Recent Destination Club News

[FLdest]

Florence

Try calling the place you were staying directly. They may book it to you personally for less since it will likely be empty.

 

[BestHC]

Try starting with VRBO.........that really is tough luck

 

[Leonardo]

Anyone care to give a rec for an alternative Florence accommodation since I have already spent the money for 4 plane tickets...

Which Tuscany property? If it was one of the Premier properties, they are both in mini-developments and be able to rent another unit in the same development. If it was the signature home, you could call the local host (I assume you got the escape plan already with contact numbers?) and see if he has recommendations on comparable properties; I think he was a property manager for other homes in the area...

 

[willmyclubmakeit]

tuscany

Chuck
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vacation Rental in Tuscany Sojourn-In-Italy.com
Culinary Vacations in Tuscany WorkshopsInTuscany.com
Vacation Rental in Maine MaineRiverWatch.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
USA (00 1) 805 682 2386
Italy (011 39) 0575 601 782 Home
(011 39) 339 199 3070 Cell

 

[ClubsRDead]

WOW....The landslide begins....

What was your story to share?

 

[BestHC]

What was your story to share?

As I said prior "I apologize for being a bit premature on the big news posting. It seems that others that I am involved with continue to believe that our conflict of interest phase is still in effect. I don't agree...." I think you know the beginning of my story (Phase 1)...Phase 2 relieves me of all outside obligations

 

[Kagehitokiri2]

a handful of people had asked about high end rental companies at several points >

high end rental companies, compiled on 11/10/09 >

all properties include local host and daily housekeeping
- Chalet Spa $1.7K > $32K+ (includes butler, chef)
- Villazzo $2K > $29K (includes transfers, bellstaff at arrival/departure, unpacking)
- Homes Away $700 > $6.6K+

inclusions/staff varies
~ Scott Dunn (some with nannies and catering)
~ Abercrombie & Kent $165 > $5.1K [used EU site at time, i believe they have new villas since then]
~ there are lots of catered chalets in europe

new from villazzo (no inclusions, weekly housekeeping)
x Villazzo V Villas $1.5K > $12K

...

A&K realized $1.5 million of licensing fees in 2006, down from $6.5 million in 2005.

 

[Jack1234]

Just heard my Tuscany reservation this week will not be honored! Where is the email list to get organized?

Do you know if this was a leased or owned property? Are any trips still "on" or have all been cancelled at this time?

 

[TarheelTraveler]

Could members not have been given some forewarning with respect to their reservations? Haven't members been through enough? This kind of stuff drives me nuts. I can't imagine given the circumstances that members will OK management going back to the member well again, but I guess we'll see. Of course, they might have been more likely to vote yes before they knew what was going on with their reservations.

Interesting articles on DCNews regarding the various UE options (http://www.destinationclubnews.com), with a little more editorializing by DCNews than normal, which makes it more interesting. Still nothing on SherpaReport about all of this.

By the way, UE member postings regarding their concerns with recent UE communications have been removed from the Facebook site.

Also an interesting article on Demeure from the esteemed Susan Kime http://destinationclubnews.com/News_A_Second_Look_At_Demeure.php

I knew she was writing for Luxist, but didn't know that she was doing articles for DC News as well. Demeure is a very interesting model and has a lot of potential benefits, but it does seem like it would have some of the inevitable shortcomings of other exchange or lease programs like inconsistencies in amenities and the quality of the management of properties and the properties themselves. I understand that the community nature of it is supposed to reduce some of these issues, but I don't think it's possible to replicate that without one centralized manager overseeing every property. The DC homes that I've stayed in have always been maintained better than a privately owned rental. Also, I don't get the whole 40% off even if I don't contribute property. It seems like owners of popular properties might not be happy renting at 40% off if it really is 40% off their normal rates. Might be feasible for moving excess inventory, but not for prime rental weeks. In any event, it's another model to look at and certainly a lot better than the non-equity model IMO.

 

[Kagehitokiri2]

.By the way, UE member postings regarding their concerns with recent UE communications have been removed from the Facebook site.

from the member's page??? jesus christ.

agree re exchange companies, anything involving uneven deposits means exchanges. although demeure plans to own some homes... no clue how that will work. looking through 2 articles soon, will quote anything that jumps out at me.

meh. no mention of buying properties, which was mentioned a while ago.

