INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL SPONSORS 2007 COSTA RICAN TOURISM INVESTMENT SUMMIT
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Interval International, a leading global vacation exchange company, was once again a sponsor of the Costa Rican Tourism Investment Summit. The two-day event, held recently in San Jose, was organized by the Costa Rican Coalition of Development Initiatives (CINDE), the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture, and the consulting firm of KPMG. The inaugural conference took place in 2006 and attracted more than 300 attendees.
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Global Resorts, Inc., Names Jeff Yamaguchi Executive Vice President
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Vacation Ownership and Hospitality Expert to Expand GRI’s Service Portfolio
Global Resorts, Inc., (GRI) a Las Vegas-based firm focusing on providing solutions to developers seeking entry into the vacation ownership and hospitality industry, has named Jeff Yamaguchi as Executive Vice President.
According to John Sweeney, Chairman and CEO, “Jeff Yamaguchi has extensive experience in emerging markets such as vacation ownership, luxury fractionals, private residence clubs, and condo-hotels. His expertise in management, operations and sales are a perfect match for our immediate plans as well as those for long-term growth. Jeff’s strategic vision and knowledge base of all segments of our industry will augment Global Resorts’ place as a leading full-service consulting firm.”
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Global Resort Management Chooses TimeShareWare
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Global Resort Management, Inc. has chosen TimeShareWare to manage its owner services and reservations. In addition to its software solution, TimeShareWare also installed a Shift4 interface that seamlessly interfaces with TimeShareWare.
Global Resort Management has its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, with resorts located in Grand Cayman. The side-by-side resorts share a front desk. The resorts are located on the most beautiful beaches in the world, right in the center of everything from scuba diving to hiking. The resorts suffered significant damage in the 2004 hurricanes and have been rebuilt and renovated to provide superior accommodations for owners and guests.
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Resort Industry Veterans Form RTK Resort Group
February 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Consortium to focus on landmark destination resort and urban mixed-use communities
John R. Kazanjian, Managing Director, has announced the formation of RTK Resort Group to assist real estate developers in seeing that their community development vision is brought to life. John Kazanjian states, “RTK Resort Group is a team of resort industry professionals who, having worked together on past projects, found a common vision and share the desire to create exceptional landmark properties.”
Joining Kazanjian as Directors are: Tony R. Dawson, Managing Partner of Carefree Hospitality; David G. Hanna, President of Sun Resorts LLC; Laurence J. Raba, Chairman of Raba Design Group, Inc. and RTK Development, Inc, and; Wayne D. Marty, Lieutenant General (retired), CEO of Modular Construction Systems International. The directors of the consortium have pioneered design, construction systems, development, usage programs and property management concepts for the resort and hospitality industries.
Kazanjian explains, “Landmarking is our ultimate branding process for creating a meaningful destination resort community. Each real estate or hospitality component of the mixed-use resort development is carefully crafted to its intended market to work synergistically within a theme that conveys sensible design and purposeful product structure. The result is the combination of everything a customer, employee or a shareholder experiences and perceives about the real estate. When this vision is brought to life, it should simply “feel right”. Sales of those real estate product components will then occur easily and quickly.”
RTK maintains an in-house multi-disciplinary team of master planners, architects, legal, real estate, construction management, marketing/ sales, finance and property management professionals who can take projects from conceptual design and entitlement stages through successful marketing and sales to winning homeowner association management.
Larry Raba adds, “RTK’s principals share a common willingness to play a meaningful role in the success of a project at any level. Whether one chooses to engage our entire team or just one member, our foremost priority is to work closely with you to understand your needs, goals and expectations. Then and only then will we move forward to create a landmark plan that maximizes the potential of your property.”
“A unique part of our expertise”, says Dave Hanna, one of the original development partners of the country’s first private residence club, “is an thorough understanding of the preferences of buyers along with the operational mechanics for assisting our development partners to incorporate shared ownership components such as Private Residence Clubs and Fractional Resort Real Estate into the use mix with other residential, hotel, resort and commercial development components.”
RTK Resort Group is located at 111 Soledad Street, Suite 700, San Antonio, TX 78205.
Telephone: (210)-212-8570. http://www.rtkresorts.com/
Brownlie, Barry Promoted at Intrawest
February 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Intrawest ULC announced three new executive management team appointments in the Intrawest Mountain Resorts Division. The new executive structure will better align with the strategic direction and growth objectives of the Intrawest Mountain Resorts Division.
