Villages Clubs du Soleil is recruiting 193 seasonal workers for the Winter 2026-2027 season. The positions are spread across 11 mountain establishments, with notably high demand in Les Menuires, Montgenèvre and Orcières-Merlette 1850. The profiles sought include servers, versatile staff for accommodation/food service, and dishwashers, but also animators and professionals in early childhood education.
The Savoie region is concentrating several recruitments, with 35 positions at Les Menuires, 25 at Les Arcs 1800, 18 at Karellis and 7 at Valmorel. In Haute-Savoie, 10 positions are to be filled in Morzine.
Des postes dans 11 stations
The operator is also seeking 3 people in Oz-en-Oisans and 9 at Les Deux Alpes, in Isère, as well as 38 positions in Montgenèvre, 5 in Vars and 39 at Orcières-Merlette 1850 in the Hautes-Alpes. In the Pyrenees, 4 positions are offered at Superbagnères.
Recruited employees notably benefit from accommodation and on-site meals, as well as access to certain services offered to holidaymakers, such as equipment lending and sports activities.
Villages Clubs du Soleil will also participate in several recruitment events in October and November, notably in Annecy, Marseille, Gap and Lille.
Also read: Summer 2026 — the mountains are standing out at Villages Clubs du Soleil
“ Sport is part of Club Med’s DNA.” recalled Stéphane Maquaire, Chief Executive Officer of Club Med, who launched his Padel Tour in partnership with Babolat on Friday, October 2, in the presence of the press.
The group today offers more than 60 sports activities within its villages, including padel, which has been part of its offering for more than two decades.
Today, there are 55 courts in 17 villages, the CEO noted. In the face of the sport’s rapid growth, the group now aims to expand its presence beyond its resorts.
Let’s step outside our villages and meet those who already practice padel, explains Stéphane Maquaire. The objective is to establish a link with this community and, ultimately, to offer more activities and tournaments within Club Med villages.
This is how the idea of the Club Med Padel Tour came into being. The event will be organized across nine European countries, with several stops in France and engagements in Asia. The competition will culminate in Marbella in March, at a village that features eight padel courts.
The group relies on its partnership with Babolat, which has lasted for more than twenty years. The two companies have, in particular, developed equipment tailored for children to enable family-friendly padel.
“This is a new step: Club Med moves beyond its walls, beyond its villages to engage with its current and future customers,” summarizes Maquaire, who adds that the sport is experiencing strong growth worldwide, with 35 million players. In France, the number of players is also expected to reach one million.
The summer of 2026 ends with a broadly positive overall assessment for several operators of holiday villages and clubs, but with wide disparities depending on the destinations.
The results remain mixed depending on the models. MMV, a specialist in mountain clubs, reports a 5% increase in revenue on a like-for-like basis and an average occupancy rate of 83% in July-August.
Belambra reports a 7% rise in its revenue and a 4.5% increase in the number of guests, welcoming 150,000 vacationers.
Conversely, the tourism residences monitored by the FNRT (Pierre & Vacances, Goélia, Odalys…) show an occupancy rate of 52.6% for the season, down 1.2 points compared with 2025.
Weather reshuffles the deck; the mountains confirm their summer status
The main development of the summer concerns the weight of weather in departure decisions. Episodes of extreme heat have not only squeezed sales at certain times but also encouraged vacationers to alter their destination.
At Miléade, the Mediterranean remained stable compared with 2025, while Atlantic and Channel destinations rose by 5%. The mountains show, by contrast, a 20% growth. Its occupancy rate reaches 78% during the summer and nearly 90% in August.
Odalys also observes a six-point rise in mountain occupancy and a six-point increase in Brittany. Belambra records, on its side, a 13% increase in revenue in its mountain clubs, with occupancy rates close to 100% in the last week of August.
