Simplicity International Launches

By: Destination Club News
Date: January 8, 2005

The rapidly growing destination club sector has a new player: Simplicity International. Described as "an exciting new leisure-industry company offering unique and private membership programs for high-end vacation homes, resort properties, and luxury travel," Simplicity International has been years in the making.

According to the club's backstory, Founder and CEO Jeffrey Tallman and his wife would bring their children to camp in New Hampshire over two decades ago. Enjoying the time together, the family considered second home ownership but did not believe the high upfront costs and maintenance would justify the purchase and the appeal of just one property didn't align with the family's travel desires.

Late in 2003, the original concept of the destination club was conceived and the club brought on industry veteran John Schopfer as President and COO late last year.

Based out of Southport, Simplicity International will launch with a regional focus, marketing their product to 36 Connecticut families. "Only these 36 families will have primary access to this treasured portfolio of homes composed of fine properties in Nantucket, Massachusetts; Jackson Hole, Wyoming; Manchester Village, Vermont; South Beach, Florida; Sunapee Lake, New Hampshire; and Nevis, located in the West Indies next to St. Kitts," writes the club.

According to the club, a "private offering" was made just before New Year's, and the club "sold through its first tier of membership in less than one week and is now well into the second."

While focused on Connecticut at present, plans for New York City and Boston are also in the works.

"I was originally attracted to Simplicity because of the quality and integrity of Jeff’s craftsmanship and the unique regional model," said Schopfer. "After several months of deliberation Simplicity is now the most highly differentiated club in the industry."

Simplicity International joins a growing list of other upstart destination clubs. Havens introduced their club just a short time ago and several other clubs are in their pre-launch phase, eyeing an introduction in the coming months.

If you are considering joining a new or established destination club, a good place to begin is requesting a free copy of our Destination Club Guide. Included you will find more information about the benefits and risks of membership and a list of due diligence questions that should be addressed when speaking with a club.

Check back frequently for more news on Simplicity International and the rest of the destination club industry.