A spin off the traditional destination club model, the Emperum Club utilizes several distinct models seen throughout the industry to create their own. Joining a growing list of Canadian based destination clubs including M Private Residences, The Discovery Club, and Moncasa Private Club Residences, Emperum Club officially launched late in January of 2009.
Much like One Key World, members receive a Club Card that allows the member access to the club's amenities. In essence, memberships are a prepaid, 12 month travel card. Membership plans range from 15 days and $26,000 to 40 days and $69,000. With a focus on business travel and leisure getaways, Emperum "embraces the world's financial and trade hubs, national capitals, leisure hotspots, and renowned metropoles never short of cultural riches, splendid architecture, inspirational arts, and riveting music." Included in each of the club's six membership plans, members also receive a set number of transfers, tours, and dining gift cards based on the plan chosen.
At One Key World, nights purchased on the prepaid card could be used by members until the card was fully used. Emperum members are required to use all of the amenities offered to them within one year, but can extend their membership an additional three months if necessary. This model more closely remembers that at The Markers Club, a destination club focused primarily on golf, that recently restructured their business model and now features year to year memberships.
One of the notable inclusions to the club's philosophy, and a growing subsection of the destination club industry, Emperum commits 10% of its net profit to its "One Future Club," a philanthropic effort to preserve the planet and assist children in need.
MEMBERSHIP PLANS
Not focused exclusively on luxury accommodations, the Emperum Club provides members at each of the club's six membership plans a number of airline transfers and dining gift cards. Memberships range between 15 and 40 nights of usage, respectively between $22,000 and $62,000.
Like a growing number of other destination clubs, memberships are secured on a year to year basis where members can elect to renew or discontinue their membership after each year rather than going through the more traditional resignation model of other destination clubs.
15 Day Plan
The club's introductory offering, members receive 15 nights of travel over the course of the year. Members are provided four complimentary transfers, two tours, and one dining gift card for $22,000.
20 Day Plan
Offering 20 nights of usage each year, members also receive six transfers, three tours, and one dining gift card for use over their one year membership. The 20 Day Membership is available for $32,000.
25 Day Plan
Much like the 20 Day Plan, the 25 Day Plan provides members with six transfers and three tours over their one year membership, but provides two dining gift cards in addition to the extra five nights of travel. The 25 Day Plan is offered for $41,000.
30 Day Plan
The 30 Day Plan provides additional transfers and tours over the year, eight and four respectively, and also two dining gift cards. For $48,000, members receive 30 nights of access.
35 Day Plan
Another step up providing additional membership benefits, the 35 Day Plan provides members 10 transfers annually, six tours, and three dining gift cards. The 35 nights of usage must be used over the year of membership and is available for $55,000.
40 Day Plan
Emperum Club's highest membership plan, the 40 Day Membership provides 12 transfers, six tours, and three gift dining cards as part of the membership. Members recieve 40 nights of annual usage for $62,000.
At each club level, the dining gift card is an "internationally accepted VISA debit card with funds equal to CAD $1,000.00."
MEMBERSHIP PRICING
Like a growing number of other destination clubs, the Emperum Club doesn't focus specifically on luxury real estate, also adding airport transfers, fine dining, and tours to their membership offering. The Emperum Club does not own the portfolio of locations available to members, but rather enters into strategic partnerships with five-star hotels and resorts around the world to provide access to their members.
Based on this model, there is no true "membership deposit" to join, but rather what amounts to annual dues to remain a member. Once the member has accessed the total amount of services provided under their plan, they can elect to renew or discontinue their membership after each year rather than going through the more traditional resignation model of other destination clubs.
15 Day Plan
The club's introductory offering, members receive 15 nights of travel over the course of the year. Members are provided four complimentary transfers, two tours, and one dining gift card for $22,000 each year.
20 Day Plan
Offering 20 nights of usage each year, members also receive six transfers, three tours, and one dining gift card for use over their one year membership. The 20 Day Membership is available for $32,000 annually.
