With approximately 150 members, 18 properties, and a seasoned cast of destination club executives all prior to officially launching, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club positioned themselves as an industry player since inception. Acquiring the real estate assets and vast majority of the members of leading equity clubs BelleHavens and Crescendo Residences and attaching the Abercrombie & Kent name proved to be a powerful combination.
Announced in April of 2008, the club would officially launch in September. The Founder and CEO of Abercrombie & Kent, Geoffrey Kent, surrounded himself with other hospitality and destination club experts. Crescendo's Joe Mitchell and BelleHavens' Darin Gilson manage the club's real estate acquisitions and sales respectively. Chief Financial Officer Brett Fichte and Senior Vice President of Hospitality and Member Services Stephanie Papaioannou both bring over 20 years each to their respective fields.
Focusing on a financially secure debt-free model, the club is structured around a member owned model. "We are forging a new direction in the destination club industry with a residence club that is based on an equity model," said Abercrombie & Kent Founder Geoffrey Kent. "The members own the properties and we provide services that can only be delivered by a company with A&K's worldwide presence and travel service background." The club also provide annual audited financial statements to members and conduct annual member meetings in addition to a five member board.
In addition to the destination club travel, each membership plan allows members the opportunity to exchange a portion of their nights for travel with Abercrombie & Kent corporate at any of the 100 plus destinations around the world.
MEMBERSHIP PLANS
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club offers three different membership levels of 15, 30, and 45 nights of annual usage.
15 Night Plan
The club's 15 Night Membership Plan requires a one-time membership deposit of $225,000 and annual dues of $17,000. Of those 15, members can exchange up to seven nights to travel in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection. Members are entitled to one holiday reservation per year.
30 Night Plan
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club's 30 Night Membership Plan requires a one-time membership deposit of $390,000 and annual dues of $29,000. Up to ten nights can be exchanged to travel in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection each year and members are entitled to one holiday reservation per year.
45 Night Plan
The club's highest level allows members the opportunity to travel up to 45 nights per year for a one-time capital contribution of $495,000 and annual dues of $42,000 per year. Like the 30 Night Plan, up to ten nights can be exchanged for travel within the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection of safaris and tours. Members also receive two holiday reservations per annum.
Across all three membership plans, the same resignation policy is used and all three allow direct family members the opportunity to travel at no additional cost. The club also often has a "Trial Membership" offering that allows potential members the ability to experience membership prior to joining.
MEMBERSHIP PRICING
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club offers three different membership levels of 15, 30, and 45 nights of annual usage. A portion of each plan's annual nights can be exchanged to access tours in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection.
15 Night Plan
For a one-time, refundable membership deposit of $225,000 and annual dues of $17,000, members receive 15 nights of access each year. Of those 15 nights, members can exchange up to seven nights to travel in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection of worldwide tours.
Members joining under this plan receive one holiday reservation per year.
30 Night Plan
The middle tier in the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club offering, the 30 night plan requires a one-time, refundable membership deposit of $390,000 and annual dues of $29,000. Members receive 30 nights of access each year, ten of which can be exchanged to travel in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection.
Members joining under this plan also receive one holiday reservation per year.
45 Night Plan
The highest tier in the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club offering, the 45 night plan costs a one-time, refundable membership deposit of $495,000 and annual dues of $42,000. Members receive 45 nights of access each year, ten of which can be exchanged to travel in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection.
The 45 Night Plan allows members the opportunity to make two holiday reservations per year.
All three membership levels have the same resignation policy and each allows the member's direct family the ability to travel under the membership.
ANNUAL DUES
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club offers three different membership plans offering 15, 30, and 45 nights of annual usage respectively. A portion of each plan's annual nights can be exchanged to access tours in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection.
15 Night Plan
Annual dues of $17,000 provide members access to 15 nights of travel each year with one holiday reservation. Of those 15 nights, members can exchange up to seven nights to travel in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection to receive up to $18,000 in a given year for trip credits for tours and travel within A&K.
30 Night Plan
Annual dues for the Abercrombie & Kent 30 Night Membership Plan are $29,000. Up to ten of those 30 nights can be exchanged to travel in the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection each year. This provides up to $36,000 in trip credits to within Abercrombie & Kent Tours. Members are also entitled to one holiday reservation per year.
