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• The UK All-Inclusive market has grown 32% in the last five years
• Driving this growth is the ‘Premium All-Inclusive’ segment, running at more than double the rate of other All-Inclusive products
• Now 1 in 4 All-Inclusives booked is a Premium All-Inclusive
• ‘Premium All-Inclusive’ sector set to DOUBLE within the next few years

London, 18 June 2012 – The All-Inclusive Holiday sector and, within it, the ‘Premium All-Inclusive Holiday’ sector are set to grow exponentially within the next few years despite the current economic climate, predicts experts.  Club Med, pioneer of the All-Inclusive holiday more than 60 years ago, today launches the Premium All-Inclusive Report – an independently commissioned report seeking to address the emerging success of the Premium All-Inclusive segment in the UK outbound travel market.

The report looks at the UK holiday market and specifically at the Premium All-Inclusive market using independent market data and consumer research provided by GfK which analysed 40 UK tour operators, representing more than 90% of the UK ‘package holiday market’.

Despite the travel industry facing one of its most challenging periods in its history, the report which includes market figures from research giant GfK reveals that the UK All-Inclusive market has grown 32% within the last five years and in 2011 represented 3.1 million passengers.

Paramount to this All-Inclusive growth is the ‘Premium All-Inclusive’ market, which essentially represents four and five star properties and an offer of higher quality inclusions, such as gourmet food, sports activities with tuition and dedicated Children’s Clubs. Premium All-Inclusive sales growth is running at more than double the rate of other All-Inclusive products. Overall All-Inclusives may have been up 9% in winter 2010/11 and up 11% in summer 2011, but its growth pales in comparison to the Premium All-Inclusives, which achieved a plus 15% and plus 24% respectively. This segment now accounts for 1 in 4 All-Inclusive bookings – and is predicted by Club Med to DOUBLE within the next few years.

Club Med Premium All-Inclusive report reveals that more than half of the British consumers have already taken an All-Inclusive holiday – this year, one in ten people are looking for an All-Inclusive holiday with 20% of those earning more than £60,000 seeking a ‘Premium All-Inclusive’ holiday.

The report found that British travellers are changing their holiday habit as a result of the economic climate, with travellers citing ‘value’ as their most important reason in booking an All-Inclusive holiday followed closely with ‘stress-free’ and ‘safety’.

The way people travel has changed significantly since Club Med was established in 1950 – however key values such as spending quality time with family, relaxing in the sun, enjoying good food and practising sport activities remain the same.  Club Med UK has been conducting omnibus research in the UK since 2008. In 2009, Club Med revealed that holidays were ‘the last luxury to go’ and in 2010, that All-Inclusive holidays are viewed by UK consumers the most stress-free holiday options.

Club Med’s half-year financial results last week announced an increase of 5% in UK bookings – exceptional in a market environment where holiday bookings are typically down 7%. Since pioneering the All-Inclusive holidays in the 1950’s, Club Med has made a strategic move up market with a number of refurbishments across the collection and launching into an ambitious expansion programme. Recent refurbishments included Club Med Sandpiper Bay, Club Med Yasmina and Club Med Phuket.

2012 / 2013 brings further developments for the brand with the launch of  a brand new luxury Resort in the Italian Alps, Club Med Pragelato Vialattea, set to open in December 2012. A new property development, Club Med Belek will open in Turkey in spring 2013.   Both new Resorts are designed to meet the demands of the growing market of British travellers looking for a luxury, ‘Premium All-Inclusive’, experience.

Laurent de Chorivit, managing director of Club Med UK, South Africa & Nordics, says: ‘I am delighted to be launching this report.  In a challenging economic environment, it is not unusual to witness new trends and habits emerge.  This report was commissioned to help us understand better our consumers and also examine the potential of the UK holiday market.  The research show that the Premium All-Inclusive market will double in the next five years – an exceptional opportunity for Club Med’.

He continued – ‘60 years on, Club Med has not changed their founding philosophies but now offer a more comprehensive, upmarket holiday product that caters for families, couples, water sports enthusiasts, skiers and culturists alike. Club Med has already invested more than £1 billion and will continue to develop its upscale strategy reflecting the demand of a new clientele.’

Click here to view the Premium All-Inclusive Report

The report also reveals*:

• The total market size in summer 2011 was 10.4 million leisure travellers – of which 75.5% (7.5 million) were on ‘package holidays’

• Value is key for the British holiday buying public – whether they are spending £600 or £6,000 they want to know they are getting value for money

• All-Inclusives are voted the most stress-free holiday choice

• One in every nine British Premium All-Inclusive clients comes from the South East of England…

• … and one in ten Londoners are looking for a ‘Premium All-Inclusive’ holiday in 2012 – compared with one in 14 across the country

Club Med’s unique offer not only includes luxury service and accommodation but also most sporting activities and tuition, childcare and gourmet cuisine – all part of the Club Med All-Inclusive experience.

Club Med is a responsible resort operator.  Ever since 1950, the values and culture of Club Med have been focused on sharing happiness. Club Med respects others and the natural world and this way of living and working is even more important now than ever before. Club Med works to protect host regions by supporting local people, their environment and their culture and by making positive contributions to the local community.  Club Med is also committed to employing locally, buying locally, transferring skills and supporting entrepreneurship where possible. Club Med is also a member of the UNESCO World Heritage Alliance Programme.

For more information or reservations call 08453 67 67 67, log onto www.clubmed.co.uk or visit your local travel agent.

Notes to editors:

Market research data was provided by GfK Ascent – an independent market information company with an international client base.

As well as Club Med, 39 tour operators are surveyed as being those with Premium All-Inclusive products. These are:

Abercrombie & Kent, Azur Collections, Bales, Banyan Tree, Beachcomber, Cadogan Holidays, Carrier, Classic Collection, Coastline Villas, Crystal Holidays, Elegant Resorts, Escapades, Esprit Ski, Inghams, ITC Classics, Kids in the Med, Kuoni, Longwood, Mark Warner, Neilson, One & Only, Peltours, Prestige, Sandals, Season & Style, Ski Independents, Six Senses Hideaways, Snowline, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Sunsails, Total Ski, Thomas Cook Signature, Thomson Platinum, TUI Travel, Thomson Ski, VIP Ski, Villa Holidays and Western and Oriental.

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Fieldwork was undertaken 17-20 December 2010 (total sample size was 2,079 adults) and 21-24 October 2011 (total sample size was 2,004 adults). The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). Questions were multiple choice, with multiple responses permitted.

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