One of several membership clubs that got grouped into the destination club industry, Vita Luxury strived to provide members luxurious properties, exotic automobiles, private jets, and boats. One of the driving forces of the club was Thanos Papalexis, who had been attached to another similar club Grand Legacy Club.
The club's business model was similar to that of former club One Key World, where the club did not plan to own any of the assets but rather procure partnerships with providers of the services marketed by the club. This was in sharp contrast to Papalexis's former model at Grand Legacy Club where the club planned to own all of the facilities and assets "without any debt or liens on any of the assets."
The club promised everything short of the moon to members. A "fleet of limousines" were on call for members' use 24 hours a day. Members could use private jets for $1,500 an hour with complimentary pilots. Watercraft would be stocked and ready for use at the member's beckon call. Bentleys would be at select properties for members' use and executive SUVs would be waiting at mountain properties.
Papalexis unfortunately had left a trail of creditors in his wake from his time at Grand Legacy Club. He also led Sisemen Corporation, affectionately named by spelling "Nemesis" backwards, a development firm specializing in "hybrid boutique properties."
Just a month after Vita Luxury ceased operations, Papalexis was arrested on murder charges stemming from the death of a man in 2000 in the United Kingdom. Allegedly, Papalexis and two men savagely tortured and murdered Charalambos Christodoulides after he refused to vacate a warehouse that Papalexis was looking to sell. "It appears that the victim was condemned to die for no better reason than he was not prepared to leave his home," said Jonathan Laidlaw, Prosecutor at Papalexis's trial. "The murder was brutal. It was a terrible way for an innocent man to lose his life."
According to the prosecution, fingerprints, cellular phone reocrds, and DNA on cigarette butts place Papalexis and his two colleagues, Ylli Xhelo and Robert Baxhiji, at the scene of the crime. Papalexis denies the allegations.
ANNUAL DUES
A membership club based out of Southbeach, Vita Luxury would in effect be an outgrowth of Grand Legacy Club, another pseudo-destination club that had recently ceased operations prior to the Vita Luxury launch.
While Grand Legacy planned to own all of the real estate assets available to members, Vita Luxury planned to own none of them, instead leasing the residences, boats, private jets, and other amenities available to members.
Marketed as "A Life Beyond Compare," Vita Luxury would claim that the club had "been planned for over three years" and would launch officially late in 2008 after beta testing. The young club would pursue new members but never did formally launch.
As such, no information regarding the club's annual dues are available. According to the introductory press release, "Membership in Vita is a low capital outlay membership model allowing those who enjoy five star hotels, private aviation and boating to utilise these typically capital intensive facilities in a format that allows for savings of up to 80% of traditional costs."
This types of memberships have been seen in the destination club industry before, typically with a membership deposit that is paid to receive discounts through the club's partnership network.
Vita Luxury would quietly enter the destination club industry and exit it just as quietly, likely with just a small base of members close to the club's executive team, namely the club's primary representative, Thanos Papalexis.
Also attached to Grand Legacy Club, Papalexis would be accused of fraud, unethical business practices, and ultimately murder. In 2000, when Papalexis was still in the United Kingdom, a man named Charalambos Christodoulides was murdered in a warehouse district in London. Christodoulides was living in a small flat in a warehouse that Papalexis was trying to sell. Police would believe that Papalexis and two other men viciously killed Christodoulides to expedite the sale.
"Papalexis' connection to the murder is documented with phone records, legal documents and forensic evidence. Some forensic evidence removed from the crime scene includes materials containing both Papalexis' fingerprints and the victim's blood," court documents stated.
In September of 2009, Papalexis was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to life in prison. "Born with all the advantages of wealth, he has led a life based not only on deceit, false promises and failure," said prosecutor Jonathan Laidlaw. "But at times on complete fantasy."
USAGE
Calling themselves a "Destination Club 2.0," Vita Luxury would strive to reinvent the destination club model. Rather than owning any of the real estate available to members, the small club would only procure properties when members needed them, thus reducing the club's total costs. In addition, members would have access to a fleet of limos, watercraft, and private jets whenever they wished.
Members could use all of the amenities available through the club as often as they wished by paying a per unit fee for each. For example, a per night cost for using one of the club's vacation properties or a per hour fee for each hour in a private jet.
Vita Luxury would be introduced in 2008, stating that the club had been in the works for three years. Prior to Vita Luxury's launch, a similar club with much of the same executive team called Grand Legacy Club had launched. Instead of the Vita Luxury model, Grand Legacy Club had planned on owning all of the amenities available to members. When that model and club failed to materialize, it seems the Vita Luxury model and club were created.
While the club conducted its "BETA testing" throughout 2008, planning for a launch late in the year, the capital from the club's founders dried up and Vita Luxury would cease operations before ever formally entering the destination club market.
While the future of the club was sealed, the fate of one of its executives had yet to be written. Thanos Papalexis, one of Vita Luxury's primary representatives, was arrested for murder just a few short weeks following the club's closure.
According to police, Papalexis and two other men brutally murdered Charalambos Christodoulides in 2000 after Christodoulides failed to vacate a warehouse that Papalexis was attempting to sell. "It appears that the victim was condemned to die for no better reason than he was not prepared to leave his home," said Jonathan Laidlaw, Prosecutor at Papalexis's trial. "The murder was brutal. It was a terrible way for an innocent man to lose his life."
