Olivier Monceau, CEO of Club Med in Russia, gave a special interview to the Votpusk.ru correspondent.
What changes await the tourist services market after overcoming the crisis and lifting restrictions?
- We can say with confidence that our usual life will radically change and many areas will undergo certain changes, which will also affect the tourism industry. Unfortunately, many players in the tourism business will go bankrupt, and not all will be able to restore their previous sales volumes and get back on their feet. However, the big players in the field of tourism, especially those with strong investor support such as Club Med, will not only survive, but will also emerge from the crisis refreshed. This is certainly due not only to obvious external factors and a shaken economy, but also to the fact that the expectations and requirements of customers after the pandemic regarding safety and health issues will change and become much higher, which will inevitably affect the travel industry, which will be all to try to satisfy these increased needs by force. We are now seeing that Club Med clients want to be confident in the service they receive, so they are not considering other options for recreation, but they want to go to our resorts. I assume that in this situation they will not experiment by choosing other tour operators.
Can we expect a change in the format of the tourism business?
- Undoubtedly, the tourism industry will change the format of work and provision of services. The situation will require tour operators and hoteliers to change safety and hygiene standards, as well as increased attention to compliance with all sanitary standards at resorts. We can also say that it is the all-inclusive format that will undergo major changes. At the resorts, special attention will be paid to providing clients with a personalized service, with the aim of minimizing contact with other holidaymakers. Of course, we can guarantee that Club Med will comply with all new rules and regulations and provide customers with the highest level of security. These changes will stimulate our further development and improve the level of service delivery and will serve exclusively for the benefit of our clients.
How will the preferences of tourists change?
- Travelers will opt for countries with a high level of security, as well as medicine, which will lead to a change in the list of usual tourist destinations. We can also say that we are waiting for the transition from mass recreation and public transport to the system of individual travel. Tourists will choose destinations where direct flights and a minimum of transfers are available. We expect that Russian tourists will travel within the country, destinations such as Sochi and Crimea will become the most popular, and, of course, as soon as the borders open, the tourist flow will be redistributed to the nearest European destinations. Thus, Russian clients are likely to prefer their usual destinations, such as Turkey and Greece. It can also be said that customers will stick to their preferences and remain loyal to the hotels and resorts with which they have built a trusting relationship.
How soon will the demand for international travel recover?
-We expect a recovery in international travel demand with the opening of borders, however, we understand that it will take time before we return to our previous sales figures. We are greatly encouraged by our clients, who are already asking questions about when the Club Med resorts will open and dream of resting again in their favorite vacation spots. For everyone, the opening of international destinations and resorts, as well as the confidence that all safety standards are met by airlines, tour operators and hoteliers, is an indicator that the situation has improved and you can again be afraid of nothing and safely go on new trips. That is why we expect to reach "pre-coronavirus" sales volumes in a year.
Can we say that the format of the rest will change?
- We can say that after overcoming the crisis situation, clients will give preference to the most safe formats of recreation for themselves. Operational changes will be introduced related to the introduction of new norms of social distancing and the adoption of security measures in certain areas of the tourism market. Most likely, many clients will choose for themselves as a residence - detached villas or bungalows, rather than large hotel buildings with common areas and restaurants. And priority in destinations will be given to more secluded and remote places, so we can confidently say that the relatively new format of “eco-chic” recreation will gain momentum and will be in demand by clients to a greater extent. The eco-chic concept helps to preserve and protect nature without compromising the comfort of guests. An example of this is the Club Med Miches resort in the Dominican Republic, based on the principle of sustainable development - sustainability. The design of the resort is thought out so that the buildings harmoniously fit into the natural landscape and local buildings are no higher than spreading palm trees. The resort has been awarded the Green Globe certification, a certification given for sustainable tourism, which focuses on conserving natural resources, positively contributing to local communities and protecting the environment.
Club Med - Miches is not the only example of this concept in the arsenal, it is also worth noting our unique resort Club Med Cefalu, located on a rocky cliff among the blooming gardens of Sicily. And also the paradise environmentally friendly resort Club Med Seychelles, which is located in one of the most environmentally friendly areas of the Indian Ocean and is an example of ecotourism among other island states. In order to preserve the wonders of nature on the islands, special rules have been introduced for visiting individual reserves and other protected areas, which allows the preservation of beautiful but fragile ecosystems.
When do you plan to open the Club Med resorts?
We are pleased to announce that Club Med is already gradually opening its resorts to guests! In April, all Club Med resorts in China were opened, but, unfortunately, so far they only accept customers from China, since international borders are still closed in most countries. We plan to open European, Asian and other resorts around the world immediately after the relevant decisions are made by the heads of state in whose territory these resorts are located. For example, we are planning to open our family bestseller Club Med Palmiye this summer in Turkey so that our clients can continue to enjoy an unprecedented level of relaxation on their favorite coast.
