The Hideaways Club
| Private | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Hospitality; real estate |
| Founded 📆 | 2006 |
| Founders 👔 | Mike Balfour; John Lovering |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | Gibraltar |
Area served 🗺️ | Worldwide |
| Products 📟 | Fractional ownership of holiday homes |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | https://www.thehideawaysclub.com |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
The Hideaways Club is a private equity destination club offering shared ownership of luxury holiday homes across Europe, Asia, Africa, and other global destinations. Founded in 2006 by Mike Balfour and John Lovering, the Club provides high-net-worth individuals and families with an alternative to sole second-home ownership by pooling capital into professionally managed property funds. As of 2025, members can co-own equity shares in more than 45 residences and enjoy bespoke concierge services year-round.
Overview
The Hideaways Club’s model revolves around fractional equity shares in two primary property funds—the Classic Collection and the City Collection—each containing a curated portfolio of villas, chalets, and urban pied-à-terres. Share classes (A, C, D, E, and the unified X Share introduced in 2025) determine annual weeks’ entitlement, booking priority, and upgrade/downgrade flexibility. In early 2025, the Club announced a fund consolidation plan to merge the Classic and City Collections under a single “X Share” structure. This aims to streamline liquidity, simplify share management, and create a unified capital redemptions queue for members.
History
The Hideaways Club has evolved in four distinct phases:
- 2006–2014: European Launch and Growth
- Founded in Gibraltar, the Club launched with luxury properties in the Côte d’Azur, Tuscany, and Ibiza. Initial membership growth focused on UK and Western European clients seeking hassle-free second homes.[1]
- 2015–2019: Asian Expansion
- First Asian property opened in Niseko, Japan (2015), followed by Bali and Koh Samui (2017). Partnerships with local operators enabled rapid portfolio scaling.[2]
- 2020–2024: Diversification into Africa & Caribbean
- Launched residences in Mauritius (Bel Ombre) and Seychelles (2022), and Caribbean villas (2023). Expanded member services to include private chef experiences and wellness retreats.[3]
- 2025: Fund Consolidation & New Share Structure
- Unveiled unified X Share in Q1 2025. Received shareholder approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting. Announced goal of 100 properties and 600 members by 2027.[4]
Business model
The Hideaways Club operates under a shared-ownership framework managed by two entities:
- OpCo (Operating Company): Handles day-to-day management, booking platform, and concierge services.
- PropCo (Property Company): Holds legal title to all real estate assets.
Members invest in PropCo by purchasing equity shares and pay annual operating contributions to OpCo. The model targets high-net-worth individuals who desire flexibility without full ownership burdens.
Fees and Contributions
- **Joining Fee**: From £50,000, varying by property value and share class.
- **Annual Contribution**: Approximately £10,000–£20,000, covering maintenance, utilities, insurance, and concierge.[5]
Member Services
- 24/7 concierge (itinerary planning, private transport, in-stay support)
- Housekeeping and property upkeep
- Access to partner experiences (yachts, private chefs, wellness retreats)
- Priority booking windows and exchange options
Membership tiers
Membership is divided into tiers corresponding to share classes:
- **A Share**: Entry-level, 2–4 weeks/year
- **C Share**: Mid-tier, 6–8 weeks/year; includes peak-season access
- **X Share**: Unified class, 4–12 weeks/year with flexible trading privileges
Portfolio
Members can access over 45 properties in the following regions:
- Africa
- Mauritius – Bel Ombre
- Morocco – Marrakech
- South Africa – Steenberg
- South Africa – Western Cape
- Asia
- Indonesia – Bali
- Indonesia – Nusa Lembongan
- Japan – Niseko
- Thailand – Bangkok
- Thailand – Koh Samui
- Thailand – Phuket
- United Arab Emirates – Dubai
- Europe
- Croatia – Brač
- Czech Republic – Prague
- France – Chamonix
- France – Côte d’Azur
- France – Les Gets
- France – Morzine
- France – Paris
- France – Provence
- Germany – Berlin
- Greece – Corfu
- Greece – Crete
- Italy – Lake Maggiore
- Italy – Puglia
- Italy – Rome
- Italy – Sardinia
- Italy – Sicily
- Italy – Tuscany
- Portugal – Algarve
- Spain – Barcelona
- Spain – Ibiza
- Spain – Mallorca
- Spain – Mijas
- Spain – Sotogrande
- Türkiye – Istanbul
- Türkiye – Kalkan
- United Kingdom – London
Governance
Members hold voting rights proportional to shareholding and can attend Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings to:
- Approve fund mergers or restructurings
- Elect board members for OpCo and PropCo
- Vote on amendments to Articles of Association
Recent developments
- **2025**: Unified X Share launched; streamlined capital redemption queue.
- **Q2 2025**: Introduced digital platform enhancements—mobile booking app, AI-driven recommendations.
- **2024–2025**: Completed sustainability upgrades (LED retrofits, solar panels) across key properties.[6]
Reception and market position
The Hideaways Club is recognized for:
- High retention rates (>85% annual renewals)
- Awards: “Best Luxury Destination Club” by Elite Traveler (2023)[7]
- Media praise for concierge quality and property diversity
Competes with August Collection, Inspirato, Equity Residences, and Platinum Heritage.
Media coverage
- Financial Times: “How making the right connections can transform your holiday.”[8]
- SherpaReport: “The Hideaways Club review.”
- Condé Nast Traveller: “Discover your own home-from-home with The Hideaways Club.”
- The Times: “Mediterranean holiday homes.”
- Country & TownHouse: Feature on The Hideaways Club
- The Gentleman’s Journal: “Home from home with The Hideaways Club”
References
- ↑ “Our history.” The Hideaways Club. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ↑ “Membership overview.” The Hideaways Club. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ↑ “Our properties.” The Hideaways Club. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ↑ “Recent developments.” The Hideaways Club. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ↑ “Membership benefits.” The Hideaways Club. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ↑ “Sustainability.” The Hideaways Club. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ↑ “Best Luxury Destination Club.” Elite Traveler. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
- ↑ “How making the right connections can transform your holiday.” Financial Times. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
External links
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