Kagehitokiri

(IMHO the latter is more likely, as the margins are much higher on luxury hotels/resorts/full ownership.)

personally, im certainly interested in things like >
- local hosts
- global concierge providing access and benefits
- other similar memberships
- private guides

but i do not require a DC to provide them all, all the time. id actually prefer not to have a HUGE bundling which adds significant cost, because i would prefer selecting the ones i want when i want them.

so while i certainly appreciate when clubs have additional partnerships and benefits, and see it as additional value, i would never pay DC fees for those things. the point of a DC is to provide members with exchange-free access to a portfolio of properties. (members only)

IMHO if the value is NOT there for the experiential travel (or at certain properties) offered by DCs, members should NOT book them, because that will only encourage DCs to provide fewer value-added offerings. the one possible exception to that is the seabourn charters ER has done. even if its more expensive, it would be terrific to have potentially fewer guests and a change in demographic.

ive never understood the argument that members so prefer the "ease" of a DC they are happy to spend say a thousand dollars more per night by booking through the club instead of direct. (on certain offerings and properties) DC benefits like global concierge should always be available, whether using a club property on the trip or not.

this is why i view DCs as part of a portfolio including hotels/resorts/rentals/charters/other memberships/etc.