"It’s always been much more expensive to operate vacation homes than estimated."
its very simple and easy if you have hotel managed - simply divide that monthly cost among members.
thats what the barebones clubs do - simply add it up, and divide it up. doesnt matter what level of service youre providing. just be transparent.

 

[Jack1234]

from the member's page??? jesus christ.

I believe TT means from The UE Facebook page (controlled by UE) where members could post comments, not from individual member's pages.

JT is quick to buy bad web press for worthless stock but I don't think he's buying space on member's pages!

 

[Desties]

I believe the Tuscany sig property is owned. I remember when it came online that Rich was offering members an opportunity to become investors in the property itself (to line up financing, one would think).

I went ahead and put in a reservation request earlier this afternoon, but have not yet heard back from the club.

I'm guessing this is the last I'll see of those Aveda shampoo bottles.

 

[Kagehitokiri2]

http://www.sherpareport.com/destination-clubs/demeure-launches-1209.html

21 December 2009
Demeure club divides its properties into three tiers of $0.5m-$1.5m, $1.5m-$3m and $3m+ homes. The clubs goal is to reach 400 member-contributed homes (equal to 60 full time equivalents) and 20 club-purchased homes, throughout the world. In years 20-25 the club plans to wind up and distribute the proceeds from the sale of club owned homes to members. The club is off to a good start with 37 member contributed homes.

concept dropped?

 

[Mullyclu]

Love your comment!

Yikes! I probably should have taken home some of the spare Aveda Rosemary Mint shampoo bottles during my last stay. I'll miss those -- though not as much as my deposit.

 

[TarheelTraveler]

I believe TT means from The UE Facebook page (controlled by UE) where members could post comments, not from individual member's pages.

Correct, Jack. The UE post on JoJo the dolphin is now again the most recent post.

 

[Mullyclu]

Not really any new news, but not sure if it was posted. Saw this on FractionalLife.com

"after several years of working to reduce our operating costs" (4th paragraph)

Yea right. BS on this statement. Should have got the ax out before that member assessment.

http://www.fractionallife.com/news_destination_club_ultimate_escapes_in_crisis1241.asp

 

[golfisking]

Facebook

Is there a way for us to form a facebook group? Any takers?

 

[Northof49]

Please add my name to any lists for further communication concerning the UE disaster should other options arise. I just rec'd notice from a JT email that results should be out on the vote by end of business tomorrow.

 

[ClubsRDead]

Please add my name to any lists for further communication concerning the UE disaster should other options arise. I just rec'd notice from a JT email that results should be out on the vote by end of business tomorrow.

We're putting a group together and will add you.

I don't think any of us need to await Jim's "official results" to know what the outcome was. The real question is, what are we going to do now?

 

[Desties]

For those who haven't checked their email in the past hour, JT sent out a note that an update on the poll results will go out to members tomorrow after the close of business.

 

[Northof49]

Hard to say as being a Canadian member has always presented different challenges. We felt even more isolated than most PE/UE members just because of where we are so to even have other member contacts up here is minimal. I do have a couple others who would probably like to join up for the information once the official word drops from UE. Depending on what CS does and how the majority votes will tell the membership their options. Until then anyone planning travel with UE in short term is rolling the dice.

 

[BestHC]

We're putting a group together and will add you.

I don't think any of us need to await Jim's "official results" to know what the outcome was. The real question is, what are we going to do now?

Your running a little late with this idea....the hyenia's have devoured most of the carcus

 

[dfr]

I would also like to be included if you put a group together. I'm glad I put off making my airline reservations for Christmas travel.

 

[ClubsRDead]

UE PE Member Options Email

Not that we may have many, but the email to send your contact info to is
UEMemberOptions@gmail.com.

This is a confidential list - we're going to attempt to verify those asking to be included are actually UE / UR / PE / TH (prior) members.

Send an email and we'll continue the discussions more offline and then via conference calls as necessary.

Also, let others you know that this exists. We had a pretty viable list during our TH days and a few are working to resurrect that right now.

 

[Desties]

I'm glad I put off making my airline reservations for Christmas travel.

I suddenly feel like a winner for coming up short in the holiday lottery!

I do have Thanksgiving, though -- with the flight already booked. Thankfully it's NYC where there are plenty of options.