ER Traveler

So are there special accommodations and perks for various VIP's (execs and celebrities) in some of the clubs out there? I've always wondered if days/weeks were set aside for their use. I know ER has homes that are not generally available to the rest of the membership (new homes that have yet to go on line) and there are "overflow" accommodations to satisfy the availability guarantee that are used by VIP's. So how is this being handled in other clubs? Does this add to any availability issues?

vineyarder

Great question, but unfortunately I have no answers... I've never heard anything about any special treatment of celebs in PE, but I don't think PE has anywhere near the number of celebs that ER has.

Kagehitokiri

Great article in Departures Magazine - Nov/Dec 2007

looking at occupancy, Quintess might also do something..

i would sure hope they require the VIP to be top tier. i would be extremely annoyed if i were top tier, and a lower tier "VIP" was given better treatment.

LTTravel

As far as I am concerned, if I am a member, I am a VIP. It ticks me off to know some members(some not even members) would get special treatment. No where in the contract does it say availability will be effected by special treatment for a special few.

3DH

I agree, LT... all members should be treated like VIP's! Just because you commandeer the spotlight doesn't mean you should garner any better treatment (or vacation locales) that the rest of us! I would be livid if I knew that a VIP, celebrity or any non-member got a reservation I desired!

__________________
"Boutique" is better! Another extremely satisfied LUSSO member!

DC4MS

I also agree.

Perhaps ER has several homes only for VIPs that are not counted as part of the typical member:home ratio. I know that several ER executives regularly take "working" vacations to ER properties.

TarheelTraveler

I agree with the others. I'd be furious if someone who paid less or no money to be a member had better access. I guess this is potentially also a distinction between equity and non-equity clubs. One thing that I never liked about many of the non-equity clubs is that your rights are typically contractual in nature and subject to negotiation and the frequently changing terms offered by management. You never know if someone else is getting a better deal, better terms or better access. I'd rather have an operating agreement or corporate bylaws that applied to all of the members in a transparent way.

Kagehitokiri

ER pretty much has to do that sort of thing, considering their model.. some of it might be fee based though.

another related thing - who knows what percentage of celebrities that are announced as members actually pay for their membership..

3DH

My guess is that if they are "announced" as members, they probably didn't pay! I would think that if a celebrity joins the club, they would want their privacy, and probably wouldn't want a formal announcement (or even acknowledgement) that they are members.

Betting that Andre Agassi probably got a gratis membership since he is supposedly helping to "develop" fitness/tennis centers at ER locations. Although, I have yet to see anything come of this relationship...

__________________
"Boutique" is better! Another extremely satisfied LUSSO member!

LTTravel

Speaking to management, Agassi actually payed and joined. But I am sure that has been more than been made up for by what he has been paid for his endorsement and "participation in development", but that was after he had already joined.
Giving away free memberships or vacations to celebrities doesn't make sense unless they endorse the club. But who knows what happens.

Kagehitokiri

there are also "private" endorsements, at invite-only events or after you sign NDA, etc.

ER Traveler

I don't think gratis vacations are provided but there are homes available to the various VIP's (management included) that are pending release to the general membership and there are "overflow" homes leased to honor availability guarantees that are made available to the VIP's. Many members suspect that key destinations/holiday weeks are withheld from general availability to allow for VIP flexibility. This is something I'd like to know more about.

Kagehitokiri

considering how bad ER is about transparency, employee would probably be fired, and VIP would probably lose their benefits if they shared that sort of info.

pwrshift

I think you'll find that a great many writers from various journals doing articles on DC's, PRC's, etc. get gratis nights to 'experience' the facility and at the same time hope to convince the author of a positive and exclusive story. Whether or not a member of the press is considered a VIP is another question. Here's a case article:


New article & Miami review...

3DH

Hmmm... I guess that is a slap in the face, eh? I guess I left that door wide open -- but, let me say that there has never been an occasion with LUSSO that I haven't been able to reserve a location when I wished. (Sadly, that did happen several times with the other club...)

__________________
"Boutique" is better! Another extremely satisfied LUSSO member!

pwrshift

No slap intended 3DH and not sure how you would feel that.

I agree that your choice of LUSSO is superb. Love their locations - not their prices.