The Benefits of Joining A Destination Club: Then and Now

By: Destination Club News
Date: August 25, 2009

When Private Retreats launched, the club had a page of their website dedicated to answering the question "Why did you join a destination club?" The answers weren't too altogether surprising.

  • "Location, location, location."
  • "The accommodations."
  • "I can just go any time I want. It really is like having 10 second homes."
  • "We needed a place where our college age children will come to spend time with us."
  • "We finally have a second home that doesn't force us to keep coming back to the same resort year after year."
  • "We've now joined a bunch of country clubs and spas, and a bunch of second homes, for less than the price of one."

Now over a decade removed from the industry's first initial members, the reasons for joining have not strayed far from the answers provided early in the sector's youth.

Location, Location, Location

Still the chief concern when joining a destination club, finding a club that has destinations that you want to visit is second to none. The leading players within the industry all have dozens of unique destinations available to members. Ultimate Escapes features a robust collection of beach, ski, city, and leisure residences spanning over 50 destinations.

Many clubs also have partnerships with other luxury vacation companies inside and outside of the destination club sector to augment the number of destinations available to members.

The Accommodations

Hand in hand with location, the accommodations are often what attracts prospective members to the destination club concept. In fact, many destination club executives site lackluster stays at luxury hotels, villas, and condos as their reason for starting their respective clubs. Predominantly a substitute for owning a second home, when evaluating a destination club, the size, style, and configuration of the club's properties should weigh heavily into the decision.

I Just Want To Go Any Time I Want

Private Retreats utilized the near extinct unlimited usage model, where members could travel as many days as they wished throughout the year, subject to the club's rules and regulations. Despite the fact that nearly all other clubs do not have this same structure, having the ability to get away for last minute getaways is an important decision points to many destination club members. When evaluating the clubs you are most interested in, find out how availability is on short term window. Also key in on any properties that might be within driving distance and find out if there are any regional rules that limit the amount of days that can be used at properties located near you.

College Aged Children

Exclusive_Resorts_College_Resized.pngSubmitted ten years ago, the importance of having a residence that college aged children will be excited to visit remains just as important now as it was then. So much so that Exclusive Resorts, the largest destination club in terms of both members and properties, uses this membership benefit in their messaging.

While most homes in the industry are spacious enough to house large families, nearly every destination club also has extended family membership options that allow members the ability to let their adult children enjoy membership privileges without having the primary member in residence.

Doesn't Force Us To Come Back Year After Year

Second home owners often feel the need to continually use their prized vacation time at their second home to justify the cost of purchase. A destination club membership allows members the ability to indulge their sense of wanderlust and enjoy multiple destinations all over the world. For those select few properties that members fall in love with, they can continue visiting whoever many times they like, but the ability to have multiple properties is always available.

Less Than The Price Of One

Probably six words you can find in some form of another on the marketing materials of every club in the industry, the value proposition of destination club membership has always been having access to dozens of fraction properties for just a fraction of the cost of owning just one. In addition to having multiple properties available to them, members also often receive access to local spas and golf courses as part of their membership. Adding all of these benefits together, and you can see why thousands of members have bought into the concept across the world.

While the destination club industry has changed significantly in the decade since its introduction, the reasons to join remain near universally the same. An abundance of locations, exquisitely appointed properties, superior access, extended family usage, and the value proposition of membership all are at the top of the list for why today's members made their choice to join.

To learn more about the benefits of destination club membership and a list of suggested due diligence questions regarding membership, request a free copy of our Destination Club Guide.