DC4MS

Solstice Collection Destination Club - strange e-mails

I am in the process of collecting a sales brochure from each of the Destination Clubs we feature on DestinatioClubForums.com and have e-mailed each club a request for literature or filled out their online form to request more information.

To avoid any misunderstanding, I have fully disclosed that I am the Administrator of this web site and simply want to review their sales brochures.

Just about every Destination Club I contacted mailed a sales brochure to me and followed-up with a phone call or e-mail except Solstice. In fact, their response was pretty strange and I would like to ask any member here what they think about their response.

On April 14, 2008, I logged on to their web site at Solstice Collection and clicked on the “Request Information” link and filled out each field and clicked on the Submit button.

Here is the series of “strange” e-mails that followed.


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Cibik <mark@solsticecollection.com>
Subject: Solstice Destination Club
Date: 04/16/2008 11:20 AM
To:"dc4ms@destinationclubforums.com"

Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding information about membership with Solstice.

Clearly from your email address and web address, you seem to be trying to gather information for some other purpose. Please explain the intent or purpose of your inquiry, so we at Solstice may respond appropriately.

Thank you

Mark Cibik
Managing Director
(480) 240-2376
mark@solsticecollection.com


-----Original Message-----
From: dc4ms@destinationclubforums.com
Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 8:44 PM
To: Mark Cibik
Subject: Brochure

I am the Administrator of www.DestinationClubForums.com and we cover all the DCs. We even have a sub-forum for your club. I would like to receive a copy of your marketing material so I can post a review of it on our website. This is a free service.


-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Cibik <mcibik@solsticecollection.com>
Subject: RE: Brochure
Date: 04/17/2008 02:43 AM
To:dc4ms@destinationclubforums.com, Mark Cain <mcain@solsticecollection.com>

If you would like any information regarding Solstice, please contact our Director of Marketing, Mark Cain, at 480-240-2388, or, you can email him at mcain@solsticecollection.com. I would ask, though, from a professional courtesy standpoint that you do not contact our sales directors for information given you are not interested in joining Solstice as a member.

Thank you for your interest in information regarding Solstice.

Mark Cibik
Managing Director
Direct: (480) 240 2376
Fax: (480) 240 2446
Mobile: (480) 220 1287

Mark@SolsticeCollection.com
www.SolsticeCollection.com



-----Original Message-----
From: dc4ms@destinationclubforums.com
Sent: Friday, April 18, 2008 7:52 AM
To: Mark Cibik
Subject: RE: Brochure

Mark,

Please clarify your statement on "professional courtesy" as I am trying to do your club a favor and offer information on your club as a free service. I simply filled out an online e-mail form to request more information and that was directed to you. There is nothing on your website to indicate that I should contact Mark Cain instead of you as you are the default e-mail contact on your website.



-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Cibik <mcibik@solsticecollection.com>
Subject: RE: Brochure
Date: 04/18/2008 11:20 AM
To:dc4ms@destinationclubforums.com

Again, please contact Mark Cain for any and all information you would like regarding Solstice.

I have no further comment.


Mark Cibik
Managing Director
Direct: (480) 240 2376
Fax: (480) 240 2446
Mobile: (480) 220 1287

Mark@SolsticeCollection.com
www.SolsticeCollection.com

3DH

...obviously, they don't need -- or even appreciate -- any help in attaining new members or simply reviewing their materials! Maybe this sub-forum should simply be removed... obviously, we are beneath them. (Note to self, remember the obvious arrogance of Solstice managing director!)

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

Tedpilot

That was NOT strage, it was very rude! Send him a link to this thread...hell, I'll send one right now!!

Mark - Read and heed....the moderators of this website have been superb in their objectivity and balance in presenting a wonderful venue to discuss DCs. I would hope your attitude is not indicative of Solstice. As a matter of reality, you'll find numerous self-made business men/women, lawyers, doctors, etc... that frequent and enjoy an open exchange on this site. Undoubtedly, many of us are more than capable to financially become a part of "your" club if we wanted to.

I hope our administrators remove any and all sub-threading regarding Solstice.

Respectfully submitted,

Ted

Tedpilot

Copy of email sent:

Mr. Cibik -

I find in life that all things written eventually become public knowledge. The corollary to that being, the more emphatic, emotional and/or insulting the subject the quicker the news travels and becomes misconstrued, twisted and then disruptive contrary to one's intent. I highly encourage your "endeavor of intent" be presented in the link below so that "we" can understand what it was you were trying to say. I'll assume a negative response on your part is that you meant exactly what you wrote.

