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Cyprus Inventory For Sale – Up To 1,400 Weeks Available

A resort developer in Cyprus is offering up to 1,400 weeks for sale to other developers or marketers.

This is a great opportunity for larger developers to absorb this inventory into their own system and add Cyprus as a new destination for their members. For more information visit http://www.thetimeshareblog.com/cyprus-timeshare-inventory-for-sale/


Cyprus tucked away in the top right hand corner of the Mediterranean is so close to Europe, Asia and Africa that it rightly, claims to be a stepping stone to three continents .

An island whose rich dramatic history can be traced back over nine thousand years; an island so coveted over the centuries that it has been invaded and claimed by a fascinating mixture of civilizations from near and far all of which have left their culture and shaped its character.

An island whose archaeology stems from the Neolithic Age, the Ancient Greeks and the Roman period; where churches and monasteries still stand from Byzantine times; castles and palaces from the days of Crusaders and Frankish Lusignans and splendid city walls from Venetian days.

An island chosen by the mythical gods and goddesses of Ancient Greece who indulged themselves here in sport pleasure and tragedy; where Aphrodite goddess of love and beauty, emerged from the Pafos foam to become a famous cult figure – centre of attraction for the first visitors who flocked to the island to worship her.

With such a historic and legendary background it is hardly surprising that Cyprus has developed a character which is quite unique. It is blessed with beauty, natural beauty that ranges from golden beaches and rugged coastlines to rolling hills and forest clad mountains, dotted with picturesque villages.

Silverjet has ceased flying today after it revealed that it no longer has the funding to operate.

Last Friday, the airline asked the London Stock Exchange to suspend its shares after it announced that it had secured a $25 million (£12.7 million) investment to continue to trade but the company admitted that the funding had not yet emerged.

Today, it suspended all flights and said the last flight took off at 7.30 this morning from Luton on its way to Dubai.

Silverjet said other airlines were not obliged to honour unused tickets and is advising passengers return flights to make their own arrangements. The airline said customers who have booked flights via credit card should be able to receive money back from their credit card company or from their travel agent. However, others are unlikely to get their money back, it said.

As fuel prices soar, Silverjet is not the first airline to cease trading. Oasis Hong Kong Airlines recently announced it was to stop flying and applied for a voluntary liquidator.

US carriers including ATA Airlines, Aloha Airgroup and Skybus Airlines all ceased trading in March and EOS and Maxjet recently announced that they would cease flying.

Last night, Silverjet said that its would-be Abu Dhabi investor had still failed to provide it with the $5 million cash loan it had promised under a rescue deal and that it was left talking to just one potential rescue investor.

In a statement this morning, Silverjet said it continues to be in discussions with investors interested in supporting the business, however, it has yet to conclude such discussions to its satisfaction.

The airline, which claimed to be the world’s first carbon neutral airline, commenced trading in January 2007 and operates three aircraft. The company has a workforce of around 330 people in Luton.

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange, and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), and VH Dubai have entered into an affiliation agreement whereby VH Dubai will offer prospective purchasers the opportunity to own a piece of the Palm Jumeirah.

This eagerly awaited fractional ownership project offers buyers a chance to purchase one of VH Dubai’s luxurious suite apartments, as well as be a part of the The VH Residence Club. VH Dubai is committing over 50 apartments to the Residence Club all of which are made up of 2 bedroom apartments. This is the first fractional offering of its kind by VH Dubai in Dubai.

Nick Turner, Managing Director RCI Middle East E.C., commented on the opportunity: “VH Dubai is offering the chance to own a portion of this idyllic eighth wonder of the world at a fraction of the cost of buying outright. RCI is pleased to be aligned with them on this project and to provide global services and benefits to future VH Residence Club owners.”
 
“Due to the thriving interest and intrigue surrounding Dubai, guests are attracted to this stunning location at exponential rates and VH Dubai’s unique offerings have been excellently received,” said Umar Mian, CEO and Managing Director of VH Dubai and The VH Residence Club.

Since its debut in 2007, VH Dubai’s occupancy levels have averaged over 90 percent and this innovative company has achieved unprecedented growth in its opening year of operation.

“Due to overwhelming response from past residents, we are now able to offer our guests the opportunity to own a piece of the property for themselves,” added Mian.

