logo

Rachael Harding has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) ESAP at Club Med in Singapore

Hospitality Net29-05-2025

Club Med, the global leader in premium all-inclusive holiday experiences, has announced a strategic restructuring of its Asia Pacific operations, consolidating three existing Business Units into two integrated entities - East & South Asia and Pacific (ESAP) and China - with effect from May 1, 2025. This business transformation reinforces the brand's commitment to deepening regional focus, unlocking new growth potential, and enhancing operational agility in high-priority markets.
Designed to align with the distinct business environment in ESAP and China while preserving the collaborative "One APAC" mechanism, this new structure will enable Club Med to solidify its position as one of the most iconic global lifestyle brands and drive the next chapter of growth in Asia.
"This move opens a new chapter for Club Med in Asia Pacific. By tailoring our regional structure around the unique strengths of China and ESAP, we are well-poised to accelerate our expansion with a strategic focus. With empowered leadership and a shared glocal vision, Club Med now has even more agility to seize opportunities in key markets and reinforce our position as the worldwide leader in premium, all-inclusive travel," said Henri Giscard d'Estaing, President of Club Med.
Accelerated Growth Momentum in ESAP
The ESAP region has experienced a robust rebound over the past three years, buoyed by high client retention, new customer acquisition, and increased capacity in regions such as Hokkaido, Japan. With new milestones achieved, including the renovation and extension of Club Med Phuket with the first Family Oasis amongst its Asia resorts; upcoming renovations and enhancements at Club Med Bintan; and the highly anticipated debut of Club Med Borneo in Malaysia, ESAP is primed for significant profitable growth.
To capitalise on this momentum, Club Med has appointed Rachael Harding as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the newly integrated ESAP business unit, encompassing both commercial and resort operations management. She will report to Gregory Lanter, Deputy CEO of Club Med.
In this role, Rachael will be responsible for strategically guiding the ESAP business unit through the current evolving landscape. Her focus will be on ensuring a strong customer and brand experience, while driving a profitable growth strategy that solidifies Club Med's leadership position in both established and developing markets within the region.
The ESAP Business Unit will see several key appointments:
Cindy Beleau becomes Vice President of Revenue Management APAC, leading a modernisation of pricing strategies using digital and AI tools.
becomes Vice President of Revenue Management APAC, leading a modernisation of pricing strategies using digital and AI tools. Sandrine Rossi takes on the role of Vice President, Operations and Product, bringing over 20 years of experience in resort operations and strategy.
takes on the role of Vice President, Operations and Product, bringing over 20 years of experience in resort operations and strategy. Anastasiya Kulish steps in as Vice President of Japan Resort Operations, with a focus on strengthening Club Med's mountain leadership in Hokkaido.
steps in as Vice President of Japan Resort Operations, with a focus on strengthening Club Med's mountain leadership in Hokkaido. Michelle Davies , General Manager Pacific, will expand her remit to include ESAP New Markets.
, General Manager Pacific, will expand her remit to include ESAP New Markets. Olivier Monceau adds the Meetings & Events segment to his leadership of Singapore and Malaysia.
adds the Meetings & Events segment to his leadership of Singapore and Malaysia. Jerome Ferrie and Arezki Haddad are named Chief Financial Officer and Chief HR Officer respectively.
Rachael Harding, CEO, Club Med ESAP remarked, "This business transformation empowers us to scale with greater purpose and precision across the region. With a refreshed leadership structure, a robust resort pipeline and stronger regional integration, we are advancing our ability to deliver elevated, seamless guest experiences. The 2024 results clearly demonstrate ESAP's significant growth potential for Club Med, and we are poised to capitalise on every opportunity this new phase presents."
Strategic Realignment in China
Club Med has seen tremendous growth in China, which is the brand's second-largest market with over 260,000 guests welcomed in 2024. Since its entry into China in 2003 and the launch of its first ski resort in Yabuli in 2010, Club Med has progressively expanded its footprint—including five Premium All-Inclusive Resorts, four Joyview Resorts and two Urban Oasis properties over the past 22 years.
Club Med will remain focused on strengthening its leadership in the Premium All-Inclusive segment, catering to affluent families and active couples while also supporting both outbound and inbound tourism.
Andrew Xu will continue as CEO of Club Med China and serve as Deputy CEO of Club Med, overseeing global finance.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Amadeus and UN Tourism report provides comprehensive look at Asia Pacific travel market
Amadeus and UN Tourism report provides comprehensive look at Asia Pacific travel market

Hospitality Net

time18 hours ago

  • Hospitality Net

Amadeus and UN Tourism report provides comprehensive look at Asia Pacific travel market

