Successful clubs understand that when it comes to selling memberships, they must compete on value, not on price. Dues and fees paid by the members must be sufficient to fund delivery of a compelling member experience and ensure that programming and facilities are consistently fresh
In the first of this two-part series, I covered what the contributing factors behind a resurgence of interest in private clubs. Fueled by lockdowns, travel restrictions, remote work, and for some a general feeling of insecurity, more people are showing interest in private club membership now than in a very
How quickly the worm has turned. Only 18 months ago, only about one-in-five clubs had a waiting list for membership. The others were often mired in a race to the bottom through incentive-based membership drives and discount programs. Many country clubs now find themselves in the same
As we begin to emerge from this pandemic and learn to live and manage with COVID-19 and its subsequent variations, the club industry has used the last year and half not just to survive but to chart a path of thoughtful strategic planning. I have read more interesting strategic plans in the last 12 months than I read in my 32 years of club management. I have seen a
As we bask in the glow of the pandemic’s “light at the end of the tunnel,” the demand for private club memberships is at an all-time high, as the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that high-income consumer spending increased in March 2021 by 45% in
TODAY’S CLUB WORKFORCE brings together four generations under one roof. A 2019 whitepaper by Paychex, Inc., “Potential Benefits of a Multigenerational Workforce” calls it an advantage for employers willing to embrace the idea that the more diverse perspectives a team brings to a problem, the
Most clubs are searching for solutions to rising labor costs and ever-greater member expectations. Some have tried to systemize services and the result has been depersonalizing member services. Beware! The best member services are strictly personal. Behavioral scientists at the University of Hertfordshire in the
That is the response I often give when someone asks me what I do, after “private club librarian” leaves them looking perplexed. While that distinction is mostly true, it certainly doesn’t have to be. Libraries—with circulating collections of books, periodicals, films and more—can add a
Relevant facilities are critical to retain the members you have and to appeal to the ones you want. While the COVID-19 pandemic brought misery and havoc throughout the country, it was a bit of a tonic for the club industry. After years of difficulty competing
FOR THE CLUB community, 2020 has been a year only Charles Dickens could love: the best of times and the worst of times. We’ve faced a complex set of issues that have shown us there are no blanket statements or simple answers. Golf and country