Luxury Travel 360 has published a terrific article about the soaring use of social networks by affluent Americans. Here are some key trends coming from the latest Wealth Survey of the Luxury Institute:

• “Participation in social networks grew from 27% in January, 2007 to 60% a year later.”
• “The average affluent US internet user is a member of 3 social networks.”
• “These online communities are expected to fragment into segmented, target markets.”
• “Affluent Americans (100,000 HHI) represent 25% of US internet users, up from 16% in 2001, 30% of Facebook users and 22% of MySpace users.”

Key Takeaways: Online social networks are not just for younger age groups. These trends are certainly exciting for us all at The Society. With luxury travel booming as well as these social networks, we encourage affluent travelers, property managers, realtors and homeowners alike to create profiles and become part of our community for luxury travel.

In a published article from MarketWatch, the National Association of Realtors reports second home sales were down in 2007. This suggests a growing inventory of second homes on the market. Competition for buyers can severely affect the sale price and buyers know there are deals to be found.

As a homeowner with a property for sale, now is the time to think about renting your second home until the market adjusts. Short or long term rentals can generate a surprising amount of income to offset insurance, mortgage and maintenance bills. Be sure to check your local laws and regulations regarding rental properties.

Years back I traveled to Zihuatanejo, Mexico. By far it remains the best welcome I have ever had at a resort. When we arrived, we were greeted at the front desk by name, our bags were taken to our rooms, we were given a tour of the property and told about all the amenities available to us during our stay. By the time we arrived at our room, a cocktail of our choosing was waiting and we were then left to settle in.

So it got me thinking, what could property managers/homeowners do to help greet their guests. There is something nice about being greeted by a dose of special treatment. With vacation rentals on the rise, however, a traveler often will have little to no interaction at all with a property managers. This acts as both a benefit and a negative to the traveler. What can property managers do to add that special arrival touch for luxury travelers that says your important, while at the same time remaining in the background? Here are five ideas:

• The Classics: Food items. As mentioned above, having the cocktail of my choice waiting for me was a wonderful touch. You really cannot go wrong with a note attached to some sort of food or beverage. Some of the standard luxury food items would include; chocolate covered strawberries, champagne on ice, a fresh fruit basket, a cheese plate or even a nice bottle of wine to add a nice welcome touch. But be creative especially if the region you are in is known for a specialty item.

• The welcome phone call/text message: Many managers will not see the guest if there is a hide-a-key in place. Know the time of your guest’s arrival. Be sure to call or send a text message welcoming them their home away from home. More than just a welcome, check to make sure everything is to their satisfaction. They’ve paid a hefty price and it is nice to know someone is making sure they are getting their money’s worth.

• The Highlight: Guest may never read the “binder” left to help them navigate around the home and the area they are visiting. A hand written note or letter highlighting a few top spots is a nice way to give them a few bullet points to get them started. Make sure to point them towards the binder for more great ideas for their stay.

Homeowners of luxury rentals must finally stop fighting against upgrading their televisions. A flat screen in your rental increases its luxury perception. Look at the room descriptions for The Ritz. The first thing listed as a room amenity is a flat screen television. Any luxury stop brags about having these high tech TVs because, simply put, it matters. The traveler may never even turn on the television…let’s face it, they have come to get away from the every day. But its not about the use, it is about the image. Even Motel 6 is putting them in!

This does not mean you need to bring home a designer brand television (although one day you may be able to buy a designer flat screen by Gucci). An affordable and fantastic option is the Vizio flat screen television. Don’t be concerned that their name is not the first thing that pops in your head when you think electronics. Vizio at this time is one of the fastest growing flat panel HDTV brands in America. How have they done it? Great quality, low overhead, and selling from non-traditional vendors such as Costco.

Homeowners, your excuses are gone. You don’t need to drop ten grand to get a flat panel TV. Next time you do your monthly Costco run, put a Vizio in your cart.

Conclusion: If you want to consider yourself a luxury stop, you need a flat screen…or two.

What other amenities do you think luxury travelers find essential? Submit your comments below.

