The executive car club is not a more sophisticated tool of brutality as the joke would imply. In fact, the executive car club is based on comfort and ease of access. Unlike road clubs that seek to tour or race to a far off destination, executive car clubs seek to limit stress by complying with the needs of executives. In the best case, the executive car club makes their automotive dealings a pleasure; more likely, a good service based group effectively minimizes gaps in connection and transfer.
The concept of executive car club implies services, whether for pay or in a cooperative effort. Services offered are typically contracted by individuals, business owners or their corporate partners and vary in scope, ranging from complete and exclusive driving services to a more practical a la carte offering - choose and use as needed. Among the listed options of a quality motoring club with executive features: 24 hour access online and by telephone to live operators; client and/or vehicle pick up and delivery within a designated radius or at popular hotels or airport locations; roadside and trip continuation assistance and much more. Access to a professional driver pool or other luxury vehicles often is made available to club members. In some clubs, vehicles are available on timeshare and one makes an online reservation then goes to a street address with a pre-assigned code to gain entry to a key box. When the vehicle is no longer needed, the car is returned to another key box location and information keyed in to make the vehicle available for another member. The delivery system is service oriented but the product remains fast access to a comfortable travel source.
To accomplish the building of networks to meet the demands of executive car club members, a lot of polling takes place to determine where, when and what vehicles are required to do the job. Incentives and upgrades are always offered. Hub based pickup points are strategically located to facilitate easy transfer and better utilisation. And it is not just in the UK or European Union that executive car clubs exist. It is a huge international business with clubs serving select niche markets using economies of scale across international boundaries.
No doubt it's a shrinking world and boundaries are more conceptual than tangible with member networks now spanning the globe. Trip rewards programs, discount touring packages and the like accompany these memberships. Sometimes, there are club affiliations that allow courtesy privileges in what would otherwise be non-participating areas. These exist in the larger metropolitan areas and even regional capitols. Do the research and ask the questions. If you can't find an answer, call the motor club.