Dave Brownlie has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer, Intrawest Mountain Resorts, Canada. Brownlie will be responsible for all of Intrawest’s Canadian mountain resorts which will include adding Blue Mountain and Tremblant to his current portfolio of resorts, which include the company’s flagship resort Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler Heli-skiing, and Panorama. In addition, Brownlie will oversee the Central Sales and Marketing functions that support the operating divisions across the company.
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Deborah Linden Honored At Rollins College
February 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Crummer Graduate School of Business unveils Entrepreneur of the Year Wall of Fame plaque
Deborah Linden, CEO of Island One Resorts, was honored at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College on February 15, 2007. In recognition of her pioneering success in the real estate and timeshare industries, Linden’s Entrepreneur of the Year plaque was unveiled on the Dynetech Corporation Wall of Fame. This recognition was in follow up to the Orlando Business Journal Entrepreneur of the Year event held this past December.
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Bob Waun Appointed to Chairman’s League of America Association of Resort Developers
February 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Bob Waun has been appointed to the Chairman’s League of the American Resort Developer’s Association (ARDA) a Florida based organization with over 7,000 members. He presently also serves on the founding board of The National Association of Condo Hotel Owners.
Mr. Waun is speaking at The ARDA National conference in March, and conferences for The World Waterpark Association, IMN Private Residence Club, The Developer and Builders Alliance of S. Florida and The National Assn of Realtors in 2007. He is a nationally recognized expert in resort, condo hotel, fractional and timeshare finance and is a Birmingham, MI resident.
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DIVE INTO SUMMER WITH BONAIRE’S NEW ISLAND-WIDE PROGRAM Bonaire Dive Into Summer 2007 To Offer Family, Fotography, Fish & Fun
February 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
This summer everyone is invited to experience the Caribbean’s top rated dive destination* with Bonaire’s new summer-long promotion, Bonaire Dive Into Summer 2007.
Taking place June 3 – September 29, 2007 this island-wide event will focus on scuba diving through a series of specialty topics: Family, Fotography, Fish and Fun!
There is no registration fee to participate in Bonaire Dive Into Summer (select activities may have a nominal cost involved) and all activities are open to anyone on island wishing to take part. Bonaire Dive Into Summer will also feature a free coupon book (valid 6/3-9/29/07) filled with valuable discounts for hotels, restaurants, shopping, activities, rentals and more that will be available to all visitors to the island.
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Carnival Corporation & plc Enters Into Definitive Agreement to Sell Windstar Cruises Unit to Ambassadors International, Inc.
February 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its Windstar Cruises brand to Ambassadors International Inc. (Nasdaq: AMIE). Windstar Cruises, which operates three sailing vessels, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holland America Line, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc.
Under the terms of the agreement, Windstar will be sold for $100 million, $40 million of which is payable in cash and assumption of liabilities, and Carnival will provide mortgage financing for $60 million. The loan will be payable over 10 years at seven percent interest, collateralized by the three Windstar ships.
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WYNDHAM HOTEL GROUP’S JOE KANE TO RETIRE, BE SUCCEEDED BY KEN GREENE
February 21, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Joseph R. Kane Jr., CHA , a 42-year lodging veteran who served Wyndham Hotel Group as a group president for the last two years and president of Days Inns Worldwide for 11 years, has announced that he will retire from those positions at the end of the month and continue his service to the company in a part-time role on specific projects.
Kane told the more than 1,800 Days Inn® owners and managers attending their international conference in Las Vegas last week that he will be succeeded as group president of the Days Inn, Howard Johnson® and Travelodge® brands by Ken Greene, a 14-year company veteran who currently serves as president of the Howard Johnson and Travelodge brands.
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Pamela Gould Named President of Island One Resorts Foundation
February 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
She will establish and manage Island One Resorts’ new charitable Foundation
Pamela Gould has joined Island One Resorts as President of the Island One Resorts Foundation. She will establish and manage the day-to-day operations as well as the long-term strategy of the company’s new charitable division.
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WALT DISNEY WORLD SWAN AND DOLPHIN RESORT INTRODUCES GUESTROOM REDESIGN WITH NOTED DESIGNER MICHAEL GRAVES, BRINGING MODERN LUXURY TO WALT DISNEY WORLD® RESORT
February 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Guests will be pleasantly surprised to see a brand new design concept – updated from pineapple headboards on peach and teal cabana-style bedding – to a stylish design which features soft hues, high speed internet and an all-white bed, best described as “Heavenly.”
Lake Buena Vista, Florida – For well over a decade, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort has amazed adults and children alike with its “whimsical” guestroom design. Behind striped cabana-style doors, guests found a fun, peach and teal interior, with floral-shaped lamps and fanciful window and wall coverings, carpeting and bedding. That has all changed now, as the resort presents its new modern luxury concept, which offers guests a soft blue color scheme, high speed internet access and the ever-popular, all-white Heavenly Bed®, which is duly responsible for giving innumerable guests all over the world an unforgettable night’s sleep.