Amadeus, a leading provider of travel technology solutions, and UN Tourism, have released a new report with comprehensive data on travel in Asia Pacific. The Market Insights report – Asia & subregions offers in-depth insights into passenger traffic, hospitality market indicators, top-performing destinations, and new routes in the Asia Pacific region. The report presents a detailed analysis of passenger traffic and capacity trends from March 2023 to February 2025 and provides a forecast extending to August 2025. Notable growth rates include a 9.3% increase in air passenger volume and scheduled seats for Asia and the Pacific, derived from Amadeus Navigator360™ data. Market level hotel occupancy rates, average daily rates (ADR), and revenue per available room (RevPAR) across various regions are also detailed in the report. Top-performing destinations in terms of bookings and searches are explored, highlighting significant year-over-year growth for destinations including China, Macao, and Mongolia. Finally, the report details the introduction of new air routes in the region, emphasizing the potential for unlocking new market opportunities. Paul Wilson, Vice President of Hospitality, Asia Pacific, Amadeus says, 'This new report serves as a valuable resource for stakeholders in the travel and hospitality industry. It offers actionable insights and data-driven strategies to navigate the dynamic market landscape. By using detailed market insights, destination management organizations and hotels can enhance growth opportunities, improve customer experiences, and optimize their operations in the Asia-Pacific region.' 'At UN Tourism, we are committed to strengthening the capacity of our members to access relevant and reliable market intelligence that enable better tourism management and planning. ​That is why we are pleased to collaborate once again with Amadeus, one of our valuable Affiliate Members. Asia and the Pacific is a hugely dynamic and innovative region. In 2024, the region welcomed 316 million international tourist arrivals, 33% more than in 2023, making it the second most visited destination in the world, after Europe.​ 'I trust this report and its insights will contribute to a better understanding of the market dynamics of the APAC region and inform more effective decision-making by both the tourism public and private sectors,' says Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, UN Tourism. You can download the full report here. About the data: All data in this report comes from Amadeus Travel Intelligence. The data was extracted from Amadeus Navigator360™ on March 16, 2025. Navigator360™ is the most comprehensive collection of hotel, air and sociodemographic travel data available today, empowering businesses to identify evolving travel trends. View source

Uncertainty Abounds: HVS Takeaways from NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum 2025
Uncertainty Abounds: HVS Takeaways from NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum 2025

Hospitality Net

timea day ago

  • Hospitality Net

Uncertainty Abounds: HVS Takeaways from NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum 2025

With contributions from Kannan Sankaran, Patricia Shih, Neil Flavin, Alice Sherman, and Cole Masler. The start of June always brings the industry together in New York City, and we enjoyed our time at the NYU International Hospitality Investment Forum this year. It was great to see many of you there and share our recent experiences in the industry. The conference was preceded by our webinar that provided an update of our forecast and views from HVS President – Americas, Rod Clough. You can view the webinar here. The conference brought forward a noticeable mix of contrasting viewpoints as to the state and near-term future of the industry. Some attendees were convinced that transaction activity will pick up in the next three to six months as we transition to a more balanced seller/buyer dynamic. Others expected transaction activity in major markets to be down for the duration of 2025, citing the recently instituted federal tariffs and government job cuts that have created some uncertainty in the levels of both domestic and international travel. They see these as factors that are causing capital to stay on the sidelines for the time being. Whether more positive or negative in their near-term future view, investor sentiment remained cautious in both camps. Luxury and lifestyle segments continue to outperform, and a stronger focus on acquisitions over development has taken hold. There appears to be a disconnect between media reports of low consumer confidence and the 2025 travel trends observed in several key markets. Industry participants are watching the summer travel season to see if the positive trend continues in these markets (or reverses the declines in others). These stakeholders are also keeping a close eye on inflation and unemployment levels, the two key factors that could affect discretionary spending. Group business has become a big driver of demand in the absence of the typical leisure and commercial sources. As a result, RevPAR is likely to stay stagnant or decline in many markets, as this supplemental group demand is typically lower rated than the leisure- or commercial-transient demand that is usually present. Operators appear to be showing more concern, as revenues, particularly from the leisure segment, have slowed this year. Hotel owners and operators are prioritizing operational efficiency over aggressive expansion, with technology and labor strategy emerging as key focus areas amid persistent cost pressures. These pressures include continued high labor costs (management and hourly), elevated insurance costs, brand-mandated PIP renovations, and deferred maintenance. While owners and operators are taking internal measures to control their GOP percentages, they are having to implement additional strategies to lessen the impact of increased insurance costs and taxes on EBITDA. In addition to the higher operating costs across the board, owners are feeling unsettled regarding the uncontrollable expenses. The cost of supplies is anticipated to be affected at some level by tariffs and potential trade deals. Development deals are generally more paused than outright canceled. Key money provided by brands has affected developer decisions, though many brands have elected not to engage in a bidding war, instead standing firm on their long-term value proposition. Representatives for all brands reported that they are extremely busy and appear optimistic; however, privately, they revealed that they are seeing a slowdown, albeit small, and deal closings in multiple segments have slowed due to owner hesitancy resulting from the economic conditions. Unless a project is located in a high-demand, impactful market, some owners are taking a 'wait and see' approach. Overall, the sentiment and outlook were generally neutral, with optimism from some balanced by caution from others. "Uncertainty" was the word that was used most often. There is currently a lot of macroeconomic-related noise. The prevalent tone was 'let's wait a few months,' both to gain some clarity once the tariff situation plays out and to see the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill that may be passed by the U.S. Senate. Reach out to any of us to learn more. We are happy to do a deeper dive on our experiences and views on the current state of the industry. Let's connect! — Source: HVS About HVS HVS, the world's leading consulting and services organization focused on the hotel, mixed-use, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries, was established in 1980. The company performs 4,500+ assignments each year for hotel and real estate owners, operators, investors, banks and developers worldwide. HVS principals are regarded as the leading experts in their respective regions of the globe. Through a network of some 60 offices and more than 300 professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. View source