45 Night Plan
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club's highest usage level allows members the opportunity to travel up to 45 nights per year for $42,000 annually. Like the 30 Night Plan, up to ten nights, equal to $54,000 in credits, can be exchanged for travel within the Abercrombie & Kent Inc. collection of safaris and tours. Members also receive two holiday reservations per annum.
All three membership tiers allow for direct family use privileges.
To learn more about the capital contribution required to join A&K, please feel free to visit our Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club Pricing page or follow the quick links to the right to learn more about the club, its policies, and executive team.
PROPERTIES
A leading play in the equity destination club sector, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club offers members access to a global selection of residences averaging over $3 million. Typically, homes average over 4,000 square feet and feature four bedroom, four and a half bathroom configurations. The full kitchens offer Villeroy & Bach dishware and Schott Zwiesel glassware. Dell computers and printers, iPod docking stations, and X-Box game consoles also are dotted throughout each property.
- Big Island, Hawaii - Hale Pu'uhonua
- Big Island, Hawaii - Point Estates
- Deer Valley, Utah
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Kiawah Island, South Carolina
- La Quinta, California
- Lake Tahoe, California
- Los Cabos, Mexico - Casa Miramar
- Los Cabos, Mexico - Villa del Amor
- Manhattan, New York
- Providenciales, Turks & Caicos – Villa Turquesa
- Providenciales, Turks & Caicos – Villa Pima
- Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Punta Mita, Mexico
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Snowmass-Aspen, Colorado
- Sun Valley, Idaho
USAGE
One of the most popular equity destination club options in the sector, the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club is structured so that the club owns the properties and that members own the club.
"One of the keys to this club is that you don't have any hassles of a second home, but the most important part is the fact that this is an equity club where the members own the club and the properties are owned debt-free," said Geoffrey Kent. "We have Global Experience Managers who consult with you. They know the properties. They know the experiences around them. And they can describe to you the types of services you can have from the homes."
The Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club offers three different membership options, each increasing by 15 nights of annual club access. Learn more about the three easy to understand membership options below.
15 Night Plan
The introductory offering within the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club family of memberships, the 15 Night Plan gives members 15 nights of annual access to the club's property portfolio.
30 Night Plan
Adding another 15 nights of annual usage, the next highest plan within the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club includes 30 nights of access to club properties.
45 Night Plan
The highest membership option with the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club, members have 45 nights of access to the club each and every year they remain with the club.
Members of all three club levels are able to allow direct family members the ability to use their membership. In addition, through Abercrombie & Kent, members can travel to any of the safaris and expeditions available through the travel pioneer. Based on the membership plan selected, members can exchange a pre-determined dollar amount of travel credits towards these trips.
"Members will be able to apply a portion of their annual usage allotment toward trips within Abercrombie & Kent’s unmatched portfolio of experiences. And since these travel opportunities are provided by Abercrombie & Kent and its travel partners, they will be seamlessly executed with the incomparable quality only Abercrombie & Kent can provide," writes the club. Members can also exchange a portion of their annual allotment of nights for stays at European hotels and owned villas.
MEMBERS
Officially launched in September of 2008, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club cemented themselves with a strong membership base after the acquisitions of leading equity destination clubs Crescendo Residences and BelleHavens.
The club now has over 150 members and is one of the top five destination clubs in terms of total members in the industry.
Based on the club strucuture, members own the club and the club owns the real estate.
RESIGNATION
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club's resignation policy function the same across all of the club's membership plans. Members receive 80% of the then-current value of their membership, with a cap at 100% of the initial capital contribution within the first five years.
For example, the 15 Night Membership Plan is currently offered at $225,000. If a member would join today at that rate and the club increased the amount to $275,000 over the next three years, the member would be entitled to 80% of $275,000, or $220,000.
Like nearly all other destination clubs in the industry, the club works on a "three in, one out" membership resignation policy that requires three new members to join for one existing member to get redeemed.
To learn more about the club's different pricing and membership plans, please visit their specific pages.