Normandy is among the regions that benefited from VVF, with an announced volume growth of 6 to 8%. VVF’s CEO, Stéphan Le Bihan, estimates that nearly 20% of customers made their decisions in the five last days, depending in particular on the evolution of the weather. About 10% changed destination to seek more coolness.
« The market has split in two », notes Stéphan Le Bihan, while also mentioning the impact of purchasing power on departures.
For MMV, this cooling effect is not new. According to Sylvie Joly, Deputy Chief Executive « holidaymakers are in search of nature and vacations more oriented toward the outdoors. »
Last-minute deals and short getaways: trade-offs quicken
another common trend among operators: customers retain a strong willingness to travel, but adapt the format of their holidays more.
At MMV, the share of short stays rises by 10 points and bookings made less than ten days before arrival are up. VVF also notes an acceleration of short stays, while Odalys records a three-point increase in their share of revenue.
Last-minute remains particularly visible this summer. Belambra, for example, recorded, at the end of July, 60 bookings for same-day arrivals. At Vacances Bleues, heat waves caused temporary sales stoppages before rapid resumption toward destinations deemed more suitable to climatic conditions.
The phenomenon, however, is not solely about the weather. Purchasing power also drives families to arbitrate between duration, level of services and destination. VVF estimates about 8% as the decrease in customers for rentals that match the tightest budgets. For households with more leeway, the stay can be maintained but with more integrated services to better manage the budget.
At Miléade, the Mediterranean remains the primary destination despite the trade-offs: it still accounts for 56% of summer revenue. The mountains, cheaper by 30 to 40% depending on the operator on certain destinations, also allow reaching clienteles for whom budget is a decisive factor.
September Gains Ground and Holidays Fragment
The development of short stays is also a growing trend. Vacations are less systematically centered on one single week and can now be spread across several destinations.
VVF notably observes the development of itinerary-hopping, with French people chaining two or three destinations during the same summer. The stay can combine several formats of accommodation and several operators, depending on the activities sought.
This evolution also changes the calendar. The off-season is increasingly seen as a period for postponement, especially for clientele who can choose their dates more freely.
At Odalys, mountain nights thus rise by 28% in September. The FNRT also notes a slight increase in the coastline and an approximate 1.5-point rise in the mountain occupancy rate for the month. A portion of the senior clientele also seems to shift their stays from June to September.
Vacances Bleues observes the same trend, with September sales that have greatly accelerated since the end of August. The operator notes in particular that there are more couples and families without school constraints choosing to travel after the summer to avoid the peak heat and benefit from less crowded periods.
« Last-minute, it’s really becoming the norm », sums up Jérôme Vyar, CEO of Vacances Bleues, who also notes a tendency to multiply short getaways rather than concentrating vacations on a single departure.
Archaeological finds of wine presses and Neolithic amphorae unearthed at Pyrgos-Mavroraki attest to continuous viticulture for more than 5,500 years. But the island’s singularity lies elsewhere: phylloxera never reached it. The vines remained ungrafted, and Cyprus preserves ancient plant stock that the reconstruction of European vineyards has wiped out elsewhere.
Xynisteri, the most planted white grape, yields pale wines with moderate alcohol, between 11 and 12.5%, with notes of citrus and green apple; it expresses itself best at altitude. Mavro dominates on the red side. Rare varieties have been making a comeback for about thirty years: Maratheftiko, whose female flowers require co-planting for fertilization, and Yiannoudi, long thought extinct, which produces tannic reds with blackberry and clove. The professional landscape has also changed. Four large Limassol wineries historically held the market. Since 1989, more than sixty small regional cellars have established themselves, for a total of around 64 cellars registered today.
Sept routes balisées, du Troodos à l’Akamas
The Tourism Sub-Ministry and the Wine Chamber have marked seven itineraries, presented on the official destination portal. The Krasochoria route of Limassol, linking twenty villages, concentrates the island’s highest density of cellars, sixteen in total, among which Vlassides in Kilani, Argyrides in Vasa, or Linos in Omodos. The Diarizos Valley route, east of Paphos, traverses seventeen at a lower altitude. The Laona-Akamas, Pitsilia, Vouni Panagias-Ambelitis and Mountainous Larnaka-Lefkosia routes complete the network.
