I joined one of the first non-equity destination clubs in early 2003, and I was immediately enthralled with the hassle-free, first-class package of benefits. My family enjoyed more than one-dozen vacations; we loved the diversity of experiences and the effortless vacationing. While enamored with the lifestyle, a key element was missing: ownership. We discovered Crescendo in early 2005 and, after selling our non-equity membership (for 80% of our original membership deposit), we became owners. In our evaluation, we were impressed with four things: the opportunity to both enjoy AND own a portfolio of world-class vacation homes; the hand-picked, first-class quality of the residences; the destinations (we are HUGE Punta Mita and Punta Cana fans); and, perhaps most importantly, the quality and track record of Crescendo’s management team and founders.

In short, we have not been disappointed. Since investing in 2005, we have enjoyed 12 Crescendo vacations. The residences and amenities are, across the board, vastly superior to our previous destination club experience. The concierge services- both in pre-trip planning and on-site – are amazing (our ownership syndicate has a 97-percent “extremely satisfied” rating). The company’s management is extraordinary; everything (financial, operational, and strategic) is transparent, and as owners we have a direct say in our company’s property roadmap. And, we have made a diversified investment into a growing portfolio of homes, what I believe is an excellent asset class given the scarcity of the first-class properties in world-class resorts.

We have enjoyed 10-to-12 person family reunions in Hawaii and Punta Mita, guys’ golf trips to Scottsdale and Los Cabos, several ski weekends in Sun Valley and Lake Tahoe, two trips to Manhattan, and a girls-getaway to Punta Mita for a week. What a place. Next up is a trip to our new home in Punta Cana for what we’re sure will be another magnificent Crescendo experience.