For additional information on the services offered to developers by Group RCI and how they can add potential value to leisure real estate projects, visit www.grouprci.com

First Project Will Be The Orchard At The Carneros Inn In Napa Valley

As part of a new venture, Timbers Resorts and PlumpJack Group have reached an agreement to work in partnership on several current and future projects. Serving complementary roles, Timbers Resorts is a leader in the development of private boutique resorts in the U.S. and internationally, currently numbering six properties, while PlumpJack is renowned for its wines, restaurants, boutiques and inns in the Northern California market.

Timbers Resorts has taken over management of the real estate operations at The Orchard, a private residence club located within PlumpJack’s renowned boutique resort, The Carneros Inn overlooking the beautiful Carneros winegrowing region in Napa Valley, California. Now a part of the Timbers Collection, The Orchard comprises 17 luxury cottages set within the resort and offering owners full access to The Carneros Inn’s premium lifestyle, services and amenities.

Additionally PlumpJack will manage the overall hospitality operations, spa and Truffle Pig restaurant for Timbers Resorts at One Steamboat Place in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Future collaborations will include the residences at the new PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn following its spring 2010 renovation, located at the base of the Squaw Valley USA. And a Timbers Resorts oceanfront private resort in Mexico — featuring an upscale beach club, dining venue, spa, a residence club and full residential component — that PlumpJack will manage.

“Timbers Resorts and PlumpJack are like-minded companies that provide only the finest properties and services for our guests,” remarked Timbers Resorts Founder and CEO David Burden. “This alliance will result in a series of Timbers Resorts/PlumpJack ventures that will add to the Timbers Collection as well as to the PlumpJack family of wonderful offerings.”

“Combining Timbers Resorts’ ability to create prime real estate opportunities and PlumpJack’s expertise in approachable luxury, we will be able to provide our guests and residents with unforgettable experiences at our highly sought-after destinations,” said PlumpJack Group President, CEO and Partner Rick Riess.

Timbers Resorts will work to create great real estate opportunities in highly sought after resort venues and PlumpJack will provide the ongoing personal attention and relaxed yet luxurious dining, lodging, spa and other amenity experiences for which it is renowned.

Perspective Magazine, (www.theperspectivemagazine.com) the most read independent B2B publication for the timeshare and shared ownership industry already covers 9 major industry conventions around the world; including ARDA, CRDA, ATHOC, OTE & VOIC and now has become a media sponsor for the upcoming Fractional Summit in London this July.

Details Below:

Fractional Ownership Conference, July 7th 2008, London

Join us at the first UK based Fractional Property Conference Monday 7th July 2008 at the prestigious Andaz Hotel, City of London. Recently identified by the J Walter Thompson agency as the key consumer trend in 2008, if you are at the forefront of the burgeoning fractional property sector in the UK and Europe, or want to meet those who are, book now at www.fractionalsummit.com

Over the last few years, the vision and boldness of industry leaders in the UK and Europe has transformed the fractional marketplace and created one of the world’s fastest growing areas of consumer real estate, with fractional property at its core.
To reflect this, Fractional Summit 2008’s theme, ‘Fractional ownership – a lifestyle and investment choice of the future?’ is set to look at the growth in the fractional marketplace to date and the future of the UK and European economy and its impact on overseas property.
Limited places available and full speaker programme now online.

“I suggest you put this in your July schedule now if you are interested in the Fractional Ownership business and how it will develop in the coming years.”

Eric Gummers, Partner, Head of Leisure and Hospitality, Howard Kennedy, http://www.howardkennedy.com
 
“A unique opportunity to meet the movers and shakers of the fractional industry and to gain a unique insight into the fractional property marketplace.”
 
Piers Brown, Fractional Life, http://www.fractionallife.com

Who Should Attend? Real Estate Developers, Exchange Companies, Fractional and Vacation Ownership Sales / Marketing Managers, Fractional Consultants, Fractional Entrepreneurs, Hospitality Management, Financial Instituitions, Legal Professionals, Investment Representatives, Suppliers of Value Added Programs and Incentives,Hospitality Industry Suppliers
Industry Sectors: Fractional ownership, Residence Clubs, Condo Hotels, Buy-To-Let Hotel Room Concept, Multi Destination Club Systems

Fractionallife.com is the fractional web portal providing a one-stop site to assist consumers in making sense of the currently expanding fractional ownership marketplace.
The website is also specifically designed to give the consumer the choice of the best of everything at a fraction of the cost, all under one roof in a ‘fractional superstore’.

