Club Med Takes Business Around The Corner And Around The World With Mci

Business Wire, Dec 26, 1996

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 26, 1996--

MCI Named Club Med's Primary Carrier for An Integrated Suite of

Communications Services Including MCI Local Service

MCI today announced an all-new, four-year, $3 million agreement with Club Med Sales, Inc., a subsidiary of Club Mediterranee, S.A. -- the world's leading village vacation operator -- that makes MCI Club Med's primary communications provider in North America.

Under terms of the agreement, MCI will provide Club Med Sales, Inc. with an integrated suite of advanced communications services including MCI Local Service at its offices in New York City, MCI Call Center Services, networkMCI Cellular, networkMCI Paging, networkMCI Conferencing (for audioconferencing), MCI 800 Service, MCI PrePaid and MCI Calling Cards.

"Club Med is a leader in the travel and entertainment business, and MCI is a leader in the communications and marketing business -- the two go hand-in-hand," said Jean Michel Landau, president, Club Med Sales, Inc. "With MCI, we've developed new ways to enhance Club Med's member relationships by improving customer service, adding member value, and implementing advanced technology to attract more guests. MCI's ability to provide both long distance and local service is essential to maximizing our own operational and economic efficiencies by carrying our calls around the corner and around the world."

With MCI's support, Club Med plans to launch a new Club Med membership card that doubles as an MCI PrePaid calling card. The card will feature an initial amount of free long distance calling units, which will instantly provide added value to the Club's membership program. The prepaid card's calling value can be recharged through a simple credit card transaction, giving every card-carrying Club Med member the ability to place long distance calls from virtually any phone to and from more than 100 countries around the world.

By consulting with MCI Call Center Services, Club Med identified and adopted a customized automated solution at its main information and reservations center that will speed responses to incoming calls from prospective members and travel agents using 1-800-CLUB MED.

"We are committed to developing customized applications that can help Club Med enhance their marketing, customer service efforts and productivity," said Edward A. Franklin, MCI vice president of Business Sales and Service, Northeast region. "MCI is proud of its new relationship with the Club, the travel industry leader,and I envision the two companies breaking new ground together."

Club Med Sales, Inc. is headquartered in New York City and is responsible for the marketing, sales and development of Club Med in North America. Club Med Sales, Inc. is a subsidiary of Club Med Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the French parent company, Club Mediterranee, S.A., founded in 1950. Club Med Inc. owns and operates or manages 27 villages (resorts) in the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Asia, the South Pacific and the Indian Ocean Basin, six villas (inns) in Mexico and one villa in Asia, as well as Club Med2, the world's largest luxury computer-operated sailing ship.

MCI, headquartered in Washington, D.C., provides a full range of integrated communication services to more than 20 million customers. Credited with opening up the U.S. long distance market for competition, MCI is now leading the charge to bring competition to the $100 billion local market, offering American consumers for the first time the freedom to choose their local carrier. With quarterly annualized revenue of more than $18 billion, MCI is one of the largest and fastest growing telecommunication companies in the world.

CONTACT: MCI Media Relations

Debbie Caplan, 610/660-7974

or

Club Med

Edwina Arnold, 212/977-2170