TarheelTraveler

I knew that Merrill Lynch and ER had a marketing relationship. However, I am surprised at how extensive it is. Just received the Merrill Lynch electronic newsletter, and The Perfect Summer Vacation linking to a Merril Lynch ER article is featured along with four or five investment topics such as The Case for Munis and the Next Market Leaders.

Just curious, but does ML receive fees for this or is it merely touting the fact that ML clients get a discount on the ER membership fee?

Kagehitokiri

i believe ML's relationship with ER is similar to their relationship with bombardier. not sure about fees.

centurion cardholders get the best discounts, but ML+ is free.

Steamboat Bill

I am a Merrill Lynch customer and also received the e-mail.

The perfect summer vacation

Enjoy properties the world over without the burden of ownership.

Owning a vacation home has two significant disadvantages: upkeep and the fact that it’s located in just one place. Few can own Tuscan villas, Manhattan apartments or suites in Paris. But a luxury destination club, in which you choose vacation spots from a menu of luxury properties, is the next best thing.

Merrill Lynch clients receive as much as $15,000 off the initial membership fee for Exclusive Resorts®, a Denver-based luxury destination club with more than 350 properties in 40 destinations around the world. Such clubs typically provide five-star amenities in an estate setting, with a concierge on site to take care of everything from golf tee times to spa appointments to private gourmet meals. And if you pay Exclusive Resorts annual dues with a MERRILL+® Visa® credit card or Visa® Signature Rewards® card, you can earn double Merrill Points.

Destination club membership also encourages travel to locations you might not otherwise have considered visiting. “We were thinking about buying a second home, but we couldn’t settle on just one place,” says Mary Taylor Behrens, a Merrill Lynch client. “Being able to vacation with our family in so many great places at a fraction of the cost of a second home was something that appealed to us.”

For an upfront membership fee and annual dues, members get access to the club’s properties for a specified number of days per year as well as a certain number of guaranteed weeks planned in advance, such as holidays. They also can take advantage of many last-minute travel options. Moreover, those who eventually decide to leave the club will be refunded 80% of their membership fee.

For more information, visit Exclusive Resorts - Luxury Destination Club & Private Vacation Homes.