The first half of 2008 saw club mergers and plan overhauls. What’s in store for the remainder of the year? One clue: look for a hotelier to enter. Read Full Article »

The average cost-per-night at a destination club is up as big players raise prices and roll out new plans. Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides consulted financial legal experts Mel Weinberger and Danica Kubick to break down two popular luxury home ownership alternatives: fractionals and destination clubs. Both have benefits and pitfalls, read on to see what they found. Luxury fractionals and destination clubs ... Read Full Article »

Consumers in the market for a luxury second home can choose from destination clubs, fractional residences and wholly-owned homes. Halogen Guides has outlined the top five reasons for why a consumer would choose each option. We also ... Read Full Article »

Quintess raises prices on several of its membership plans, but opts to keep annual dues the same. Exclusive Resorts looks towards an end of summer price jump. Read Full Article »

The formation of the Destination Club Association in 2006, which counts Exclusive Resorts, Ultimate Escapes, High Country Club, Solstice, the Lusso Collection, Quintess, LRW and Abercrombie and Kent Residence Club among its members, was meant to bring a greater level ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs move to become one-stop shops for travel. Here’s a look at the trip programs from four big clubs, including a new entrant slated to launch this fall. Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides caught up with Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club president Jarvis J. Slade, Jr. as his club ramps up for its launch this fall. Read Full Article »

Edra Blixseth will assume sole ownership of the ultra-luxury Yellowstone Club in Montana, as part of her divorce settlement from billionaire Tim Blixseth. Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides takes a look at destination club offerings in the Carolinas. Read Full Article »

June proved to be a strong month for membership growth at Quintess, LRW which now tops 450 members. The club also recently expanded its travel program. Read Full Article »

The World Wealth Report from Capgemini and Merrill Lynch says real estate investing is down, but high-end experiential travel is up. Is this good news for destination clubs? Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides recently stayed for three nights in Ultimate Escapes Premiere Club’s New York Apartment in Times Square. Read Full Article »

Home prices continue to sink, but does this market downturn equal a new market opportunity for destination clubs? Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides takes a look at the most booked homes for destination clubs this summer. Read Full Article »

Here’s a look at what the top destination clubs have to offer in the Aloha State. Read Full Article »

The DCA moves to take a larger consumer education role this year to further grow the ranks of club membership, but is it turning away from its consumer protection roots? Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides takes a look at the offerings of destination clubs in one of the world’s premiere vacation destinations: the Caribbean. Read Full Article »

Disney World may be the tradition, but if we were Celtics coach, and Ultimate Escapes member, Doc Rivers we’d go for Cabo instead. Read Full Article »

Doc Rivers can do his VC bosses a solid: Win them an NBA Championship, and introduce them to membership in Ultimate Escapes. Read Full Article »

Destination clubs are expanding in Europe like never before. Here’s a look at the best the continent has to offer. Read Full Article »

The Lusso Collection adds more homes in Cabo San Lucas and Naples, Fla. this week, as the club moves to end the year with 39 homes in its collection. Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides’ chief analyst, Jamie Cheng discusses the Portofino bankruptcy filing and if there is any fall out for the destination club industry. Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides sat down with Abercrombie and Kent founder Geoffrey Kent and his Residence Club president Jarvis J. Slade, Jr. to discuss the plans for their forthcoming destination club. Read Full Article »

Portofino Destinations Club has filed for involuntary bankruptcy. According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado, the filing was made on May 28. According to the court filing, the company lists no assets. The filing is for ... Read Full Article »

Equity-based destination club, Moncasa Caribbean Experience, plans to launch this fall targeting Caribbean-loving travelers. But will the club’s narrow focus stifle its membership efforts? Read Full Article »

A host of new destination clubs have arrived on the scene as the industry enters a new stage in its maturity. Read Full Article »

Speaking to us ahead of the completion of last week’s merger between Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes, Jim Tousignant laid down the mantle by claiming that the newly formed Ultimate Escapes, of which he is co-CEO along with Richard Keith, ... Read Full Article »

Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club president Jarvis J. Slade joins the DCA board but the luxury brand still faces lawsuits stemming from the failed Tanner & Haley venture. Read Full Article »

