Midweek Interview with Club Med’s Madeleine Clow-Suares
This week, Madeleine Clow-Suares, Pacific General Manager and soon-to-be World Product Director at Club Med, beat us in a dance-off (which is how we’re conducting all our interviews now, BTW).
The challenge for the industry is…
To increase awareness of how simply unique and great value Club Med really is.
The things I like about my job…
It has to be my company values: Kindness, Multicultural, Pioneer, Responsibility, Respect.
Imagine I’m paid to be kind, embrace the diversity of this wonderful planet and take care of it where we can!
And the frustrations are…
No frustrations as I loooove what I do.
Making well-researched choices and not being afraid to adapt is probably the most challenging part.
If I didn’t work in travel I would be…
A Vet.
Favourite airline?
Qantas – they remembered my birthday (important on a eight hour day flight) – it was even printed on my boarding pass.
Plus love the loyalty program and you can give points to people so easily.
My proudest moment was…
Becoming a Mum which is a gift and life-changing.
But being able to still have a great job whilst being a Mum.
The naughtiest thing I ever did was…
There are so many and Club Med is all about really living and having fun – Skiing when I was still a little bit drunk from the night before wasn’t my most intelligent moment..
I try to relax by…
Swimming in the sea and doing yoga.
The last time I feared for my life was…
I live with severe Endometriosis, a disease not spoken about enough today that impacts 10 per cent of all women.
It is a painful chronic disease and I am constantly in and out of hospital.
Some of the surgery required is major and it is a constant reminder of just how fragile we are.
If I can, I always try to avoid…
Aggressive people.
I really wish I had…
Life is pretty full – I don’t need anything else.
The best advice I’ve ever received was…
The Desiderata Peom by Max Ehrmann 1927.
Read it – life-changing.
I don’t understand why people…
Don’t want to do more to save our planet????
My greatest weakness is…
Talking too much.
And my greatest strength is…
Caring too much.
If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would…
Probably give it to Doctors without borders (MSF).
We have so much today and it breaks my heart to see just how many people are in greater need.
If I was prime minister I would…
Open up Australia to a world dedicated to climate change.
Open up universities internationally to attract the best talents worldwide and then build a scientific innovation platform that could then sell ideas to Asia and America.
Australia has the space, sun and ocean to play with and with its level of education it could really do something great here and get ahead at the same time.
If I could be someone else for one day I would be…
Barack Obama.
I’ve always wanted to travel to…
The Rockies.
My favourite holiday was…
At Club Med of course!
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
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Madeleine .. first of all I love that you beat them in the dance off. I think you are so suited for the job you do. I admire your enthusiasm to Club Med whilst still placing your being a Mum (and a great one at that) right up there.
Maddie we’ve all skied drunk(ish) at least once and it feels good.
I really like your attitude towards the planet and how brave you’ve been with your own health issues as well as how genuinely caring you are especially with your amazing family and so many good friends. Good luck with your new adventure. We will miss you in Oz.