Babolat & Club Med celebrate 20 years of partnership for tennis lovers - and now padel enthusiasts

2025 marks a milestone year for two iconic French brands in sports and travel: Babolat and Club Med. Both brands are celebrating major anniversaries – 150 years for Babolat and 75 years for Club Med – while also commemorating 20 years of collaboration. This is the perfect occasion to renew their partnership around racquet sports and unveil their joint projects for tennis, padel, and future generations.

A historic partnership reinvented

In 2005, Babolat and Club Med joined forces to offer tennis enthusiasts an exceptional sporting experience: tennis lessons led by certified GO instructors, with Babolat equipment provided, all included in the Club Med Resorts' all-inclusive package worldwide. In 2021, the first padel school opened in a Club Med Resort, located in the Seychelles. By 2025, this collaboration will have spanned 20 years, during which the two French brands have offered thousands of vacationers – whether beginners or experts – the best conditions to enjoy tennis during their holidays.

This anniversary, marked by a double celebration – Babolat’s 150th and Club Med’s 75th in the same year – was celebrated at an event held in Lyon on Tuesday, January 28, at the Club Med Apartment-Boutique. During the event, Gino Andreetta, CEO of Club Med Resorts Europe-Africa, and Éric Babolat, President of Babolat, highlighted the significance of these 20 years of partnership and unveiled new joint projects for the future.

A new focus on padel and the younger generation

During the evening, both brands expressed their intention to continue and strengthen their collaboration around padel and children's education. First, the launch of the "Babolat Junior Padel Program," an initiative designed for children as young as four, aims to introduce them to padel in a fun and educational setting. This program will be progressively rolled out in selected Club Med Resorts and will enhance the existing padel offerings.

"Babolat and Club Med share a spirit of innovation, boldness, and boundless energy, constantly driving us forward to help our clients thrive in their racquet sports. We’ve never hesitated to push boundaries, especially in terms of technology, to offer more enjoyment in a fun environment. Babolat and Club Med provide innovative experiences, striving to improve people's lives, fitness, health, and mood," highlighted Éric Babolat, President of Babolat, during the event.

In addition, Club Med is investing in new facilities to meet the growing demand for this sport:
• 3 new courts at La Plantation d’Albion (Mauritius), opened last December.
• 6 courts at Marrakech La Palmeraie (Morocco) and 6 courts at Palmiye (Turkey), which will be available starting next summer.

Gino Andreetta also emphasized the importance of this partnership: "This partnership is the result of a shared vision and a common passion for racket sports. Babolat and Club Med are two French pioneers driven by the same goal: placing sports and well-being at the heart of the customer experience. Our synergies will continue to enhance Club Med's all-inclusive sports offerings in the years to come, and we are excited to continue this journey together."

Tennis and padel: Pillars of Club Med’s sports offering

Since its inception, Club Med has placed sports at the heart of the all-inclusive vacation experience it offers its guests. Tennis, the sport that initiated the partnership in 2005, remains a staple at Club Med Resorts. In 2024, 36 resorts will offer this activity with facilities totaling 225 courts, including in key destinations such as Marrakech La Palmeraie (Morocco), Punta Cana, Michès Playa Esmeralda (Dominican Republic), and La Palmyre Atlantique (France). Padel, meanwhile, is available in 12 resorts, including Magna Marbella (Spain), Gregolimano (Greece), and Les Boucaniers (Martinique), with a total of 49 courts available.

By incorporating both sports into its all-inclusive offer, Club Med once again positions itself as "the largest sports school," allowing its clients to learn or improve their skills in an exceptional setting.

A selection of visuals can be found here.