The Society has added some great properties in Sunriver, Oregon courtesy of our newest property manager member, RE/MAX Sunset Realty & Vacations.

Sunriver is a paradise of outdoorsy activities, and it is a fantastic location for active vacationers seeking outdoor adventures. All of these properties have terrific amenities to offer, but White Elm #33, in particular, has some really nice offerings that make for a great Oregon getaway. This home is huge, at 4686 sq ft, and it sleeps 16 comfortably. Some of the fun features are a private indoor pool and hot tub and a game room with a pool table, foosball table, and ping pong table for the kids.

With golfing, skiing, hiking, fishing, and mountaineering all nearby, vacationers of all ages will have fun in Sunriver. In addition, Sunset Realty was named Business of the Year for 2007 at the Sunriver Chamber Annual Dinner and Auction on Friday, March 7th, 2008. With this esteemed reputation, travelers can book these properties with confidence. We, at The Society, are very proud to welcome Sunset Realty to our community, and to view these homes, click here.

We’ve brought you the perfect vacation rental for a wedding in Costa Rica. Now we have a property in Destin, Florida that is ideal for tying the knot. Its name is Villa Rosa, and it is decked out for that special day.

Featuring 9 bedrooms, 7,000 sq ft of living space, and 2,500 sq ft of covered patios and porches, this home can host 29 people. A giant gourmet kitchen with seating for 28, a game room, private swimming pool and hot tub, a gazebo with outdoor kitchen, and a beautifully landscaped courtyard created from 3 large home lots are just a few of the amenities that guests will find at Villa Rosa. This property is thoroughly prepared for large groups, and the space, the amenities, and the unique design are combined with the ideal beach setting of Destin to create an unbeatable atmosphere.

This home is clearly one of The Society’s best, and we are proud to have this and other Ocean Reef Resorts properties available to our luxury travelers. Click here to view Villa Rosa and other elite Destin rentals.

And The Society goes international! Mead Brown is The Society’s newest property manager member and partner, and we are proud to welcome 16 new properties from Los Sueños Resort & Marina in Costa Rica.

Check out these homes. Casa Mono Loco is the quintessential Costa Rica experience, with an open-air living-dining pavilion, and stunning panoramic views of Bahia Herradura, the Pacific Ocean, and all of Ls Suenos Resort & Marina. This property offers maximum privacy, except from the scarlet macaws, toucans and monkeys of the area who all commune with the guests.

Villa Firenze is Mead Brown’s grandest property and the finest Italian palazzo in Central America. Many tons of limestone imported from Jerusalem, the finest finishes and furnishings, 50’ pool, and a WALK-IN refrigerator, create an ideal venue for entertaining guests, family and dignitaries.

Speaking of entertaining guests, Villa Firenze and Casa Mono Loco are the perfect combo for a small wedding. Groom and groomsmen can stay at Mono Loco. Do a cocktail party and perhaps even dinner there the night before the wedding for the party. The bridal party could be set at Villa Firenze. In fact, as Michael Brown, president of Mead Brown explains, “the wedding itself could be at VF…The very dramatic, open hallway upstairs leads to an open, circular limestone and wrought iron staircase. I envision the bride walking across the hallway (guests are gathered below in the great room…OK, it’s a grand room!), down the staircase and to the officiant.”

Perfect for hosting such an event, the villa has a chef’s kitchen, that really is a chef’s kitchen, walk-in refrigerator, wine cellar, double ovens, double microwaves, double dishwashers, multiple sinks, a fab music system, spectacular lighting from the Lutron system, and a beautiful courtyard with fountain…and if you’re already married, no worries. What better than to have an “Encore Wedding” in this exotic setting. These two properties (with supplemental villas and condos) can host a memorable reception for up to 80 people.

Mead Brown can also arrange helicopter or ground transportation, sport fishing, horseback riding, fresh flowers, stocked pantry and refrigerator, massage or most anything else you desire. How’s this for service!!

To view all of Mead Brown’s extraordinary homes, click here, and to read an exclusive interview with the company’s president, Michael Brown, click here.