The Halogen Guides network of websites is growing fast, and to better serve our readers we’ve put together a short and confidential reader survey. Read Full Article »

We were in Napa last week, and got the chance to visit the co-founders of the ultra-luxury destination club Solstice, and their recently completed home in Napa. Graham and Shay Kos, along with Jeff Scult, recently took back control of ... Read Full Article »

The long awaited merger between destination clubs Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes is finally complete, and with it a powerful new force in the industry has emerged. Read Full Article »

Lusso Collection adds two Anguilla homes to its portfolio. Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides talks with Ultimate Resort’s Jim Tousignant to find out his opinion on the state of industry, opportunities for growth, and what sets his club apart. Read Full Article »

All the industry players were in attendance at the recent Destination Club Association meeting in Denver. We used the opportunity to catch up with the Lusso Collection’s CEO Steve Greer to talk about the state of the industry and what’s ... Read Full Article »

Quintess has added a second Tuscany home to its list of Italian properties. Villa Tavernaccia will be open to members beginning July 10, 2008. Read Full Article »

In the second of Halogen Guides’ exclusive interviews with destination club CEOs, we sit down with High Country Club’s Christian Kirschner. Read Full Article »

In the first of a series of video interviews with destination club CEOs, Halogen Guides talks with Exclusive Resorts’ Jeff Potter about his club and the future of the industry. Read Full Article »

Over the last two years Halogen Guides has established itself as the leading consumer source for information on destination clubs. In our comprehensive guides and in over 1000 articles we’ve striven to explain the ins and outs of the industry ... Read Full Article »

Solstice founder Graham Kos, along with a group of outside investors, purchased a controlling stake in Solstice and assumed duties as CEO and President. Read Full Article »

Denying a rumored bankruptcy, Portofino CEO Ron Tapp updates Halogen Guides on the destination club’s progress towards securing equity investments. Read Full Article »

Distinctive Holiday Homes passed a milestone last week with the enrollment of its 50th member. The not yet one year old destination club has seen steady growth since it opened its doors to members in the summer of ... Read Full Article »

Cabo still reigns as the most popular locale for destination clubs, but more clubs are looking beyond traditional vacation hot spots in favor of far flung resort areas. Read Full Article »

Six plans, 12 plans, 15 plans. Destination clubs are rolling out more membership offerings than ever, but are more choices good news for consumers? Read Full Article »

With the domestic real estate market in a slowdown, how are fractional properties in tried and true tourist destinations like San Francisco weathering the storm? Read Full Article »

Destination clubs pride themselves on taking care of every detail to make members’ vacations as hassle-free as possible; stocking the fridge with your favorite food, making sure children are well occupied with video games, arranging for tours at local attractions. ... Read Full Article »

Wall Street Journal reporter Robert Frank points to a recent survey indicating a greater desire among the wealthy to rent, rather than own, the finer things in life. Read Full Article »

Ski butlers, private chefs, holiday reservation headaches and, increasingly, the ability to access a portfolio of properties. Are destination clubs and fractional residences morphing into an ever more similar product? Read Full Article »

Which Forbes 400 lister was behind Quintess’ $210 million infusion last month? A clue from the club helps narrow the suspects. Read Full Article »

Halogen Guides adds Cabo San Lucas to its lineup of destination guides, featuring details on current and future developments and what you need to know about buying in Mexico. Read Full Article »

With the rollout of six new membership plans from Exclusive Resorts, Halogen Guides looks at how this latest offering from the destination club giant stacks up against competitors. Read Full Article »

Destination club giant revamps its membership plan offerings to include six plans and à la carte holidays, but lowers its deposit refund. Read Full Article »

Nominal deposit price increases and a hike in annual dues set for High Country Club members beginning June 1. Read Full Article »

With housing prices down 25 percent in one popular vacation home destination, what’s a buyer to do? Read Full Article »

Destination clubs promise homes ideal for vacations packed with family and friends. But where exactly are all of these people going to sleep? Read Full Article »

Following a $210 million equity investment, Quintess, LRW’s Ben Addoms talks about potential new destination club businesses and whether an acquisition is in the near future. Read Full Article »

