Club Med pulls out of US market — for now
Club Med is saying goodbye to the U.S. until 2024.
The brand parted ways with its popular all-inclusive location in Florida, the Sandpiper Bay in Port St. Lucie, on Sept. 5, the hotel group confirmed to TPG.
Altitude International Holdings now owns the former Sandpiper Bay Resort and is continuing to operate the resort, honor existing bookings and take new ones.
"The resort will continue to operate after Club Med's departure, and, while in operation, will undergo an extensive renovation to be completed over the next two years," Altitude Holdings CEO Greg Breunich said in a statement in July in announcing the sale agreeement. "This is an integral part of Altitude International Holdings, Inc. long term developmental plan for the property."
Club Med's departure from the 335-room property came without much fanfare. The only public indication of the change this week was a notice that pops up on the resort's website that "Club Med Sandpiper Bay has closed its doors."
For more than 40 years, the Sandpiper Bay resort was an important property for the Club Med brand, especially for travelers based on the East Coast, thanks to its convenient location along the Atlantic Ocean. The 200-plus acre property had a variety of fitness and sports activities for guests, including tennis and pickleball courts, a circus trapeze, an 18-hole golf course and a golf academy and a large and well-regarded kids' program, including circus school.
"Moving forward, the new ownership group will incorporate a hotel and sports academy that complements the property's extensive athletic installations and infrastructure," a Club Med spokesperson said.
Popular with adult travelers and families alike, Club Med currently operates 20 all-inclusive properties across Canada, Europe and Asia, the latest of which opened in December in Quebec, Canada, for a total of 70 resorts across more than 20 countries.
Travelers with upcoming stays booked through Club Med for the property can request a refund, apply the reservation to another Club Med resort or receive a future travel credit for use at another property, according to Travel Weekly, which first reported this news.
Altitude International Holdings didn't respond to a request for comment for this story in time for publication.
However, for those who wish to carry on with a planned stay, Altitude has said it will honor all previously booked reservations from Sept. 6 forward and is also taking new bookings for the property. For more information, call 772-323-0625 or email info@altdacademies.com.
The change in ownership means travelers won't have a Club Med property in the U.S. to visit until December 2024 at the earliest, when Club Med plans to open a new ski resort in Snowbasin, Utah.
Located roughly 35 miles from Salt Lake City, the Snowbasin Resort will have 320 rooms combining "American luxury with Club Med's renowned French savoir-faire," according to a statement announcing the new hotel. Snowbasin guests can enjoy ski-in and ski-out access, children's clubs for family travelers, group ski and snowboard lessons, lift tickets and a heated swimming pool during the ski season.
Related: Club Med will open its only ski resort in North America this winter — and it's all-inclusive
"Looking ahead, Club Med will continue to develop new upscale resorts across the world, including in North America," the spokesperson said. "Currently, Club Med has committed to opening 17 new resorts and completing 13 renovations or extensions of existing resorts by 2024."
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