Following a three month long trial, Papalexis was found guilty of the murder and sentenced to life in prison. "You are a totally amoral person in the sense that you do not think twice in doing or saying anything which helps you achieve your own ends," said Judge Jeremy Roberts. "This was an execution carried out for financial gain. You treated Charalambos as completely expendable."
During the trial, the testimony of a Rebecca DeFalco, a Miami-based escort that Papalexis wined and dined, would play heavily in the decision. According to DeFalco, Papalexis confessed to strangling "a nobody" who "had got in the way." Also revealed during the trial was Papalexis's infidelity, paying for cosmetic surgery for several women, and hosting wild sex parties.
MEMBERS
One of a growing number of Florida based destination clubs, Vita Luxury would join clubs such as CareFree Elite and Elite Shares to give members luxurious accommodations at stunning vacation properties, but also private jet access, watercraft, and exotic automobiles all under one membership.
This Southbeach mentality would also in part dictate their marketing efforts. Vita Luxury and the club's primary representative, Thanos Papalexis, would host parties in the region and begin to court members in 2008 for the club's pending launch.
One of the more humorous marketing efforts in the history of the destination club industry, a question was asked on Yahoo about Vita Luxury. The following responses were given:
- "My husband came across VITA as one of his partners in his lawfirm was using their service. I thought it sounded too good to be true but if a laweyer(sic) is using it then it must be decent. SInce(sic) we joined i have found we have travelled for business or pleasure together much more frequently and the level of service is truly outstanding. If you travel by private jet often, this just can’t be beat and the fact that we are saving close to 70% compared to our Marquis Jet Card means we fly much more regularly now... The estates are over the top and the add ons(sic) like the bentleys, boats and other gimicks(sic) are kind of fun to use due to the ease of usage..."
- "We are Corporate Members and find it has delivered on all aspects of what is promised on their web site. Since we bought a corporate membership, we were especially interested in a Jet Share component and compared Vita to all the others. Hands down, the Jet Share component and the inclusions during your stay are the best this niche industry has to offer
- "Yes my boss is a Member of VITA. As a pewrsonal(sic) assistant i used to have a heck of a time always making jet reservations, hotel reservations etc for him but he joined a couple of months ago and since then i have had a very easy time arranging his trips. He is real happy with them as he spends way less money and seems to be travelling more than he used to.... They have always been efficient with me making arrangements and only heard good things from my boss.. Aparently(sic) their Miami property is insanely nice....
While not confirmed, the fact that each of these three "members" never posted anything again, all shared similar punctuation and spelling mistakes, and by the fact the club had yet to launch at the time seems to indicate that these claims weren't true.
By the time the club had planned its launch, it had already ceased operations, likely with just a select group of members close to the club and their executive team.
Just a few short weeks after Vita Luxury ceased operations, Papalexis was arrested on murder charges stemming from the death of a man in 2000 in London. While Papalexis was still in the United Kingdom, a man named Charalambos Christodoulides was murdered in a warehouse district in London. Christodoulides was living in a small flat in a warehouse that Papalexis was trying to sell. Police would believe that Papalexis and two other men viciously killed Christodoulides to expedite the sale when Christodoulides refused to leave.
PRESS RELEASES
Vita Luxury, a Florida based destination club introduced in 2008, would go through a BETA test early in their tenure but ultimately never truly get off the ground.
Like their predecessor, Grand Legacy Club, a similarly structured destination club led by many of the same executives, Vita Luxury would give members access to a collection of luxurious properties, but also a fleet of limousines, watercraft, and private jets.
None of the assets would be owned by the club, but rather partnerships with luxury providers would be procured through the club with the savings passed on to members. According to the club, members could save up to 80% on comparable experiences.
While the club did engage in their BETA testing, the fine print on the club's website would state: "Images and descriptions of Vita estates, Vita suites and resorts included within this website are examples of properties that may be used by Vita members or are comparable quality and style properties and accommodations. Vita retains the right to amend or alter any of the Vita locations at any time in its sole discretion."
The club would never formally enter the destination club industry and would cease operations late in 2008. While the young club would close, the club would later go down in infamy when one of Vita Luxury's leaders, Thanos Papalexis, would be arrested for murder just a few short weeks following the club's closure. According to police, Papalexis was involved in the murder of Charalambos Christodoulides in 2000. Christodoulides had been living in a small flat in a warehouse Papalexis was trying to sell. Police would theorize that Papalexis and two other individuals beat the 55-year-old man to death when he failed to move. "Papalexis' connection to the murder is documented with phone records, legal documents and forensic evidence. Some forensic evidence removed from the crime scene includes materials containing both Papalexis' fingerprints and the victim's blood," court documents stated.
Following a lengthy trial, Papalexis would be found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. "You are a totally amoral person in the sense that you do not think twice in doing or saying anything which helps you achieve your own ends," said Judge Jeremy Roberts. "This was an execution carried out for financial gain. You treated Charalambos as completely expendable."
Vita Luxury Plans For Launch
Date: July 3, 2008
The VITA Luxury Destination Club that has been planned for over 3 years has today confirmed that its planned launch for 2008 remains as scheduled for late 2008. The club will continue BETA testing as the official launch approaches.