Luxury vacation club Inspirato has signed an agreement to be acquired by Exclusive Investments, the parent company of Exclusive Resorts, for $59 million.
The all-cash transaction will see Exclusive Investments pick up all outstanding shares of Inspirato, which will become a privately-held company. The deal is expected to close early next year.
The deal was unanimously approved by Inspirato's board of directors, which is recommending that shareholders vote to adopt the agreement. Current chairman and CEO Payam Zamani, Inspirato's largest shareholder, has also entered an agreement with Inspirato to vote in favor of the transaction.
“Since I joined Inspirato a year and four months ago, our journey has been defined by the extraordinary dedication of our employees and their unwavering care for our members and this incredible brand. Following a year dedicated to stabilizing and strengthening the business, this agreement represents another positive step forward for Inspirato’s customers, employees, partners and shareholders,” said Zamani.
“This agreement represents an important step forward. It delivers immediate value to our shareholders while placing Inspirato in the hands of an owner with the resources, patience and long-term commitment needed to honor our people, support our members and steward this brand with care for years to come.”
Once the deal is approved, Zamani will step down. James Henderson, CEO of the Exclusive Collective and Exclusive Resorts will serve as interim CEO during the search for a permanent successor.
“Inspirato has demonstrated resilience and relevance in a demanding market,” said Henderson. “This transaction reflects our conviction in the business and our intention to provide long-term ownership, capital stability and operational support. We believe private ownership will allow Inspirato to focus on execution, consistency and value creation for subscribers, partners and employees over the long term.”
In June, Inspirato announced it was combining with marketing technology platform Buyerlink—owned by Zamani—to form One Planet Platforms. The Inspirato brand was to remain under the One Planet Platforms umbrella as its premier luxury travel division. However, in September, Inspirato announced that the companies had “mutually agreed to terminate” the merger agreement.
“Although we believed the proposed merger with Buyerlink would have offered meaningful benefits, we also listened carefully to the perspectives of our shareholders,” Ann Payne, Inspirato’s lead independent director, said at the time. “After thoughtful consideration, the board determined that the best path forward is for Inspirato to continue as an independent company.
In August 2024, Inspirato entered an investment agreement with Zamani's company One Planet Group, receiving $10 million in equity financing and cutting 15% of its workforce. Zamani took over as chairman and CEO as part of the agreement.