An article in today’s New York Times examined the evolution of destination clubs, as the industry moves beyond its early growth struggles and one very public wipeout in the form of the Tanner & Haley bankruptcy in 2006.

In addition to providing an overview of the industry, reporter Susan Stellin spoke to the founders and CEOs of the Lusso Collection, Exclusive Resorts and Ultimate Resort, which is preparing to close its merger with Private Escapes later this spring. The industry’s maturation has included a move toward tiered membership levels to attract more members, an increased number of club mergers and the formation of the Destination Club Association, which has moved to create a code of conduct for clubs and assure members of clubs’ financial stability.

Even with these recent strides, the ghost of Tanner and Haley still exists, at least in the court system. Some 571 former Tanner & Haley members are suing Abercrombie & Kent which had allowed its name to be licensed to the club but had no role in the actual operations, “confusing some members about who was operating the club,” Stellin said in her article.

The advances in the destination club industry since the Tanner & Haley collapse have been notable. Clubs have essentially grown out of their infancy and into a stage where the best players are focused on expanding their home portfolios and adding more travel programs for members. The true impact of the real estate slowdown, though, remains to be seen. The article points to the fact that even with slumping prices, the most desirable resort areas are still seeing property prices staying strong. A bargain on a luxury home in Aspen? Not likely any time soon.