Howard Kennedy is a leading law firm located in the heart of London’s West End, committed to providing practical commercial advice to our broad national and international client base.

For more information please visit:
http://www.fractionalsummit.com
http://www.fractionallife.com
http://www.howardkennedy.com

Indian fractional air charter firm BJETS has placed a major order with the US company Hawker Beechcraft to acquire ten Hawker 4000 business jets worth over $330 million.

This new order, with options for five additional aircraft, compliments BJETS’ previous order for the purchase of 11 Hawker 900XP and nine 850XP business jets for their fractional fleet throughout India and Southeast Asia.
BJETS, a private company based in Mumbai and Singapore, provides fractional and block charters to corporate houses and high networth individuals. It has a flight operations centre based in Hyderabad.

Fractional ownership means a person or a company can make part payment for the aircraft and operate it in accordance with their own requirement.

BJETS CEO Mark Baier said the key factors which led them to select Hawker business jets were its advanced design, performance and exceptional cabin which “surpassed the standards we expect for our customers”.

“We are delighted to once again provide BJETS the best aircraft in the industry for their private jet travel services,” Brad Hatt, President (Commercial Aircraft) of the Kansas-based Hawker Beechcraft Corporation, said.

India, according to Hawker Beechcraft, is the third largest geographic region after US and Brazil, for the sale of its products, a release said.

The Hawker 4000 is a “super-midsized aircraft with long-range features”, which can attain a height of 37,000 feet. It is powered by Pratt&Whitney’s PW308A engines.

New concept hotel to open in one of Florida’s Premier Golf Communities in 2009

aloha! Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(R) (NYSE:HOT) and its much-anticipated new lifestyle brand, aloft(sm) hotels, announces a groundbreaking celebration today at 11 a.m. for the new aloft hotel in Aventura, Florida. Developed and owned by Cabi Aventura Hotel, LLP and Aventura Development, aloft Aventura Hotel is scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. The 215-room hotel will offer a variety of intuitive technologies and atmospheric public spaces, including a 5,000 square foot meeting space.

aloft Aventura Hotel will be conveniently located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale in what is known as a golf haven due to its vast selection of premium courses. Just minutes from world-famous South Beach, the community offers balmy weather, beautiful parks and easy access to Miami Seaquarium, Coral Gables, Hollywood Greyhound Track, and the Aventura Mall – a 2.4 million square foot retail center with fine dining, upscale shopping and entertainment. The new-construction hotel will be located at 2777 NE 185th Street, several minutes from both the Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.

“The dynamism and sophistication of the aloft brand will complement the energy of Aventura, one of Florida’s most appealing communities,” said Brian McGuinness, Brand Leader, aloft hotels worldwide. “Youthful-minded travelers will appreciate the aloft brand’s emphasis on creativity, culture and style.”

“Bringing aloft hotels to Aventura fits with the growing community’s active and chic lifestyle,” said Misha Mladenovic, VP of Development for Cabi Developers. “aloft Aventura Hotel will provide a getaway from the area’s fast-paced environment, while staying true to the glamour and essence of South Florida.”

As a Vision of W Hotels, aloft hotels are shaking up the lodging industry with urban-influenced design, accessible technology, style and a social atmosphere. aloft hotels offer a total sensory experience, with guest rooms featuring loft-like nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows to create a bright, airy environment. The centerpiece of each aloft room is the plush platform bed, and large stylish bathrooms complement the guest experience with oversized walk-in showers and amenities created by bliss(R) spa. Each aloft room is also a combination high-tech office and entertainment center, featuring wireless internet access and a one-stop connectivity solution for multiple electronic gadgetry such as PDAs, cell phones, mp3 players and laptops – all linked to a large flat panel LCD television for optimal sound and viewing.

Designed in conjunction with world renowned David Rockwell and the Rockwell Group, aloft hotels stay true to the W Hotel brand’s heritage, offering atmospheric public spaces designed to draw guests from their rooms to socialize and make friends. Guests can read the paper, work on their laptops via hotel-wide wireless internet access, play a game of pool or grab a drink with friends at the re:mix communal lobby area and bar w xyz. The re:charge fitness center and the indoor or outdoor pool, give travelers options to de-stress and re-energize; while the re:fuel by aloft one-stop food and beverage area, offers sweet, savory and healthy food, snacks and beverages to grab & go, 24-hours a day.


