Haute Holidays: Q&A with the CEO of The Hideaways Club

Imagine going on holiday to villas in Italy, penthouses in London or luxurious ski chalets in Switzerland for a fraction of the cost. It’s a dream come true turned reality for members of The Hideaways Club. The exclusive club is a luxury property investment fund that offers members an equity share in a portfolio of luxury real estate around the globe. The first fund, the Classic Collection has grown to become the largest club of its kind in the world, offering the opportunity to invest in and exclusively enjoy an entire portfolio of luxury villas, chalets and estates throughout Europe, Africa, Mauritius and Southeast Asia.

Members who invest will have access to multi-million dollar properties around the world, equity stake in the entire portfolio of properties and a chance to gain 80 percent of the capital upside, and of course, bragging rights of being a part of ‘the exclusive circle.’

Intrigued, we got in touch with Poonam Leach, CEO of The Hideaways Club to find out what’s special about the club, the perks of becoming a member and how Singaporeans can invest their money in top-notch properties around the world.

Marie France Asia:What do you think makes The Hideaways Club special?

Poonam Leach: We are an exclusive, luxury lifestyle member’s club that ultimately provides the benefits of an investment, without the management hassle of second home ownership. The club was launched in 2007 with The Classic Collection — featuring 36 club members and ten properties around the Mediterranean. Through our Classic Collection you can explore stunning four-to-five-bedroom villas and chalets such as the Villa Asmara in Bali set amongst emerald rice fields or Chalet Gingembre next to the ski slope in Nendaz, Switzerland. Although these properties are secluded enough to be considered hideaways, they are also within easy reach of the town centre and local attractions. Following the success of The Classic Collection, The City Collection was launched in 2011. Created for travellers with an international lifestyle, our City Collection offers a wide selection of serviced apartments with a minimum of two bedrooms in prime locations of international cities such as New York, Paris and Istanbul. It’s still early days for us, and The Hideaways Club’s portfolio continues to grow further with strategic alliances with other private holiday clubs.

MFA: Why do you think more and more people are into the luxury home away from home instead of opting for a hotel stay?

PL: Fractional ownership is itself a growing trend and people love the personal touches that come with having their own villa, chalet or apartment. At the Hideaways Club members get the sense that this is their home, and they can do as they please when they want to. What we’ve done is add another dimension to that offering by including two crucial elements: offer members an equity share in the myriad of homes all over the world and create a luxury lifestyle member’s club that provides them with the services of a Personal Concierge.

MFA: Who does The Hideaways Club cater to? 

PL: The Hideaways Club attracts like-minded investors who see the benefits of an investment in a luxury property portfolio that is spread across various destinations around the world. This combined with the lifestyle benefits of an exclusive club membership that gives access to amazing properties internationally – be it Europe, Mediterranean, Middle East and Far East, making it even more attractive. Our members are from all walks of life and are based all around the world – they are bankers, lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, sports personalities and a handful of celebrities. Many find the diversity of properties the greatest appeal be it ski chalets, beach villas or city apartments. We also have a number of golfers who love to stay in the villas that are well situated for some of the greatest golf courses in the world. The profile of our members ranges from young successful individuals and couples who wish to travel with the support of a full concierge service to members who wish to share their holidays with children, grandchildren and friends.

MFA: How does one join the exclusive members club? 

PL: The Hideaways Club runs two distinct funds: The Classic Collection, a portfolio of luxury villas and ski chalets around the world. The City Collection – a global portfolio of stylish city centre apartments situated in some of the most iconic cities of the world. The Classic Collection features 42 stunning villas and ski chalets and the City Collection features 13 luxury apartments. An interested investor buys into a fund at a level to suit his or her lifestyle and travel/ holiday needs and then they join the club to use any property owned by that fund. In addition members can access an even greater portfolio through reciprocal agreements with other destination clubs such as Exclusive Resorts, Equity Resorts and Banyan Tree. This increases the number of villas available to Classic members to over 250 properties and for City members to 70 apartments.

MFA: What are the perks of becoming a member?

PL: Our proposition is a great investment if you enjoy travelling – or if you’re often away on business. We have created a club that offers ownership and lifestyle in a format that will work for our members. Rather than going around the world for business or leisure and staying in a hotel, you may look at it as a great investment in getting access to hundreds of exquisite properties, located in some of the world’s most desirable locations. Membership is tiered – Premium, Lifestyle and Associate – offering varying financial entry costs, redeemable weeks and flexibility options to suit different lifestyle and travel needs. Members also pay an annual membership fee that covers all aspects of property maintenance and a bespoke Concierge Service to take care of all your travel needs. When investing through a luxury destination and lifestyle club you can have holiday homes for all seasons, without the inconvenience of maintaining them.

MFA: Where are The Hideaway Club’s properties located?

PL: The Hideaways Club funds their own properties in the following countries; Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, Mauritius, USA, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Turkey, Switzerland and Morocco. We also have reciprocal arrangements with similar clubs/ funds around the world. This increases the usage for the villa fund to 250 properties and the City fund to 70 apartments. All the villas are valued at more than £1.4m, which means members stay in the ultimate luxury

MFA: Do you plan to offer more properties in Singapore other than Trillium? 

PL: Asia is certainly a key growth area for us and we’d be keen to purchase more properties in the region. For the time being, however, Trillium remains our main offering in Singapore. But that’s not to say that might not change in the future!

MFA:What can The Hideaways Club’s members always expect from the company?

PL: Utmost care and attention delivered with a very personal service. Each of our members is assigned a dedicated Personal Concierge to ensure they’re well looked after: from booking dinner at a three Michelin-starred restaurant in Paris, securing a prime table at Dubai’s most glamorous nightspot, reserving a box seat at Wiener Staatsoper or hiring clubs and reserving tee times in the Algarve.

MFA: How do investment returns in The Hideaways Club compare to other property investments?

PL: We take a consultative approach regarding our growth strategy where investors and members of The Hideaways Club decide together about the future destinations investments. All the properties have been handpicked by our in-house property team to ensure they are exceptional places to stay and for their potential investment growth. Any investment comes with risk, however with The Hideaways Club investors benefit from their investment being spread across multiple countries and markets.

MFA: There have been many other property booking sites, what is The Hideaways Club ‘wow factor’?

PL: When you join The Hideaways Club, you’re not just booking a room for the night – you actually own an equity share in the property you’re about to visit. There’s an emotional attachment from the start and as soon as you join you’ll want to visit all the properties. Never underestimate the services of the Personal Concierge – especially if you’re organising a trip for 10-12 people. Each member is assigned a Personal Concierge who is on hand to assist with every aspect of your trip. No request is too big or small for your Personal Concierge who is always ready to go that extra mile, whether it’s booking a coveted table at Tickets in Barcelona, organising a wine tasting tour at Stellenbosch or arranging for our chef to come in and prepare a raclette dinner party in your chalet in Nendaz to welcome you back after a gruelling day on the slopes.

For more information on The Hideaways Club, head over to their website.

Karen George

Photos: The Hideaways Club