Home

Exclusive Resorts Expands into Branded Residential with Costa Rica Launch

New residential initiative marks the next step in the company’s strategic diversification—from a private club focused on luxury travel to a fully integrated lifestyle platform for the ultra-high-net-worth.

Exclusive Resorts today announced the launch of a new branded residential vertical, marking a strategic step in the company's transition from a private club focused on luxury travel to a fully integrated lifestyle platform for the ultra-high-net-worth. The initiative is designed to deepen engagement with Exclusive Resorts’ 4,500 Member families seeking extended stays and ownership opportunities, while also positioning the brand to capture new demand in the growing branded residential segment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250626580768/en/

The inaugural residential project will break ground at Punta Cacique, a master-planned coastal development on Costa Rica’s Cacique Peninsula.

The inaugural residential project will break ground at Punta Cacique, a master-planned coastal development on Costa Rica’s Cacique Peninsula.

While The Club will remain the cornerstone of the new travel and lifestyle platform, the move underscores a broader diversification strategy—recently endorsed by investment from Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners, a private real estate firm and strategic investor in Exclusive Investments LLC, the newly established holding company of Exclusive Resorts.

"Exclusive Resorts has established a best-in-class platform, and we’re proud to help accelerate its next phase of growth,” says Webb Wilson, CEO and CIO at Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners. “We focus on backing exceptional management teams and empowering them to build enduring value. Exclusive Resorts has built something truly rare: a loyal Member community, an exceptional service ethos, and a leadership team that understands how to scale. We look forward to supporting this next chapter as the brand expands thoughtfully into residential real estate and continues building a lifestyle platform with long-term relevance.”

The inaugural residential project will break ground at Punta Cacique, a master-planned coastal development on Costa Rica’s Cacique Peninsula, just 25 minutes from Liberia International Airport. The site plan is being developed in partnership with Hart Howerton, the internationally recognized architecture and planning firm known for its work on high-end resorts and residential communities. Exclusive Resorts’ entry into branded residential builds on The Club's 20-year track record of disciplined capital deployment and operational oversight of a $1 billion real estate portfolio, including 21 residences on Costa Rica’s Peninsula Papagayo. The expansion also responds to ongoing demand from The Club’s 4,500 Member families—more than 60% of whom already own second homes and regularly seek ownership and extended-stay opportunities in destinations where The Club operates.

“Many of The Club’s Members have built deep connections with the destinations we serve. As a result, they are not only frequent travelers—they’re also active buyers,” said James Henderson, CEO of Exclusive Resorts. “By entering the branded residential market, we are providing our Members with an opportunity to invest in homes backed by the same quality, trust, and service standards they have come to expect from The Club. And for the first time, we’re introducing an extended stay option—a request we’ve heard for years.”

Ownership, Reimagined: A Model That Extends Beyond the Home

Existing Members of Exclusive Resorts will receive priority access to purchase homes in the initial release with sales expected to begin in early 2026 during the project’s pre-construction phase. Select homeowners will have the option to place their residence—professionally managed and operated within the Exclusive Investments platform—into a closed-network portfolio. Unlike traditional vacation rental models, this approach offers owners the opportunity to generate income while retaining greater control over how, when, and by whom their home is used—providing peace of mind to those who value both return and discretion. The homeowner experience is expected to reflect many of the same service hallmarks that have defined The Club.

Since its inception in 2002, Exclusive Resorts has evolved into a highly curated community of Fortune 500 executives, leading entrepreneurs, Michelin-starred chefs, renowned artists, and elite athletes. For those who join The Club, ownership extends far beyond a single residence—it becomes a gateway to a broader, experience-driven lifestyle. This integrated model sets the offering apart from traditional vacation-home ownership, providing access to an expansive portfolio of 400+ luxury residences and rare experiences across 75+ destinations, along with priority invitations to exclusive events around the world.

A New Vision for Luxury Living in Costa Rica

Punta Cacique, a new 600-acre coastal development on Costa Rica’s Cacique Peninsula, blends high-end hospitality, residential real estate, and regenerative design in one of the world’s most sought-after locations. Backed by Revolution, the investment firm founded by AOL co-founder Steve Case, the project reflects a growing demand for purpose-driven luxury rooted in wellness, sustainability and cultural authenticity. Waldorf Astoria was the first to develop on the peninsula, opening a flagship hotel and branded residences in April 2025. Punta Cacique also has plans to include a working farm, equestrian center, wellness campus, and a locally curated commercial village.

“Punta Cacique represents the future of luxury living—not a private enclave behind gates, but a vibrant, open community shaped by connection and everyday wellbeing,” says Steve Case, chairman and CEO of Revolution, and chairman and majority owner of Exclusive Resorts. “Exclusive Resorts, with its long-standing presence in Costa Rica and its mission to help Members live more meaningful lives, perfectly aligns with that vision, making it a natural fit for this project.”

Exclusive Resorts has an active pipeline of additional branded residential projects in development, with further announcements expected early next year.

For more information, visit www.exclusiveresorts.com.

About Exclusive Resorts

Exclusive Resorts, the world’s leading members-only club dedicated to luxury travel and curated experiences. Founded more than two decades ago, Exclusive Resorts has evolved into a fully integrated lifestyle platform—curating not just where its 4,500+ Members travel, but how they live richer, fuller, and more meaningful lives. With an ever-expanding portfolio valued at over $1 billion comprising 400+ private residences, rare experiences, award-winning partners, and an unmatched global network of industry leaders, tastemakers, and visionaries, The Club continues to redefine the art of living well. Exclusive Resorts is majority-owned by Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and chairman of Exclusive Resorts, and led by James Henderson, CEO. Exclusive Resorts is building a fully integrated lifestyle platform for the ultra-high-net-worth. In 2025, the company expanded into branded residential real estate, leveraging two decades of operational expertise and a global Member community to redefine ownership-led hospitality. For more information, visit ExclusiveResorts.com

About Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners

Kemmons Wilson Hospitality Partners (“KWHP”) is a hospitality-focused investment management firm founded in 2017 by the 3rd generation of Kemmons Wilson family, the visionary founder of Holiday Inn hotel chain. Upholding the family’s legacy, KWHP manages value-add and opportunistic flagship funds as well as its Core Plus strategy focused on high-quality, income-generating assets. With approximately $500 million in assets under management, KWHP invests various capital structures throughout the USA. KWHP brings deep expertise across all facets of the hospitality sector including design, development, construction and operations, including limited‐service hotels, full‐service luxury resorts, timeshares, and short‐term rentals. For more information, please visit www.kwcmgmt.com.

Contacts