EXECUTIVES
One of the destination club industry's leading equity clubs, the success seen at Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club can largely be attached to the club's executive staff. Their diverse backgrounds span the destination club and hospitality sectors and the team continues to drive the club's direction moving forward.
Geoffrey Kent
Founder, Chairman, and CEO
Brett Fichte
Chief Financial Officer
Darin Gilson
Senior Vice President, Sales and Business Development
Joe Mitchell
Senior Vice President, Real Estate Acquisition and Development
Stephanie Papaioannou
Senior Vice President, Hospitality and Member Services
NOTES FROM THE CLUB
One of the leading equity clubs in the destination club industry, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club has quickly established themselves in the industry. Below, you will find news and notes from the club themselves.
First Entry
Comments from club executives
Second Entry
Comments from club executives
PARTNERSHIPS
Not required to look past their namesake for their biggest partnership, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club members can exchange nights within the club towards travels within the Abercrombie & Kent collection of tours, safaris, and countless other once in a lifetime excursions. A&K has tours in over 100 countries across the world, spanning every continent.
A&K Residence Club members exchange their nights for travel credits, essentially dollars used for A&K tours. Each of the club's membership plans provides different exchange limits.
Officially introduced in September of 2008, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club did so in a week long series of events at six different Christie's locations.
The new destination club visited Christie's locations in New York, Greenwich, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, and Los Angeles, introducing their new equity product to the marketplace.
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club President Jarvis Slade said, "Launching the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club at Christie’s was a perfect showcase for the unique nature of the club. Both companies are leaders in their field, demonstrating a strong commitment to quality, exceptional services and unique offerings. We are excited to work with Christie’s as we launch the next generation of destination clubs.”
Christie's the world's leading art business with global art sales in 2007 that totaled £3.1 billion/$6.3 billion.
PRESS RELEASES
One of the destination club industry's leading equity-based destination clubs, the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club originally was created after the acquisition of leading equity clubs BelleHavens and Crescendo Residences.
Announced in April of 2008 and officially launched in September of the same year, A&K Residence Club immediately cemented themselves as one of the leading clubs within the sector, dedicated to responsible spending and disclosure to members.
Abercrombie & Kent Introduces Trial Membership
Date: June 2, 2009
Leading equity destination club Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club has introduced a new trial membership plan to potential members, allowing interested parties to enjoy seven nights of access of the full destination club experience without having to join the club.
A&K Residence Club Announces First Annual Meeting
Date: February 26, 2009
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club has announced their first annual meeting of members. Scheduled for April 28th, the club will release the club's annual financial report and elect club members to the club's Board.
Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club Increases Property Portfolio
Date: October 29, 2004
Adding four new beach and ski properties to their collection, Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club will unveil two new homes in Turks & Caicos, a Hawaiian property in Mauna Lani, and the prime ski destination Snowmass, Colorado, pushing the club's property list to 17 by the end of the year.
Abercrombie & Kent Announces The Official Launch of Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club September 15, 2008
Abercrombie & Kent To Launch Groundbreaking Destination Club April 18, 2008
Questions about Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club
What is the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club?
An equity destination club announced in April 2008 and launched that September, built by acquiring the homes and most of the members of BelleHavens and Crescendo Residences. Members own the club and the club owns its properties without debt. It launched with about 150 members and 18 properties.
How much did A&K Residence Club membership cost?
There were three plans: 15 nights a year for a refundable deposit of $225,000 and $17,000 in annual dues, 30 nights for $390,000 and $29,000, and 45 nights for $495,000 and $42,000.
Can nights be used for Abercrombie & Kent tours?
Yes. Members on the 15 night plan could exchange up to seven nights a year, and those on the 30 and 45 night plans up to ten, for travel on Abercrombie & Kent tours and safaris.
What happens when a member resigns?
Resigning members receive 80 percent of the then-current price of their membership, capped at 100 percent of their original contribution within the first five years. Redemptions follow a three in, one out rule.
Who ran the club?
Abercrombie & Kent founder Geoffrey Kent led it, with Darin Gilson of BelleHavens on sales and Joe Mitchell of Crescendo on real estate. Stephanie Papaioannou, head of member services, was promoted to managing director in July 2010.