Costa Rica is the new Caribbean hot spot for families, honeymooners and solo-travelers alike. The dazzling beaches coupled with an inland of lush rainforests make this country one of the most beautiful vacation retreats for travelers all over the world. Although its popularity seems to grow year upon year, there still seems to be an aura of confusion that settles around this Central American country. Potential visitors wonder if this country is safe, what the exact prices are, and what is it that keeps bringing visitors back. To get the story straight from the source, we contacted one of The Society’s founding members, Michael Brown of Costa Rica’s Mead Brown, to help clear the fog around Costa Rica vacations. Michael Brown is a marketing, public relations and project management professional who is an alumnus of the Prince of Wales’ Business and the Environment Programme that was developed by CambridgeUniversity.

1. What are the most common misconceptions about Costa Rica?

A common misconception about Costa Rica is that it’s a cheap getaway. It’s not. While surf shacks and similar bare-bones type accommodations can be found for $15 per night, North American-style accommodations come at North American prices. Quality hotel rooms on the Pacific Coast start at $200 per night, and our luxury condominiums begin around $450 with villas running $2,500 per night in high season. Clearly our guests aren’t roughing it at those rates! Another misconception is that vacationing in Costa Rica requires roughing it-it doesn’t. Oh, I’ll add a third: That Costa Rica is an island! It’s still attached to North and South America; we do have a Pacific Coast and a Caribbean Coast.

2. What are the top activities you recommend to your guests?

The thrill of landing a sailfish or marlin in the calm waters of the Pacific (65 world record fish have been caught here), seeing rare birds (more than 850 species have been identified, including the rather common scarlet macaws and toucans), taking a zip-line canopy, or taking an informative and leisurely aerial tram tour are always great way to experience Costa Rica. There is truly something for everyone: Beautiful beaches, cloud and rain forests, active volcanoes, dolphins, monkeys, white water river rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, yoga retreats, surfing, spa and massage treatments, championship golf, tennis, fine restaurants and Cuban cigars.

3. When is the best time of year to visit Costa Rica?

The Society has moved into Telluride with a bang! Thanks to our esteemed new member, Telluride Rentals, The Society has added 41 new luxury properties in Telluride. These properties are immaculate, most are ski-in/ski-out, and a handful are truly Executive-Platinum quality.

Take for example The Yellow Brick Road. This home rests on a hill top and sleeps 16 with 7 bedrooms. Guests can ski-in and ski-out as they please, and walk to the Village Core, Gondola, restaurants, ski school, golf and shops. As for the furnishings…well…you have to see for yourself.

Hood Park, as well, may be one of the top 3 most luxurious houses in all of Telluride. This home overlooks 35 acres of open space, and of course, it is ski-in/ski-out. It is a custom construction of log and stone with high ceilings, vaulted windows, and an interior that is the definition of picturesque. Vacationers simply can’t do much better to find ski-in/ski-out rentals with this kind of elite size and style. Check out all 41 of these gorgeous properties that Telluride Rentals has graced us with.

MILLIONAIRE’S ROW…an exclusive strip of beachfront properties in Destin, Florida, features homes with unique beauty and architectural magnificence. Now, thanks to Ocean Reef Resorts, Inc., The Society is a privy to two rental properties located on this fine stretch of beachfront land. Casa de Palmas is 5,200 sq ft of finely appointed details that are sure to please even the most refined guests. The craftsmanship includes Mexican limestone floors, marble baths and counters, granite kitchen counters and bar, art lighting, and 10 ft ceilings. The exquisite design matched with the private pool, and white sand beach right in the back yard make this home a worthy Millionaire’s Row property.

Also, on this stretch of beachfront perfection is Crystal Palace by the Sea. This gulf-front property is massive, with the capacity to sleep 22 people. Aside from its premier location on the beach, this home is also near to all of the top attractions of the Destin area, including the harbor, The Commons, and Silver Sands Outlet Mall. Visitors to Destin…click here to view all of Ocean Reef Resorts’ dazzling rentals.