SOURCING FUN

Exclusive Resorts; wildly popular European Villas Collection lets Members live in luxury while experiencing destinations like a local. Hand-curated to include the most sought-after destinations like Lake Como, Italy, and Lisbon, Portugal, the portfolio is vetted and refined every year. Gina Bach, Exclusive Resorts Vice President, Experience Collection, oversees the selection process. “We know our Members have very high expectations,” she says. “For every 10 to 15 villas we look at, one makes the cut.” Bach and her team ensure properties are up to American standards and professionally decorated, with fully updated modern bathrooms, WiFi, and air conditioning.

Infinity-edge pools, chef-grade kitchens, gardened landscapes, and stunning views are what draw guests to book, but experiences coordinated by local hosts (think in-residence cooking classes in Sicily), are what Members rave about. Most luxury villa collections work with a destination concierge to oversee three to four houses at a time. But Exclusive Resorts personally selects local hosts for each European villa to ensure Members have the most authentic experience possible. “We personally train each host, so they are wearing the Exclusive hat,” says Bach. “We want the experience to feel like you have a friend in town who might meet you for an aperitif, share shopping tips, or walk you down to the boat dock to meet your captain for a sunset sail.”

Over the years, The European Villas Collection has expanded from large, three- to six- bedroom homes on secluded clifftops or vineyards to also include more intimate, two- to three-bedroom apartments with prime locations in city centers within walking distance to restaurants and shops. Bach and her team carefully consider Member feedback when scouting new properties and destinations each March and April. Always in-demand destinations like the Amalfi Coast, Dubrovnik, and San Sebastian will be included. Here, Bach shares what makes these escapes so beloved by Members.