Expensive Pesach programs in this economy? How?

I looked it up and the Kutsher's program was more than $2,000 per adult. I heard on the radio that theyre considered reasonable among other programs.

When people take their married kids and grandkids, doesnt it generally amount to many thousands?

With so many jobless people, how can people afford it these days?

Is it only wealthy people who go these days?

Sounds like many programs had many customers.

Gold Member Joined: Jun 05 2011 Posts: 1019

As far as I know it has always been primarily wealthy people who go to hotels for Pesach. There are still lots of rich people even in times of economic difficulties.
I think there are some hotels which have been less than full over the last few years.
I have family members who work in kashrus and have heard of several programs closing at the last minute because they were not full.

Most of the people that go are professionals, and wealthy. Most of the programs are sold out. Way in advance. The same people go from year to year. Think doctors, dentists, and lawyers. Lots of them. Some people have been in this business for over 25 years and have a great reputation. There are always new ones, and maybe they are not successful due to the vast competition, so they cancel at the last minute. But most of the regular ones are booked at least half a year in advance.

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 18 2010 Posts: 3017

The programs are very expensive, but some people really do have that kind of money to spend. My grandparents run one such program. My grandmother said that some of the larger groups- like 12 or 15 people- spend north of $100K to have everyone there, and she had a few such groups this year (and yes, it was one set of older parents paying for all their children/grandchildren). She has not been selling out though, as in past years. She sold enough to run the program, but it was not completely booked and her profit margin the last 3 years has been much tighter than in past years.