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Club Med: The All-Inclusive Resort Experience

Club Med, the renowned French all-inclusive resort brand, has been attracting vacationers for years. Often described as a summer camp for all ages (open year-round), these resorts offer a full range of activities, recreation, food, and drinks.

It’s safe to say that Club Med played a major role in the rise of the all-inclusive model, inspiring many top hospitality brands in the U.S. like Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, and Hilton Honors, especially in the Caribbean.

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Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic features one of its pool areas.

As Club Med celebrates 75 years, it is shifting focus to attract more luxury-oriented customers. This change follows the closure of some underperforming resorts, including its only U.S. property.

Initially, Club Med’s resorts were called «villages,» offering an egalitarian experience where all guests had access to the same amenities. Today, with more segmented consumer preferences, Club Med is introducing premium accommodations and resorts to cater to the luxury market.

Club Med Gregolimano in Greece recently completed a full renovation, updating guest rooms and suites.

All-inclusive resorts are growing fast. But can Club Med compete with luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton? Or is it aiming to bridge the gap between classic all-inclusives and pricier luxury hotels that may be too expensive for some millennials?

This shift is driven by Club Med’s new owner, Fosun, which is pushing a makeover to attract more millennials and affluent families seeking luxury.

Its financial results reflect this new direction.

Club Med’s All-Inclusive Demand Soars

Club Med’s all-inclusive offerings have seen a strong increase in demand. In 2024, the company’s business volume reached $2.38 billion, marking a 7% growth compared to 2023. The first quarter of this year continued the trend, with a 5.7% increase in revenue compared to the same period last year.

Premium and Luxury Growth

The brand expanded its premium and luxury offerings by increasing bed capacity by 5%, focusing exclusively on Premium (four-star resorts) and Exclusive Collection Resorts (five-star properties). The total number of guests rose by 1%, reaching 1.5 million in 2024. Occupancy rates at these top-tier properties also increased by 2%, with 75% occupancy across the year. The majority of guests came from France, China, Brazil, Canada, and the United States.

Expanding Exclusive Collection

The Exclusive Collection continues to grow, featuring a handpicked selection of five-star resorts, villas, chalets, and the iconic French sailing yacht, Club Med 2. Notable additions include Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda in the Dominican Republic, which offers private boutique-style villas, and Club Med Québec Charlevoix, with premium lounges, private jacuzzis, and concierge services.

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Club Med in Quebec has quickly become one of the brand’s most popular, year-round resorts.

It’s these winter properties, some experts say, that are really fueling the growth. According to the South China Morning Post, Fosun Tourism co-president Andrew Xu sees tourist attractions featuring snow and ice to be a major tourist attraction in China, which could be a potential growth region for the brand.

This year, Henri Giscard d’Estaing, president of Club Med, announced that the Asia-Pacific region would be key to the brand’s growth and announced a restructuring of its executives to help achieve that momentum. Just last month, BusinessToday of Malaysia reported that cold weather-destination bookings from the country have jumped by more than 100%.

Club Med Val d’Isère is the newest in its Exclusive Collection of properties.

While many people associate all-inclusive vacations with fun in the sun on the coastline, Club Med has made great strides in growing its winter vacation resorts, which also draw guests during the warmer months for other activities. It has seen a 20% uptick in demand for these destinations, which now accounts for 35% of Club Med’s global business.

Its mountain properties are not just in the Alps or Quebec’s ski destinations. They are also in Vietnam, Japan and China. Its most popular beach properties include locations in Bali and the Maldives.

Recent renovations

Club Med Gregolimano is fresh from a multi-million-dollar renovation.

Club Med Gregolimano in Greece is one of the newest to show off the shining new effects of this investment. More than $32 million was pumped into this renovation to upgrade interiors with the help of interior designer Jean-Philippe Nuel, including guest rooms, public areas, restaurants and recreational amenities. Among the newest perks are an adults-only pool, padel courts and spa wellness areas.

Club Med Cancun has a new sports and wellness island with a dedicated palapa for quiet yoga classes, archery, bocce ball, mini golf, multi-sport courts and the iconic Club Med Circus School where guests can participate in their own trapeze lessons and other daredevil acrobatics. Other changes include a new family play area with its own pool and kids bar, pickleball courts, a Mayan-themed splash park, cinema and kids club activities for ages as young as four months.

The pool at Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic

By the end of this year, Club Med Punta Cana will have an all-new design with newly renovated rooms, upgraded dining venues and a poolside bar inspired by a Dominican casita. Club Med Phuket now offers archery, scuba diving, Thai boxing, and coming soon, a family “oasis” with a dedicated waterpark and almost three dozen guest rooms for parents traveling with kids.

Where are the Americans?

