The Portofino Club Collections

Portofino Destinations Club is a private, non-equity luxury residence club which operates in the same fashion as a Country Club where you pay a membership deposit and annual dues.  The Club acquires and maintains a gallery of beautifully appointed homes in acclaimed vacation spots around the world for the exclusive use of club members and their guests.

A luxury residence club offers members access to a collection of private homes and membership plans based upon an individual's vacationing style.  Members enjoy the privacy and comfort of vacationing in a private home, with the luxurious amenities and level of service expected at a fine resort. 

Formed in 2002 by a global corporate executive, Portofino Destinations Club (formerly the Portofino Club) was one of the first luxury residence clubs in the world.  In 2006, the Club acquired Signature Destinations Club and began offering two collections of homes ranging in value from $1.2 million to $2.5 million.  In 2007, Portofino Destinations Club added the Continental Collection offering members the ultimate with a Range Rover in each garage, personal concierge and each home valued at $3.5 million.  With the latest expansion, this created three tiered membership plans in order to meet the varying vacationing styles of its members. 

Yes, there is a membership deposit and annual dues which vary based upon the membership plan selected.  Much like private country clubs, Portofino Destinations Club requires a membership deposit, which is 80% refundable under the terms of the club's membership plan.  Annual dues cover the operational costs, upkeep and maintenance of the gallery of exquisite homes. Dues vary based upon which collection of homes and number of days spent vacationing.

• The Continental Collection membership deposit is $395,000 and annual dues are $29,900.

• The Portofino Collection membership deposits range from $115,000 to $275,000. Annual dues range from $8,900 to $21,900.

• The Signature Collection membership deposits range from $65,000 to $165,000. Annual dues range from $5,900-$13,900.
• Click here for current membership pricing plans

Portofino Destinations Club overall philosophy is uniquely personal. The management team has remained true to the roots of the Club.  This is one of the few truly Private Clubs in this industry.  Portofino Destinations Club does not advertise. Instead, these dollars are allocated towards member amenities and high-value Club membership programs. 

Today, Portofino Destinations Club has over 145 members who enjoy vacationing in more than 21 global destinations in over 30 properties.

With Portofino Destinations Club attention to detail and unprecedented service are standard.  Each luxurious home is decorated with style and elegance, offering spacious accommodations and everything one would expect in their own home combined with all the extras they would seek while on vacation. 

Portofino Destinations Club vacation experiences are filled with elements of entertaining friends, playing golf, enjoying world-class spas, skiing or simply relaxing with family.  There are important extras to every experience, from personal travel planners, to the on-site local concierge, to the fine linens in each room, to the plush spa style bathrooms complete with the most luxurious amenities.

Each visit is customized to satisfy the needs and desires of members and their guests.  Well in advance of each visit, the member receives an information packet detailing local and seasonal activities, cultural and recreational events, transportation options and a wide array of services that are available.  Portofino Destinations Club Member Services staff then works closely with the member to make arrangements for everything from personal bar and kitchen provisioning, individual tee times, theatre tickets, restaurant reservations, personal chef and butler services, special equipment (such as playpens or wheelchairs), shopping at exclusive designer boutiques and exquisite spa arrangements.

Members are professional executives and entrepreneurs who enjoy hassle-free travel to a variety of attractive domestic and international destinations, often with their families and friends.  Members have a wide variety of interests and demand a consistently high level of service before, during, and after their visits to vacation homes.  Our members include young, employed professionals with young families as well as retired or semi-retired individuals with mature families.  The common ingredient is a desire for the lifestyle provided by PDC.

The club relies on the usage patterns and preferences of members to determine property acquisitions.  Members have repeatedly indicated that they do not want a single focus (such as golf, skiing or beaches) but rather they prefer a broader mix of destinations.  The Portofino Destinations Club listens to its members and is committed to maintaining an exciting array of destinations offering a variety of activities.

The club has grown organically, primarily through member referrals and word of mouth.  Portofino Destinations Club has focused on reinvesting in the club's member amenities.  Rather than conduct massive, multi-million dollar advertising campaigns, the club takes a more targeted approach by reinvesting into the club. Our members enjoy the club and refer their friends and family so PDC is one of the few Private Luxury Residence Clubs. 

Many Portofino Destinations Club members own or have owned second homes.  They universally prefer their Portofino Destinations Club membership because they have far greater flexibility in their choice of destinations, they do not face the hassles of preparing and maintaining the homes and their expenditures are far less.

Timeshares and fractional ownership products generally restrict usage to a single property for a given period of time each year.  The Portofino Destinations Club provides members with unlimited access to its entire gallery of exceptional properties at times convenient to each individual member.  Members enjoy ultimate flexibility and have the freedom to create new and different vacation experiences.

PDC has the strongest security for refundable membership deposit in the Destination Club industry.  Our members enjoy the fact that 100% of the refundable membership deposit is placed in an LLC that acquires a property and is owned by each member.  The home is managed by PDC under a triple net lease/management agreement and makes each property available to all members of the Collection for the particular property.  With an average property value of $3,500,000 for the Continental Collection, $2,500,000 for the Portofino Collection and $1,200,000 for the Signature Collection, this means that approximately 70% of the purchase prices of each home will be cash from the refundable portion of membership deposits.  The remaining 30% will be debt.  A new member can be assured that 100% of their refundable membership deposit is secured by real estate.

Portofino Destinations Club plans to join DCA and remains in compliance with their standards and best practices.

Portofino Destinations Club plans to have audited financial statements beginning in year 2007.  Today, like most privately-held companies, the statements are reviewed, compiled and footnoted by an independent accounting firm that also attests that our financials are in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

Yes.  Portofino Destinations Club is a board managed LLC.  The Board consists of five members:  the CEO of Portofino Equity Management Company (PEMCO); a representative elected by the investors from the merger with Signature Destinations Club; a representative elected by the membership of the Portofino Collection; and two outside Board members that are selected by the previous three members.  Each Board member has one vote on all Board level issues.

Yes.  Portofino Destinations Club management is strong believers in the involvement of and communication with the membership.  There are three member committees that function in an advisory capacity.  The Finance Committee consists of members that advise Club management on the financial status and profitability of the Club and are involved in changes to membership pricing and dues levels.  The Membership Committee is involved in policies relating to member services, membership plans and disciplinary matters.  The Quality Committee focuses on the quality of our services and properties and makes recommendations regarding improvement in these areas.

There is a scenario where no marketing, advertising, sales and management overhead costs exist and dues would cover operations of properties.  That is not the current operating plan of Portofino Destinations Club.  We believe that our members want to belong to a club that is growing the membership, adding new properties, is financially sound and is exciting to belong to.  The future plan of Portofino Destinations Club is to continue to grow the Club and its’ properties and services.  The principle that we do support is that we will operate the Club without using any of the refundable membership deposit for operations.