IFA HOTELS & RESORTS LAUNCHES FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP PRODUCT
May 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba to be the First in the Region
IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) announced today at the Arabian Travel Market the launch of the region’s first Private Residence Club community, Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba, on the Crescent of The Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai.
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WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE LAUNCHES SWEEPSTAKES, AD CAMPAIGN FEATURING ARNOLD PALMER
May 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Integrated Promotion built around Title Sponsor of PGA TOUR Event
Global hospitality company Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN) is launching a blockbuster marketing program including sponsorship of a PGA TOUR golf tournament, a national TV campaign featuring golf legend Arnold Palmer, and the Wyndham Foursome Sweepstakes, all designed to introduce consumers to its unparalleled range of accommodations.
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HARBORSIDE RESORT AT ATLANTIS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS INDUSTRY AWARDS
May 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Interval International recently honored Starwood Vacation Ownership and the management and staff of Harborside Resort at Atlantis for their accomplishments in the areas of sales, resort operations, and overall quality of vacation experiences provided. The resort overlooks the marina at Atlantis Resort & Casino on Paradise Island, The Bahamas, one of the premier vacation playgrounds in the world.
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WYNDHAM WORLDWIDE COMPLETES A $600 MILLION VACATION OWNERSHIP RECEIVABLES SECURITIZATION
May 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE:WYN) today announced that it has completed a term securitization transaction involving the issuance of $600 million of insured investment grade notes by Sierra Timeshare 2007-1 Receivables Funding, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Wyndham Vacation Ownership. The notes are backed by vacation ownership receivables originated by subsidiaries of Wyndham Vacation Ownership.
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Timeshare Financing: Sell us your paper
May 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Innovative timeshare receivable financing option for small to mid-size developers who hold as little as $250,000 in loans. A fresh look at the criteria behind timeshare financing was created by Vacation Finance, America’s First Second-Home Lender, by introducing loan options that look at the whole picture. Many timeshare finance companies require a seller to warehouse millions of dollars worth of notes before a facility or note sale can be completed, Vacation Finance wants to be your partner much earlier in the process.
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WYNDHAM VACATION OWNERSHIP OPENS FIRST WORLDMARK BY WYNDHAM SALES CENTER IN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA
May 29, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of Wyndham Worldwide’s family of companies (NYSE: WYN), today announced it has opened a new WorldMark by Wyndham sales center in Riverside, Calif. As the 14th off-site sales center in California, this location will showcase WorldMark’s portfolio of more than 70 resort properties throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico to Riverside residents and visitors and consumers within a short driving distance of Riverside.
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Timeshare Products and Services Directory, adds a fast, fully searchable index of listings as numbers continue to grow
May 28, 2007 | Leave a Comment
The Timeshare Products and Services Directory, which now serves more than 1,800 B2B searches per month at its online version has now added a fully indexed searchable database version to enable visitors to not only be able to search by category, but also by company name, state, country etc…thereby enhancing the user experience and catering for the increasing number of listings which now exceed 500.
The searchable database can be accessed from the main page at www.timeshareproductsandservices.com or you can visit it directly at www.timeshareproductsandservices.co.uk
Shell Vacations Hospitality Selects Top Resort Management Team
May 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Shell Vacations Hospitality, Inc. recently named the winner of its annual competition for the top management team within its company.
Under the leadership of Karin Merzenich, General Manager, The Inn at the Opera in San Francisco, California was awarded Shell Vacations Hospitality’s Management Team Appreciation Award. This is the most prestigious recognition possible for any of the management teams at the 23 resorts managed by Shell Vacations Hospitality.
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CEO Franz Hanning Celebrates 25th Anniversary with Wyndham Vacation Ownership
May 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Franz Hanning, president and CEO of Wyndham Vacation Ownership, is celebrating his 25th anniversary with the company on Thursday, May 24. During his tenure with the company, Wyndham Vacation Ownership has become the world’s largest vacation ownership business as measured by the number of vacation ownership resorts, vacation ownership units and owners of vacation ownership interests. Today, Hanning leads a worldwide staff of more than 16,000 employees.