25 Day Plan
Much like the 20 Day Plan, the 25 Day Plan provides members with six transfers and three tours over their one year membership, but provides two dining gift cards in addition to the extra five nights of travel. The 25 Day Plan is offered for $41,000 per year.
30 Day Plan
The 30 Day Plan provides additional transfers and tours over the year, eight and four respectively, and also two dining gift cards. For $48,000, members receive 30 nights of access for their year of membership.
35 Day Plan
40 Day Plan
Emperum Club's highest membership plan, the 40 Day Membership provides 12 transfers, six tours, and three gift dining cards as part of the membership. Members recieve 40 nights of annual usage for $62,000 per year.
ANNUAL DUES
Unlike the vast majority of other destination clubs that require a refundable membership deposit and annual dues, the Emperum Club uses a growingly popular membership option that essentially is a year to year membership. As such, the costs to join and utilize the club are all essentially annual dues with no membership deposit required.
Members not only receive accommodations throughout their year of membership, but each of the club's six membership plans provides members complimentary airline transfers, dining cards, and tours.
15 Day Plan
Emperum's lowest membership offering, members receive 15 nights of travel over the course of the year. Members are provided four complimentary transfers, two tours, and one dining gift card for $22,000.
20 Day Plan
Providing 20 nights of usage each year, members also receive six transfers, three tours, and one dining gift card for use over their one year membership. The 20 Day Membership is available for $32,000.
25 Day Plan
30 Day Plan
35 Day Plan
The 35 Day Plan provides members 10 transfers annually, six tours, and three dining gift cards, all higher than the 30 Day Plan. The 35 nights of usage must be used over the year of membership and is available for $55,000.
40 Day Plan
PROPERTIES
Emperum Club members have access to "five-star accommodations at the world's finest hotels and resorts."
This type of structure, where the club's residences are not owned by the club but rather are provided through partnerships, allows for rapid increases in the club's destinations and residences.
- Leeward Islands, Anguilla
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Melbourne, Australia
- Sydney, Australia
- Vienna, Austria
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Montreal, Canada
- Kowloon, China
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Vanua Levu Island, Fiji
- Cannes, France
- Carcassonne, France
- Paris, France
- Bora Bora, French Polynesia
- Berlin, Germany
- Frankfurt, Germany
- Athens, Greece
- Santorini, Greece
- Budapest, Hungary
- Bali, Indonesia
- Florence, Italy
- Milan, Italy
- Rome, Italy
- Venice, Italy
- Tokyo, Japan
- Dhigu, Maldives
- Beau Champ, Mauritius
- Monte Carlo, Monaco
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Auckland, New Zealand
- Lima, Peru
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Moscow, Russia
- Mahe, Seychelles
- Singapore, Singapore
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Barcelona, Spain
- Madrid, Spain
- Bern, Switzerland
- Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lucerne, Switzerland
- Lugano, Switzerland
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Mustique Island, The Grenadines
- Antalya, Turkey
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- London, United Kingdom
- Los Angeles, United States
- New York City, United States
- Seattle, United States
MEMBERS
Introduced late in 2008 and formally launched in 2009, The Emperum Club combines the structures of several different destination club models into the design of their own.
"Aimed at affluent business and leisure travellers, the Club offers an all-inclusive smart bundle of essential travel services, from sumptuous accommodations at celebrated five-star hotels and resorts to deluxe transfers between airports and hotels, private tours and fine dining in major cities and vacation hotspots worldwide," the young destination club would write in it's launch press release. "It aims at providing life-enriching experiences to sophisticated members keen on indulging in elegance, absorbing different cultures, and seizing exciting opportunities for pastime adventures. The Club offers additional perks, including breakfast and a range of great complimentary services."
The other services available to Emperum Club members include:
- Air transfers
- Dining gift cards
- Travel tours
Like many other new destination clubs, The Emperum Club has elected not to discuss their membership totals.
With a global collection of hotels and resorts available to members, The Emperum Club is courting a worldwide membership base, typically traveling on business.
Similar to their predecessors at One Key World and The Discovery Club, The Emperum Club does not own any of the assets available to members.