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NEW DAYS INN LOGO UNVEILED SYMBOLIZING BRAND’S ‘RENAISSANCE’LAS VEGAS
February 20, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Featuring a friendly modern typeface and bright yellows contrasting with a deep blue, the first new Days Inn® logo in 37 years was unveiled to an audience of more than 1,800 Days Inn owners and managers attending their international conference here today.
Days Inn President Joseph Kane Jr. told franchisees that the logo’s debut symbolizes the brand’s three-year renaissance that included the introduction of new standards, the signature DayBreak® Breakfast program, Sol Terre® bath amenities and bedding products and free high-speed Internet service.
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RIVIERA MAYA STARTS THE YEAR WITH NEW DIRECTOR OF TOURISM AND ANNOUNCES STATISTICS AND TRENDS FOR 2006
February 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Javier Aranda Pedrero became Director of Tourism for the Riviera Maya Tourism Promotion Board (FPTRM). Aranda Pedrero joined FPTRM following his work as Under Secretary of Tourism Promotion for the Tourism Secretariat in Quintana Roo and has extensive experience in the tourism industry in both private and public sectors for over 20 years. As Director of Tourism, Aranda Pedrero said that his strategy would include marketing and promotional efforts to draw even greater interest from the top markets for Riviera Maya, the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe. He said “It is my goal to ensure that the Strategic Promotion Plan for 2007 will be continued and that in the year ahead we will strive to exceed expectations and keep the Riviera Maya among the top destinations worldwide.”
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Holiday Resales Announces Timeshare Sales Milestone
February 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Bargain hunters fuel growth of timeshare resale marketHoliday Resales, a division of Holiday Group, announced today that it has exceeded 30,000 timeshare sales since its inception. Starting with just two employees in 1992, Holiday today employs over 100 people in Seattle and Las Vegas, and has become one of the largest and most respected timeshare resale companies in the U.S.
“Holiday’s success reflects that of the entire timeshare industry,” said C.O.O. Alan Renberger, “but as retail prices increase, more people are discovering the bargains in resale timeshares, which are typically more than fifty percent off retail.”
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INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL PROMOTES JOSE TAMARGO TO VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCIAL PLANNING AND ANALYSIS
February 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Interval International, a leading global vacation exchange company and operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI), announced the promotion of Jose Tamargo to vice president of financial planning and analysis. In this role, he oversees the company’s financial planning group comprised of staff in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. Tamargo reports to John A. Galea, chief financial officer.
“Jose’s thorough understanding of both our operations and the key metrics that drive our business will serve him extremely well in his new position,” Galea said. “With this promotion, we’re pleased to recognize his numerous contributions to the company’s success over the past decade.”
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Are Second Homes Priced Out of Range?
February 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Fractional Vacation Home Trend Begins
From the mountains to the sea shore, snowbirds are finding second home ownership is too expensive. In Aspen, Colorado the average home costs $5 million. In South Florida, once an affordable retirement destination, the expense of insuring a vacation home has added to higher real estate values to make ownership cost prohibitive. In almost every second home market, values are up and the cost of ownership has inflated. 2007 is the year of The Fractional Vacation Home. Warren Buffet once commented that jet ownership was an “unjustifiable expense”. Then he bought NetJets, which has popularized fractional aviation ownership. For many millionaires who could not previously justify this luxury, fractional jets are the answer.
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DIVI RESORTS ANNOUNCES A NEW DIRECTOR OF TIMESHARE,MARIO BODNER
February 18, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Divi Resorts announces a new Director of Timeshare, Mario Bodner, who will be responsible for overseeing the timeshare sales efforts of all Divi Resorts properties. Mr. Bodner joined the Divi Resorts team in January 2007 following his position as Project Director with Harborside Resort at Atlantis in The Bahamas. With 23 years of successful timeshare industry experience (working previously with Disney, upscale Caribbean timeshares and private residence clubs), his background also includes management of sales and marketing teams as well as the implementation of accomplished marketing programs.
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WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE REPORTS STRONG FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2006 RESULTS
February 13, 2007 | Comments Off
Double Digit Revenue Growth in 4th Quarter Closes Out Banner Year
Company Announces New $400 Million Share Repurchase Program
Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:WYN) today announced results for the three-months and year ended December 31, 2006.Download and view the Wyndham Worldwide Fourth Quarter 2006 Financial Tables (MS Excel File).
