What It Is

The Global Resorts Network offers a discount luxury travel membership as well as an affiliate program for those who want to sell membership to other people. This article provides an unbiased review of both the product (which is the membership package) and its affiliate program.

Two (2) types of membership are offered. One is a Platinum membership which cost US$2,995.00.

A Platinum membership is a lifetime membership, fully transferable and willable to one’s estate. There is also no yearly fee and the platinum member is entitled to unlimited vacations per year. The resort week costs from US$298-699 per week in 4 or 5 star resorts although in some places like Hawaii, the cost may go up to $799/week. Guest weeks are also available, allowing members to offer stays for family and friends.

The Gold membership costs less at US$1,495.

Membership Features: 3-year membership, 3 resort weeks per year and not exceeding 21 days, maybe consecutive and in same resort, no guest weeks allowed, resort weeks cost start at US$398 in 5 and 4 star resorts

Gold Crown Resorts is actually the company where the memberships are managed. The company buys excess inventory from timeshares and resorts all around the globe.

Advantages Over Time Share:

- timeshare requires annual maintenance fee; with GRN, no maintenance fee is required

- only 1 vacation per year usually with timeshare compared to an unlimited number of vacations with a GRN platinum membership

- the cost of a GRN membership is generally lesser than timeshare’s initial purchase cost

- the annual maintenance fee in timeshare is generally more than the cost per resort week in a GRN membership

Some Shortcomings of GRN:

- there is no guarantee that one’s preferred vacation schedule and resort can always be accomodated due to fluctuations in resort vacancies; therefore, one has to be flexible as far as travel schedules are concerned.

- reservations are non-cancellable because one of the ways by which GRN can get a very low rate is because they get specific non-cancellable dates when a request is made.

- the size of the inventory decreases with the increase in number of members; before, memberships were sold directly to customers through a personal sales presentation; but since the membership started to be sold online via network marketing, membership has increased and therefore, the available inventory decreased.

The Affiliate Program:

This is what makes the affiliate program so enticing to many. This is how it works:

Sale # 1: You don’t earn anything yet on your first sale as this is passed up to your sponsor or upline to activate your first level

Sale # 2 and thereafter: You receive US$1000 on each sale (if you sold a platinum membership) or US$500 (if you sold a gold membership). Your upline receives the same amount on each one of your sales as well

Sales of Your Affiliates: Every time your affiliate makes a sale, you also earn US$1000 or US$500 depending on what type of membership your affiliate sold.

So for example, you have 5 affiliates which sell 2 platinum membership per month, you earn US$10,000 monthly.

Marketing System (How Memberships Are Sold):

While the Global Resort Network has its own website, there are other marketing systems offered by third parties. Although they vary in cost, all of them offers a marketing site/landing page, information pages, contact or list management and autoresponders. Some also offers additional features like a virtual assistant. Among them are:

GRN System (run by Priceless Possibilities) US$29.95/ month, Ty Coughlin’s Reverse Funnel System US$299.00/month, GRN Biz Builder (run by QuickLister) US$34.95/month, GRN Team Buidler (run by B.O. S. S.) US$79.95/month, Global Pro Builder US$39.95 - 69.95/month plus set up

All these different systems have back offices to help you get started as soon as possible.

What Customers Say:

“Global Resorts Network is also the first & only company I have ever seen were there truly is a product in place that is in demand & of real value unlike the majority of the 2 & 3 step money games with products that have no value. Meaning you can actually go out & sell this product / membership aside from the opportunity….” Source: http://www.work-at-home-forum.com/14_2845_0.html

“Well, I did everything step by step and used their exact key words and phrases for advertising. I utilized everything they suggested. $15,000.00 later still no sales! …” Source: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/318/RipOff0318260.htm

“Global Resorts Network is for real…and a great deal. Where else can you get a lifetime membership for less than $3000 one time…no recurring fees, no exchange fees, no maintanance fees, and can book weeks at 4-5 star luxury condos for under $300 to $700 as many times as you want. The company that provides the condos has been doing this for 20 years very successfully. I’m a member and think it’s a fantastic value….” Source: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40329

“I do not have a problem with Network Marketing, and I am not calling this a scam. However, I do have a problem with reverse funnel system, and Ty Coughlin’s screaming loud recordings on my answering machine …” Source: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/308/RipOff0308997.htm

What Our Research Suggests:

With the cost of a resort week in a 5 or 4 star resort way below standard rates, a GRN membership is a great product. However, one needs a certain flexibility as far as travel schedules are concerned due to fluctuations in resort vacancies.

The investment in membership can be recovered easily from the savings earned from heavily discounted rates. If you decide just to become a member and avail of travel benefits and not sell memberships, you will eventually recover the cost you paid for your membership fee.

If you like to sell memberships as an affiliate, please remember that while there are third party marketing systems to help you, you still need to acquire long-term skills on affiliate marketing. Most of these systems focus on practical implementation and step by step guide. But to acquire long-term skills is not to have you follow instructions like a robot. The world of internet marketing is always in a state of flux, trends emerge and disappear and if you haven’t acquired long-term skills, your ability to make money online is only temporary or close to zero. You need to understand, acquire skills and practically implement techniques and at the same time see the overall picture and the significance of all the actions you are taking.

The GRN affiliate program does not guarantee to make you rich overnight. You have to be prepared to devote a considerable amount of time to it, spend for monthly fees and other marketing-related expenses such as advertising which can be costly.