These itineraries are not limited to tastings. The Cyprus Wine Museum is located in Erimi; the Laneia antique press has been restored and Omodos preserves its “Linos” press beside the Monastery of the Holy Cross. Lofou, Vouni and Arsos are among the best-preserved stone villages in the south of the Troodos.
The Commandaria and the fourteen villages of the appellation
Commandaria is a protected designation of origin sweet wine, produced from late-harvest xynisteri and mavro, then passitoed on the ground for seven to ten days. Guinness World Records recognizes it as the oldest named wine still produced. Its zone covers fourteen villages on the southern foothills of the Troodos, at elevations between 500 and 900 meters.
History plays a special role here, enjoyed by French-speaking visitors. Kolossi Castle, bastion of the Templars and then of the Knights of Saint John, marks the entry to the route. The wine’s name goes back to the Grand Commandery established in 1192. In the 13th century, tradition says that Philip Augustus crowned it during a “battle of the wines” bringing together European vintages.
Dormir au village, dans le bâti restauré
We had dedicated a previous TourMaG article to this topic. Agrotourism constitutes a full-fledged accommodation category in Cyprus, promoted by the Tourism Sub-Ministry: restored traditional rural houses rented as tourist accommodation. They can be found in the villages that host the cellars, which makes the two themes inseparable in practice.
Creative Tours offers this format as a self-drive program. “Nature and Agrotourism” runs for eight days and seven nights, with a rental car, winter or summer. The itinerary goes from Larnaca to the village of Tochni, then into the Troodos massif, before reaching the west coast at Latchi. The chosen accommodations belong to village architecture and boutique hotel style. The program blends seasonal tasks, such as orange picking or olive gathering depending on the month, making halloumi, and heritage discovery: Lefkara and its lace, the Agros damask rose distillery, the artist village of Laneia, and the Byzantine monasteries of the Troodos listed by UNESCO.
The terroir can be tasted beyond the vineyard
Vines do not occupy all the land. Halloumi, a Protected Designation of Origin cheese, is produced in a workshop in Choirokoitia; zivania, grape marc brandy, is distilled in the villages that produce the wine. Anogyra has dedicated a museum to carob and pasteli, the confection derived from it. In Agros, it is the Damascus rose that sustains the village, along with soutzoukos.
The calendar follows the harvest. Limassol’s Wine Festival, the island’s oldest and most important, takes place in the municipal gardens at the end of September or early October: local cellars are represented there and the municipality offers the wines. The Pitsilia Wine Festival, in Pelendri, occurs around the same time with producers. Anogyra celebrates its pasteli in October, Agros the rose in mid-May.
Rendez-vous à l’IFTM Top Resa
Après 41 ans à Chypre, Creative Tours s’installe également à Athènes
Forty-one years after our beginnings in Limassol, and buoyed by the trust of more than 1.5 million travelers, we are opening a new chapter in our development. Driven by the Chaillou family’s new generation and in response to the growing demand from our international clientele, notably Chinese, Russian and Balkan, this expansion will be realized with the opening of a second office in September 2026, in the heart of Athens, under the Creative Tours Greece brand.
This installation marks the culmination of a long-standing ambition: to offer tourism professionals local expertise, a tailor-made service, and direct access to the Greek market. Our method remains unchanged: a multilingual on-the-ground team, agreements negotiated directly with our hotel partners, and full control of the logistics chain, from transfers to exclusive circuits.
The adventure continues in Greece, with the same commitment to proximity, responsiveness and local knowledge that has accompanied Creative Tours for more than forty years.
