By Shane Cullen,Stephen Aherne

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To mark the 75th anniversary of the pioneer of all-inclusive luxury brand Club Med, guests were invited to an evening to mark this milestone with great company, entertainment, and a taste of the Club Med spirit. ITTN’s Shane Cullen reports on the event took place in the presidential suite at The Conrad Hotel Dublin, where attendees savoured cocktails and canapes.

Club Med was represented at the event by:

Nicolas Bresch – Managing Director of the UK, Ireland & Nordics | Club Med

Marc Lauret – Head of Trade Sales & MICE – UK, Ireland & Nordics | Club Med

Richard De Villa – Marketing Director for the UK, Ireland & Nordics | Club Med

Club Med Representation in Ireland

“The purpose of life is to be happy. The time to be happy is now. And the place to be happy is here,” stated Gérald Blitz, a utopian water polo player who co-created the first Club Med in Majorca with Gilbert Trigano, a tent manufacturer. It was April 1950, seventy-five years ago. Interestingly, Gérald Blitz was also the inventor of the “all-inclusive” holiday concept.

1956 saw the first alpine village open at Leysin, Switzerland, extending the Club Med all-inclusive model to the mountains. In fact, today in Ireland, an equal share of holiday-makers travel for sun as for ski holidays with Club Med. This was c. 5,000 travellers last year.

Club Med launched its first cruise ship, Club Med 1, in the early nineties.

Through the decades, it has expanded its activities from introducing the flying trapeze, marking the beginning of circus activities for children in 1990, to introducing more age-specific kids clubs in 2000. 2004 saw the company reposition itself towards premium all-inclusive holidays, elevating accommodation, dining and bespoke experiences. More recently, the company has launched the Happy to Care program, a sustainability initiative focused on responsible tourism.

Looking Forward, First All-Inclusive Beach & Safari Resort Announced

Club Med South Africa – Beach & Safari

New to the market will be the Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari resort, which shall open on 4th July 2026. combining a premium beach vacation with an unforgettable safari in a private reserve. Enjoy relaxation by the ocean while having the option to book an add-on experience at Club Med’s safari lodge.

Club Med Beach Resort South Africa

Located on the seafront, this new premium resort with an Exclusive Collection space will offer a relaxing yet revitalising holiday atmosphere, with a lifestyle feel all year round. It combines modernity and African influences and is set in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal, just 45 minutes from Durban (and just 30 minutes from King Shaka International Airport).

Located between the ocean and the bush, this new Club Med Resort is an all-inclusive offering which combines the best of both worlds, beach and safari in South Africa. This is a premium, all-inclusive offering for families, adults and events. The beach resort will have 345 premium rooms plus 66 EC Suites

With the Indian Ocean as a backdrop, the property offers direct access to a long beachfront. Here, guests can ride the waves at Club Med’s first surf school. True to the Club Med ethos of activities, guests can kayak, paddle board, try beach rugby, tennis, Padel, volleyball, soccer & touch rugby as well as circus activities with trapeze and archery.

The extensive wellness offering consists of a Spa (Sothys, Terres d’Afrique), four pools, hamman, yoga, cardio and fitness.

In addition, childcare facilities will be available from 4 months to 17 years old with Baby, Petit, Mini, Teens Club and Chill Pass. From speaking with Nicolas Bresch (Managing Director of the UK, Ireland & Nordics | Club Med), his view of family holidays rings true for any parent:

“It’s about being able to deliver to every member of the family, a wide range of activities. Of course, for the kids, we always say, “Happy kids make happy, happy parents.”

I highly recommend trying a trapeze once in my life and had the opportunity in Club Med when I was younger, slimmer & had a lot more hair. Also, I fell in love with Padel at Club Med Magna Marbella, which was a fantastic fanfare of French cuisine and sporting tournaments (see below for links to more on Club Med).

Mpilo Safari Lodge

To experience the Big Five on a safari, guests can stay at Mpilo Safari Lodge, a 4-hour 30-minute journey from the beach resort. Nestled in the heart of 18,000 hectares of private game reserve, this lodge offers total immersion in the magic of South African nature. It is in the KwaZulu Natal region, near the town of Pongola, just below Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). The destination is ideal for discovering a vast diversity of wildlife and going in search of the famous Big Five – lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and buffalo.

Whether a couple, group of friends or a family, this balances luxury and conviviality – the signature of an authentic Club Med experience. There are 75 tented safari rooms, catering for a maximum of 230 guests. There is a restaurant, bar and a pool with facilities for children from the age of 4. Guests can enjoy daytime and evening entertainment, game drives, à la carte dining as well as local nature and cultural experiences.

The Club Med team recommend a short stay at the Safari Lodge, 2 nights/3 days or 3 nights/4 days. While open all year round, the optimal time to travel there is between June and mid-November.

Getting There

The easiest way to get from Dublin to the new Club Med Beach Resort South Africa is via Dubai with Emirates.

Special Offer

The season opening sale starts on 14th October – get a quote now here. Customers can register interest in Club Med South Africa and can save up to 20% on a wide selection of resorts.

Club Med Experience

I have been fortunate to enjoy a recent fam trip with Club Med. Find out about Club Med Magna Marbella.

For more, check out ITTN coverage of the fam trip onboard Club Med 2:

ITTN and Trade Onboard Club Med FAM Out of Marseilles

Club Med 2 FAM Trip: Marseilles to Roses in Fine Style