Prevue March-April 2018 - 115

Club Med

Opio en Provence

A circus of surprises await groups on the French Riviera
[ON LOCATION] LANE NIESET

W

e found courage while flying through the air with the
greatest of ease at the all-inclusive Club Med Opio
en Provence, located in the hills above Cannes,
France. Attendees may even surprise themselves
by backflipping safely down to the net as we did. CREACTIVE,
the resort's latest attraction, offers unconventional team building
activities where groups can learn up to 30 different circus skills-
flying trapeze to high bungee and aerial wall dancing-all with the
help of Cirque du Soleil-trained "Gentils Circassiens."
"Millions of people visit Cirque du Soleil shows around the world,
but with Club Med, you are the show," says Henri Giscard d'Estaing,
president of Club Med, during the opening ceremony for CREACTIVE,
the first of its kind to debut at Club Med's European properties.
The 21,500-sf playground is one of the highlights of the
resort's recent $12 million renovation, which touched everything
from the Provencal market-inspired signature restaurant to the 435
bungalow-style guestrooms and 30 meeting rooms.

"Millions of people visit Cirque du
Soleil shows around the world, but
with Club Med, you are the show."
numbers jumping up 20 percent next year, Giscard d'Estaing says.
"Club Med is full of surprises for groups."
Working exclusively with renowned French caterer Lenotre,
whose chef has garnered three Michelin stars at the Paris-based
restaurant Le Pre Catelan, each event on- and off-site is up to
haute cuisine standards, including coffee breaks. Degustation
dinners can also be hosted under the olive trees with chefs
whipping up local specialties right by the tables. Another perk
is that the entire resort is available for buyout for up to 800,
privatizing areas like the wraparound terrace at the signature
restaurant La Provence, with 360-degree views of nearby towns
like Grasse.

TROOP TEAM BUILDING
Strolling through the 120-acre village, attendees will find more than
just the world-renowned circus. Running trails snake through the
rolling hills and past the adults-only infinity pool, hidden away in an
olive grove. Nearby, groups can play a round of golf at the nine-hole
course-iced tea station included. The driving range doubles as the
perfect spot for sunset cocktails, while Le Golf restaurant hosts lunch
for up to 90, with a shaded terrace overlooking the olive trees.

RIVIERA-STYLE RECEPTIONS

HAUTE CUISINE

Club Med Opio features 30 revamped meeting spaces, as well as a
convention center for up to 600. While there's no lack of surprises
at the property, one that will really "wow" groups is closer to shore
at the recently reopened Park Lenotre, a nearby estate dotted
with pools, gardens and stone-covered terraces. This villa-style
setting is the ultimate South of France experience, with nearly
200,000 sf of space for luxurious soirees for up to 2,000 under the
stars, all catered by the culinary pros at Lenotre.

The recent renovating of Club Med's 68 existing resorts has
resulted in a unique spin on the all-inclusive concept that has MICE

clubmed.us/r/opio-en-provence/y

prevuemeetings.com | 91
http://www.clubmed.us/r/opio-en-provence/y http://www.prevuemeetings.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue March-April 2018
