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Summary of our market study
The French vacation village market is estimated at between 400 and 450 million euros
Since 2020, the French vacation village market has been suffering the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a severe impact on the sector, resulting in an 83.7% drop in April 2020 sales compared with 2019. It has recovered strongly since the end of the crisis. The market is once again experiencing strong demand from French and international customers, with a generally older, family-oriented clientele.
Private players are fuelling market growth by investing in more environmentally-friendly types of accommodation that blend into the landscape. The market seems to have reached maturity and is highly competitive, prompting a focus on differentiating offerings, notably through online platforms.
The global hotel market, of which French vacation villages are a segment, has rebounded to $4,502.83 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 13.9%, and is expected to reach $6,000.51 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 7.4%.
However, the French short-stay tourist accommodation sector recorded a 30.5% decline in 2021, despite an 11.6% increase on 2020.
Emerging trends in the French vacation village market
In France, the vacation village market presents a diverse landscape that caters to both domestic and international travelers looking for packaged vacation experiences.
The data show that demand in this market comes mainly from families and older clientele. These vacation village regulars, who account for almost half of the market's clientele, are known for their loyalty to certain destinations and chains.
The French vacation village market, shared between commercial companies and social tourism associations such as UNAT, enjoyed regular sales of between 400 and 450 million euros before experiencing a major slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the market's resilience is remarkable, with private players stimulating growth and investing in more sustainable and integrated types of accommodation.
Despite strong competition, differentiation has become essential, with a focus on offers aimed at an older clientele with moderate to comfortable incomes, translating into vacation budgets of between 500 and 3,000 euros.
Statistically, the market indicates that holidaymakers make around three tourist stays a year, favoring services such as guesthouses and self-catering accommodation.
Among the activities chosen during stays, walking, relaxation and resting activities top the list, indicating a preference for quiet, picturesque locations. In terms of seasonality, interest in vacation villages peaks during the summer months, particularly between June and August.
A look at a market leader such as Pierre et Vacances - Center Parcs offers a view of broader market trends. With sales in excess of one billion euros, the group reveals that a significant proportion of its revenue - almost two-thirds - comes from accommodation, with a considerable fraction of its clientele originating from European countries such as the UK and Spain, in addition to a strong French base.
The classification of vacation villages ranges from one to five stars, corresponding to the level of luxury offered by each establishment.
The market is characterized by a mix of commercial and UNAT-affiliated companies, the latter holding a large but less profitable share.
The pillars of French vacation villages.
- Club Med is synonymous with high-end, all-inclusive resorts, a pioneer in the field, specializing in upscale vacation experiences and present worldwide.
- Pierre & Vacances has forged a strong market position thanks to a diversified portfolio that includes both upscale and family-friendly offerings.
- BelambraClubs focus on local experiences, offering holidaymakers the chance to immerse themselves in the region's natural and cultural environment.
- Center Parcs stands out for its concept of bringing the outdoors indoors. Their villages offer a unique blend of nature-based activities and modern comforts for families and groups looking to reconnect with nature.
- Villages Clubs du Soleil are riding the wave of social tourism, aiming to make vacations more accessible.
- Azureva offers vacations that capture the essence of France's regions. From mountain retreats to seaside getaways.
- VVF Villages (Village Vacances France) and Ternélia represent the social segment of the market, often emphasizing the community aspect of vacations. Both companies manage a network of villages that aim to offer enriching experiences while contributing positively to local communities and economies.
- Cap France completes the list as a network of independently managed villages catering to a variety of tastes and budgets. They focus on authentic vacations in France.
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of the study
A vacation village is a tourist establishment that welcomes holidaymakers for stays of varying lengths. Families are welcomed in the form of a package (accommodation, catering, or individual means of preparing meals, leisure activities). Two types of vacation villages exist in France:
- Management by social tourism associations (affiliated to UNAT) ;
- Private management by commercial companies (Pierre et Vacances);
The players in the French market are social and solidarity tourism players, groups managing vacation village and tourist accommodation sites, networks of independent players, and specialized online booking platforms.