Club Med Charlevoix in Quebec

Club Med says all-inclusive experiences are driving “increased momentum” among American guests, especially at resorts like Club Med Québec Charlevoix and those in the French Alps. Last year, it saw a 16% increase in business volume for North America’s mountain resorts. Overall, North America represented a 5% year-over-year increase in business volume highlighting brand awareness among American travelers.

The lounge of the Club Med Vittel Golf Ermitage in the France Savoy Alps

The majority of guests at Club Med properties are French, and even the staff usually hail from France or French-speaking countries in addition to the local destination. The fact that Americans have not caught onto the idea of Club Med just yet may be due to the fact its brand name is not as well-known within the U.S. and it does not have a formal loyalty program like its primary competition.

What it does offer, however, is European touches no matter where you go, which may appeal to some American travelers looking for something more elevated than an all-you-can-drink pool party.

The newly added «Zen» adult pool at Club Med Gregolimano in Greece.

And that’s just what Club Med is trying to change about the all-inclusive image. Some properties boast adult-only pools without a bar, like the new pool added to its resort in Greece.

Other Europeans are also catching onto the Club Med ethos with British travelers being especially intrigued by the brand’s winter destinations, according to an article in The Telegraph.

What’s next

The circus school at Club Med Magna Marbella in southern Spain

All of this growth has also been fueled by home-grown tech tools that it is using to reach a wider range of customers. It launched a WhatsApp channel using artificial intelligence, which Club Med’s Richard De Villa tells Travolution addresses over 40% of questions. The brand also launched a comparison tool that helps potential travelers compare different ski resorts.

Club Med is counting on courting more American travelers to its resorts. The brand’s portfolio includes destinations both near and far from the U.S. with plans to grow in U.S. mountain destinations with all-season resorts in the coming years.

The private villa accommodations at Club Med Cefalù in Italy

A new resort at Versant Soleil of Mont Tremblant in Canada is planned for a December 2028 opening, adding to its winter portfolio in the region.

Coming soon is a new resort in South Africa, which will provide both beach and safari experiences on the 45,000-acre Hluhluwe game reserve. It will be home to Club Med’s first ever surf school. Also on traveler radars are new properties in Oman (Club Med Musandam opening in 2028), Brazil (Club Med Granado opening next year) and Malaysia

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Bad Bunny Shouts Out Rincón, Puerto Rico: A Paradise for Surfers and Fans

Bad Bunny, the globally renowned artist, has made his love for Puerto Rico clear through his music. In his song «Me Fui de Vacaciones,» he says, «Puerto Rico looks beautiful even on Google Maps.» This deep connection to his homeland is a common thread in his music career.

Fans traveling to Puerto Rico for Bad Bunny’s 30-show summer residency, «No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí,» can find plenty of inspiration in his lyrics to plan their perfect vacation.

Hidden Gems & Secret Spots

However, not all of Puerto Rico’s beauty is shared openly. As Bad Bunny puts it, «Lo mejor nunca se sube… si pongo el location, ya no e’ un secret spot» – meaning the best spots remain undiscovered. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of hints in his songs to guide you to unforgettable locations.

Whether you’re catching some sun before the concert or planning a getaway after summer, Bad Bunny’s lyrics can lead you to the ultimate Puerto Rican vacation.

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Santurce: A Vibrant Neighborhood in San Juan

Santurce is one of the largest and most lively neighborhoods in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It’s filled with art galleries, shops, bars, and restaurants, offering plenty to see and do. Calle Loiza is a must-visit, known for its colorful murals and street art. You can also explore the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, home to a fantastic collection of local art.

As the sun sets, head to La Placita de Santurce. By day, it’s a market, but by night, it turns into a hub for music and dancing. Bad Bunny even references it in his song «Te Boté — Remix.» For a drink, stop by La Penúltima, recognized for its unique, island-inspired cocktails. Afterward, grab a bite at La Alcapurria Quemá, where you can try Puerto Rican classics like mofongo, alcapurrias, and carne frita.

Bad Bunny praises Puerto Rico’s Palomino Island, saying, “Forget the Maldives, I’m staying in Palomino,” in one of his hit songs. This island is a true tropical paradise, surpassing even the most idyllic destinations.

A short boat ride from Fajardo on Puerto Rico’s east coast takes you to Palomino, a 100-acre island with white sand, swaying palms, and clear blue waters.

Palomino is now accessible only through the El Conquistador Resort, located on the Puerto Rican mainland. The resort provides daily boat trips to the island, along with beach chairs, cabanas, water sports equipment, snorkeling gear, and a beachside bar and grill.

Fifty Eight Nightclub at La Concha Resort, San Juan

Located in San Juan’s vibrant Condado neighborhood, Fifty Eight is a legendary nightclub nestled on the lower level of La Concha Resort. Known for its reguetón and Latin trap music scene, it has become a must-visit spot for fans and artists alike.