Destination club industry leader, Exclusive Resorts announced enhancements to its Members Benefits Collection with a new suite of services enhance the club’s core business by easing the common travel headaches club member may experience. A partnership with Luggage Forward, a door ... Read Full Article »

Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club is set to launch with an equity-based club model. Read Full Article »

This luxury destination club looks back on membership growth and real estate additions in 2007. Read Full Article »

As real estate markets tighten, developers are turning to YouTube videos as a novel marketing technique. Read Full Article »

Divorce proceedings between Tim and Edra Blixseth, and a lawsuit by investors headed up by Greg LeMond, continue to complicate the financial future of the Yellowstone Club. Read Full Article »

A sizeable equity stake from a private investor leaves the door open for destination club Quintess to expand its portfolio, and possibly even make an acquisition. Read Full Article »

Quintess, LRW rolls out its newest resort within a resort in the latest Caribbean hotspot, the Turks and Caicos. Read Full Article »

Ultimate Resort announced its plan to foray into the debit model with its Ultimate Discovery plan at the Ragatz Fractional Industry conference. Here’s a look at who’s on the playing… Read Full Article »

With the merger between Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes set to close soon, Halogen Guides takes a look at how this combined club, Ultimate Escapes, will stack up against Exclusive… Read Full Article »

Lusso Collection membership jumps to 140 while it plans for more properties in Europe and beach locations. Read Full Article »

Ever since destination club pioneer Tanner & Haley collapsed into bankruptcy in 2006, business insiders and analysts, along with current and prospective club members, have anxiously kept an eye out for the next implosion in this young industry. In ... Read Full Article »

Cities are increasingly popular locations for private residence club developers to roll out shared ownership properties for buyers seeking a slice of a pied-à-terre, but these concrete jungles have also attracted big interest from destination clubs, who report that urban ... Read Full Article »

Some love the mountains, others crave the sun and sand of the beach. But for folks who choose to cruise, standard second home options like private residence clubs have not historically applied. Those looking for luxury at sea have ... Read Full Article »

The Yellowstone Club, a private club near Big Sky, Mont. complete with a ski mountain, Tom Weiskopf-designed golf course, Secret Service-level security and billionaire members like Bill Gates, has been taken off the sales block after a planned $450 million ... Read Full Article »

Second home sales have taken a direct hit in the current real estate market slowdown, according the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) annual survey of investment and vacation home buyers. The realtors group, always eager to put a sunny spin on ... Read Full Article »

Helium Report is now Halogen Guides. In March 2008, Helium Report changed its name to Halogen Guides to better illustrate what we do for readers: shed light on complex high-end purchase decisions. Read Full Article »

Last week marked the eighth annual Ragatz Fractional Interest Conference, a yearly gathering of movers and shakers in the private residence club and destination club industries. First, the attendance numbers were impressive: over 700 people registered for the San Francisco conference, ... Read Full Article »

Indulge us. While Halogen Guides aims to always present thoughtful analysis on big ticket purchases from destination club memberships and fractional real estate to private jet charters and fractional airplanes, we often come across some of the latest industry ... Read Full Article »

In its 2007 year in review sent out to members this month, destination club Exclusive Resorts said membership had grown to more than 3,088, and that an additional 181 new members were on the waiting list to join the club. Exclusive ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs and fractional ownership properties are making the dream of turn-key living amid the rolling hills of Tuscany a reality for many vacation home seekers. From restored stone farmhouses in the Italian countryside to a 15th century palace ... Read Full Article »

Joining a destination club is a high priced decision, but there is another way to evaluate the cost beyond comparing the initial membership deposit price tags and annual dues. Cost-per-night allows potential destination club members to take a look ... Read Full Article »

An article in today’s New York Times examined the evolution of destination clubs, as the industry moves beyond its early growth struggles and one very public wipeout in the form of the Tanner & Haley bankruptcy in 2006. In addition to ... Read Full Article »

The scope of destination clubs is wide, ranging from strong players like High Country Club offering plans for less than $100,000, to established mid-range clubs like the Lusso Collection with plans that top out at less than $500,000, to ... Read Full Article »

