Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management

Impact of Economic Downturns on Private Club Membership Levels
Raymond R. Ferreira, Catherine M. Gustafson

Abstract
This study compares the membership levels of private clubs at the peak of two different periods of economic decline in the United States, in the years of 2003 and 2010. The severity of each economic decline was analyzed by determining if the impact of one period was more severe on club membership levels than the other. Specifically, this study measured the impact of each economic downturn by comparing club membership levels by total number, attrition rates, and waiting lists. Several analyses were conducted on club waiting lists including frequency of existence and relative strength, measured by number of candidates for membership and their average wait time prior to possible enrollment. Comparisons include data obtained via results of two different online surveys conducted over time with the same 1,000 clubs. Results showed the economic downturn in 2010 had a more severe impact on club membership levels than the one in 2003.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jthm.v2n2a1