The primary advantages of this type of club structure is that clubs can quickly bring on new properties available to members and drastically reduce their costs as they launch with no monthly payments towards the various costs of owning second homes.
RESIGNATION
Described as "the world’s premier business and leisure destination club," The Emperum Club provides members a group of services including:
- Accommodations at luxury five-star hotels and resorts
- Dining gift cards
- First-class airport transfers
- A wide selection of tours and leisure activities
Unlike other destination clubs who typically provide members year over year travel benefits, memberships in The Emperum Club are for one specific year. Members can select between 15 and 40 night membership plans, each with their own collection of additional services.
Based on this type of model, there isn't a true resignation to the club. If a member wishes to no longer travel with the club, they can simply elect not to continue their membership once their year ends. At the end of the membership, no money changes hands between the member or club.
Members are able to transfer their membership to a third party with all remaining privileges by paying an administrative fee. A new set of club cards and a confirmation is sent by the club to the new member within 10 days.
While once on the fringe of the destination club model, a growing number of clubs have adopted a similar club structure to the one used at The Emperum Club. While it does have its share of benefits, it does greatly differ from the more traditional destination club model.
EXECUTIVES
A young destination club based out of Canada, The Emperum Club takes a different approach in the design of their destination club. Rather than owning the luxury vacation properties available to members, the club enters into strategic partnerships with five-star resorts and hotels.
"Building strategic alliances in today’s global, fierce economy has become inevitable for many companies to ensure overall success," says Co-CEO Aren Sarikyan. "We have developed a marketing approach that rewards both our partners and members in a special way. Such timely synergies help boost the Club’s ability to serve a prime international clientele with strong craving for service-oriented luxury travel, while facilitating continuous flow of business to all the partners in the Club’s portfolio."
Emperum Club members have access to a collection of other services in addition to the accommodations including airport transfers, tours, and dining gift cards.
"We recognize a growing affluent travel niche market longing for cultural exposure and learning," said Co-CEO Alida Kara. "In this fast-paced world, it’s all about offering choice, convenience and value without compromising quality."
Several other destination clubs have similar concepts, each with their own degrees of success.
Alida Kara
Co-CEO
Aren Sarikyan
Co-CEO
PARTNERSHIPS
Priding themselves on acquiring world class stratgic alliances that "rewards both our partners and members in a special way," the Emperum Club adds new alliances to their network on an invitation only basis.
Unlike other destination clubs who own the properties available to members, the Emperum Club's partnerships are largely made with five-star resorts and hotels around the world.
Memberships within the Emperum Club are effectively one year memberships within the club, providing for a given number of nights of usage, airport transfers, tours, and dining cards, all based on the selected membership plan.
This structure allows the Emperum Club to routinely add new properties to their collection of getaways. Many destination clubs are adopting similar models.
PRESS RELEASES
Based out of Toronto, the Emperum Club refers to themselves as "the world's premier business and leisure destination club."
Rather than owning the properties available to members, the Emperum Club enters into partnerships with leading five-star hotels and resorts around the world.
This type of club structure has some distinct advantages over other club models.
Reaching New Heights with Emperum Club’s Private Tours
Date: September 10, 2009
Emperum Club is offering discerning travellers a refined choice of high-end leisure activities to amplify their vacation experiences in the world's top destination hotspots with a collection of nearly 200 private tours.
Emperum Club Offers All Inclusive Bundle of Travel Services
Date: March 30, 2009
The Emperum Club not only provides members access to a global assortment of luxury hotels and resorts, but deluxe transfers, private tours, and fine dining in vacation hotspots around the world all under one membership.
Emperum Club Opens Door to Global Membership
Date: January 29, 2009
Offering an all-inclusive bundle of services, including accommodations at storied five-star hotels and resorts, airport transfers, private tours, and fine dining, the Emperum Club looks to add upon the already popular destination club model.
Emperum Club and Luxury Hotels - The Power of a Winning Alliance January 1, 2009
Emperum Group Poised to Launch a Pioneering Destination Club December 26, 2008