Accelerating the Expansion of the High-End Southeast Asian Resort Landscape
ShanghaiApril 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Club Med, the global pioneer of premium all-inclusive度假 under Fosun Tourism Group, announced the signing of a Hotel Management Agreement (HMA) with Thailand’s Central Group Capital. This agreement will establish Club Med Exclusive Collection Koh Samui on the northern coast of Thailand’s popular tourist destination, Koh Samui. Scheduled to open in the second half of 2028, the resort marks the first launch of Club Med’s luxury product line in Thailand and the brand’s second resort in the country, following Club Med Phuket, which opened in 1985.
Koh Samui, with its convenient location, relatively undeveloped natural coastline, crystal-clear glassy waters, and intimate atmosphere, has long been a top tropical island destination favored by high-net-worth Chinese travelers. The new resort is approximately a 25-minute drive from Koh Samui Airport, boasts over 200 meters of private beach, and features 303 rooms designed to blend Thai local culture with the island’s natural topography, presenting a stylish and modern aesthetic. Guests can enjoy the Pacific Ocean from the private beach and participate in a variety of water sports led by the cheerful G.Os (Gentle Organizers). The resort will also introduce the iconic children’s clubs and the Amazing Family! program, offering diverse exploration and activities for family travelers.
Stéphane Maquaire, President and CEO of Club Med, stated: “The Koh Samui project is a significant milestone in our ongoing expansion of the high-end Southeast Asian resort landscape, further solidifying our leadership in the premium all-inclusive度假 sector.” The launch of the Koh Samui resort represents a crucial step for the brand in Southeast Asia, transitioning from “quantitative expansion” to “qualitative enhancement.”
Upcoming Launch: Club Med Sabah Resort to Shine Bright
In addition to the Koh Samui resort, Club Med will also open a new resort in Sabah, Malaysia. These two new coastal resort landmarks will together support the brand’s more comprehensive strategic layout in Southeast Asia’s iconic tropical vacation destinations. Sabah is renowned as the “Earth’s Treasure Trove of Life” and has been named one of the world’s top ten most beautiful sunset viewing spots by National Geographic. The Sabah resort boasts nearly 4 kilometers of private white sand beach, leveraging Borneo’s unique coastal conditions to offer a rich selection of water sports—including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, and sailing—all led by the G.Os, allowing guests to experience the rhythm of the ocean. A core feature of the Sabah resort is the opportunity to explore the pristine tropical rainforest, rich in history. Guests can traverse the virgin jungle with the G.Os, discovering the fascinating biodiversity of the local environment. For those seeking a more private and unique度假 experience, the Sabah resort features a luxury space named “Mutiara” (meaning “pearl” in Malay), complete with private pools, an exclusive bar, and customized butler concierge services. From the coast to the rainforest, from water sports to land exploration, the Sabah resort transforms nature’s billion-year-old treasures into an “unrepeatable” immersive sensory experience.
The Sabah resort is expected to debut this November, marking another major addition to Club Med’s Southeast Asian landscape. Behind this series of new projects lies the brand’s deep and sustained cultivation of this region over more than four decades.
Four Decades of Deep Cultivation: Club Med’s Footprint in Southeast Asia
Club Med’s布局 in Southeast Asia began with the opening of Club Med Cherating Beach in Malaysia in 1979. Over the following four decades, the brand successively entered iconic destinations such as Phuket (Thailand), Bali (Indonesia), and Bintan (Indonesia). Leveraging the stable climate spanning the equator, the extensive coastlines, and the pristine rainforests of Southeast Asia, Club Med transforms natural advantages into unique度假 experiences. Each resort embodies the local natural and cultural characteristics: Bali’s volcanoes and oceans coexist, nurturing a unique yoga culture—guests can experience sunrise yoga classes, allowing body and mind to return to their essence. Notably, as early as the 1970s, when yoga was still a niche, trendy activity globally, Club Med was among the first to integrate yoga into its度假 experiences, becoming one of the pioneering resort brands to promote yoga. Club Med Bintan Island in Indonesia features an 18-hole cliffside golf course with sea views, allowing swings to accompany the sea breeze. Club Med Phuket in Thailand offers Muay Thai classes and “Thai Day” celebrations, enabling guests to deeply immerse themselves in local life. These sunny resorts collectively form Club Med’s sports and度假 network in Southeast Asia, continuously providing global guests with a “one-stop” all-inclusive travel experience, blending French art de vivre with tropical vacations.
Continuous Upgrading: Advancing the Southeast Asian Strategic Layout
From the first resort in Cherating to the official announcement of the Koh Samui resort and the upcoming opening of the Sabah resort, Club Med has formed a度假 landscape in Southeast Asia covering major tropical vacation destinations in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. As the brand’s first luxury product line resort in Thailand, the Koh Samui project not only upgrades Club Med’s布局 in the high-end market segment of Southeast Asia but also provides a new option for high-net-worth Chinese travelers to enjoy an authentic French度假 experience. In the future, with the launch of the two new resorts in Koh Samui and Sabah, Club Med’s strategic布局 in Southeast Asia will further solidify the brand’s leading advantage in the region’s high-end sports度假 sector. It will continue to respond to the growing demand from the Chinese market for in-depth travel and physical and mental rejuvenation through a more complete product matrix and higher-quality experience scenarios.