Distinctive Retreats
Members

The most popular destination club within Tanner & Haley, Distinctive Retreats would require the creation of Distinctive Retreats II once the first club reached its 400 member capacity.

Launched after Private Retreats, the world's first destination club, Distinctive Retreats provided members with more luxurious vacation properties than their predecessor, averaging roughly $3 million each. Members would have guaranteed and unlimited annual access to club properties for the lifetime of their membership.

While members of the two Distinctive Retreats plans would have reciprocal access to both club's properties, there would be some significant differences between the two clubs.

Members of the original Distinctive Retreats had a resignation structure identical to the one used by Private Retreats. Any member who wished to resign their membership would receive 100% of their original membership deposit refunded to them. Members would be placed on a resignation list and for every three new members that joined the club, the member who had been on the list the longest would be refunded.

Distinctive Retreats II, introduced long after the creation of the original Distinctive Retreats, would offer a redemption model identical to Legendary Retreats, the highest club offering in the Tanner & Haley family of memberships.

"Tanner & Haley Destination Clubs has created a revolutionary financial structure in our two newest Clubs, Legendary Retreats and Distinctive Retreats II, that allow you to 'own' any appreciation of your Club deposit, less a small transfer fee if you should ever choose to leave the Club. This superior financial structure is just another way of honoring our Members and trying to improve their lives in every little way that we can."

Unfortunately, a major attraction to club members was the guaranteed access policy the club offered to members, where if a member desired a club property that was already in use by another member, the club would procure comparable accommodations for the member. As a result of this policy, Tanner & Haley would enter into expensive short term leases to meet demand, burning through the annual dues and fees contributed by members.

In 2006, Tanner & Haley would file for bankruptcy, drastically reshaping the destination club industry.

According to the club's bankruptcy documents, "Distinctive Retreats has 510 members with access to 77 properties. Membership deposits average approximately $429,000, annual dues average approximately $13,550, and daily usage fees average approximately $184."

In the highly competitive destination club sector, the assets of Tanner & Haley would quickly become a sought after commodity. Six official bids would be placed for the club's assets, namely by Ultimate Resort and Ciel. After accepting a $98 million bid from Ultimate Resort, Ciel would submit a $108 million, last minute offer for the club.

The courts would eventually remain in Ultimate Resort's camp and the club would acquire a significant portion of the real estate assets of Tanner & Haley. All of the 874 total members were contacted with an opportunity to join via a no up front membership fee option and discounts to all of the membership plans available through Ultimate Resort.

Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes would combine their two clubs, at the time the second and third largest destination clubs in operation, to form Ultimate Escapes where many of the former Tanner & Haley properties and members remain.