The Pierre & Vacances and Center Parcs complexes are revived after a coronavirus pandemic that could have been fatal for the group whose activity had already been in decline for several years. “The group was not doing very well for 10 years, there was Covid so we had no clients for a year,” recalled general manager Franck Gervais on the set of BFM Business. To get back on track, the group significantly changed its shareholding and considerably reduced its debt, although it was “very concerned” about its costs.
This improvement in the financial health of the group has already translated into significant investments, such as in Germany, where more than 60 million euros have been invested to redo a Center Parc. “There the occupancy rate has increased 5 points and prices have increased by 40% because it is as if we had opened a new park”, says Franck Gervais. In France, a new park of 400 cottages in the Landes recently celebrated its first anniversary, while new Pierre & Vacances residences will soon open their doors.
An increase in costs that does not affect reserves
As expected, this increase in investment has been reflected in the rates charged by the group. “Prices have risen, acknowledges the general manager. We have a 3% increase in the number of overnight stays and a 10% increase in the price of overnight stays. On the Center Parcs side, it has increased a lot but it is because there have been invested 700 million euros Franck Gervais counteracts this upward price trend with customer satisfaction, which has increased considerably, “10 points for one year and 20 points for two years.” In addition, bookings continue to work well.
Finally, recruitment difficulties have also decreased in recent months. “We have a little less to worry about than a year ago, admits the CEO. We are hiring 1,200 seasonal workers and they are doing 4 seasons with us (summer, winter). We retain them with a free week stay at the end. and offering them a CDD or a CDI at the end of their career. We must listen to them and develop their profession towards greater flexibility.”
Source: BFM TV
