One Key World
Annual Dues

On the fringe of the destination club model, One Key World strived to offer the same experience that other leading clubs offered but with a dramatically different club structure. Rather than owning the properties available to members, One Key would enter into strategic partnerships with luxury travel providers to allow members access to vacation homes, apartments, condos, and villas all over the world.

Created by Jay Sapovits, an early employee of fractional jet card provider Marquis Jets, One Key would combine the travel benefits of a destination club with the usage structure of a fractional jet card.

One Key World members did not have annual dues, but rather pre-purchased nights of access.

In late August of 2008, just a few short months prior to their closure, One Key World would adjust their pricing and provide "greater flexibility" for club usage.

Members had three different membership plans to choose from.

• 15 One Key World Nights - $39,900
• 25 One Key World Nights - $59,900
• 45 One Key World Nights - $99,900

During this price change in August of 2008, the club would also transition to a points based reservation system. Instead of debiting one night for every night in residence, the club would vary their cost based on the property and the season. "This change will allow One Key members to manage their nights more efficiently, and further customize their vacation experiences," said Sapovits. "Now the annual family winter trip to a highly coveted destination like Cabo San Lucas for a week may cost ten One Key Nights, while a four-night getaway to New York City for a couple during the fall may only cost three One Key Nights."

Members had access to "30 destinations and over 450 homes" with membership cards never expiring. These "debit cards" would have points pulled from them as a member traveled and members could replenish their cards as they wished or simply enjoy their membership until they no longer had any points available to them.

A structure like the one implemented by One Key World can be very advantageous for a select group of luxury travelers, including those that do not have a set travel schedule each year or those who traditinally rent properties for vacation purposes. For others who do travel during select weeks each year because of school schedules or other reasons, a more traditional destination club model may be of greater interest.

Unfortunately, One Key World was one of the multiple clubs that were claimed by the economy in early 2009, just after the announcement that they had made their 100th reservation.

A primary strength to this model is a new club can quickly establish a strong portfolio of properties without significant time or revenue. While One Key World may no longer be in operation, expect similar models and clubs to continue to emerge as the destination club industry matures.

To compare the different models currently used throughout the sector and to find which one might be best for your specific travel needs, request a free copy of our Destination Club Guide.