About aloft
An instant hit in the development community, the first aloft hotels are scheduled to open in summer 2008. The aloft brand has already announced more than 60 development projects, in more than 10 countries. In 2009, the aloft brand will continue its momentum with the opening of more than 50 hotels broadening the international footprint and domestically positioning aloft hotels in markets previously underpenetrated

The first aloft hotels are scheduled to open in Chicago O’Hare, IL, Minneapolis, MN, and Philadelphia Airport, PA, Lexington, MA, Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Rogers-Bentonville, AR as well as Montreal Airport and Beijing, China. Scheduled to open in 2009 are aloft Brooklyn, NY, Denver International Airport, CO, Dallas, TX, Atlanta, GA, Las Vegas, NV and Toronto, Canada.

For more information on aloft hotels, visit www.alofthotels.com.


About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), and Element(SM). Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.


About Cabi Developers
Cabi Developers is the U.S. subsidiary of GICSA, Mexico’s foremost development company. Since entering the U.S. market in 2000, the company has successfully developed and operated in Florida, California and Texas. In South Florida, Cabi Developers has completed The Parc at Turnberry Isle, a 111-unit residential development and Country Club Center in Aventura, a Class-A office building.

Current Projects include:

– Capital at Brickell, a development of more than $500 million in the Brickell area, which is Miami’s financial district. The project, with expected completion in 2011, will consist of residences, offices and retail.

– Everglades on the Bay, a mixed-use development located in the heart of Downtown Miami with more than 800 condominium units and 58,000 square feet on ground-floor retail, which is set for completion in Summer 2008.

– Naya Miami Beach, a 7-story residential building comprised of seven luxury town homes, 20 condominium units, and 15 penthouses. The project is located in Miami Beach with an anticipated completion date of September 2009.

– Bella Vista Hotel, a 12-story, 4-star hotel with 351 units located in San Antonio, Texas. Development is scheduled to begin in October 2008 and the opening is anticipated for July 2010.

– The Residences at Bella Vista, the second phase of Bella Vista Hotel in San Antonio, Texas will include a 15-story condominium complex with 250 units.

Following a banner year in 2007, after just three years in operation, Sol Meliá Vacation Club (SMVC) is reporting a strong start to 2008 and its fourth year with a total revenue increase of 22 percent for the first quarter of 2008, over the same period last year. The overall improvement in revenues, along with improved costs and operating expense efficiencies, has also resulted in a continued strong EBITDA margin of 41 percent for the first quarter.

The Orlando-based company, which is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, continues to gain sales momentum with the success of new projects in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, the Dominican Republic and Central America and the launch of its deluxe four-bedroom villas product which is marketed and sold as a multiple weeks package.

“The quality of our internationally branded Club product and efficiency of our global sales programs are what distinguish us,” said Alain Grangé, Chief Executive of Sol Meliá Vacation Club and Sol Meliá Leisure Real Estate. “With over 20,000 active members since our inception, SMVC is rapidly growing its portfolio of international resort locations and is a strengthening force of Sol Meliá’s overall leisure real estate focus.”

In 2008, Sol Meliá Vacation Club will open new projects in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, the Canary Islands, Spain and the second phase of Sol Meliá Vacation Club at Gran Meliá Puerto Rico.

Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club that focuses on providing leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury accommodations, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities. The leisure lifestyle concept is designed to provide members with an entire lifetime of leisure experiences to meet their ever changing needs. All members have access through SMVC to stay at all Sol Meliá’s hotels and resorts worldwide, including those in destinations such as Paris, London, Madrid, Rome and more.

Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts is a 50-year-old international hospitality company with 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents. Sol Meliá Vacation Club members enjoy the best of both worlds: all the conveniences and amenities of a world-class resort, plus the value, flexibility and choice that vacation membership offers throughout the Sol Meliá Vacation Network. Members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world as well as the flexibility to choose the length of stay, season and size of unit. In addition, Members can save their vacation time from one year to the next if needed, borrow from future vacation years to create a special experience that could include airfare or a spectacular cruise, divide their vacation time into shorter getaway or nightly stays or stay at any Sol Meliá hotel or affiliated resort worldwide.

For Sol Meliá Vacation Club details, call (407) 370-3671 or visit www.smvc.com.

