Member Wine Trip

How has this idea enhanced your club's operation, etc.?

In August 2023, our members had the pleasure of experiencing a remarkable wine trip to Santa Ynez Valley. The event featured activities, including golfing in breathtaking sceneries, sipping on delicious wines from local vineyards, and hiking through vineyards.

The culinary pinnacle of our trip was the exceptional wine dinner hosted at Gainey Vineyard, orchestrated by none other than our Executive Chef Bruno Massuger. Attendees were left in awe by the mouthwatering dishes, each expertly paired with the region's finest wines, culminating in a truly memorable gastronomic adventure.

This trip enhanced our operations by the following:

The trip diversified our club's offerings by including activities such as wine tasting and vineyard hikes, which broadened our appeal to a wider section of our membership. Secondly, by connecting with local vineyards, we've created partnerships that have led to a fuller, richer wine selection at our club.

The trip also served as an important tool for building community within our club, providing a shared, unforgettable experience that strengthened the bond among members, promoting long-term loyalty. The Santa Ynez Wine Trip, thus, led to greater member satisfaction, improving overall club operations, and setting a high bar for future events.

How was this idea implemented, and what have been the club members' reactions?

The successful Santa Ynez Wine Trip implementation in August 2023 was primarily due to our decision to delegate the responsibility of chairing the trip to a member.

This strategic move allowed our management team to focus entirely on the logistics and organization of the weekend, ensuring every detail was meticulously planned and executed for an exceptional experience. Delegating a member as the chair also helped eliminate any politics associated with invitations, as decisions on guest list were made more democratically, beyond the management's control.

This member-led approach guaranteed a smooth event that was well-received by all attendees, effectively demonstrating that such a strategy can work very well for planning and executing future club events.