After joining the company, then known as Fairfield Communities, Inc., in 1982 as a sales representative, Mr. Hanning quickly rose through the company, holding a number of progressive sales positions. In 1996, Mr. Hanning accepted the position of Regional Vice President of Sales for the Myrtle Beach and Williamsburg area, which brought him to Orlando. One year later, he assumed responsibility as Vice President of Sales for all of Fairfield’s 20 sales locations. From 1998–2001, Mr. Hanning served as Chief Operating Officer for Fairfield Resorts and in 2001, was named President and CEO of Fairfield Resorts upon its acquisition by Cendant Corporation. In 2006, Wyndham Vacation Ownership was formed after Wyndham Worldwide’s spin-off from Cendant Corporation.
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The Oceania Group’s Sandcastle South Resort to Install TimeShareWare’s TSW NINE GOLD Software Solution
May 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
The Oceania Group recently contracted to install TimeShareWare’s newest software solution, version TSW NINE GOLD to manage the Sandcastle South Resort.
TimeShareWare NINE GOLD represents a significant shift in the architecture of TimeShareWare products. The revolutionary three-tier architecture allows resorts to extend and customize the application in ways never before possible. The service-oriented architecture, with over 100 new features, provides a platform that will enable excellence for resorts of all sizes.
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INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL NAMES JUAN PABLO GÓMEZ REGION MANAGER OF RESORT SALES AND SERVICE FOR NORTHWEST MEXICO
May 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Interval International, a leading provider of vacation services and an operating business of IAC (Nasdaq:IACI), announced the appointment of Juan Pablo Gómez as region manager of resort sales and service for Northwest Mexico. He is based in Interval’s new office in Los Cabos and reports to Marcos Agostini, region director of resort sales and service for Latin America.
“We are extremely pleased that an individual with Juan Pablo’s experience in the Mexican hospitality industry is joining our team,” said Agostini. “His thorough understanding of the region will be a real asset to the company, as we continue to develop our business in this important market.”
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RAMADA SERVICE CULTURE, GLOBAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN STRESS POSITIVE EXPERIENCE
May 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Ramada Worldwide leaders this week announced efforts to bolster the chain’s position as a global brand through its first coordinated international advertising campaign and launch of a service culture that stresses a positive guest experience.
Attendees at the Ramada conference here learned that the new global marketing campaign will carry a consistent message to all countries for the first time in the brand’s history. The campaign’s slogan, “You do your thing. Leave the rest to us,” will focus on the purpose of travel instead of the product.
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Starwood Vacation Ownership Celebrates Topping Off of The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun
May 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Luxury property brings first hotel-branded timeshare resort to region
Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. (SVO), a division of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today celebrated the topping off of the first phase of the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun. Contractors, employees and invited guests enjoyed the celebration marking the completion of the structural framework of the first four buildings and reception building of the resort.
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BRAND TANGO A FINALIST IN TECHNOLOGY AWARDS
May 25, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Timeshare marketing firm Brand Tango has garnered three finalist nominations in the 2007 Technology Awards, presented by the South Florida Business Journal and Host.net. Brand Tango gained recognition in three categories: Software Technology, Technology Application, and Rising Star (for companies less than two years old).
“These award nominations acknowledge Brand Tango’s creativity, innovation, and expertise in the use of innovative e-commerce systems to achieve marketing, sales, and customer-satisfaction goals,” says Joe Russoniello, Brand Tango’s president.
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USD 1.8 billion Aqua Dunya resort breaks ground
May 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dubai-based developer, Aqua Dunya LLC, and its sponsor investor, Al Sharq Investment, have broken ground on the first phase of the USD 1.8 billion water-themed family entertainment destination in Dubailand.
Andrew Duncan, Managing Director for Turner & Townsend International - Project Manager for Aqua Dunya; Ali Al Sherhi, Chairman of Al Sharq Investment; Andrew Turner, Project Director of Aqua Dunya LLC; Steven Tight, CEO of Aqua Dunya LLC; Mohammed Al Habbai, CEO of Dubailand; and Guy Crawford, CEO of Jumeirah at the Aqua Dunya Resort and Residences ground breaking ceremony.
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Mountain Edge Resort becomes the first US resort to sign up for Merlin Software for Timeshare.
May 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Resort developers Tom and Karen Behrens made Merlin their software of choice because it could handle all their needs yet was still highly affordable. From marketing to check in, Merlin offers a combination of functions that is served offsite over the internet. “This has removed the complicated and expensive burden of maintaining our own servers” said Kerry Behrens.
