DC4MS

Q Leading Experiences – Ecuador and Italy - Explore the Dawn of Creations

The Club looks toward the horizon and brings more exotic opportunities into view. Interact with the native wonders of the Galápagos Islands or see the sumptuous beauty of Capri. And our new in-house Travel Coordinator makes booking flights to these destinations, and others, completely effortless.

Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands, an archipelago of volcanic islands located on the equator, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Charles Darwin Research Center. The Galápagos are renowned for their endemic species reminiscent of the dawn of creation. Delight in two full-day tours of neighboring islands where you may encounter blue-footed boobies, Galápagos sea lions and land iguanas, and various other species depending on the time of year.

Capri is an island Italians and international travelers alike visit for the day or for a month, depending on the season. The island is perceived as the ideal haven to contemplate the rolling waves and revel in modern luxuries. Capri’s ethereal landmark, the Blue Grotto, is yours to explore on a boat tour starting from Marina Grande, making a complete tour of the island, and then into the natural underground cavern. The Blue Grotto is illuminated by sunbeams, creating an exquisite and mystical cobalt ambience.

For more detailed information about these two new experiences, explore Q Leading Experiences (http://quintess.com/destinations/q_leading_experiences). Q Leading Experiences are offered based on the potential availability of the specific property. The Club will continue to create more experiences in response to Member feedback. Some experiences will be tailored specifically to families; others will continue to be for couples. Also, a few very high-end experiences may have a supplemental charge associated with them, such as Capri.

The lottery for these two experiences is taking place NOW through October 20, 2008. To submit your requested dates email Member Services (memberservices@quintess.com). Please provide any combination of your top three choices of destinations and dates. If you are eligible for a holiday and want to trade your existing reservation, please specify this as well.

The Club is now able to reserve the Great Barrier Reef Q Leading Experience throughout 2009, as well as Bora Bora and Washington, DC. The remainder of dates for 2009 will be determined over the next few months and we want to ensure Members are able to reserve their desired Q Leading Experiences. If you are interested in Boston and Chatham in Massachusetts, Greece or Italy, please provide your Member Travel Advisor with your preferred destination and dates. Your Member Travel Advisor will create a Wish and manage your membership proactively until the hotel provides us with dates we can reserve on your behalf. Since Q Leading Experiences don’t require Advance reservations, you can continue to book the homes you would like within the Advance window and still reserve and begin planning your Q Leading Experience as soon as the hotel is ready, up to your maximum number of nights that may be held under reservation at one time

Travel Coordinator
As Quintess, LRW grows we continue to explore ways of providing better service to you and your family. Having a Travel Coordinator increases the specialized capabilities of the Club to deliver professional reservations and value. Rhezy Davis, our Travel Coordinator, is located in the corporate office. She is a certified travel agent with more than 20 years experience, is affiliated with Polk Majestic Travel and collaborates with The Leading Hotels of the World. Through these networks, we are able to access preferred agency consortia pricing, while utilizing the best of online search capabilities, and provide rate quotes and availability for your immediate review/approval/purchase. The very favorable service fees associated with booking your travel through the Club covers the costs of providing this expanded service, so the intent is to confirm all travel we research for you.

All travel needs including car rentals and flights will be handled through Rhezy as we go forward, so your Member Travel Advisor can focus directly on providing itinerary details specific to your trips, liaising with you regarding membership and more. Now, you and your Member Travel Advisor will not have to think about uninsured bookings, usually made online through third parties who are uncompromising if there are issues such as a mistake or inclement weather. Many Members have already felt the value add in working with Rhezy, and as always, we appreciate feedback on new procedures and will gladly share them with those involved.

TarheelTraveler

I'm confused. Based on QMichael's comments, I thought the Q trips were essentially unlimited, so long as the hotel had availability/trip wasn't sold out. This seems to suggest otherwise (i.e., lottery for members).

