DUO by Quintess: The New Destination Club, A New Option for Ultimate Escapes Members And Others
Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels
A DUO by Quintess residence, Cabo San Lucas
Two weeks ago, I reported on the Ultimate Escapes Destination Club bankruptcy, which is the largest bankruptcy in the brief history of the luxury destination club industry. This industry has had more than its share of well-publicized bankruptcies, with the members of these clubs usually left out in the cold, money and great travel expectations lost. In this most recent case, 1400 or so Ultimate Escapes members are in this kind of labyrinthine Limbo.
But for many of these UE members, being in such convoluted place is not their first time. To understand the importance of the options created by Quintess and others, it is crucial to understand the unusual context in which the Ultimate Escapes members find themselves.
Approximately seven years ago, in 2003, the first destination club, Private Retreats, launched in Telluride, Colorado. Two years later, Private Retreats changed its name to Abercrombie & Kent Destination Club. The A&K name was leased by Private Retreats. Eventually, A&K ended their licensing agreement with Private Retreats, and the destination club was renamed Tanner & Haley.
Tanner & Haley went bankrupt in 2006-- the first destination club to do so. Then, Ultimate Resort, a small destination club founded in 2005, gathered up the Tanner & Haley members, offered them a way to continue their travel club membership by purchasing the T&H homes. About a year later, Ultimate then instigated a complicated merger with another club operator called Private Escapes. More members were picked up there. And, Ultimate Resort's name change to Ultimate Escapes. So if you're following the bouncing ball, some of the present members of Ultimate Escapes, were actually refugees from Tanner & Haley, and also Private Escapes. So, it is easy to surmise that these members have -- also! -- been bounced around from club to club.
But wait! There's more.
New Trayvon Martin Evidence Features Incriminating Photos, Texts From Teen
The List #0147: Escape a Car Underwater
Killed Soldier In London Attack Identified
Visit the Maldive Islands Before It's Too Late
H&M's Plus-Size Model Jennie Runk Says She Chose To Gain Weight
Jodi Arias Jury DEADLOCKED
Okla. Sheriff's Deputy Finds Dog Guarding Body Buried Under Destroyed Home
Reptiles Make Home in UK Man's Cable Box
What It's Like To Talk To A 2-Year-Old
Springtime Budget-Busters -- Savings Experiment
Xbox One hardware and specs: 8-core CPU, 8GB RAM, 500GB hard drive and more
Surgeons Remove Giant Hairball From Tiger
Is This Woman Too Pretty To Work?
Helen Flanagan Launches PETA Campaign As Only She Knows How
Editorial: Engadget on the Xbox One
Brave Woman Stood Down Armed London Attackers
'DWTS' Shakeup Ahead?
LOOK: Photoshop Mistake Is Seriously Cringeworthy
Teenager's 'Awww'-Inspiring Drawing Wins Big At Google
WATCH: Heckler Hijacks Obama Speech On Drones, Gitmo
PHOTO: Dog Guards Dead Victim's Body After Oklahoma Tornado Disaster
Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included
REVEALED: Disturbing Trend In Human Intelligence
Wolf Blitzer's Embarrassing Moment With Tornado Survivor
Man Reportedly Beheaded In Brutal Assault In London Neighborhood
Help For Heroes Killing
Has Katie Holmes Moved On?
NY Times Eviscerates Obama White House
LOOK: Bank Vault Saves 22 Lives During Tornado
The World's Most Powerful Women
WATCH: The World's First Digital Photo