The resort is supported by Merlin’s team of technical specialists based in the UK and South Africa. “We have been very impressed with the technical support system – it is the most efficient and effective we’ve every experienced” Tom Behrens commented about the decision, adding that “we are just so impressed with the flexibility and adaptability Merlin provides”.
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SHELL VACATIONS HOSPITALITY SELECTS TOP RESORT MANAGEMENT TEAM
May 23, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Shell Vacations Hospitality, Inc. recently named the winner of its annual competition for the top management team within its company.
Under the leadership of Karin Merzenich, General Manager, The Inn at the Opera in San Francisco, California was awarded Shell Vacations Hospitality’s Management Team Appreciation Award. This is the most prestigious recognition possible for any of the management teams at the 23 resorts managed by Shell Vacations Hospitality.
According to Susan C. Kelley, CHA and Senior Vice President of Shell Hospitality, “In making this important annual selection, we review internal comment card scores, exchange company ratings, results from employee surveys, and compliance with our internal Shell Vacations Hospitality standards. Also considered are areas of improvement that have occurred during the year and the resort’s year-end financial results. The Inn at the Opera had an exemplary 2006 and far exceeded our expectations in all areas. We applaud their entire team. The resort has been a RCI Gold Crown resort for the past several years, recently received the same award for 2007 as well as achieving Five Star status from Interval International.”
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TRIPREWARDS® LOYALTY PROGRAM TO IGNITE SUMMER WITH HOT WING EATING CONTEST
May 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Seven world-class eaters with a bone to pick will flock to New York’s Grand Central Terminal on Monday to see who can consume the most chicken hot wings in 10 minutes and secure the title of TripRewards Ultimate Hot Wing Eating champion.
The TripRewards Ultimate Hot Wing Eating Championship, sanctioned by the International Federation of Competitive Eating and hosted by Kenan Thompson, star of Saturday Night Live and a known hot wing fanatic, is scheduled to begin Monday at 1 p.m. in Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central Terminal at 42nd Street and Park Avenue. The event will be simulcast at www.triprewardshotwingchampionship.com .
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BRAND TANGO A FINALIST IN TECHNOLOGY AWARDS
May 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Timeshare marketing firm Brand Tango has garnered three finalist nominations in the 2007 Technology Awards, presented by the South Florida Business Journal and Host.net. Brand Tango gained recognition in three categories: Software Technology, Technology Application, and Rising Star (for companies less than two years old).
“These award nominations acknowledge Brand Tango’s creativity, innovation, and expertise in the use of innovative e-commerce systems to achieve marketing, sales, and customer-satisfaction goals,” says Joe Russoniello, Brand Tango’s president.
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SHELL VACATIONS CONSOLIDATES HOSPITALITY AND CLUB DIVISIONS
May 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
By combining its resort management division with its vacation club operations, one innovative timeshare developer has found solutions to the challenge of obtaining optimum revenue from unused resort inventory.
“As our Club’s membership grew”, says Sheldon Ginsburg, CEO of Shell Vacations LLC, “it became clear that the Club and Hospitality would greatly benefit from a closer relationship. Each division had similar goals but worked independently from the other.”
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FNTC Enters U.S. Market
May 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
British Company now provides trustee, financial and operations services to the U.S. vacation ownership industry.
FNTC (UK) Limited ,a subsidiary of IFG Group PLC, a publicly quoted financial services company highly regarded in Europe, has expanded its offices to the U.S. to provide trustee, financial and operations services to the vacation ownership industry. For the past 30 years FNTC has been the leading specialist in the European market.
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WYNDHAM HOTEL GROUP ALIGNS WINGATE BRAND WITH WYNDHAM HOTELS AND RESORTS
May 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Wyndham Hotel Group is affiliating its Wingate® and Wyndham® brands to leverage marketing, sales and training and reach an expanded consumer base, Wingate franchisees attending their brand conference here learned today.
