Private Escapes
Notes From The Club

When Private Escapes launched as "first and only affordable travel destination club", they effectively created a new segment of the industry. Clubs like Ultimate Resort, High Country Club, Gentry Retreats, and Choice Escapes would all follow a similar low cost approach, each achieving their own levels of success.

Private Escapes would eventually include three unique clubs: Premiere, Platinum, and Pinnacle. Each of the three would have their own properties and members, but through a reciprocity program, members would have access to the other two clubs within Private Escapes on a limited basis in addition to unlimited annual usage to their own club.

As a result of their multiple club levels, Private Escapes would emerge as the third largest destination club in the world.

In 2007, Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes announced a merger that would eventually be known as Ultimate Escapes. "“=We are creating a true market leader with dedicated talent and incredible resources that will benefit all of our members and stakeholders," said Richard Keith, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Private Escapes Destination Clubs. "Our individual companies have always been dedicated to personal service and membership satisfaction. The combined company will strengthen this commitment with enhanced member services and an expanded portfolio of top resort destinations and residences worldwide. By combining our multiple club offerings, growing membership base, real estate portfolio, resort destinations, technology platform and innovative approaches to member satisfaction, we are reshaping the future of our industry."

"This merger will create the industry’s top destination club organization, providing our approximately 1,200 existing club members with the industry’s ‘best of breed’ club offering," said Ultimate Resort Founder, President and CEO Jim Tousignant. "Ultimate Resort and Private Escapes are both market leaders that share core business values that are focused on an unwavering commitment to providing our members with exclusive access to the best club homes, most memorable vacation experiences and the top concierge and member services in the industry. Combining our individual strengths creates a much stronger family of destination clubs that offer our members the most club membership plans, the best flexibility, and a vastly improved range of new club destinations and member vacation experiences, all while operating a prudent, sustainable business model."

The marriage of the two clubs would be completed in 2009, just as Ultimate Escapes became the world's first publicly-traded destination club.

Long a part of Ultimate Escapes, there are no notes from Private Escapes available, but please feel free to check our Ultimate Escapes News page for ongoing coverage of the club.