Fifty Eight has been featured in numerous songs by top artists, including Bad Bunny, Feid, Ozuna, and Jhayco, with Jhayco even dedicating an entire song to the venue. The club’s distinctive light-paneled ceiling and stages can be spotted in countless music videos, making it an iconic part of San Juan’s nightlife.

But Fifty Eight is just one of the many reasons to visit La Concha Resort. Recently renovated, the resort offers updated rooms, the new Elemara Spa & Salon, and excellent dining options. Enjoy hand-rolled sushi at Tekka Bar or fresh seafood at Levant, by Michelin-starred Chef Michael White.

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Isabela is known as one of Puerto Rico’s most beautiful beach towns.

Isabela

If Bad Bunny calls it paradise itself, you know it has to be good. Located on the northern coast of Puerto Rico, Isabela is home to what is considered one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico: Playa Jobos. While this long stretch of golden sand is undeniably stunning, Isabela has so much more to offer than just a singular beach, with its serene, small-town vibe making it a favorite getaway destination from San Juan.

Playa Jobos appeals to surfers and swimmers alike, with sections of the beach offering choppier, wavier conditions and others perfectly peaceful and ideal for families. There’s not a single oversized beach resort here, and that’s a major part of Isabela’s appeal; instead, boutique inns, beachfront rentals and even camping facilities in nearby Guajataca State Forest make it a more accessible destination for visitors, especially those who just spent all their savings on concert tickets.

Mayagüez is the unofficial capital of Puerto Rico’s west coast.

Mayagüez

Considered the western “capital” of Puerto Rico, the city of Mayagüez is a colonial marvel brimming with charm, beautiful beaches, shopping and plenty to keep visitors busy, whether they’re here at the recommendation of Bad Bunny or otherwise.

Mayagüez boasts is own beautiful city center, but most visitors head straight for its beaches upon arrival. North is Rincón and Crash Boat Beach, both known for their surfing, and Rincón even earning a shoutout from Martínez Ocasio in his song “El Apagón.” To the south, Boquerón with its blissful beaches, yet another one of the island’s beautiful stretches of sand to earn a mention in the singer’s “Me Fui de Vacaciones.”

Great snorkeling and diving can be found around the island, but Mayagüez is known as the start for the excursion to Isla Desecheo, an uninhabited island off the coast with beautiful marine life and coral formations. It is known for having some of the best underwater visibility in Puerto Rico.

Bad Bunny’s most streamed song, “Dákiti,” with over two billion listens on Spotify, has sparked curiosity about its name. Fans have speculated that it could refer to various places in Puerto Rico.

Some believe it’s named after a beach in Old San Juan or a bar in the area. Others think it points to Bahía Dákiti, a clear bay on the island of Culebra, located off Puerto Rico’s mainland. The bay is known for its beauty and is a gateway to Culebra, home to Playa Flamenco, one of the Caribbean’s best beaches.

Whether you visit Culebra’s Dákiti Bay or explore Old San Juan, following this Bad Bunny-themed journey is a must this summer.

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The 2025 UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition celebrates the ocean’s beauty and raises awareness about its protection. This year’s theme, “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us,” is reflected in the winning images, which highlight both the awe-inspiring creatures and fragile ecosystems of our oceans.

The competition featured entries from photographers around the world, both professional and amateur, in four categories: Big and Small Underwater Faces, Underwater Seascapes, Above Water Seascapes, and the new Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us category, inspired by the theme.

The winning photos showcase an array of breathtaking scenes, from surprising animal encounters to stunning seascapes. These images offer a complex view of our oceans and underscore the importance of preserving them.

One notable image, taken by Rachel Moore in 2024, won 1st place in the Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us category. It features a humpback whale named Sweet Girl in Mo’orea, French Polynesia, just days before her tragic death due to a ship strike.

Moore’s heartbreaking story highlights the dangers faced by whales, with 20,000 whales lost each year to ship strikes.

Moore used Sweet Girl’s story to advocate for stricter protections for these majestic creatures, particularly around Tahiti and Mo’orea during whale season.

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World Ocean’s Photo Competition First Place Winners

1st Place, Big and Small Underwater Faces Category, Sea of Japan

This stunning photo of a Japanese warbonnet was taken in the Sea of Japan, approximately 50 miles southwest of Vladivostok, Russia.

Andre Nosik, the photographer, explains, “I spotted the ornate fish at a depth of around 30 meters (100 feet) beneath the stern of a shipwreck.” The species appears unafraid of divers. In fact, it seemed to enjoy the attention and even attempted to sit on the dome port of Nosik’s camera.

1st Place, Underwater Seascapes Category – Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Dani Escayola shares, “This year, I had the rare chance to visit a jellyfish lake during a live-aboard trip in southern Raja Ampat. Being surrounded by millions of jellyfish, which lost their stinging ability due to the lack of predators, was truly breathtaking.”