Creative Tours Cyprus, réceptif francophone à Chypre
Christophe Chaillou, director
1 Arch. Makariou III, Mesa Geitonia, 4000 Limassol, Cyprus
Around Saumur: a subterranean escape in the land of “troglos”
The Saumur area offers the widest troglodyte ensemble in the Loire Valley! These cavities are former tuffeau quarries, the soft stone used to build the castles. Many have been converted into wine cellars, gîtes and other underground curiosities. Starting from Saumur, following La Loire à Vélo on the south bank, you come across the formidable caves of the Ackerman wine house, then those of the Mushroom Museum. After 15 km, from Gennes-Val-de-Loire, rural roads (marked route by Grézillé and Rochemenier) lead to Doué-en-Anjou, renowned for its “plain” caverns. There one tastes fouées, small bread loaves stuffed with rillette or mushrooms, before visiting the zoo, also troglodytic. After Le Puy-Notre-Dame, a short stretch of the Vélo Francette (the Ouistreham–La Rochelle véloroute) reconnects at Montreuil-Bellay with a winding path (marker “10”) to Fontevraud Abbey, via Brézé and its castle with underground chambers carved into rock. A few pedal strokes bring you back to the Loire and Saumur, through villages like Turquant and its Bistroglo. From Doué and Montreuil-Bellay, it’s easy to ride straight back to Saumur to shorten the itinerary.
Practical
Length : 150 km
Duration : 3 to 4 days
What to see along the way : the Ackerman cellars, the troglodyte village of Rochemenier, Doué-en-Anjou, Brézé Castle, Fontevraud Abbey…
Tours and the Indre Valley: in the saddle in the land of castles
A ride at the heart of the Loire Valley’s treasures, blending two cycling routes: La Loire à Vélo and the Cyclo Bohème, or the Indre véloroute. Starting from Tours, along the Cher to the west, one first admires the gardens of the Château de Villandry, considered one of the most accomplished examples of the French Renaissance style. A little farther, the banks of the Loire come into view. The fortress of Langeais, perched on the opposite bank of the river, is worth crossing for! At Bréhémont, head east onto the Cyclo Bohème, which leisurely climbs the Indre’s winding paths. The Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, this “diamond facet-set by the Indre” (as Balzac put it), does not take long to reveal itself. In Montbazon, Tours is only a few pedal strokes away. But it’s worth prolonging the experience: extend to Loches, then aim for Chenonceaux, via a marked route on quiet back roads. A cycling path runs along the left bank of the Cher, offering a striking view of the château. From here, a final detour to Amboise and Clos Lucé, where Leonardo da Vinci spent the last three years of his life, beautifully caps this excursion in the land of noble residences.
Practical
Length : 180 km
Duration : 4 to 5 days
Things to see along the way : the gardens of Villandry, the Château d’Azay-le-Rideau, the royal town of Loches, the Château de Chenonceau, Amboise, Clos Lucé…
➤ Article published in GEO HS magazine no. 134, “Great Escapes at Slow Speed,” August–September 2026.
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As the summer season approaches, Villages Clubs du Soleil announces a broad recruitment drive with more than 200 seasonal positions available, mainly in its mountain establishments.
According to the press release, 170 positions remain to be filled at the mountain Villages Clubs, complemented by about 30 positions on the coast. The operator is seeking candidates for contracts lasting two to six months, spanning from May to October, particularly in “the kitchen and early childhood” sectors.
The openings cover a wide range of trades. Among the profiles sought are nursery assistants, early childhood educators, chefs de partie (station chefs), dining-room managers or supervisors, and bartenders.
Recruitment in the Mountains and by the Sea
These recruitment efforts target several destinations, notably in Savoie, the Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Savoie, and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, as well as certain coastal and urban sites, such as Marseille.
Beyond operational needs, Villages Clubs du Soleil highlights its commitments in human resources. The company states it welcomes and integrates 100 % of new arrivals and trains nearly 2,000 employees each year. It also emphasizes promoting from within, with 70 % of managers coming from its ranks.
The group also emphasizes working conditions that include access to some services offered to clients, such as sports activities or wellness spaces.