Quintess Michael

When we first rolled out the Q Leading experiences, there was no limits to the amount of plan nights you could use. We recently adjusted that.
Any lotteries would be for specific events (Hay-Adams at 4th of July, Etc)

__________________
Michael Aumock
Director, Membership Development
Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World

TarheelTraveler

New newsletter

Q Leading Experiences – Above and Beyond Membership with Sydney, Amalfi and Milan, and Expansions to Existing Offerings

Q Leading Experiences are a way for us to quickly and broadly offer new opportunities for travel. Members can continue vacationing in their favorite Club destinations and couple these exclusive offerings for a more extensive touring itinerary (such as combining any of our four properties in Italy with the now five Q Leading Experiences around the country). We craft each experience to epitomize the unique draw of the area so Members get the most out of each journey.

water in a series of intimate terraces shaded by bougainvillea and vast lemon and orange groves. Learn from a guided visit of the Cathedral of Amalfi and the nearby Cloister Paradiso. Relax in the SPA Wellness Center with a signature Exclusive Lemon Massage “Amalfi Gold.” And celebrate your farewell with a bottle of limoncello liqueur. After a few nights in Amalfi, you could drive west to discover the wonders on Capri with another Q Leading Experience, or take a train north to explore even more possibilities.

Milan, a magnificent medieval city in Italy’s Lombardy region, is the epicenter of Italian fashion. The city is home to one of the world’s most famous works of art and architecture: Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper, and the prestigious famed La Scala Opera House and Duomo, which were recently restored and renovated to their original glory. In addition to your guaranteed tickets to the Last Supper and balcony seating for one performance at La Scala, you will also consult with the Town House Galleria’s Executive, Michelin-starred Chef to create a tailor-made lunch.

After three nights in Milan, you could take a train south to Florence for a weekend at one of the Club’s two properties overlooking the city. Your Member privileges provide preferred access to the Vasari Corridor where you can admire more famous works of art. Or drive to the country and spend a week wine tasting through Chianti while staying at one of the Club’s two villas. The possibilities are endless for Quintess, LRW Members in Italy.

Since the Chatham Bars Inn summer experience is so popular among Members we created a winter experience as well. Now through April 30, 2009, a couple or a family of four can visit Chatham in comfort:
Stay in a deluxe cottage suite (for a family of four) or a spa suite (for two adults only).
Arrive to a welcome wine and cheese platter, take your daily breakfast overlooking the ocean, and instead of the summer
Champagne cruise, receive two sixty-minute massages. We are still awaiting the Chatham summer experience details and dates for 2009.

We are also expanding the Monte-Carlo experience to include a winter offering. Members will still receive a lunch or dinner at the Table of the Chef, Joel Robuchon and tickets to the Oceanographic Museum & Aquarium, however, since the Provence wine tasting and lunch is only available in the summer months, we included a helicopter tour of the city, coastline and countryside during the winter months.

For more detailed information about these new and expanded experiences, explore Q Leading Experiences (Quintess, LRW - Q Leading Experiences) or contact your Membership Director at 800.550.0324.

The Club Portfolio
Some Members have asked us if Q Leading Experiences are taking the place of adding additional homes to the Club portfolio. They are not. We
are continuously looking for additional real estate opportunities and our ability to focus on development projects will increase overall Club value.
The Club brought 17 new homes into inventory this year, which includes bringing on or upgrading the quality of homes in 9 out of 12 of our
Members’ most desired destinations.

Currently our Member-to-home ratio, based on 30 plan nights full equivalents, is lower than 5:1, which is consistently the best in the industry and allows Members to easily enjoy all of their nights with good home availability. Since our ratio and the market don’t warrant an immediate need to bring on more properties, the Club is leveraging our partnership with The Leading Hotels of the World to enhance the Member experience and offer a more diverse portfolio of destinations and activities.

That being said, as we move forward with securing other experiences for 2009, we will continue to create as many options for a family of four as we can, though like some recent offerings, they may require an additional fee. While each Q Leading Experience is created with a specific number of people, nights and room type in mind, Members may be able to further personalize each experience to suit their family’s needs. Depending on availability, and for an additional charge, you may be able to increase the number of guests traveling with you (to accommodate a family of four), receive a room upgrade, or augment the number of nights at the hotel.