This month, Quintess, LRW announced that they’re expanding beyond their destination club roots with a new travel program called Q Leading Experiences. Through the plan, Quintess, LRW will eventually offer 40 to 60 vacation packages in 10 to 15 destinations ... Read Full Article »

San Francisco, the universally beloved City by the Bay, is starting to see some much deserved attention from big-name luxury developers in the fractional market. With Ritz-Carlton Club and Fairmont Heritage Place both opening San Francisco properties in early ... Read Full Article »

Distinctive Holiday Homes has released its new pricing matrix for 2008, and new members should be pleased to see that annual dues have actually dropped. The prices reflect a new membership fee model, which deviates from the destination club’s ... Read Full Article »

Susan Kime is a writer and editor for luxury publications. She has extensive experience covering shared ownership real estate. As a guest contributor to Helium Report, Susan writes a biweekly column, Luxury Real Estate Insider, tracking trends in destination ... Read Full Article »

Set amid Wyoming’s dramatic Teton Mountains, bordering Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, it’s no wonder outdoor enthusiasts flock to Jackson Hole in year-round pursuit of fun in the snow and sun. Four-hundred inches of powder each year and 2500 ... Read Full Article »

Among the fees associated with joining a destination club are nightly use charges. While most clubs don’t tack on these extra fees, those clubs that do often have lower annual dues charges for members. Here’s a look at ... Read Full Article »

Las Vegas is a city of extremes. One minute you’re riding high with a couple of Empire State building-sized stacks of chips in front of you, the next minute you’ve crapped out with barely enough money left for the all ... Read Full Article »

Another year, another merger announcement for Ultimate Resort. On the eve of its merger with Private Escapes, now slated for April, the company has completed the acquisition of Tampa-based BVG Inc.’s fledgling destination club, Ventures Equity Vacation Club. Ultimate ... Read Full Article »

The biggest destination clubs are based in the U.S. and target stateside members, but if you are looking to add a few more far flung locations to your travel roster, consider an international club. New clubs have sprung up in ... Read Full Article »

Providing luxury residences around the globe used to be the sole function of destination clubs, but now clubs also host extravagant events, like wine tours and fishing trips, for their members that undoubtedly serve as marketing tools to attract new ... Read Full Article »

Wine and mud may seem like odd bedfellows, but in Calistoga, Calif., on the northern edge of Napa Valley, the two go hand in hand. Tourists flock to this corner of wine country to dip themselves in the mineral ... Read Full Article »

In a recent article on destination club incentives, Helium Report delved into some of the ways that clubs are trying to attract new members to their ranks. Today, we add two new incentives to the list, one offered by ... Read Full Article »

Susan Kime is a writer and editor for luxury publications. She has extensive experience covering shared ownership real estate. As a guest contributor to Helium Report, Susan will write a biweekly column, Luxury Real Estate Insider, tracking trends in ... Read Full Article »

Is conservation the hot trend in destination clubs? Recent entrant Everlands is the latest club to embrace the idea of combining environmental stewardship with luxury retreats. The club, started in 2007, is building a portfolio of properties across the globe ... Read Full Article »

A recent trip to the Los Angeles area gave us the opportunity to visit Malibu and the latest addition to the home portfolio of destination club, One Key. At the invitation of clubs, Helium Report occasionally has the opportunity to ... Read Full Article »

For destination clubs, a new year often means a new push to attract club members. Several clubs are offering incentives to new and current members, while others, facing big changes like mergers and price increases in coming months, are ... Read Full Article »

In our 2008 destination club outlook, we noted that the industry was ripe for the entrance of a major hotel company. Certainly a hotelier like Ritz-Carlton or Starwood make a splash in an industry that has been framed by ... Read Full Article »

It usually happens after that first glimpse of the Sacre Coeur while strolling through Montmartre, or with a single bite of a warm pain au chocolat. You don’t have to be a Francophile to fall in love with Paris, but ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs distinguish themselves from one another with their grand homes and attractive real estate locations but clubs also make their mark on service. In fact, solving members’ travel problems and providing turn key vacation planning is undoubtedly a ... Read Full Article »