State of the District: A Look at the Washington, D.C., Lodging Market
State of the District: A Look at the Washington, D.C., Lodging Market

Hospitality Net

timea day ago

  • Hospitality Net

State of the District: A Look at the Washington, D.C., Lodging Market

New international tariff and trade negotiations are having far-reaching global implications, and the impacts of cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)are rippling throughout the country. These national and global decisions are also having a significant effect on hotels in Washington, D.C., the market located at the heart of the federal government. Market Expansion After COVID-19 Like the rest of the nation, D.C. hotels experienced significant declines in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, diverging from trends across most U.S. markets, the D.C. hospitality sector recovered at a slower pace than most large metropolitan cities due to a number of factors. In 2021, leisure and group travel was negatively affected by the District's mask mandates, which were not fully lifted until late November 2021, remaining in effect longer than many other major cities and gateway markets. The government and corporate segments are the anchor of the Washington, D.C., lodging market. With federal employees working from home some or all of the time, and with many meetings taking place virtually, local occupancy levels remained low. While the average 2021 RevPAR growth from the prior year for the top 25 markets in the United States was 58.0%, growth for Washington, D.C., lagged behind by nearly 20 percentage points, totaling only 39.3%. With the mask mandates lifted, tourism increasing, international travel trending upward, and more in-person corporate and government business requiring travel and in-person meetings, the D.C. market's RevPAR growth significantly outpaced the top 25 markets' average each year between 2022 and 2024. The following table illustrates the percentage change in RevPAR for both the top 25 markets and Washington, D.C., since 2020, as published by STR. D.C. Has Outpaced Top 25 Markets in RevPAR Growth Since 2022 Source: STR Global, STR Monthly Hotel Review— Source: HVS Emerging Trends and Challenges for 2025 At the beginning of 2025, optimism about the local and regional D.C. hotel market was robust. Inflation was declining, travel remained strong, the group and meeting booking pace was healthy, in-office work was trending upward, a presidential inauguration was scheduled for January, and the 50th anniversary of WorldPride was planned for the District in June, among other factors. The inauguration created significant demand for the area (as is typical, particularly with a change in political party) and allowed local hoteliers to raise ADR levels in January; however, despite the strong start to the year, federal policies have tempered the optimism for 2025. While the return-to-office mandate for federal employees was expected to have a positive impact, the cuts initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have adversely affected the market's lodging performance. In addition to the direct cuts, DOGE's efforts have created uncertainty for numerous federal agencies. Local market participants reported significant government and commercial demand in March and April but have received numerous cancellations for the remainder of Q2 and Q3 of this year, as the uncertainty is making it more challenging for individuals and businesses to commit to travel or meeting plans. ADR for Washington, D.C., Shows Steady Growth Year-to-Date Source: STR Global, STR Monthly Hotel Review— Source: HVS Tourism remains strong in the area; however, local market participants have observed declines among specific groups. Notably, with the impact of the tariffs, fewer foreign visitors are expected to travel to D.C. for their leisure trips, and local hotel managers have reported a decline in Canadian travel, including both individual travelers and tour busses. Furthermore, while WorldPride is still expected to be a boon for the market, it is not anticipated to have as big an impact as previously projected or as experienced in prior years. Foreign Visitation Declines Affecting Demand Growth in the Market Year-to-Date Source: STR Global, STR Monthly Hotel Review— Source: HVS Looking Ahead for the District While the market is in a state of uncertainty right now, a strong base of tourism, government, and meeting demand still exists. Local brokers have reported that the hotel transaction market is currently slow due to the economic uncertainty, and the general guidance is to wait out some of the near-term fluctuations before listing a hotel. While there is some disagreement about what to expect in the near term, there seems to be a consensus on the positive long-term outlook for the Washington, D.C., market. Hotel owners, managers, brokers, and consultants all remain optimistic regarding this market's future and long-term stability. This outlook is supported by the historical strength of the market, its fairly stable supply levels, the Washington Commanders returning to D.C., the area's appeal for the leisure and meeting/group demand segments, and the strong base of government demand. At HVS, we turn data into powerful insights that drive your success. Our unique methodology, which involves conducting primary interviews within local markets, enables us to gather real-time insights and current data. This approach ensures an in-depth understanding of each market we operate in, giving you a distinct competitive edge. For comprehensive information about the Washington, D.C., market or for assistance in making investment decisions that align with your specific goals and risk tolerance, we invite you to reach out to Christian Cross. View source

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store