ASIADCMEMBER

If you could get rid of one policy/rule in your club what would it be.

In my club, I wish they would allow members with at least 30 day membership to be able to carry-over one week to the next year (kudos to DHH) or at least be able to give it to anyone that we want to. Since these clubs are not social clubs where you are building up a community amongst the membership==like a non-golfer may still join a country club for the side social benefits. Destination clubs are basically selling us nights at very nice houses for a packaged rate--we should be able to give a few nights to someone. It helps them build up good will or a potential pool of new members.

LTTravel

Most clubs do have "corporate" memberships which do allow you to gift weeks to employees, or customers or in some cases, friends and family. They are usually at a higher membership fee and dues.
The problem with making it too easy to do is that you will find some people "selling" their weeks undercover. Selling weeks is definately not allowed in any of the clubs, but making it easy to "give" them away will make it easier to "sell" them. I would not like it if many non members purchased weeks because they will not take care of the home like a member will. I have given away weeks of my HCC membership to colleagues and I make sure they think that they are a guest in "my" home.
I agree that the bank and borrow policy of one week at DHH is a very nice feature, especially if something comes up one year when you can't use your week or a special occasion occurs where you would like an extra week. None of the other clubs offer this.

pwrshift

IMO it is wrong for a DC to sell membership 'nights' with the thought in mind that many members will have more nights than they can use...and that will loosen up the member/occupancy ratio. I'm a good Scot and it bugs me to pay for anything and not be able to use it (or rent it, or gift it, etc.).

We have to book our vacations as much as a year ahead, but who knows what your situation or health may be when that date rolls around? At least with timeshares we can rent, trade, or gift them ... but with DC's you can't. That's why I think there should be some greater flexibility in being able to turn a week back into the club(s) or at least be able to make it available for responsible friends at the last minute.

I disagree that there should be a 'friends' fee to the annual dues ... but would accept a pro-rated fee based on the number of nights a friend might use it.

Also don't like the 'holiday' booking system ... where in some DC's if you book July 4th week this year you can't have it at any of their other locations for a few years.

LTTravel

It would be nice to be able to do this but you will run into the same problems that you run into with timeshares. You yourself know of the condition of the Marriott Beachplace. I am sure if it was 100% owner occupied, the condition of the units would be much better. Renters just don't take care of the units. The other problem you run into with timeshares is that owners try to scarf up the best weeks and then sell them. They seem to know the tricks on how to get the best reservations. This makes it more difficult for the owners to get the vacations they want.
I think that most DC's cater to the upper end and the members that they want, and the members that I would want to join my destination club would be ones that are a little flexible, and don't book way in advance and don't need to get every single penny out of their membership. I would love for a bunch of Fortune 500 people to join and use only half of their days because they just don't care.

Kagehitokiri

ASIADCMEMBER, check out this thread if you havent already, i list 4 clubs that allow anyone to use plan nights > clubs that allow anyone to use plan nights

re renting etc >

- non full ownership jets also prohibit any "reselling" of seats/use.

- lots of hotel/resort residences (not condohotel) have 1 year minimum leases, and other restrictions. (HOAs and municipal governments can also set them.)

ASIADCMEMBER

Actually, I would not consider moving to any of those other clubs--the thought was that if I think my club is 85 points out of a hundred--the roll-over one week to next year or "gift week" would make it 90 points---to get a hundred, they need houses in Asia. So another way of phrasing the thread--what would it take for you to give your club a hundred out of hundred point rating.

In my case-- 100 point (perfect club)
1) roll-over--5 points
2) Asia points--10 point

Everything else about the Quintess club homes is as good as you read in the reviews. The only reason that I started the other thread about "worthwhile reviews", was that for potential new members, if they tried to read the home/trip reviews on Helium Report--99% of the reviews are so positive that in that case, they become worthless as a consideration to join benchmark--because no-one had ever had a really bad experience at a home. At least if members start talking about "what policy they dislike the most", it may shed more light on the clubs for potential members.

WE all know the houses are nice--
But what are the other policies or rules that members dislike, so that those of us who are already members are providing deeper insight into the clubs.

LTTravel

ASIADCMEMBER

Unfortunately for you, DC's are mostly US Centric and there are a few based in Europe. Only Banyan Tree is Asia based but not a true DC.
DHH is based out of New Zealand, so closest to you and is trying to be an international DC. I think that if it does grow, it would satisfy your needs, such as
1. Bank/Borrow one week per year
2. Nice homes
3. Vehicle at destination
4. Breakfast and Laundry Service
5. Though not in Asia yet, the closest with New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii and soon Australia and others

To answer your question about what I like and don't like I will try to explain, but I don't know which I like better.