Price increases are commonplace among destination clubs, which once or twice a year bump up membership deposit costs. On March 1, Lusso Collection is both raising the price for its three membership plans and also discontinuing a unique deposit ... Read Full Article »

To make destination club membership more flexible and more affordable, a number of clubs are now offering group and corporate plans as well as informal ways to share your nights with others. Helium Report takes a look at some of ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs distinguish themselves from one another with their grand homes and attractive real estate locations but clubs also make their mark on service. In fact, solving members’ travel problems and providing turn key vacation planning is undoubtedly a ... Read Full Article »

Quintess, LRW is taking to the high seas with its latest acquisition, a 70-foot luxury yacht dubbed Lady Quintess. The Viking Sport Cruiser is capable of doing upwards of 30 knots on the open sea. Quintess joins fellow destination clubs ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs distinguish themselves from one another with their grand homes and attractive real estate locations but clubs also make their mark on service. In fact, solving members’ travel problems and providing turn key vacation planning is undoubtedly a ... Read Full Article »

The destination club industry may be out of its infancy, but while mergers are becoming increasingly common, there are still new clubs entering the mix. Blending the destination club model with real estate ownership, Atlanta-based Equity Estates is one club ... Read Full Article »

Soon, in addition to enjoying stays in luxurious homes across the world, Ultimate Resort members will be able to arrange a trek through the Himalayas, book a safari across the Serengeti or float down the Ganges River through the destination ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs distinguish themselves from one another with their grand homes and attractive real estate locations but clubs also make their mark on service. In fact, solving members’ travel problems and providing turn key vacation planning is undoubtedly a ... Read Full Article »

No matter how packed with tourists and destination clubs it becomes, Cabo San Lucas is one of those spots that every vacationer needs to visit at least once. The stunning coastline, beautiful beaches and stellar sport fishing have made ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs sell members on variety. Why have one second home in a single location when you can have an entire portfolio of properties across the U.S. and even around the world? With a destination club membership, they say, ... Read Full Article »

The Lusso Collection recently relaunched its public website, giving the destination club’s internet presence a sleek facelift for the new year. The site is a textbook application of Web 2.0 design principles and features ample use of Javascript and Flash. Visitors ... Read Full Article »

Hawaii’s state auditor said in a report issued Tuesday that regulating the growing destination club industry is not necessary. Helium Report, in its 2008 outlook, had predicted that regulation would be a non-issue. In the article, Helium Report co-founder ... Read Full Article »

In December we wrote about our stay in two Quintess condominiums at their Times Square property in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Our trip, overall, met our expectations; we stayed in beautiful and spacious apartments (a welcome change from ... Read Full Article »

Who will get custody of the Yellowstone Club in the divorce proceedings between Tim and Edra Blixseth? Neither of the billionaire co-founders, reports Robert Frank in his weekly Wall Street Journal column, the Wealth Report. Frank reports that the timber ... Read Full Article »

Ultimate Resort is set to merge with destination club Private Escapes later this month creating Ultimate Escapes, a club with more than 140 properties in 50 locations. But in addition to the merger Ultimate Resort executives have been focused ... Read Full Article »

The holidays have just wrapped up, but you are already thinking about your next vacation. If you’re not ready to drop $300,000 or more on a destination club membership, an entry-level plan can be the answer. These four clubs ... Read Full Article »

With 2007 wrapped up, Helium Report is turning its attention to what’s in store for destination clubs in the year ahead. No doubt that 2008 will include a handful of mergers, as the industry consolidation of the last two ... Read Full Article »

The end of the year is always a time to look back and here at Helium Report we like to reflect upon all the news we scrambled to cover over the past 12 months. The destination club industry continued ... Read Full Article »

Along with those guarantees in life about death and taxes, add a lack of vacation time. There simply isn’t enough of it. And even those with generous amounts of time off or enviable flexible work schedules, those life obligations ... Read Full Article »

Even the most casual of traveler knows that navigating airport security lines and flight delays these days can be a bear, even after the holiday rush. Destination clubs have responded to the general unhappiness inevitably linked to flying commercially, ... Read Full Article »

