To entice older adults to plunk down a deposit on a community not slated to open until 2027, one senior living provider created a two-day event featuring tours and tastings at a sister community, in hopes that the lifestyle that prospects see will be one they want to reserve.
Capitalizing on the success of Kendal’s northern California continuing care retirement / life plan community of Enso Village, the sales team for sister property Enso Verde, scheduled to open in 2027 in the Greater Los Angeles area, invited 60 Enso Verde Wisdom Circle Priority members who were on the Enso Verde priority list to visit Enso Village to envision their futures. Priority members pay a fully refundable $1,000 deposit to join the group.
Over two days in August, the members participated in guided tours of the northern California community’s model rooms and wellness center, were fed a gourmet lunch and gained an understanding of what was being built in southern California. Prospective residents dined with current residents to learn more about the lifestyle.
Each priority member paid $150 to cover roundtrip airfare, transportation and lunch.
Enso Verde Marketing Director Bradlee Foerschner said that since the community isn’t yet built, the organization wanted to take advantage of the “rare opportunity” to walk prospective residents through a sister community to give them a feel for it.
“Typically, folks in the priority phase for a new development do not have the opportunity to experience community life, and they may opt to come back to reserve after a community is built,” Foerschner told McKnight’s Senior Living. “We hoped that seeing for themselves what life may be like at Enso Verde would help them feel confidence about making a decision now.”
He added that the event also was a fun way to connect and engage with prospective residents, and the company plans to offer another visit opportunity early next year.
Calling the visit a success, Foerschner said that Enso Verde just opened its “first looks” seminars with meetings to start soon for collecting deposits for contracts.
“Priority members are citing that trip as a reason they are feeling positive about a move to Enso Verde once the community is planned to be completed in 2027,” Foerschner said.
Enso Verdi, which will span 21 acres, will have 300 independent living, assisted living and memory support units. The CCRC is being developed by Kendal in partnership with the San Francisco Zen Center, drawing inspiration from Zen and Quaker philosophies. Staff members will be trained in mindful caregiving.
