From Ski Instructor to Environmental, Health, Hygiene, and Safety Director: an inspiring journey

At Club Med, every journey is unique, and Patrick's story is a perfect example. Since joining in 1994 as a Ski Instructor, he has turned his experiences into opportunities to evolve within Club Med.

A need for change

Patrick joined Club Med at the age of 21 while studying at Sciences Po, a prestigious French higher education institution specialized in social sciences, political science, and international relations. In search of change and adventure, he decided to take a gap semester and become a G.O. Fluent in English and German, he added another skill to his repertoire and quickly learned French through training provided by the teams in resort. His first impressions of Club Med were positive: a pleasant atmosphere and a very warm welcome.
During his first season, he discovered the joy of working directly with clients in the Resort. Motivated by this experience, he looked into other opportunities and became a Sailing Instructor in Palmiye, Turkey. This experience marked the beginning of a beautiful evolution.

In the mountains and at sea

Patrick never left Club Med, alternating seasons as a Ski Instructor G.O in winter and a Sailing Instructor G.O in summer until 2000. In 1998, he even became the Sailing Manager in Greece, leading a team of five G.Os. His involvement and leadership allowed him to be promoted to Head of Sports in 2000.
Desiring to diversify his skills, he decided to change fields and seize new opportunities. He spent a season in the Human Resources offices to assist with G.O recruitment, becoming Talent Acquisition Specialist for the UK, the Netherlands, Austria, and Germany. For two years, he alternated between his role as Head of Sports in the summer and Talent Acquisition Specialist in the winter, traveling to three cities per week to discover new talent.

Towards new challenges

Faced with the two options, Patrick questioned himself: “Office or Resort?” He decided to become a Chef de Village. To gain the diverse skills needed for this role, he took on several positions, including G.O Reception and Public Relations, which he considered essential for developing his people skills. He also became the Leisure Manager in the mountains, leading a team of Sports Managers.
A year and a half later, he became Chef de Village, thanks in part to the training provided by Club Med. For twelve years, he managed several resorts around the world, from beautiful mountain regions in Europe to Japan, where he had to reinvent his management style to adapt to the specific culture.

A cultural challenge

In 2016, seeking further evolution, he was offered the chance to join the newly launched Joyview range. As General Manager, he was responsible for building and ensuring the smooth operation of a new resort. An experience that Patrick describes as “magical” and “particularly formative!”

The discovery of a passion

With the arrival of COVID-19, Patrick developed a genuine interest in hygiene. Club Med then offered him the position of Hygiene, Safety, and Environment Manager. After training at the Club Med Arcs Panorama, he held this position at the Club Med Valmorel Resort for a summer season.
Desiring to return to the offices once more, Patrick discovered the position of Risk Prevention Manager. Upon applying, his manager emphasized the need for a master's degree in occupational risk prevention for the role. Eager to further develop his skills, Club Med offered to cover the costs of this training while he continued to work in his position.
In 2023, Patrick heard about an opening for the position of Environmental, Health, Hygiene, and Safety Director at Club Med's North America offices and seized the opportunity.

Memorable memories

With 27 years of experience at Club Med, his best memory remains his time as Chef de Village in Athenia, Greece, where he led a united team that continues to reunite every year. A deep bond was created, and his final gala night at this resort was marked by an emotional video made by his team, reminding him of the magic of human connections.

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