s can shape and sculpt their bodies through a series of classes taught by CRUNCH certified instructors. Programs offered through CRUNCH include: Disco Yoga, where members jive to the timeless sounds of disco fused with the timeless practice of yoga; BOSU Bootcamp, which focuses on Integrated Balance Training on an apparatus that is a cross between a core board and a stability ball; and Cardio Tai Box, a 50-minute action packed class that's a perfect combination of martial arts, boxing and cardiovascular training. There's nothing but great music, simple choreography and a lotta fun to heat things up and kick your butt!
Putumayo Kids World Playground Adventure
Club Med announces a new partnership with Putumayo World Music, known for its upbeat and melodic compilations of international music, "guaranteed to make you feel good!" Children at Club Med will take a weeklong Putumayo World Playground Adventure, exploring international music and multicultural activities including sing-alongs, arts and crafts and instrument-making. Parents can enjoy the Putumayo World Playground Adventure activities along with the children. They'll make masks, join in a musical parade and sing and dance along to some of the coolest music in the world. Putumayo's Parents' Choice Gold award-winning World Playground curriculum is endorsed by educators and has been adopted by schools and families across North America. This partnership builds on Putumayo's commitment to foster multicultural experiences and education with children of all ages.
Putumayo World Music was established in 1993 to introduce people to the music of other cultures and is distributed in over 50 countries worldwide. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary, the label has released more than 100 CDs.
Hip Hop Kidz(TM)
Hip Hop Kidz(TM) is a nationally recognized hip-hop dance program offering dance classes to children vacationing at Club Med. Kids get to learn the funky dance moves of their favorite music stars while their famous choreography is broken down into smaller steps and segments making it easy to learn while keeping it fun. Hip Hop Kidz(TM) classes teach teamwork and increase strength, coordination and agility while increasing stamina and promoting fitness. By the end of their stay, children learn an entire dance routine they perform on stage for the entire resort.
MYCLUBMED.COM
Club Med has a long, rich history of bringing people together. Now Club Med is keeping people together with the launch of www.MyClubMed.com, an online community for G.M.s. Those getting ready for their trip can get packing tips, weather forecasts, monetary exchange rates, in-depth information about their village and search for G.M.s with similar interests vacationing at their village during their stay. Those just returning from (or who are still on) their trip can view, buy or e-mail photos from their vacation, stay close with newfound friends, read or post notes on the site's message board and get great deals on their next Club Med vacation.
ABOUT CLUB MED
Club Med is the originator of all-inclusive vacations, with more than 100 villages in exotic locations in more than 40 countries worldwide, spanning the U.S., Caribbean, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Club Med's new Total All- Inclusive(TM) vacations feature flexible packages, a wide variety of beverages available throughout the day, all-day meal service, endless gourmet buffets, world-class amenities and a variety of leisure, sports, educational and recreational adult and family activities for one all-inclusive price, making a Club Med vacation the best all-inclusive vacation value in the industry. Additional information about Club Med is available at www.clubmed.com.