This affiliation creates a combined brand that encompasses more than 230 hotels as of March 31, comparable in size with key competitors that offer upscale and midscale tiers. Read more
Westin Hotels Recruits ‘Renewal Council’ to Lead New Lifestyle Initiatives
May 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Westin Hotels Recruits ‘Renewal Council’ to Lead New Lifestyle Initiatives
Lifestyle Experts to Advise and Create Content for Industry’s First Signature In-Room TV Channel and New Renewal Website
Westin Hotels & Resorts today announces the formation of the Westin Renewal Council, a panel of six lifestyle experts who will advise on initiatives that bring to life the brand’s positioning of personal renewal. Westin partnered with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) of Los Angeles to identify top experts to provide tips and editorial content for a new dedicated website along with the hotel industry’s first signature in-room television channel. The Renewal Council–which includes trainer to the stars David Kirsch, renowned psychologist Dr. Dale V. Atkins and TV’s home-makeover consultant Vern Yip–will provide a full range of advice that will help guests lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
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Aviatech Names Greg Anton President Integrated Marketing Firm Focuses on Technology and Strategy
May 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dwight Gould, CEO of Aviatech Integrated Marketing Solutions announced that Greg Anton, formerly Senior VP, National Accounts at TBA Global, a worldwide event marketing agency, has been named President of the integrated marketing firm.
Greg Anton joins Aviatech with twenty-two years of strategic marketing and branding expertise. He specializes in interactive on-line campaigns, event marketing solutions and creative applications of non-traditional advertising and marketing programs. He has worked with many global brands on marketing initiatives of all types, including General Motors, Microsoft, Intel, SAP, Bristol Myers-Squibb, Coca-Cola, Waste Management, Callaway Golf, Cobra Golf and the National Football League.
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RCI® signs on as Title Sponsor of the 2007 Christel House Open
May 22, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Global leisure travel company plays key role in fifth annual global charity golf tournament to benefit children.
RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, will be the Title Sponsor for the 2007 Christel House Open, the world’s largest single-day charity golf tournament. The RCI Christel House Open will take place at 23 sites around the world, spanning seven countries and six continents, including venues in Australia, India, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela.
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DIAL AN EXCHANGE-ASIA EXPANSION
May 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Dial An Exchange International (DAE) is pleased to announce the commencement of its operations throughout Asia in conjunction with Highpoint Business Solutions (HBS), the non-trust activities trading company of the Hutchinson Group.
DAE intends to establish a network of representative offices throughout the region, commencing in China, India and Thailand. Back office administration and associated services will be provided through the current office facilities of HBS associated companies in Shanghai, Bangalore and Bangkok which will be shared with DAE. Further Asian office locations are planned in the medium term.
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Starwood Vacation Ownership Celebrates Topping Off of The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun
May 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Luxury property brings first hotel-branded timeshare resort to region
Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. (SVO), a division of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today celebrated the topping off of the first phase of the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort in Cancun. Contractors, employees and invited guests enjoyed the celebration marking the completion of the structural framework of the first four buildings and reception building of the resort.
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Brand Tango redesigns the member kit for Intrawest
May 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Intrawest Resort Club Group (IRCG) the division of Intrawest ULC that manages Club Intrawest and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, has selected Brand Tango, an award-winning brand and product development firm based in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to redesign the member kit for its Club Intrawest product.
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Alderwood’s North Bay at Lake Arrowhead Installs TimeShareWare
May 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment
North Bay at Lake Arrowhead Resort and Alderwood Resort Management recently installed TimeShareWare to manage all its 1- and 2-bedroom accommodations.
Candace Vigil, Business Developer Manager TimeShareWare, says the partnership is a good fit. “Alderwood Resort Management has been a valued customer for several years. When they won the contract to manage North Bay at Lake Arrowhead Resort, TimeShareWare was able to expand services to include the new resort. We are delighted to be able to meet Alderwood’s requirements as their company continues to expand.”
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Shell Vacations LLC Again Named One of Chicago’s Top Private Companies
May 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment
Shell Vacations LLC, one of the nation’s top independently owned vacation ownership developers, has once again been named one of Chicago’s top private companies by Crain’s Chicago Business.
Featured in the April 16, 2007 edition, the prominent listing ranks the top privately held companies in Chicago based on revenue. Shell Vacations ranked #77 by Crain’s, contingent on gross annual revenues in 2006 of $388.4 million, an increase of 9.6 percent over 2005 revenues of $354.4 million.
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