An unprecedented 2020 was challenging for the travel industry, and also provided valuable insight into travel trends for the year ahead and beyond. Club Med lends its expertise by sharing insights from the previous year and predictions for travel trends in 2021.
“As the leader in all-inclusive vacations, Club Med continues to innovate through this challenging time by offering our guests the best in flexibility and safety,” said Carolyne Doyon, CEO/president of Club Med North America. “We’re utilizing our thoughtful and strategic analysis of 2020 learnings and 2021 market trends to deliver on travelers’ evolving wants and needs.”
While domestic travel continues to be preferred by the majority of travelers, a recent study conducted by Club Med found that 56% of travelers are looking to travel by this spring/summer, with most looking forward to returning to Turks and Caicos (47%) and Mexico (31%). Club Med has also seen significant interest in travelers who are booking for the 2021 holiday season. Considered “revenge bookings,” the trend indicates a strong interest in families getting together after canceled plans this last holiday season, with advance bookings for holidays at a 17% increase versus 2019.
As Club Med anticipates seeing a return to travel to the Caribbean islands and Mexico, resorts such as Club Med Cancún in Mexico; Club Med Punta Cana and Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic; and the adults-exclusive Club Med Turkoise in Turks & Caicos are poised to provide travelers a restorative and safe experience to escape to in 2021. Domestically, Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie, FL, remains the brand’s top-selling resort for those looking for an escape closer to home.
Increased Interest in International Travel
The pandemic spurred increased domestic travel with Americans looking for shorter escapes closer to home. Through data compiled from recent sales, Club Med Sandpiper Bay saw a substantial increase in bookings in 2020 from travelers in drive-market regions. From June to December 2020, the resort reported 40% of travelers were from Florida.
However, while interest in domestic travel is likely to continue through 2021, interest in international travel has increased since the news of the vaccine. Club Med is well equipped to meet this demand through the consistent growth of its international portfolio, marking three to five new resort openings or renovations per year, including a new Alpine ski resort annually.
Club Med is set to open its eco-certified Seychelles (Indian Ocean) resort in March as the newest Exclusive Collection luxury resort, integrated along a preserved Marine National Park. Club Med Québec Charlevoix in Canada is also opening in December. Located just outside Québec City in Le Massif de Charlevoix region, the all-inclusive resort is Club Med’s first four-season mountain property.
Working Remotely With Extended Stays
Travelers have shown an appetite for escaping the pandemic restrictions at home and extending their stays at all-inclusive resorts where they can work or study remotely while also relaxing. In June 2020, Club Med Sandpiper Bay reported a 9% increase in bookings for “short week” getaways, a four- to five-night reservation during the week rather than the traditional long weekend getaway.
To meet with the remote-work demand, Club Med set up Workation, a hybrid stay between working remotely and a vacation at Club Med Sandpiper Bay since October 2020, delivering adults and children the tools they need to work remotely, including premium WiFi, dedicated workspaces and printer access. Club Med is looking to launch the concept in additional resorts soon.