Club Med Debuts at Second China International Import Expo, Reveals New Ski Resorts and Ski Academies in China, Empowers Snow-based Holiday Market

Shanghai, China (November 6, 2019) Club Med, the premium all-inclusive operator and a world leader in mountain holidays, made its debut at the Second China International Import Expo (CIIE). At CIIE, Club Med revealed rich snow holiday experiences to global guests and demonstrated their ambition to further develop the snow-based vacation market within China and around the world. Club Med has proudly reached many important collaborations with key partners in supporting national snow sports, creating snow vacations and promoting snow cultures — In support of bringing premium holiday experiences to more Chinese consumers, Club Med will focus on building a Club Med resort in Changbaishan (Jilin) and a Club Med Joyview resort in Taicang to bring premium holiday experiences to more Chinese consumers. As the global leader in mountain holidays, Club Med will continue its partnership with Ecole du Ski Francais (ESF) to open Ski Academies at Thaiwoo Ski Resort & Alpine Park and Vanke Shijinglong Ski Resort. Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International, Qian Jiannong, Chairman of Fosun Tourism Group and Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med, attended the signing ceremony, to celebrate Club Med’s excellent leadership in driving snow sports for all and creating fascinating snow-based vacations.

At this year’s China International Import Expo, Club Med entered the Fosun Tourism Group (FOLIDAY) brand exhibition hall (Booth: 0B1-002), and made its debut with the theme of snow holidays. Through three exhibition zones, i.e. Snow Log Cabin Experience, Ski Academy (in partnership with Ecole du Ski Francais (ESF) and LED Showroom, Club Med showcased exciting resort and ski sport experiences from both visual and sensory levels. These exhibition zones allowed audiences the chance to comprehend interestingness, variety and safety of snow sports, to display the charm of snow sports and holiday programs.

With this global event, in addition to showcasing the unique charm of snow-based holidays to guests all over the world, Club Med has demonstrated its commitment to China, and the entire Asia-Pacific market with actual efforts, and its firm confidence in continuously creating premium all-inclusive holiday experiences for consumers, through its comprehensive cooperation in many fields with China's outstanding partners.

Continuously Expand Presence in China with the Addition of Three New Resorts

Club Med has nearly 70 years of experience developing world-class resorts, and operates close to 70 resorts in more than 30 regions. Club Med delivers premium vacation experiences to global guests through the acclaimed all-inclusive holiday concept it invented. Club Med Joyview Taicang project (close to Shanghai) which has been signed in the ceremony, are scheduled to open in second half of 2021. The resort will offer more Chinese guests with customized experiences and services that will create cozy, wonderful holidays.

Club Med JoyviewTaicang Project Signing Ceremony

(From left to right: Chen Bo, Vice President and Generl Manager of Fosun Tourism Group, Qian Jiannong, Chairman and CEO of Fosun Tourism Group, Guo Guangchang, Chairman of Fosun International, Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med, Jean-Charles Fortoul, CEO of Club Med APAC resorts)

As the first and biggest ski dome close to shanghai, offering sports park with different theme, Club Med Joyview Taicang project will provide plenty of activities such as ski slopes, kids snow garden, ice skating and ice palace etc., to bring a variety of snow experiences to guests around Shanghai and even the whole country Club Med Changbaishan project located in Changbaishan international eco-toruisim demonstration zone, close to the airport around 30 mins by car. In the first phase of the project, around 100 rooms with hot spring will offer quiet time and peaceful memories for guests, and the ski resort has 9 slopes, including 4 for beginners and 5 for intermediate, allowing more guests to enjoy the charm of ice and snow-based holidays; Phase II is planned to offer guests around 300 rooms along with catering, entertainment, indoor activities and other facilities. Club Med resort, which will be opened in Thaiwoo Ski Resort & Alpine Park, close to Zhangjiakou Ningyuan Airport around 1h by car. The total room capacity is around 350 and 28 slopes, and guests can access the ski slopes directly. The highlights of this project are the distinctive seasons, natural environment and plenty of activities in summer.

Club Med Joyview Taicang project

Club Med Jilin Changbaishan project

With the integration of French elements, Club Med is the world’s leading provider of upscale, all-inclusive holiday packages for families and couples. Today, Club Med continues to expand offerings within the Chinese market with two product lines — Premium All-inclusive and Club Med Joyview. Following the Premium All-inclusive and leveraging its upscale resorts worldwide, Club Med is committed to delivering sun holidays, summer and snow mountain holidays experiences full of great pleasure to consumers. Club Med Joyview is a unique product line firstly designed in China, and its resorts basically located within a three hour drive from first-tier cities and meet the short-haul holiday demand for consumers living within these cities.

Ski Academy Powered by Club Med and ESF Takes the Lead for Professional Ski Lesson in China

Last September, Club Med developed a cooperation with ski instruction organization Ecole du Ski Francais (ESF) to open ski academy in China. This partnership allows both organizations to jointly improve the ski training capacity and popularize ski sports, and help China become a regional top runner in the ski market.

This year, in view of strong momentum in China’s ski market and diverse ski demands of guests, Club Med will strengthen its existing partnership with ESF. Besides the existing Ski Academy in Chongqing Nantianhu, ski academies powered by Club Med and ESF at Thaiwoo Ski Resort & Alpine Park, and Vanke Shijinglong Ski Resort will be added by the end of this year. Thaiwoo Ski Resort & Alpine Park, located in Zhangjiakou Chongli Area, has one of the biggest ski resort in Chongli Area. Ski Academy in Thaiwoo and resort, will consolidate Thaiwoo Ski Resort & Alpine Park as the largest ski resort in China. Another ski academy located in Vanke Shijinglong Ski Resort, only 20 minutes from Club Med Joyview Yanqing and 1.5h driving distance from Beijing Center. This ski academy also have black slope and advanced lesson for guests.

Club Med Ski Academy Thaiwoo Ski Resort & Alpine Park Project Signing Ceremony

(From left to right: Wenqian Zhou, President of Thaiwoo Ski Resort & Alpine Park, Eric Breche, President of French Ski School, Hong Qi, Chairman of Thaiwoo Ski Resort & Alpine Park, Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med, Xavier Desaulles, CEO of Club Med APAC markets)

Club Med Ski Academy Vanke Shijinglong Ski Resort Project Signing Ceremony

(From left to right: Eric Breche, President of French Ski School, Yingkai Liu, General Manager of Vanke Shijinglong Ski Resort, Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med, Xavier Desaulles, CEO of Club Med APAC markets)

Following three major teaching principles, “Safety, Excellence, and Pleasure,” these ski academies will use the ESF teaching methods and advanced facilities suitable to Chinese consumers, offer professional training for ski enthusiasts of all ages and levels , further release huge potential of the snow market in China, standardize snow sport behaviours and allow more Chinese guests to appreciate the fascination of snow sports while skiing safely.

Club Med Thaiwoo project

Ski Academy powered by Club Med and ESF will allow more Chinese guests to appreciate the fascination of snow sports by offering professional traing courses

 “We’re pleased to see that China’s booming ski market in advance of the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympic Games in the backdrop of favorable government policies and growing ski demand among consumers. We’re honored to be able to attend the China International Import Expo together with other world-renowned brands. Participation in this international event is also a recognition of Club Med’s superior services by the Chinese government and consumers. We have full confidence in the snow holiday industry with huge potential. Looking ahead, we’ll also continue to deepen multi-faceted cooperation with more partners and endeavor to allow more Chinese consumers with the opportunity to enjoy quality family time and transformative holidays.” said Henri Giscard d’Estaing, President of Club Med.

Since establishment, Club Med has been showcased its excellent leadership in creating unique global mountain holidays. Today, Club Med has more than 20 snow resorts in the world, including 16 in Europea and 4 in Asia, and is the top holiday brand with the most skiing resorts in the world. Club Med will further demonstrate its leadership in the vacation industry by implementing the expansion plan of opening “one resort a year” in the French Alps. Club Med Grand Massif Samoëns Morillon and Club Med Les Arcs Panorama located in the French Alps, two new resorts opening in the recent two years, are already in operation.The renovated Club Med Alpe d'Huez will re-open this December and Club Med La Rosière will open in France next winter.

Specifically for the snow mountain holiday market, Club Med has developed and released the Asia-Pacific Snow Brand Study since 2018. Building on vast tourist data, the study summarizes findings from Asia-Pacific snow vacation data, revealing market growth trends and sharing snow holiday industry insights. This information substantially helps lead the development of global snow vacations. The 2019 Asia-Pacific (APAC) Snow Brand Study by Club Med revealed that the snow market will increase to 151 million holiday goers this year, resulting in a 10% year-on-year increase, which is faster than the 6% average tourism market growth estimated in the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer and Statistical Annex (January 2019). This highlights a huge potential for the global snow vacation industry. The growth momentum of Chinese market shows its primacy in the Asia-Pacific region.

Leveraging its upscale resorts worldwide and following the “Premium All-Inclusive” concept, Club Med will offer more families with unique holiday experiences that allow travelers to bring home more than just memories, drive the thriving Chinese ski market through more cooperation forms and focus on highlighting its global snow holiday leadership.