Club Med is set to launch its first Exclusive Collection resort in Thailand in Koh Samui, giving travellers another reason to watch the island closely over the next two years. Announced in partnership with Central Group Capital, the upcoming beachfront property points to a wider shift in holiday preferences as travellers still crave for beautiful destinations that provide hassle-free and considered trips from the moment they arrive.
Koh Samui has been enjoying a fresh wave of global attention, helped along by the rise of “set-jetting” and the pull of destinations seen in popular culture, including HBO’s The White Lotus. Club Med’s answer to this new highlight is to position the area as a premium all-inclusive escape that feels current, practical and easy to enjoy. By bringing a contemporary beachfront resort to one of the region’s most sought-after destinations, Club Med is responding to a growing preference for stays that combine comfort, convenience and cultural relevance.
Scheduled to open in the second half of 2028, Club Med Exclusive Collection Koh Samui will sit on the island’s northern coast, around 25 minutes from the airport. The resort is planned with 303 rooms and a private beach stretching over 200 metres, giving it the sort of frontage that matters in a place like Samui. For guests, that translates into direct access to the shoreline, a stronger sense of seclusion, and enough room for the sports and beachfront activities that are central to Club Med’s holiday formula.
The redevelopment will expand the site’s room capacity while upgrading existing guest rooms and public spaces, alongside the introduction of new dining concepts. Design-wise, the resort will draw from local Thai heritage and the island’s natural setting, which should help distinguish it from the interchangeable resort look that too often turns up in beach destinations. Club Med also plans to introduce signature programmes such as the Kids Club and Amazing! Family, reinforcing its appeal to guests who want a polished family holiday without needing to choreograph every hour themselves.
The project also says something about where Club Med is heading. Koh Samui will become the third Exclusive Collection property in the East, South Asia and Pacific region, and the brand’s first in Thailand under this label, following the much earlier opening of Club Med Phuket in 1985. The company presented the resort during an official unveiling at Club Med Kiroro Peak in Japan, with senior leadership from Club Med and Central Group Capital in attendance, signalling that this is not a minor addition but a strategic move in a growing premium portfolio.
Central Group Capital, the fund management arm of Central Group, is developing the resort as part of its hospitality investment strategy tied to Thailand’s tourism growth. The company sees Koh Samui as one of the country’s key international destinations, giving Club Med a local partner with a clear stake in the market. The partnership supports the development of a resort shaped by both Club Med’s brand standards and Central Group Capital’s destination-led investment approach.
With Koh Samui drawing renewed international attention, Club Med Exclusive Collection Koh Samui adds a new high-profile project to the island’s hospitality pipeline. For Club Med, the signing strengthens its presence in Thailand and expands its Exclusive Collection portfolio in the region.
Booking details will be announced closer to the opening in the second half of 2028.
