How I Got Here, episode 40 - Brent Handler of Inspirato

Brent Handler, Founder and CEO

How I Got Here is a weekly podcast from PhocusWire and Mozio, getting the inside stories behind innovation and startups in travel and transportation.

Brent Handler is credited by many as one of the pioneers of the "destination club" sector in the travel industry. He tells his story to Mozio's David Litwak and Kevin May of PhocusWire.

Brent Handler is credited by many as one of the pioneers of the "destination club" sector in the travel industry.

The idea is that upmarket travelers get access to exclusive private homes or hotel units on resort properties, organized under a membership program that includes services and other luxury elements of a trip.

He launched Exclusive Resorts with his brother Brad in 2002, before selling a majority of the business to AOL's Steve Case in 2004.

After quitting that business in 2009, they launched Inspirato in 2011 and embarked on a new version of the destination club model whereby they rent the properties and lease them back to travelers for the period of a trip.

The company has since gone on to raise almost $80 million in funding.

Handler joins us as the latest guest on How I Got Here.

HIGH is a weekly show produced by PhocusWire and Mozio, aimed at getting the inside stories behind startups and innovation in travel and transportation.

It's hosted by our editor in chief, Kevin May, and Mozio co-founder and CEO David Litwak.

Here is the video version via PhocusWire's YouTube channel: