The 1980s brought a number of organizational changes to Club Méditerranée. The most significant took place in 1982. That year, the Club was divided into geographical sectors (or zones) with the opening of offices abroad: Europe/Africa (Paris), North America/Caribbean (New York), South America (Rio), and Asia/Pacific (Singapore and Tokyo). Club Méditerranée also changed its name during this decade, becoming Club Med.
In the twilight of the 1980s, the village of Opio opened near Grasse after many difficulties. Club Med One was soon launched, the first five-masted sailing ship with revolutionary technology for the time. Twenty-two years after the Ivan Franko's first experience, the Club Med flag once again flew the oceans. At that time, Club Med had 120 villages spread around the world.
Unfortunately, the 1990s would halt this momentum and completely disrupt Club Med. Gérard Blitz, the founding father of Club Med, passed away on March 3, 1990. On February 9, 1992, the club was once again in deep mourning. A Convair plane belonging to the Gambian company Gamcrest, a subcontractor of Air Senegal, transporting GM for Cap Skiring, crashed about fifty kilometers north of the village. The disaster left 30 dead and left its mark.
Club Med, until then the undisputed leader in holiday villages, saw its market share decline in favor of the competition. Club Med was copied by tour operators who offered cheaper stays, offering all-inclusive services while the Club did not. In 1991, the Club nevertheless acquired Club Aquarius and its airline subsidiary Air Liberté. The objective was to expand the offer and offer more attractive prices. Some Club Med villages thus became under the Club Aquarius label (Leysin, Puerto Maria, etc.), but this would only last a few years.
Club Med also had to take into account the tensions prevailing in certain regions of the world. The Gulf War that began in 1991, the rise of terrorism in Egypt, and the conflict in Israel did not help matters financially.
In 1993, to the great surprise of some, Serge TRIGANO was appointed CEO by Gilbert, at the expense of Jean Robert REZNIK. The transfer of power between father and son took place in the village of Agadir in front of more than 1,000 GOs. The transition was not easy, the financial losses of the 93 financial year were significant. The following years would not bring the hoped-for breath of fresh air despite the efforts made to turn things around.
The great and beautiful story is about to end. We are now entering another world where tourists, competition, conflicts, stock markets, and shareholders dictate their laws. 1997 marks the beginning of another story.
Videos
1989: Celebration of the 40th anniversary of Club Méditerranée in Opio
Edited by Gérard DECOSTERD (Pigeon)
Archive Cinémathèque Collierbar
1993 - Natural Villages
Archive: Gérard DECOSTERD (Pigeon)
Cinémathèque Collierbar
Agadir Seminar 1994
Editing extracts: Gérard DECOSTERD (Pigeon)
Archive Cinémathèque Collierbar