Maybe you’re not taking as many vacations day as you had hoped. Or perhaps the trials of life, from an overseas job transfer or a divorce, has left your destination club membership underused or simply not a practical vacation ... Read Full Article »

The undeniable downer of any ski trip is inevitably the gear. Packing up boots, boards and poles and toting them to a vacation home is a chore while on-site rentals at a ski resort can suck up valuable slope ... Read Full Article »

Destination club options are only getting more exotic. Last month, South Africa-based Dream Circle, a division of Mirage Leisure & Development, launched offering a portfolio of 25 homes that will begin to open to guests next year. The homes range ... Read Full Article »

The $200 million merger between destination clubs Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes is set to close in early January forming a new venture, Ultimate Escapes. The combined company will offer members three separate clubs, each with five levels of ... Read Full Article »

The year is coming to a close but if you are thinking that 2008 might be the year you take the destination club plunge, consider looking at membership plans now. Destination clubs routinely raise prices several times a year (late ... Read Full Article »

With the kick off of ski season, ultra-luxury destination club Solstice announced the addition of a new ski-in/ski-out chalet in Verbier, Switzerland to its private home collection. The four-bedroom residence is situated in the “Four Valleys” ski area, which features 35 ... Read Full Article »

A new luxury lodge—a green chateau of sorts—is set to open at Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe as part of a $420 million redevelopment plan. At the base of the Heavenly Mountain Resort near the California state line, the Chateau ... Read Full Article »

Every once in a while we get a chance to test drive a destination club property. As noted in previous articles we don’t necessarily think it’s entirely representative of a typical visit, but our experience is no doubt a good ... Read Full Article »

Ultra luxury destination club CIEL announced to Helium Report today that it is shifting its focus from that of a pure destination club in favor of acquiring larger tracks of land to be put into conservation trusts. “2008 will not be ... Read Full Article »

Dublin, Ire.-based the Oyster Circle based recently added three new homes in Europe, bringing its total property count to 14 residences. The club added a four bedroom chalet with ski-in/ski-out access in Les Trois Valleés in the French Alps and acquired ... Read Full Article »

Consumers looking at a luxury destination club don’t necessarily get the whole story from a club’s promo materials. While Helium Report explains some basic assumptions in our Decision Guide to Destination Clubs, choosing a luxury destination club is a complex ... Read Full Article »

The third-largest luxury destination club, Quintess, LRW, today announced some major changes, including price adjustments and more nights-available for members. The club last revised their membership plans following their August 2006 merger with Dream Catcher Retreats. Quintess, LRW currently has ... Read Full Article »

Destination club Distinctive Holiday Homes announced a partnership that gets its members access to private jet charter flights. The move follows other destination clubs, including Exclusive Resorts and Private Escapes, that offer private jet travel services to members. Distinctive Holiday ... Read Full Article »

Ski season officially begins in just a few weeks, but destination clubs are already in the midst of rolling out new properties for extreme skiers, snowboarders, bunny slope aficionados and those vacationers who simply prefer to curl up in front ... Read Full Article »

Premier Destinations, a new destination club that launched last year with plans for a portfolio of 20 multi-million dollar homes and a unique member deposit refund system, has apparently stopped selling new memberships. The status of the destination club ... Read Full Article »

These days, destination clubs offer more than just luxury homes in beach, mountain and other resort locations. Many clubs have beefed up their portfolios with luxury yachts, providing members the same destination club experience and service, but with the ... Read Full Article »

Beach lounging, hitting the slopes, or simply settling down in a luxury home with family are all staples of a destination club vacation, but more members are now tapping clubs’ concierge services to host larger events at properties. Members ... Read Full Article »

Boutique destination club LUSSO Collection recently reached a milestone with the addition of its 100th member, but even as new properties are rolled out, CEO and club founder Steve Greer says he has no plans to raise the membership cap ... Read Full Article »

South America is the next frontier for destination club Solstice, which today announced its newest luxury home, a three level modernist design set in a beachfront development in Brazil. The house, part of the Warapuru resort in Itacare, Brazil ... Read Full Article »

