Mac MacEwan, marketing guru, recalled that at the Ragatz conference last Spring it was said that the next evolvement with fractions would be vertical market projects focusing in on one, particular activity.

As mentioned in an earlier blog Star Resorts is fortunate to be working with The Meriwether Ranch located on the famous Big Hole River in Western Montana. This is a fishing resort first, with a host of other activities available including use of a compnay owned guest ranch up in the Pioneer Mountains at exclusive rates.

A few months ago I published, borrowing from our Chris Tivey's speech at Ragatz, the 10 elements for a successful fractional project. Well, very few apply to a vertical resort to use that term

So, here are my top eleven -- 11 -- elements for a successful vertical resort property with apoligies to Chris:


*Located in a superb area for the primary activity
*The best location within that area
*Credible developer
*Goods and services available within reasonable drive
*Very expensive property for sale in the surrounding area
*A long, major season that fits the primary activity
*First to market or close to it
*Access to past and repeat visitors
*Access via a commercial airport or jet approved private strip
*Great history or storytelling opportunities
#11 a use plan designed to match the buyer's use of the Club probably the most important of them all!

So, when the owner of Meriwether Ranch told me that my top ten list did not apply; well I hope this one does!

The beat continues...more and more fractional projects being discussed, planned, financed and launched. The talking stage, as previously reported, is huge. Projects are coming out of the woodwork many with little or no skilled folk behind them.

At Star we still maintain that fractions are the hardest sell we have ever accomplished. There are so many pitfalls for the inexperienced developer or salesperson from the product to the use plan to how best to present the reservations cycle and the budget.

We are launching sales in 5 projects this fall: Durango, Kirkwood, Tucson, Snowbird and Dillon Montana.

Without Salesforce's web based lead tracking system we'd be in a deep hole. We have adapted the 'off-the-shelf' program to our specific needs.

Joining Star is Chris Cannon making our own dynamic duo with Chris Tivey. Tivs has always beenn the best in the business, and now he has a mirror image to not double efficiency, but to cube it.