A peaceful lake nestled between arid dunes, fed by a gentle stream, is captured from an airplane over a remote stretch of coastline near Shark Bay, Western Australia.

Second Place Winners Of Ocean’s Photo Competition

2nd Place, Wonder Sustaining What Sustains Us, Indonesia’s Lembeh Strait.

This juvenile pinnate batfish was photographed with a slow shutter speed, a ‘snooted’ light (to control the light beam for the shot) and deliberate camera panning to create a sense of motion.

Juvenile pinnate batfish are known for their striking black bodies outlined in vibrant orange, a coloration they lose within a few months as they mature. I encountered this restless subject in the tropical waters of Indonesia’s Lembeh Strait.

2nd Place, Big and Small Underwater Facess. Anilao, Philippines.

On one of his many blackwater dives in Anilao, Philippines, Giacomo Marchine spotted something moving erratically at a depth of around 65 feet. It was about 10 to 15 centimeters in size, a rare blanket octopus and as he approached, it opened up its beautiful blanket, revealing a multicolored mantle.

“I felt truly privileged to have captured this fascinating deep-sea cephalopod,» Marchione said.” Among the many unique characteristics of this fascinating deep-sea cephalopod, it exhibits some of the most extreme sexual size-dimorphism in nature, with females reaching up to two meters in length, while males typically remain about 2.4 cm.

2nd Place, Underwater Seascapes.

This shot captures a school of rays resting at a cleaning station in Mauritius, where strong currents once attracted them regularly. «Some rays grew accustomed to divers, allowing close encounters like this,» Gerald Rambert says. “Sadly, after the severe bleaching that the reefs suffered last year, such gatherings have become rare, and we may not witness this again at the same spot.”

2nd Place, Above Water Seascapes category. Hermaness National Nature Reserve, Scotland.

Northern gannets soar above the dramatic cliffs of Scotland’s Hermaness National Nature Reserve, their sleek white bodies and black-tipped wings slicing through the Shetland winds. These seabirds, the largest in the North Atlantic, are renowned for their striking plunge-dives, reaching speeds up to 60 miles per hour as they hunt for fish beneath the waves.

The cliffs of Hermaness provide ideal nesting sites, with updrafts aiding their take-off and landing. Each spring, thousands return to this rugged coastline, forming one of the U.K.’s most significant gannet colonies.

A Shark Sanctuary And Other Photo Competition Winners

3rd Place, Wonder Sustaining What Sustains Us category. Jardines de la Reina, Cuba.

Shot in Cuba’s Jardines de la Reina, a protected shark sanctuary, this image captures a Caribbean reef shark weaving through a group of silky sharks near the surface. Using a slow shutter and strobes as the shark pivoted sharply, the motion blurred into a wave-like arc across its head, lit by the golden hues of sunset.

The abundance and behavior of sharks here is a living symbol of what protected oceans can look like.

3rd place, Big and Small Underwater Faces category, Antarctic Peninsula.

Trips to the Antarctic Peninsula always yield amazing encounters with leopard seals for Lars Von Ritter. “Boldly approaching me and baring his teeth, this individual was keen to point out that this part of Antarctica was his territory,» he said. «The picture was shot at dusk, resulting in the rather moody atmosphere.”

3rd Place, Underwater Seascapes category. “La Rapadura,” northern coast of Tenerife, Canary Islands.

“La Rapadura” is a natural hidden treasure on the northern coast of Tenerife in the Spanish territory of the Canary Islands. Only discovered in 1996, it is one of the most astonishing underwater landscapes in the world, consistently ranking among the planet’s best dive sites.

These towering columns of basalt are the result of volcanic processes that occurred between 500,000 and a million years ago. The formation was created when a basaltic lava flow reached the ocean where, upon cooling and solidifying, it contracted, creating natural structures often compared to the pipes of church organs.

Located in a region where marine life has been impacted by once-common illegal fishing practices, this stunning natural monument has both geological and ecological value, and scientists and underwater photographers are advocating for its protection.

Discover Paradise Harbour – A Hidden Gem of the Antarctic Peninsula

Andrey Nosik calls Paradise Harbour one of the most beautiful spots on the Antarctic Peninsula. During his visit, the sea was incredibly calm, creating a perfect reflection of the Suárez Glacier (also known as Petzval Glacier) in the water. It’s an unforgettable sight!

For a unique getaway, consider booking your vacation at MWR LIFE:3rd Place, Above Water Seascapes, located in Paradise Harbour. Experience the breathtaking beauty of this pristine destination.

Explore the 2025 UN Photo Competition Winners
View the winners and finalists of the 2025 UN Photo Competition for World Oceans Day in the virtual gallery. Relive the stunning images from this year and past editions.

Book your trip today and witness the magnificence of Paradise Harbour!