We reported last year on several start-up destination clubs, one of which was My Global Playground. We met the founders and were impressed with their passion and enthusiasm, though a little skeptical of their ability to really get any traction ... Read Full Article »

Following the announcement of the $200 million Private Escapes and Ultimate Resort merger, Private Escapes’ CEO Richard Keith spoke with Helium Report about what’s next for destination clubs, why bigger is better and why he thinks tiered pricing is the ... Read Full Article »

This spring Helium Report spoke with Michael Beindorff, the COO of Exclusive Resorts, about the destination club’s new high-end tour program, Once in a Lifetime. Beindorff said the club would test the program for a year and expand it if ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs could very well be gearing up for the increased demands of holiday traffic, following a string of new property announcements. High Country Club is the most recent club to announce new properties, with four homes added in Puerto ... Read Full Article »

A certain Muppet once lamented that it’s not easy being green, but these days it’s getting easier and easier to make travel choices that positively impact the environment. Even when we’re talking luxury travel. As the popularity of ecotourism continues ... Read Full Article »

It’s been some time since ultra-luxury destination club, Solstice, unveiled new properties, but this week the club announced a new property in Cabo San Lucas, and two new properties in New York City’s West Village. The new beachfront residence in Cabo ... Read Full Article »

Exclusive Resorts members itching to get more vacation time out of their club could take advantage of a new membership supplement. Exclusive Resorts, the largest destination club, currently charges a $459,000 membership fee, and $34,900 in annual dues for 45 ... Read Full Article »

Boutique luxury destination club the LUSSO Collection recently announced a new Aspen home in its portfolio of nearly three dozen available and planned residences. The newest home is larger than average among destination club homes, measuring in at 4,506 square feet ... Read Full Article »

Ultimate Resort recently announced a merger with Private Escapes, creating the second-largest luxury destination club. Over 1,200 destination club members will be affected by this landmark move, so who better to ask about the merger than the members themselves? Some Ultimate ... Read Full Article »

Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes today announced a $200 million destination club merger to be completed in November. Susan Kime spoke with the two clubs’ respective CEOs Jim Tousignant and Richard Keith about this big news for the luxury vacation ... Read Full Article »

Combined club looks stronger with more properties Two of the destination club industry’s leading players turned heads today as they announced a merger to create the the second-largest luxury destination club. With 1,200 combined members, Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes’ new ... Read Full Article »

Los Cabos is getting its fair share of attention from destination clubs lately, which is no surprise given its popularity among luxury travelers. And the numbers reflect demand – nearly 50 luxury vacation homes are offered by nine destination clubs ... Read Full Article »

Hawaii might be the first state to legislate destination club regulation – something that clubs, including Exclusive Resorts, have gone on record as saying they would welcome. Who’s Been in Talks? The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs have met with both ... Read Full Article »

Luxury travelers looking for an exclusive experience in Europe have more options to choose from with BelleHavens, thanks to a new partnership with Stein Hotels and Resorts. A Bespoke Teaser for New Members Members joining BelleHavens before September 15th can also receive ... Read Full Article »

Real wine enthusiasts need more than a few glasses of wine just to get over the headache of arranging travel. Finding the right place to stay and getting access to exclusive vineyards is often a considerable task, and a new ... Read Full Article »

Luxury travelers never had it so good. The Financial Times’ monthly magazine, How to Spend It, recently focused on the increasing popularity of purchasing islands. While motivations to own a private island once revolved around status recognition, it is turning ... Read Full Article »

Quintess, the Leading Residences of the World, recently announced an initiative to help guests make eco-friendly travel choices. With partner The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. (LHW), Quintess joined the Leading Green Initiative, which empowers guests to plan responsible ... Read Full Article »

The destination club industry has seen a wave of price increases this summer. While this might not be welcome news to bargain hunters, it does nevertheless signal growth in the industry and a commitment to expand home portfolios. Today, ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs have more than just the press talking. Hundreds of club reviews on Helium Report have attested to the features of many clubs, and we chose some of the most pointed examples of what made over 5,000 people choose ... Read Full Article »

