All Club Med vacations will be Total All-Inclusive™ effective immediately, just in time for the summer season, for guests traveling from Canada, Mexico, or the U.S. to Club Med villages in the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico.

The Total All-Inclusive™ launch is the initial phase of a multiyear strategic initiative to reinvent the concept of an all-inclusive vacation. Central to this strategy is a plan to dramatically refine the composition of all-inclusive events, activities and amenities within each location, with the Total All-Inclusive™ offering at each Club Med village tailored to the meet the lifestyles of travelers frequenting a given village.

"Americans are savvy consumers in search of a great value and a superior product when it comes to their vacations," said John Vanderslice, President and CEO of Club Med Americas. "As we enhance our focus on the Americas in 2003 and beyond, we are confident our new Total All-Inclusive™ vacations will provide travelers throughout North America with the top-quality product they demand at an affordable price."

Bye, Bye Bar Beads

In the original 1950 Club Med concept, guests used a unique currency of small colorful interlocking beads to "pay" for everything including beverages, snacks and other services. Since then, the bar beads, as they were fondly called, were replaced with tickets and ultimately an "all-inclusive bracelet." All of this would be pre-purchased by the guest at an additional charge. Now as a part of the Total All-Inclusive vacation, all beverages, food and general services will be included for one total all-inclusive price.

For beverages, this includes top shelf alcoholic drinks, imported beer and wine, sodas and juices, sport drinks, bottled water, coffee and espresso, and more. For dining, in addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner, light meals such as salads, hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza will be available throughout the day and evening. Additionally, potato chips, nachos, fruit, cookies, candies, ice cream and yogurt will also be available. Finally, special touches such as Timex® CD players and other quality amenities have been added in all guest rooms to enhance the ambiance and comfort.

Re-Inventing The All-Inclusive Concept

Open-bar and all day snacking is only the first step in an overall effort to reinvent the all-inclusive concept. Over the next two years, every village will be reconfigured to provide the optimal array of activities for the lifestyle of the village's guests. For example, Club Med family villages will offer an industry-leading array of events, activities and amenities that parents and kids need for the ultimate escape.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.CLUBMED.COM

(Source: Club Med)