With ER, you can book up to two years in advance. Each year, you have anywhere from 1 to 4 advanced reservation tokens which you can use up to 2 years in advance. Let us assume you have 2 tokens per year. You can theoretically use six tokens at one time. For example. Let us say your year starts January 1. 2008. You can use two of your tokens for 2008, two tokens for 2009 and two tokens for 2010 so make 6 advanced reservations on January 1, 2008. This allows you to plan two years in advance, however, this makes less availability if you cannot plan two years in advance. This is a clear advantage for those who can plan two years in advance but a disadvantage for those who can't.
For comparison, DHH allows you to book up to two years in advance, however, you can only use this years tokens to book up to two years in advance. Similarly, if your membership starts January 1, 2008, you can make up to two advanced reservations up to 2010, not six like at ER. The disadvantage here is that it is more difficult to make reservations up to two years in advance because if you do, then you don't have any advanced reservations available for 2008 or 2009. But the advantage is availability is much better one and two years out.
I hope I made that clear. I am not sure which one I like better. There is no perfect system. If ER had the DHH system, there would be much more availability going forward. For example, Tuscany is fully booked for the next two summers. That is because with ER, you have many more advanced reservations available for you. It is good for those who can plan that far in advance but not so for those who can't. With DHH, there is incredible availability, but you cannot make as many advanced reservations.
With HCC, they now allow you to book Saturday Sunday and Monday nights or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, splitting the week up into 3 and 4 days. I think the problem with this is that many book the weekend as soon as it is available leaving many less desirable Sunday to Thursday blocks.
I love my ER membership and cannot really complain, however, the one think I don't like is that I can't even give days away to immediate family without paying a premium. Most other clubs do not require you to do so. But I got in for a low enough price that it doesn't bother me much.
That's all I have for now. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. Anyway, for your particular situation, neither ER or HCC will address your dilemma

Kagehitokiri

unfortunately the only banyan tree private collection destination thats a great value is seychelles.

seems reasonably likely to me that DHH will be the first to acquire in asia.

ASIADCMEMBER

Completely agree about the Banyan Tree product. When I asked about deposit return--they said you could find your own buyer. So basically, it is not a US style destination club-=because the way they calculate it is

US$120,000 to join, US$3000 per week dues per year--- after 7 some years you break even, because it is unlikely you can sell it for much--they don't take it back from you on a in/out basis.

For example

after 7 years of opportunity cost of 5% of 120,000 = US$6000 per year + US$3000 in dues-that is US$9000 of value divided by 7 days so around US$1200-1300 per night--which in many cases is the cost of their two bedroom on the website. So basically you are locking yourself up to a long term contract with Banyan Tree for not much discernable value. The US destination clubs are a much better value.

DHH has not shown much interest in Asia yet- but with the region's fastest growing number of millonaires and families that travel with maids/help in tow-and lots of liquid wealth. large numbers and huge shortage of private bankers in the Asia region. It seems like Asia would be a "blue ocean" to rapidly gain market share for a destination club with relatively no competition. The only problem is Asians typically like to "own" real estate--so the concept of consumption without equity is probably a cultural barrier that has to be overcome.

I think that someone like Quintess would almost have to start a new club--and then have a little reciprocity with the US oriented club. The reason that I say that is the value of a huge portfolio of Sking destinations and East coast carribean properties is probably of no value to an Asian based member-travel time is too far and painful-so buying in at the latest prices (US centric prices) is probably not that interesting and hard to use. If you launched a new club with new charter members that are willing to take some risk for better upside--you could probably get the core 50 members in place with 4-6 homes and then start doubling/tripling homes in the most popular locations and then charging higher from there for "reciprocity priveleges into Europe and US.

Kagehitokiri

not sure if you can use banyan tree over XMAS/NYE but seychelles 2BR goes for $7K+/nt then.

good point about quintess considering starting another club as well, they did mention that in terms of the $210MM they got from the investor. lusso was the only other club to have discussed that idea previously.

DHHUSA

Hello, DHH is a US company. Our head office is in USA and we have offices in New Zealand, Australia, UK, France, Europe etc. We have truly international destinations because that is our business plan, that is what our Members want and that is one of our points of difference.