The Company That Invented the All-Inclusive Is Turning 75 — and Betting Big on Its Flagship Caribbean Resort

Club Med, the French hospitality company widely credited with pioneering the all-inclusive resort concept, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with a global expansion push and a major overhaul of its flagship Caribbean property.

Club Med Punta Cana, the brand's largest resort in North America, is undergoing five significant renovations expected to wrap up this year. The upgrades include redesigned social spaces, new culinary experiences, and refreshed accommodations across the property. The work is being led by GG&Grace International, an award-winning design firm specializing in hospitality interiors.

The Punta Cana renovation signals how seriously Club Med is investing in the Caribbean at a time when competition in the Dominican Republic's all-inclusive corridor has never been fiercer. Brands from Hyatt to Lopesan have been pouring billions into new properties along the same stretch of coastline.

Beyond the Caribbean, Club Med is preparing to open its first resort in South Africa later this year. Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari will feature 411 rooms on the Indian Ocean coast in KwaZulu-Natal, combining a beachfront resort with access to an 80-room safari lodge set on 18,000 hectares in the Hluhluwe game reserve — home to Africa's Big Five.

A new resort in Malaysia is also in the pipeline, extending Club Med's footprint across Asia-Pacific. The company says it plans to roll out 25 new guest experiences across its global portfolio in the coming months, including surf schools, culinary programming, and cultural tours designed for travelers seeking more hands-on vacations.