After leaving AOL Time Warner, Steve Case switched gears and invested his time in everything but technology. One of his many projects includes Exclusive Resorts, the leading destination club which was acquired by Case’s Revolution LLC in 2004. Revolution’s latest ... Read Full Article »

A new destination club, CarefreeElite, was brought to Helium Report’s attention shortly after another entrant called Abundant Life stepped on the field. CarefreeElite has been in business since 2000, although they seem to have been operating as a leasing broker up ... Read Full Article »

In a strategic move, Ultimate Resort – the second-largest destination club – has partnered with American Express to offer double reward points. Club members that pay for memberships and annual dues on their Amex card are eligible for this benefit. ... Read Full Article »

Occasionally our own travel plans will coincide with last-minute availability at a destination club home. Last week, we were in New York for four nights, and got the chance to stay at one of Private Escapes’ condo units. We could ... Read Full Article »

In a surprising move, Exclusive Resorts announced to members that they are buying 30 two-bedroom units at the new Las Vegas MGM Mirage residential development on the Strip, also known as Vdara at CityCenter. The new units on floors 42-48 will ... Read Full Article »

Helium Report found a new destination club online, Abundant Life, a reportedly private invitation-only club based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, We browsed their website to learn more about them, looking for information on Pricing Home portfolio Composition of management team Here ... Read Full Article »

Think again if you assumed that the majority of LUSSO Collection’s luxury destination club members prefer skiing the slopes in Aspen or Vail. The results of an internal survey showed European and beach locations to be at the top of ... Read Full Article »

Two destination clubs have announced trial memberships in a step to woo fence-sitters. The Markers The Markers, a golf-themed destination club that caters to golf enthusiasts, has just announced two membership preview plans for perspective members who would like to ... Read Full Article »

An article by Paul Harris in The Observer takes a look at the growing class divide in America and its social and political consequences. It is beyond our mandate at Helium Report to critique the affectations of the UK’s newspaper. ... Read Full Article »

One look at the rabid cycling fans along the route of the Tour de France might deter some travelers from a heartfelt attempt at a experiencing the excitement in person – but what if you rode in one of the ... Read Full Article »

The San Francisco Chronicle’s Carolyn Said turned her sights on Napa’s luxury private residence club, the Orchard at Carneros Inn in Sunday’s front page of the real estate section. Helium Report’s lead analyst, Jamie Cheng, gave sound advice to second ... Read Full Article »

Real Estate: State of the Lake Tahoe Market When considering where to buy homes in the Lake Tahoe area, Helium Report asserts that market research is essential. Tom Bruno, a Coldwell Banker broker with 30+ years of experience in the Lake ... Read Full Article »

Second home alternatives like destination clubs and fractionals have the lion’s share of the luxury real estate market in the U.S., and the European market is warming up too. Helium Report has the numbers on some of the key players. European ... Read Full Article »

Anyone who thinks that it’s just wealthy housewives deciding what to do with their husbands’ money should consider this fact: more and more, it’s younger and single women who are leading the trend of second home ownership, according to an ... Read Full Article »

Untangling the Luxury Home Name Game There’s no shortage of uninspired lingo when talking about luxury travel options, but which terms really matter for consumers? For starters, vacation club is a word that some analysts use to refer to destination clubs, ... Read Full Article »

After destination club, LUSSO, launched its online reservation system in March, The LUSSO Collection continues to improve membership benefits with the recent launch of a new automatic wait-list feature to their online reservation system. The new online wait-list will accommodate ... Read Full Article »

Eilene Zimmerman of the New York Times put the spotlight on fractional ownership and destination clubs on Sunday (July 1st) in her Travel section article. Luxury vacationers typically buy into the fractional ownership or destination club concept for the economic ... Read Full Article »

The first thing that a consumer typically considers before buying into a destination club is the initial refundable deposit, which is discussed at greater length in Helium Report’s Decision Guide to Destination Clubs. Simplicity is a virtue, however, and some ... Read Full Article »

Destination clubs, condo hotels, and fractional ownership private residence clubs will be attractive to different types of travelers. When deciding what is right for you, consider what your needs are; How big of a group do you travel ... Read Full Article »

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