A few days ago we posted about our promotion for Colorado residents looking to escape during the Democratic National Convention.  We sent out a news release and even polled a few locals to get their thoughts on the effects the convention would have on their commutes, leisure time and lives in general.

The folks over at 9News in Denver sent their always entertaining, mountain reporter Matt Renoux to Vail to meet with Mike McFadden of The Society and Mike Connolly at Peak Properties Inc to get some details.  The piece aired on the 5 o’clock broadcast.

Additionally, the very cordiall Scott Miller of the Vail Daily wrote a great article for us including some nice quotes from another of our local property manager partners Prudential Colorado Vail.  Jon Eskin provided some excellent support comments.

Finally, we had a write-up in Denver’s Rocky Mountain News that features the detilas of the promo.  Thanks to all the editors and reporters for the press coverage!

With the Democratic National Convention coming to Denver August 25-28, metro-area residents will see an estimated 50,000 visitors descend upon the city overnight. This is the largest event in Denver’s history and will play host to about 1,500 special events in the four-day span. Regardless of your political affiliation, the sheer volume of people can be overwhelming and an inconvenience.

www.TheSociety.com is making it easy to escape the crowds with free gas and discounted vacation rental home rates for Colorado residents. All the details can be found on the DNC Promotion Page.

Villa Antigua was inspired by the 300-year old Spanish Colonial homes of Antigua Guatemala. This new, 5600 square foot, 5 bedroom, 6 bathroom compound is just steps from Jaco Beach and beautifully decorated by Banagas Design. It is available as a vacation rental with a three night minimum–fully furnished and equipped. To view all of the great properties offered by Mead Brown, check out their profile.

“Are Luxury Hotels Recession Proof?” In an article by Market Metrix posted by HospitalityNet, Jonathan Barsky and Lenny Lash provide evidence that suggests Luxury Hotels are not falling victim to price sensitivity during the economic downturn. This news bodes well for luxury vacation rentals and the luxury travel market in general, as it appears, “Affluent buyers aren’t particularly affected by rising interest rates and mortgage related problems. So luxury hotel (and vacation rental) guests have the ability to absorb the cost increases rather easily.” See some insightful excerpts below, and read the full story here.

Price Sensitivity by Hotel Segment

“Luxury hotels typically cater to a distinct kind of guest, often wealthy individuals to whom price is less of a factor in selecting a hotel.”

“At least part of the price strength of luxury hotels can be explained by the size of this segment - there are not many luxury hotels and the number of guests able to afford luxury accommodations has risen dramatically in the past few years. This positive relationship will continue as long as the number of new luxury properties does not grow faster than the number of persons willing to pay their premium prices.”

“International tourists, taking advantage of a weakening US dollar, are looking to the US as a prime vacation spot and are spending more money, often upgrading to higher-end, luxury accommodations.”

“A lack of price sensitivity should not be viewed as a green light to raise luxury hotel prices. Excessive pricing in this fragile economy can create ill will and tarnish a brand.”

With warm weather upon us, our thoughts have turned to summer vacations, hitting the links and enjoying the outdoors with friends and family. There’s something to be said about lounging on the deck or patio with good friends, a great view and a cold beverage of your choosing. A great deck makes all the difference whether you seek a private refuge to relax or are looking to entertain the masses.

The Society recently unveiled its Top Decks found on www.thesociety.com. The decks combine luxury conveniences with the world’s most spectacular views. From the press release Kathy Peterson, a celebrity design and lifestyle expert, gives her nod of approval, “These lavish decks featured on TheSociety.com embody the attributes necessary for the best outdoor living experience.”

So go ahead and plan that summer vacation to include some of the best ocean, mountain and desert views available.

Occasionally, The Society brings in industry experts to report on the latest in trends and tips to keep you “in the know” when it comes to luxury travel. This blog post marks the first of many insightful submissions brought to us by Marjorie Rothstein, our resident luxury lifestyles consultant and spa trends expert.

Her work has been featured in Malibu Magazine, Celeb Life/Celeb Staff and  online with La2Day.com, Chictoday.com and Justluxe.com. We are proud to bring her luxury expertise to you. Get your imagination in gear and enjoy, as she will guide you on a path to “Living the 5-Star Life.”

Secret Hideaway: Haven-Cal-a-Vie
by Marjorie Rothstein

What do Paula Abdul, Kirstie Alley, Tim Daley, Sharon Gless, Angelica Huston, Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman, Kathleen Turner and Claire Danes have in common? If you’ve guessed that they’re all celebs, that’s true. But what makes this bunch even more unique is that they all love to escape to a secret hideaway in the hills of Vista, Ca. What is this place? It’s a haven for the very rich and famous, or anyone who wants to be pampered beyond words.

This is so exclusive, only 25 guests can be there at the same time. It is so private, you cannot even find the place without explicit directions. You can’t enter this hilltop sanctuary without an invitation and there is no access except an electric gate. What is the name of this place that looks like an authentic village in Provence, with real antiques and original artifacts? It’s called Cal a Vie and it is located on Spa Havens Way.

The word spa, may come from the name of the famous mineral springs in Spa, Belgium but today its meaning spans much more. When someone says they are heading to a spa, images of massages, pedicures, facials, reflexology as well as healthy salads and green tea might pop into your head. But today’s luxury spas are growing to include much more than the norm.

Spas are no longer just a place for women. They are targeting men, teenagers and couples and offering specific services for each demographic. The number of men frequenting spas increased 5% from 2002 to 2003 and it is believed about 31% of spa-goers today are men. While men can do any spa service, there are treatments targeted to them. Some include back treatments and hair removal in addition to sports massage and foot treatment options.

Teenagers are also being recruited at a young age and getting hooked for life. Teenagers are being offered everything from acne treatments and makeup application to relaxation through massage to treat asthma and migraine headaches.

The couples’ services focus on romance. Couples are offered side-by-side massages and pedicures followed by private dining… For the perfect ambiance flowers are displayed, romantic music played and couples are treated like it is their honeymoon all over again.

The NY Times’ Billie Cohen published an article “Pitfalls of the First Purchase” on April 4th. A nice short article highlighting some of the watchouts before buying your dream vacation home. The highlights include:

1. Don’t Simply Buy Where You Love

2. Know Why You’re Buying

3. Second Home Financing

4. Expect Hidden Costs

5. Plan an Exit Strategy

If you’re considering buying a vacation home and utilizing it as a vacation home there are a few other tips to avoid. In an article The Society published a few months ago, Jeff Progar shares his thoughts on what a vacation rental needs.

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.

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.