Solstice Collection Destination Club - strange e-mails

Best regards,
Ted

Kagehitokiri

i disagree to a certain extent.. DC4MS, you are now clearly in the "media" realm, and you were therefore referred to the designated media relations person..

while lusso collection is the only club i would really consider at the moment, solstice and ciel do remain in my mind as potentials, because they also allow unlimited use at no additional fee, and have some fantastic properties.

Steamboat Bill

I also think the response was rude to a simple request for information about their club as DC4MS clearly disclosed his intentions. Once Google adds this thread to it's index, perhaps they will think differently when this thread pops up for searches on Solstice Destination Club.

Solstice's response seemed "less than professional" and that surprises me for a ultra-luxurious club.

According to SherpaReport - "The average homes are worth $6.5m and the top "Sky" membership offers 56 days of advance bookings (up to 8 months in advance) and unlimited bookings within 75 days. At the other end of the spectrum the Signature membership offers 14 days of advance booking and unlimited bookings within 45 days, for an initial membership of $615,000 and annual dues of $34,000."

Kagehitokiri

to clarify, personally this would not make me less inclined to consider joining solstice.

Tedpilot

Two emails returned today from Mark Cibik, take them for what they are worth:

#1

"Ted, or whomever you are, I do not know how to express this any differently than I have before:

You need to speak with MARK CAIN, not MARK CIBIK on whatever information you are trying to get.

Mark Cain, can you please contact Ted so he can please no longer correspond directly with me.

Thank you"

#2

"By the way, when you spelled “professional curtesy” in the heading of this original email, you may want to double check your spelling"

There you have it...check your spelling. Apparently the profuse abuse of grammar and punctuation rules didn't bother him...? Wow, sometimes people miss the boat...

Kage - My 2 cents re: your consideration of Solstice...in a business predicated upon image and attention to detail we have a manager here that is not in tune with either. I hope that your interactions with this club is/has been much better than what has been presented to us in this forum.

3DH

OK, wait a minute... he said that you should check the spelling? (I am confused as to where the #2 email ends and your reflection on it begins...)

I am amazed that Mark Cibik was so blunt and rude... !!!

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

Tedpilot

Yep. I edited and put quotes around the email text exactly as sent to me. #2 was a one liner to me... Yes, in essence he said leave me alone, go away, and check your spelling. If I were his boss there would be a significant emotional event occuring in this person's near future.

Kagehitokiri

i personally have had no contact with solstice.

LTTravel

I have had contact with Solstice and never had any problems. Received requested information without problems. I am not sure what is going on. Very confusing.

DC4MS

According to this website - Parallel .: Private destination and lifestyle club :. The Team: Parallel Management Team : Mark Cibik : Managing Director

Prior to beginning his career with Parallel, Mark was the senior managing director of Tanner & Haley Resorts (formerly Abercrombie & Kent Destination Clubs). Mark also spent 10 years in various sales roles with Milliken & Company and was the CFO of Schuparra Financial, a real estate management and investment company based in San Antonio, Texas. Prior work experience also includes working as a commercial analyst for Bank of America. Mark has a B.A. in finance and an M.B.A. in management, with an emphasis in international finance.

However on the Solstice web site, they did not include his experience with Tanner & Haley Resorts (I wonder why?) - Mark Cibik, Managing Director

Solstice Managing Director Membership
Mark Cibik is considered a leading destination club authority having gained invaluable experience over his years of direct industry experience with another leading destination club. Today, Mark provides members, prospective members and travel journalists valuable industry insight and often finds himself providing historical industry information and counsel as to the decision criteria and processes to follow when considering Solstice or any luxury residence alternative.

Mark rose through the ranks during his 10-year history at Milliken & Company and was eventually recruited to fill the role of CFO at Schuparra Financial, a real estate management and investment company based in San Antonio, Texas. Prior work experience also includes Bank of America where Mark served as a commercial analyst.

Mark’s B.A. in finance and an M.B.A. in management with an emphasis in international finance are valuable assets that he uses as a key senior manager at Solstice.

DC4MS

Mark had plenty of time to talk to Travel + Leisure magazine

ClubLand - Miami, New York City, Maui, Florence and Tuscany, California, Colorado, Montana, Jamaica | Travel + Leisure

“When I cold-call Solstice (877/727-5535; Solstice Collection), managing director Mark Cibik spends over an hour explaining the financial ins and outs of destination clubs before he even begins telling me how pretty the houses are. "This is a big purchase," he says. "People shouldn’t take it lightly; don’t just get caught up in the sexiness of joining." Cibik admits that Solstice lacks a colorful promotional brochure; instead, he promises me a third party-audited financial statement and a full refund option, valid after two years of membership.”