Choice Escapes Offers No Dues Destination Club Membership

By: Destination Club News
Date: May 18, 2007

Destination club Choice Escapes has unveiled a new membership plan: the "200 Founders Membership Plan." Members pay an 80% refundable membership deposit of $150,000 and in exchange are not obligated to pay annual dues. As evidenced by the title, this membership level is capped at 200.

200 Founder Members also receive a longer advanced reservation window, four guaranteed advanced reservations per year, the ability to stay in the same residence for two consecutive weeks, and unlimited short notice reservations. "For a one time contribution of $150,000, the new plan is an out-and-out better combination of quality and value," says Choice Escapes President and CEO, David Stewart.

Traditionally, annual dues are used to cover the recurring costs accrued each year by a destination club such as property maintenance, utilities and Home Owner Association fees. The next highest membership plan available calls for annual dues of less than $5,000. Choice Escapes will use the higher initial membership fee, and subsequent higher non-refundable portion of the membership fee, to offset the lack of annual dues.

The addition of the 200 Founders Plan brings the Choice Escape roster to six different membership types. On the other side of the coin, Choice Escapes also offers a "Trial Membership" that allows members to four years of unlimited short notice reservations and off season weeks for a discounted cost.