The Society is featuring several packages incorporating some of our most premier rental homes. Fabulous properties that can accommodate up to 38 are available for you and your loved ones to fill with laughter, entertainment, relaxation, indulgence, recreation, and of course the aromas of the Holidays favorites.

Let The Society provide an experience that literally caters to your needs including grocery pre-provisioning, daily cleaning, activity & restaurant reservations, etc. See just some of our rentals below that are still available for Holiday gatherings.

Castlewood: Telluride, CO
10 Bedrooms, Sleeps 38
Winter Wonderland! If there isn’t a white Christmas in Telluride at over 9,000 ft. in elevation, then global warming has gone too far! A home with a history, the original home was built nearly 200 years ago and remains a part of what is now Castlewood.

DC Ranch Retreat: Scottsdale, AZ
4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8
The holidays are all about the people you choose to surround yourself with, and that likely includes family. DC Ranch is well secluded in a gated community, so privacy is paramount and safety a given. Outside, the beautiful Sonoran desert envelopes the property with native trees and shrubs, and a natural wash.

Eagle’s Nest: Paradise Valley, AZ
4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10
If your wish is to feel like the royal family at the holidays then perhaps you should secure the most secluded home in the kingdom. Of Paradise Valley that is! Eagles Nest holds the honor of the highest elevation home in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve, and from this lofty perch you may survey your entire kingdom. Make your plans to scale the mountain and occupy your castle for a real holiday treat.

Tenstone Estate: Napa Valley, CA
9 Bedrooms, Sleeps 15
An incredible value for a 5 Star vacation!  This Napa Valley Estate has been reduced to $4,200 per night, and this compound includes all of the most detailed luxuries.  A chef prepared breakfast is included in this amazing offer.

A last minute package has been made available for those of you seeking a rare “spiritual awaking”.

What does that mean, you ask…?

Majestic Sedona, the premier rental property in Sedona is available from October 22nd - 26th for a last minute rate of just $3,000 for the week.  On top of that, guests will receive unique access to attend “The Perfect Health” program hosted at the Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa (normally reserved strictly for guests of the hotel).

This 5-day healing process presented by Chopra Center instructor and Ayurvedic practitioner Lorrie Lawrence is based on the global bestseller “Perfect Health”, by Deepak Chopra, M.D.  The program has helped thousands of people across the globe identify the imbalances in their lives, learn how to correct them, learn powerful Ayurvedic practices designed to balance body and mind, enhance nutrition, reduce emotional turbulence and re-awaken the senses.

For just $2,865 per person, the all inclusive package includes:

• Complete meal package. All of your meals for the 5 days are consciously prepared and are recommended Ayurvedic menus which your practitioner has planned with our chef.
• Daily morning instructed yoga for all levels, guided Meditation, and evening guided sunset meditations on our Observation Terrace.
• Daily Pancha Karma Wellness and Spa treatments by trained therapists.  Pancha Karma is a complete detox program consisting of 8 treatments that will purify, eliminate toxins and rejuvenate your system. This part of the program is pre-screened and designed by our Ayurvedic Practitioner for you, including any exams or follow up consultations that may be necessary.
• Daily lessons and workshops with instruction in understanding the ancient and powerful principles of Ayurveda, accessing your inner pharmacy, nutritional guidance for your mind-body constitution, stress releasing practices, effective and compassionate communication techniques, and a complete program that you can take home to effortlessly implement into your life.
• Guided Prana-inducing ceremony on the land creating Sacred Spaces.

To complete your Majestic Sedona experience, guests will be provided two tickets to enjoy a guided tour of the darkest night sky at Boynton Canyon.  This famed stargazing venue, a $120 value, is yours at no extra cost.

Enjoy a week of bliss in Sedona.  Hurry to book Majestic Sedona the week of October 22nd and experience “Perfect Health” forever.

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.”

“Market share is more important than ever in a downturn. That means holding the line on extra fees and complementary services, and maintaining investments in service recovery and loyalty programs.”

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.

If you crave to escape to an intimate setting where you are pampered to perfection, with personalized attention, then this is your place. If you seek the best in gourmet spa meals, sybaritic pleasures, set amongst finest quality French antiques, you will love this place. When you take a break from the daily routine, check out the au courant fashions at the spa boutique. (especially to reward yourself for the hard workouts). While you’re hunting for gifts, check out the recipes from Chef Steve Pernetti’s new spa cuisine book.

Order a copy of Cal-a-Vie Living, gourmet spa cuisine (so you can try all the recipes you loved including the macadamia-crusted chicken and mocha mousse swirl at home!).

If your goal is fitness, health and nutrition, you will find it here.

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.

Spas are also now taking on distinct personalities of their own: ‘Destination spas’, ‘wine spas’ and ‘medical/executive health spas’ are a few examples of specialty spas that are popping up. The Destination Spa is all about the location. The spa-goer selects the type of atmosphere they would like and heads to the high desert, beautiful hill country or an island for their spa experience. With these spas the setting is as much a part of the overall package as the treatments themselves. Here travelers get to take advantage of the surrounding areas with hikes, outdoor eating and romantic moments in-between spa treatments.

Wine Spas offer a dual-purpose to their wine as it is used both to taste and for treatments. These treatments firm the skin and can slow down the aging process using the powerful antioxidant properties found in wine. At these spas, massages are delivered on the terrace, overlooking the gorgeous vineyards. A package to one of these spas would not be complete without grape seed exfoliations that promise to bring out younger skin.

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.