Villages Clubs du Soleil additionally states that it is developing initiatives to promote youth employment and support for those in integration programs, notably through partnerships with Local Missions.
The company also states that 100 % of positions are open to people with disabilities, with appropriate accommodations, and notes that a dedicated mission has been established to assist these recruitments and their integration.
Here is a vacation concept that is, to say the least, surprising. China claims an exceptional heritage, yet much of its original monuments have disappeared through fires, wars, or political upheavals. In response to this loss, the country has multiplied spectacular reconstructions of ancient cities, where every street, every façade, and every detail are designed to plunge visitors into another century. These sets, sometimes more real than life, attract millions of Chinese and foreign tourists, despite a question that continues to divide: how far can history be recreated?
Historical sets designed to transport visitors through time
In China, these sites are known as “fanggu”, which can be translated as “historical imitation”. Unlike a simple museum or a restoration of a monument, they are often entire cities built recently to reproduce the atmosphere of a bygone era. The buildings display deliberately aged tiles, façades are covered with climbing plants to give the impression that the structures have traversed the centuries, and visitors can rent traditional outfits to complete the experience.
This formula responds to a growing demand for immersive tourism. “Modern consumers are increasingly willing to pay for emotional value, seeking a deeper engagement and cultural meaning through immersive experiences”, said Yang Jinsong, director of the International Institute of the Chinese Academy of Tourism, in the People’s Daily.
Among the most emblematic examples is Gubei Water Town, near Beijing. Opened in 2014 after a $600 million investment (about €520 million), this town combines a water village inspired by the Jiangnan region… with the immediate vicinity of the Great Wall. A geographic mash-up that would be impossible in reality, since the famous Jiangnan villages lie roughly 1,300 kilometers further south.
The concept, however, works remarkably well. Booking platforms offer excursions that combine the Great Wall and Gubei Water Town. By July 2026, the site showed more than 10,000 bookings and 2,200 reviews on Klook, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5. Visitors can also stay overnight in establishments run by state-owned enterprises, some rooms reaching $500 per night (about €433).
Between tourist success and authenticity criticisms
In Xi’an, the ancient imperial capital of China for more than a millennium, the reconstruction takes another form. Datang Everbright City recreates the Tang dynasty vibe on a 2,100-meter pedestrian avenue, illuminated by red pagodas and animated every evening by shows. The site welcomes nearly 75 million visitors a year. One of the most popular attractions involves arranging “time-travel” weddings.
Couples wear several outfits representing different eras, while filming crews, makeup artists, extras, and even performers performing the lion dance stage their love stories. Some posts on the Xiaohongshu social network mention a cost equivalent to a full month’s salary, but these arrangements continue to attract many young couples.
“The feeling of having been deceived”
Further west, in the Xinjiang region, Kashgar is an ancient oasis on the Silk Road whose history dates back nearly 2,000 years. But the old town that today attracts visitors is no longer the one that withstood the centuries, as a large part of the historic center was demolished and rebuilt more than ten years ago. While its maze of alleys has been preserved, the buildings have been largely recreated and modernized, turning what was once the heart of Uyghur culture into a smoother and tourism-oriented version.
Yet not all visitors appreciate this staging of the past. After discovering that Gubei Water Town was not a real ancient village, Thai student Minyada “Minnie” Chotichaicharin shared her disappointment. “I wouldn’t mind if it were rebuilt, but it’s hard not to feel like I’ve been deceived”, she told CNN.
Conversely, Edward Zhou, a student from Washington, describes Kashgar as a place that is “surreal.” Despite this “theme park” façade, he believes the city offers a glimpse of a history that he, like many other travelers, had never encountered in other destinations.
These reconstructions thus illustrate a new way of valorizing heritage in China. Between spectacular immersion, deliberate staging, and a search for authenticity, they attract tens of millions of visitors each year, fueled by their immense popularity on social media.
