Published August 7, 2008, an article featured in the Great Homes and Destinations section of the New York Times featured one of The Society’s most esteemed Luxe Alliance partners.  Peak Properties, Inc., the premier provider of luxury vacation rentals and services in Vail, CO and host of our open house in late July was spotlighted for their design efforts as they prepare for a busy winter ski season.

Joseph Sobin, marketing and media relations manager at Peak Properties, explains how eco-friendly design is becoming a large draw for luxury rentals in Vail.

Most other companies talk about fine linens and Viking stoves, and the reality is these are standard in luxe homes.  We are trying to also push the green aspect of the home and the decor.

Peak Properties is setting a standard that we appreciate so much from our partners.  They are rewriting their house descriptions to include green details and add another layer of value for travelers to appreciate.

Nicely done, Peak, and we encourage all of our partners on The Society to refine their information, take one step further and find value adds that can deliver truly exceptional vacation experiences.

Read the full article here, and gain some insightful tips to make your rentals stand out in an increasingly crowded market…(Step 1 is having your rentals showcased on The Society, of course!)

For travelers considering a trip that is somewhat out-of-the-norm, EthicalTraveler.org has released its list of the 10 Best Ethical Destinations for 2008.  Ethical travel is a term given to travel that is thought to “support international goodwill and promote cross-cultural understanding,” and there are many developing countries that are offering superb vacation experiences and who have made wonderful strides for environmental protection, social welfare and human rights in their efforts to draw in tourists.

Ethical Traveler encourages people to “step off the beaten path” and consider some of these fantastic locations for their next vacations:

1. Argentina
2. Bolivia
3. Bulgaria
4. Chile
5. Costa Rica
6. Croatia
7. Estonia
8. Namibia
9. Nicaragua
10. South Africa

The highest rated Ethical destination is undoubtedly Costa Rica.  With “a very high level of overall environmental health, excellent water resources, biodiversity, air quality, sustainable energy, civil liberties, and the highest rated score in the Freedom in the World 2007 report,” Costa Rica is a leader in sustainable tourism.

The Society continues to support sustainable and ethical travel, and we will continue to bring you viable vacation rental options to plan your own ethical trip.  Check out The Society’s hand-selected vacation rentals in Costa Rica for your next vacation.

With the DNC arriving in Denver in a few weeks, just a quick reminder to all of you Colorado residents to take advantage of our promotion and book your vacation home today!  Thanks to News2 in Denver, specifically Gina Selby and Vida Urbonas for permitting us to promote our deal on thier morning show!  As a reminder, we’re offering a 10% discount and a $50 gas card for those who book a home through The Society and stay between August 21 and 28th with our participating Colorado property managers.  Register today and book to escape the crowds!

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.

A new luxury poll taken from 278 American Express Centurion card holders brings to light some emerging trends of affluent travelers.

* “Two thirds (66%) seek destinations that are entirely private and secluded to take them away from the crowds.”
* “72% are demanding bespoke, personalised experiences, catering exclusively for their needs.”
* “76% want to gain new talents and a sense of individual achievement during trips.”
* “A big driver in the growth of tailored travel is the need for security and privacy.”
* “If you want to see things off the beaten track and experience views few get to see, doing this without the crowds is what really makes it a truly luxury experience.”
* “The continued growth of luxury vacation rentals, yachting, and private plane businesses is a testament to this overarching desire for exclusive and private experiences.”

As so many of us have realized, this is the beauty of enjoying a vacation in a luxury rental rather than a high-end hotel.  Luxury rental homes combine the concierge/services typical of 5-star hotels with the seclusion and comforts of a private estate.

You can read the entire article here, and to begin a search for your perfect rental home, start here.

For luxury travelers now is the time to plan that yearly winter ski vacation.  Sure, it may be warm now, but in a few months, when the temperatures drop and the golf clubs are retired back to the garage, it will be time to dust off the ski equipment, gather the troops and escape to altitude.

The Society’s newest property manager partner, Aspen Luxury Rentals, has provided over 130 luxury vacation rentals in Aspen and Snowmass that are almost too good to be true.  Plan a family reunion, corporate event, or just bring a group of friends to one of these masterpieces and enjoy a true luxury ski vacation.  Aspen has long been considered a haven for the rich and famous, and it is no wonder that Aspen Luxury Rentals is also prepared to arrange private jets, chefs, catering, nannies, snow equipment rentals, childcare services, etc…

Some of these exquisite homes are even right on the slopes for direct ski-in/ski-out access.  Take “Little Nell Home” for example.  6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, gourmet kitchen, right by the gondola, family friendly, pet friendly…perfect for your next family getaway.  Check out the rest of these beautiful rentals here.

With an increasing number of homes entering the rental pool, competition for guests is becoming more and more challenging. An added service here or a luxury touch there could very well be the difference between a booking or a vacancy.

“As unsold vacation homes swell the supply of houses on the rental market, growing competition for tenants is driving out the chipped dishes, tacky bedspreads and sagging couches,” says June Fletcher of the Wall Street Journal. She continues on to outline many of the amenities now being offered in her article titled, “The ‘Five-Star’ Beach Rental”.

Luxury rental properties continue to close the gap with five-star hotels and in many cases have surpassed them in terms of service, amenities and destinations. Conversely, luxury hotels have a difficult time matching the privacy and expansive group or family spaces found at a luxury rental home or villa.

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.

Its summer time, and many of us have dug the sticks out of the garage, dusted them off, and stocked the bag full of ProV1’s, but now what? “The Caribbean has not traditionally been viewed as a standout destination for exceptional course design, but in the last 10 years, advances have made golf more viable on the islands. If a golf vacation is in your future, imagine playing in the jungle with ocean and mountain view and playing along the coast with palm trees swaying.” With over 800 luxury villa rentals available on TheSociety.com, there are no more excuses. So, if you’re home course is starting to get a little too familiar, begin planning a golf trip for the ages, and look to the Caribbean to deliver a memorable experience.

Forbes Traveler published an article listing the top 10 Caribbean golf courses. Check out the list below, and read the full article here.

• Green Monkey at the Sandy Lane Resort in Barbados
• Punta Espada at the Cap Cana Resort in the Dominican Republic
• El Camaleon at the Fairmont Mayakoba Resort in Playa del Carmen
• Teeth of the Dog at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic
• Temenos Golf Club in Anguilla
• Westin Rio Mar in Puerto Rico
• Ocean Club at One&Only Resorts in New Providence Island, Bahamas
• Caye Chapel in Belize
• Four Seasons in Nevis
• Cimmamon Hill Ocean Course at Rose Hall Resort in Jamaica