In the 18th century the English writer and poet Samuel Johnson said “.. when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.” Taking these words to heart SherpaReport went to London last week, and stayed for a few days at one of the Quintess homes in the city.  

AOL Co-Founder and Chairman of Exclusive Resorts Steve Case is leading a $20 million round of new equity financing to further strengthen the destination clubs financial position. The company also recently became the first destination club to reach the 100,000th vacation milestone.

This equity destination club has just added three new homes. Two of the homes are replacements for earlier homes in Deer Valley, Utah and the Gulf Coat of Florida and one is a brand new location for the club on the island of Maui.

Destination club Quintess and the PGA Tour have created a new club giving special access to some of the best that the golfing world has to offer. The initial memberships are aimed at the corporate hospitality market, with individual memberships available later this year.

The equity destination club recently announced that its 142 members, took 655 trips with the club last year, in other words they are taking 4 to 5 vacations a year with the club.

The co-founder of AOL and former Chairman of Time Warner is the majority shareholder and Chairman of destination club Exclusive Resorts. In a recent interview he shared his views on the club and how he saw it developing.

Proving that luxury home buyers are still active, The Porches of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, has made six sales; three fractional interests in the Private Residence Club and three whole ownership units, over the last six months.

Timbers Resorts has opened One Steamboat Place, its latest luxury resort development at the base of majestic Mt. Werner in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

The Hideaways Club, an international property investment Fund that offers its members the opportunity to invest in and enjoy a portfolio of luxury villas and chalets, announced this week that it has formed an alliance with Banyan Tree Private Collection, Asia’s first global destination club.

Ultimate Escapes, has added a new Elite Club residence within the Lungarno Suites in Florence, Italy. Featuring views of the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge arched over the Arno River.

These two luxury residence funds have formed an alliance which offers each of their owner members access to the homes in the two funds. This means members can choose from 29 homes in 23 destinations around the world.

The luxury second home fund added 30 new member families in 2009. The total membership is now over 90 member families.

The Élan Collection, a network of ultra luxury shared interest vacation homes, has commenced sales reservations for its deeded, shared ownership interests in a two-story Las Vegas penthouse situated on the top floor of Turnberry Place overlooking the Strip. The price starts at $1.5 million per deeded interest.

ViaMari, a yachting destination club has partnered with SeaNet Fractional Yachts. The alignment immediately gives ViaMari club members access to SeaNet vessels and its growing fleet of Sunseeker Yachts.  

Demeure, a new form of destination club that merges a home exchange with equity ownership is about to launch.