Odyssey Club

The potential that The Odyssey Club had may have been one of the reasons that so few have actually heard about the small destination club founded in 2003.

Under the guidance of John Pritzker and Thomas Gottlieb and more notably, Andrew Harper, the Editor and Publisher of Andrew Harper's Hideaway Report, the club planned to launch on January 5, 2004. Members would have unlimited access to the club's portfolio of homes and a diverse list of travel partners to augment the overall travel experience.

As the club ramped up for launch, they were acquired by another start-up club in the destination club sector who had just reported a new investor that would forever change the destination club industry: Exclusive Resorts.

In May of 2003, Steve Case, AOL's Co-Founder and former CEO, reached out to Exclusive Resorts to learn more about both membership and investing in the young club. Within months, Case was 50% owner of the new destination club and membership interest immediately soared.

With The Odyssey Club planning to launch in less than a month, Exclusive Resorts acquired The Odyssey Club in December of 2003. The limited pre-launch members that already joined The Odyssey Club were given the option to convert to Exclusive Resorts at a favorable rate or be refunded.

"What John Pritzker, Andrew Harper and I have founded and started, will be able to reach its ultimate potential under the auspices of Exclusive Resorts," said Gottlieb, who would join the Exclusive Resorts' Board of Directors. "Brad Handler and Brent Handler are dynamic entrepreneurs who pioneered the luxury residence club industry and made it both feasible and viable by developing a proprietary usage paradigm. Their portfolio of residences is the finest in the world and they provide a member experience that is incomparable."

On December 10, 2003, Exclusive Resorts sent out a press release announcing the acquisition of the club and of another small destination club, Mirabella Estates. Within months, Exclusive Resorts had established themselves as one of the premiere players in the destination club sector and today dominate the sector with well over 3,000 members and $1 billion in real estate holdings.

To learn more about The Odyssey Club, please visit the club's quick links found to the right. Please also visit Exclusive Resorts Overview page or request a complimentary copy of our Destination Club Guide.

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Exclusive Resorts
Mirabella Estates