The French market has been concentrated and stable for several years. The players are divided between vacation villages with associative status, or participating in social and solidarity tourism, and private players whose aim is to make a profit. The former seek to make tourism more accessible and more responsible and in 2018 achieved a turnover of 421 million euros .
The Covid-19 pandemic has strongly impacted the business. Bookings were slowed and the sector suffered from government-imposed restrictions. The activity's revenue in April 2020 dropped by 83.7%.
Private players are driving the growth of the market, and continue to invest in new types of accommodation: more respectful, more consistent with the landscape and aiming for better waste management. After a phase of market concentration, the market seems to have reached maturity, the competition between the players motivates the differentiation of the offer and it takes place on the websites and the marketplaces which are the windows and stores of the sector.
Demand is divided between French and international clients, and French vacation villages are still benefiting from the attraction of foreigners to the country. Moreover, the clientele of the vacation villages is rather old and family oriented, with a good rate of loyalty and a fairly regular purchasing power.
List of charts presented in this market study
- World hospitality market
- Changes in revenues from tourist accommodation and other short-term accommodation (vacation villages)
- Change in the turnover index for tourist accommodation and other short-term accommodation (including vacation villages)
- Vacation village customers by age group and type of customer
- Breakdown of vacation village customers by type
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Latest news
A vacation village is a driving force for the local economy - 18/06/2024
- - Club Med aux Arcs: investment of 94 million euros for construction, 75% of which will benefit regional companies (2018).
- - Club Med aux Arcs employs 250 full-time equivalents and generates as many spin-off jobs.
- - Club Med records an average of 120,000 overnight stays in winter and 50,000 in summer.
- - 5% to 7% increase in non-Club Med overnight stays since opening.
- - 6-point increase in the share of international clientele between 2018 and 2019.
Club Med expands in the Middle East - 08/05/2024
- Club Med plans to open a 300-room club in the Musandam region of Oman.
- The cost of building the complex is being financed to the tune of 90 million euros by a consortium led by Omran Group.
- Construction is due to start in 2026, and the resort is scheduled to open in 2028.
Club Med completes 20-year journey upmarket - 28/03/2024
- - Business volume: almost 2 billion euros
- - Increase in business volume: 17% compared to 2022 (1.7 billion euros)
- - Business volume increase in Asia: 96%, back to 2019 level
- - Number of customers welcomed during the year: 1.5 million
- - Increase in number of customers: 16% compared with 2022
- - Increase in resort capacity: 6%
- - Net income: 99 million euros, including 40 million euros in non-recurring items.
Tourism: Pierre & Vacances tests a new foray into the high-end segment - 27/03/2024
- - Annual customer numbers: two million
- - Number of residences in Europe: 186
- - Number of residences in France: 143
- - Target number of 4- to 5-star residences in 5 years: 25
Tourism: Pierre & Vacances - Center Parcs continues to climb the slope - 01/12/2023
- Total sales for Pierre et Vacances-Center Parcs in 2023: 1.91 billion euros
- Sales growth since 2022: 8.2
- Tourism revenues (accommodation and related activities): 1.74 billion euros (up 12.8% on 2022)
- Revenues from other activities (real estate operations, Senioriales): 173 million euros (down 23.3%)
- Net income: -20.6 million euros (including non-recurring operating expenses of 59 million)
- Center Parcs sales: up 13.1% compared with 2022
- Center Parcs occupancy rate: 76.6% (up 1.2 points)
- Pierre & Vacances sales growth: +3.4
- Adagio aparthotel brand revenues up: 29.1
Club Med: China's Fosun wants to open up the capital - 23/09/2023
- Fosun took control of Club Med eight years ago.
- The current plan is to sell 20-30% of the group's capital.
- The valuation of Club Med could reach around 2 billion euros, with Fosun remaining Club Med's majority shareholder.
- For the year 2022, business volume has reached 1.7 billion for an operating profit of 98 million.
- Club Med already has 66 resorts and plans to open a further 17 by 2025.
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