Financial information discussed in this press release include both GAAP and non-GAAP measures, which include or exclude certain items, or reflect pro forma adjustments, related to the Company’s spin-off effective July 31, 2006. These non-GAAP measures differ from reported results and are intended to illustrate what management believes are relevant period-over-period comparisons. Non-GAAP measures are indicated as “Adjusted.” A complete reconciliation of reported GAAP results to the comparable Adjusted information appears in the financial tables section of this press release.
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VACATION FINANCE Announces J.H. Heck has been Promoted to Vice President of Fractional Finance
February 13, 2007 | Comments Off
J.H. Heck is one of the leaders in developing a market for fractional financing and has been promoted to the position of Vice President for Fractional Finance, covering the territories of N. Michigan and Colorado. “JH has financed more buyers of fractional real estate than any loan officer in the midwest, and we are excited to promote him within our growing organization” said Bob Waun, CEO.
J.H. Heck grew up in Charlevoix, MI and attended Northwood Institute. He is an avid skier and knows the mountain communities of Colorado well.
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HILTON CAMPAIGN EARNS HSMAI ADRIAN AWARDS “BEST IN SHOW”
February 13, 2007 | Comments Off
HILTON CAMPAIGN EARNS HSMAI ADRIAN AWARDS “BEST IN SHOW” PLUS THREE ADDITIONAL TOP INDUSTRY AWARDS; HILTON HHONORS WINS GOLD AND BRONZE AWARDS; HAMPTON WINS SILVER; HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON WINS BRONZE
Hilton’s “Travel Should Take You Places” Ad Campaign Takes Home the Platinum and Best in Show,
Hilton’s Competitive Advantage Program and HiltonJourneys.com Earns Silver,
Hilton HHonors My Way Earns Gold and Bronze,
Hilton HHonors Point Transfer Email Wins Bronze
Hampton Hotels “Proud to Be a Bed Head” Earns Silver
Homewood Suites by Hilton Earns Bronze for Feature on CNBC Squawk Box Read more
VACATION FINANCE Announces Road Show 2007… We’ll Be There!
February 13, 2007 | Comments Off
Vacation Finance is committed to providing funding to the resort and second home market. We are going to great lengths to help educate the consumer and development community about the risks and rewards of the newly emerging market niche of condo hotel and fractional real estate.
American Lodging (ALIS) Conference, LA – January 23; Aspen Valley Real Estate Tour, CO – February 1-2; Chicago Condo Hotel Site Visits, IL – February 8; Costa Rica Market Study – February 9-16; Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Aruba Market Study - February 19-23; World Waterpark Conference, AZ – March 2; Ragatz Fractional Conference, San Fransico – March 5-6; JMBM Hotel Development Conference, Palm Desert, CA – March 7-8; American Resort Developers Conference, Orlando – March 25-29; IMN Private Residence Club Conference, Orlando – April 18-19; IMN Condo Hotel Conference, Orlando - April 19-20; JMBM Meet The Money Conference, LA – May 3-4; NACHO Conference, Las Vegas – May 10-11; The National Assn of Realtors RSPS Conference, Vail, CO – June 27-28
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SUPER 8 BRAND IS “MOVING FORWARD … FOCUSED TO WIN”LAS VEGAS
February 13, 2007 | Comments Off
Building on the theme “Moving Forward … Focused to Win,” Super 8 Motels President John Valletta today told nearly 2,000 owners and operators attending their international conference that the brand will maintain its competitive position as the “value lodging choice for guests of all ages” by upgrading standards and services.
This year, as part of the second phase implementation of product and service enhancements, the Super 8® brand has mandated in-room coffeemakers, new uniforms, name badges and a bath amenities package featuring a Hookless® shower curtain, multispray shower head and a curved shower rod. The brand also is upgrading its SuperStart® breakfast by offering cereal and milk in addition to coffee, tea, juice and assorted baked goods, and it is mandating that mattresses be replaced on a consistent schedule.
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DIVI FLAMINGO BEACH RESORT & CASINO IN BONAIRE INVITES GUESTS TO CAPTURE CREATIVITY WITH UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
February 11, 2007 | Comments Off
Capture Photo Shop Scheduled to Open On Property This Month, Bringing Divers the Ultimate Underwater Experience
Divi Flamingo Beach Resort & Casino in Bonaire (Netherlands, Antilles) invites guests to capture creativity with underwater photography. Capture Photo, a full-service underwater photography shop, is scheduled to open on property this month, bringing divers the ultimate underwater experience and unparalleled services on the island of Bonaire. With a staff of master divers and experienced underwater photographers, Capture Photo will offer photography lessons, digital imaging, underwater camera and video camcorder rentals, daily and weekly rental packages and underwater (as well as film) camera accessories.
