Over 100 hotel workers are back on the job today after Club Med opened its doors this weekend – to around 200 journalists and travel agents – taking a $13 million estimated risk for re-launching Columbus Isle, San Salvador to the world.
The all-inclusive hotel’s re-opening after September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, coincides with the property’s 10-year anniversary.
“September 11, has been for us a wake up call, showing that nothing is ever granted and that you can turn even the most dramatic events into positive, which we have been trying to do for one year,” said Club Med executive Phillipe Bourguignon.
Club Med has more than 100 villages in 40 countries, including the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean.
According to John Vanderslice, President and Chief Executive Officer of Club Med America, consumers are rediscovering the hotel chain.
“We know that 92 percent of the people know the name pretty well and what we further know is that if they get to know the product we’ve proven that they love it,” he told reporters at a press conference Sunday.
Club Med has invested $350 million to upgrade villages around the world, but on San Salvador – an island 7×12 miles – no upgrade was necessary as hotel executives say the property is fairly new.
The hotel chain hosts over two million visitors annually. While Club Med Columbus Isle is expected to lure 20,000 visitors to San Salvador next year.
Up to the end of January, Columbus Isle is projecting an 85 percent occupancy level.
Tourism Minister Obie Wilchcombe acknowledged that Club Med has had a productive with the government for more than 25 years.
“By virtue of their commitment and economic impact on Eleuthera and San Salvador communities, Club Med has become an important player in Bahamian tourism,” he noted.
Tourists arriving to Club Med, San Salvador property meet 264 rainbow colored villas painted in vibrant blue, yellow, red and green hues that mirrors the color of the sea, sky and tropical flowers in the village garden. There is also two bars, three restaurants and a night club.
Each villa contains four spacious rooms with a private balcony or terrace facing the garden or seacoast.
Scattered throughout the village are intricately hand carved antique windows and arches collected from various sites in India.
However, employees here have a greater appreciation of the property’s real value. To them it’s more than a vacation destination. It’s their bread and butter.
Columbus Isles hires anywhere between 130 -180 Bahamians depending on the season and occupancy level. The island population totals around 800.
When the village closed its doors following the terrorists’ attacks, scores of Bahamians were forced to look for work in an economically stagnated economy.
Two workers shared with the Bahama Journal how they were forced to financially scale back in order to “make ends meet.”
“We could not pay the full amount of electricity, phone and water bills. You just pay enough to keep it on. And every time you get a little $20 or $30 you put it on the bill just to keep it on,” said Kim Farah, a housekeeper at the Club.
Sabrina Hall, a mother of five and a Club Med employer of nine years, told the Bahama Journal that she’s been back on the job for five days and is thankful for work.
“When we were closed I took in ironing, did some baby-sitting and weed the roads, just to make ends meet,” she said.
“There wasn’t anywhere to look for a job, so you were doing a little gardening, catching and selling crabs. It was tough you just did what you had to do.”
This weekend the hotel development welcomed scores of journalist and travel agents from New York, France, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium, to reintroduce them to the Club Med product.
The $13 million estimated re-launch risk only includes transportation, promotions, public relations and advertising.
Club Med winter season ends April 1, with the hotel’s fiscal year ending November 1, 2003.
In an effort to boost occupancy the hotel brought on stream new charter flights that leaves New York’s John F. Kennedy airport every Saturday.
A weekly Paris airbus service, leaving from the Roissy Charles De Gaulle Airport, is slated to come on stream December 11.
Cost for a seven-night land and air package starts at $1,410 for adults and $934 for children two to 15 years of age.
Columbus Isle is a top diving destination that’s among the highest ranking among Club Med villages. Other activities include horseback riding, boating and cycling.
By Tosheena Blair, The Bahama Journal
