The New Legacy of Luxury Travel

As originally written by Jackie Caradonio for Town & Country Magazine.

Much has been made of the Great Wealth Transfer, that oft-speculated-about tsunami of inheritance soon to be bestowed upon the next generation from their Baby Boomer parents. The estimated value is staggering: Experts predict that more than $100 trillion in collective assets, from the usual property and stocks to not-so-typical art and wine collections, will be passed on to Gen X and millennial heirs over the next 20 years. This intergenerational transfer is poised to create the single largest shift of wealth the modern world has yet seen, and appropriately, its impacts are expected to be far more widespread than mere transfers from bank account to bank account. It's a pivotal moment that has older generations considering not only what they'll pass on to their offspring, but how best to do it.

Enter Exclusive Resorts, a private travel club whose inheritable memberships have become modern heirlooms — a new way that families can pass on their legacies, and maintain their wealth values as the next generation establishes its own relationships with money. Similar to the rise of cryptocurrency, memberships are the latest move away from traditional assets such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. "Our Members aren't interested in just passing down things," says CEO James Henderson. "They want to pass down experiences — a sense of place, perspective, and presence."

Exclusive Resorts Members pay a one-time initiation fee (starting at $195,000 for a 10-year plan), plus fixed annual dues.* This grants them access to The Club’s full portfolio of more than 400 luxury residences — valued at nearly $1 billion — along with curated travel experiences in 75 sought-after destinations worldwide. There are no additional fees or restrictions, just a predetermined number of travel days. (Most Members opt for the 25-day plan; more than half of all Exclusive Resorts residences have four bedrooms, many with private pools and expansive outdoor terraces.) It's a membership designed to be inherited — so when the next generation takes the reins, they can shape it to suit their own tastes, calendar, and compass. From year to year, dues remain constant and impervious to the whims of shifting markets, making a membership the rare asset that holds its value regardless of economic changes. In fact, it will even increase in value in times of high inflation, since the dues hold steady even as hotel rates rise.

That was especially appealing to Marti Gistaro, who, along with her husband Ed, invested in a 30-year membership when she was 67 years old. The couple viewed The Club as a twofold investment that offered short-term travel for themselves and their family, as well as a long-term asset they could leave to the next generation. "The fact that this membership can be passed on to my children and grandchildren was a big part of why we joined," Gistaro says. "We looked at it as an investment in our family vacations and a benefit to all of our kids, even after we're gone."

And as Members deepen their connections to favorite destinations, many are asking for more than access — a sense of permanence. In response, Exclusive Resorts has begun expanding into branded residential real estate, starting with a master-planned community at Punta Cacique, on Costa Rica's northwestern coast. It's not a pivot, but a natural extension of The Club's model: Giving families the opportunity to own where they already belong, while preserving the same sense of ease, privacy, and ritual they've come to expect. "We've had Members returning to the same Club homes for over a decade," says Henderson. "At a certain point, the question became less about where to go next — and more about how to stay longer. With our move into branded residences, we're giving Members the opportunity to invest in the places they already love, backed by the same trust, taste, and service they've always known. It's just another way we're helping families live well — and leave a lasting legacy."

The value of inheritable memberships and fully serviced homes extends well beyond their financial worth. Bequeathing an Exclusive Resorts legacy is also bestowing the promise of a richer life — the opportunity to see the world and enjoy remarkable new experiences year after year, whether it's a private-jet journey around the world, exclusive access to car races in Monte Carlo, or a stay in a beach villa in the Caribbean. And that, Members say, is what's truly priceless.

*The annual dues amount is inclusive of certain services, benefits, and access rights. See ExclusiveResorts.com for more information.

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