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Wayport Acquires ResortWiFi, LLC; Expands Hospitality Portfolio
February 11, 2007 | Comments Off
Wayport, Inc., an international leader in the design and integration of applications and software over Wi-Fi carrier grade networks, announced today its acquisition of ResortWiFi, LLC.
ResortWiFi is a premier Wi-Fi Internet services provider focusing predominantly on the timeshare (also called interval ownership) industry. ResortWiFi currently serves such upscale timeshare and hotel companies as Fairfield Resorts International (a Wyndham Worldwide Company, being renamed Wyndham Vacation Resorts), Monarch Grand Vacations and other top-tier developments.
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Legacy Productions Flying under the radar!
February 8, 2007 | Comments Off
Legacy Productions is flying high and low for vacation ownership clients. Over the past three and a half years Legacy Productions has been traveling the world producing HD sales videos for clients such as Marriott’s Vacation Club and Starwood Vacation Ownership. During these shoots Legacy Production has been asked to provide exceptional and dramatic HD helicopter aerials as part of the location production. “It’s not easy to do, and so much effort has to go into doing it right, but the rewards are spectacular” say’s Legacy’s creative director and co-owner, Rob Stephens. Using the right size helicopter and the Tyler Mount camera system, Legacy Productions has captured some of the amazing aerials in locations like Kauai, St. Thomas, St. John, Aruba Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and the Rocky Mountains in Idaho.
Legacy’s co-owner and director of business development, Scott Johnston states “we’re quickly becoming experts in the area of aerial production and it can add a lot to the end video if the location is beautiful.” Johnston also adds, “we’ve been flying under the radar both figuratively and literally the past few years, but our production quality and economy are truly unmatched in the industry. I wouldn’t feel comfortable saying it if I couldn’t show it.”
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ACCOR PREMIERE VACATION CLUB – A PART OF BALI’S TOURISM FUTURE
February 7, 2007 | Comments Off
New Resort opening a “vote of confidence” in Island of the Gods
Accor Première Vacation Club (APVC) officially launches its first Asian resort property for Members, as part of the new Novotel Nusa Dua Resort in Bali on March 15th 2007.
The Australian holiday-ownership (timeshare) company owns 23 apartments in the new Novotel Nusa Dua resort complex, and will open its first Asian Sales Centre on April 5th 2007.
Nusa Dua is considered one of Bali’s most popular, central, and family oriented precincts, and the new resort is surrounded by the first-class Nusa Dua Golf and Country Club, and a stones throw from the pristine Nusa Dua beach area.
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Accor Première Vacation Club Accelerates 07 growth with Asian Expansion
February 7, 2007 | Comments Off
Club launches new property and sales office in Indonesia
Accor Première Vacation Club (APVC) is on the brink of rapid Membership growth following the announcement that from April 5th 2007 – the Australian based company will launch its new Asian Club. It will also open its first APVC Sales Office, and its first Asian property for Members - as part of the new Novotel Nusa Dua Resort in Bali.
New Memberships will be sold in Asia for the first time, from April 5 - initially to Indonesians, and tourists holidaying in Bali.
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INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL APPOINTS BRYAN TEN BROEK VICE PRESIDENT, WESTERN REGION, RESORT SALES AND SERVICE
February 7, 2007 | Comments Off
Interval International, a leading global vacation exchange company and operating business of IAC (Nasdaq: IACI), announced Bryan Ten Broek has been named vice president, western region, resort sales and service. He recently relocated from the company’s world headquarters in Miami, Florida, to its resort sales and service office in Las Vegas, Nevada. He continues to report to David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for the Americas.
In his new role, Bryan oversees Interval’s presence for the western United States, western Canada, and Hawaii, as well as directs the day-to-day sales and service activities for the territory. He is responsible for servicing Interval’s existing member resorts and for building the company’s developer client base in the region. Additionally, he and his team provide clients with sales, marketing, and operational support.
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Shell Vacations’ Kona Coast Resort Completes Major Refurbishment
February 5, 2007 | Comments Off
General Manager Cintia Dutra has recently announced the completion of an extensive renovation of Phase II of Shell Vacations’ Kona Coast vacation ownership resort in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
Refurbishment services - including overall design - for the interior refurbishment of 195 Kona Coast Resort condominiums, were provided by Makai Sales Ltd. of Honolulu. The property is managed by Shell Management, Hawaii, which was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in Hawaii.
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