American Resort Development Association Concurs with Recent Survey Findings that Americans are Vacation-Deprived

While many people across this great nation get ready to celebrate the first weekend of summer, most people don’t have any plans to vacation this year. Based on the recent Expedia Vacation Deprivation™ survey, Americans not only receive the smallest amount of vacation time among their counterparts abroad, they often fail to use it. The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) challenges the vacation-deprived among us take the first step to recovery and admit there is a problem.

“I’m dismayed but not surprised at these findings,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “People need to realize that taking time to unwind is an important health benefit. Relieving stress, spending family time and re-energizing will pay dividends throughout the rest of the year.”

The second step in vacation deprivation recovery is to ensure that the vacation is the best possible experience it can be. ARDA member resorts provide spacious accommodations in stunning locations with all the comforts of home. A timeshare resort offers hassle-free second home vacations designed with the sole purpose of making the most of precious leisure time together.

Expedia found that despite reporting an average of 14 paid vacation days again this year, the same as 2007 and two more than in 2005, an estimated 47.5MM Americans will not use all of their vacation days. Again this year, employed U.S. adults will leave an average of three vacation days on the table, in essence giving back more than 460 million vacation days in 2008.

Everyone deserves not only a vacation, but a better vacation. For more information contact ARDA at www.arda.org.

Shortly after announcing its first foray into Asia’s premier tourist destination of Phuket, Thailand, Outrigger Enterprises Group today announced that it will open an absolute beachfront condominium resort in Phuket in early 2009.

The new resort, to be called “Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort, Phuket”, will be the first Outrigger property to open in the area. The 78 unit, luxury hotel condominium resort is being built at Rawai Beach along the south coast of Phuket, just south of the town of Phuket, and nearby to the Evason Phuket Resort and the planned Four Seasons Resort. Serenity Development Group, a global company specializing in residential resort developments in North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, is the developer of the project.

The five-star, beachfront resort is scheduled to open early 2009 and will consist of 78 luxury one and two bedroom apartments, most with spectacular ocean and island views, several exclusive penthouses each with a roof top terrace, sun deck and some with their own roof top lap pool. Also featured are beachfront duplexes and lofts with their own private swimming pools. Formula 1 Grand Prix World Champion Kimi Räikkönen will be a regular at the resort as he has purchased one of the beachfront units.

Each of the spacious apartments will be impeccably finished with the highest quality materials, including premium granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The long list of resort amenities will include a large beachfront clubhouse with an infinity pool, a fully equipped sports gym, holistic spa services and a signature restaurant and bar that touches the beachfront. In addition, a unique feature of Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort, Phuket will be a long list of Serenity Toys, including a fully-equipped speed boat, two Hobie Cat catamarans, and four kayaks. For additional information on Serenity Terraces, log on to www.serenity-terraces.com.

“Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort is an outstanding property with a superb beachfront location that also allows easy access to the stunning islands off the coast of Phuket,” said David Carey, president and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises Group. “We’re excited to be a part of this beautiful luxury development on the much sought after island of Phuket and look forward to working with the Serenity Development Group to provide our guests the highest level of accommodations and services.”

“Keeping in line with the other luxury developments in the area, Serenity Terraces will be an exclusive enclave offering the very best in service and accommodations for the world traveler,” said Elad Kushnir, development director of Serenity Development Group. “Outrigger Enterprises Group has a long history of trusted property management and quality hospitality and we’re delighted to have brought them on board at Serenity Terraces.”

Phuket is one of Asia’s most popular resort destinations with easy international access, strong infrastructure and legendary natural beauty. Set in the Andaman Sea off the southwestern coast of Thailand, Phuket is connected to the mainland by a causeway allowing easy road access. The largest of Thailand’s islands, Phuket offers
idyllic beaches, exclusive resorts, world class shopping, an expansive array of dining, exciting eco-adventure tours, golf at world-standard championship courses and unsurpassed diving in the Andaman Sea.

Outrigger Serenity Terraces Resort, Phuket is located at Rawai Beach, a picturesque area of the island that is just ten minutes from Phuket Town and an easy 45 minute drive from Phuket International Airport.

Once a small fishing village, Rawai today is a sought after destination with upscale developments offering an array of dining, entertainment and recreational services and facilities, including yachting, diving and unparalleled beach life.

“With two projects now underway in Thailand and another two moving forward in Bali, Outrigger is quickly building a presence in Asia,” said Outrigger’s David Carey. “We are looking right now at potential hotel projects in Koh Samui, Pattaya, Krabi and Hua Hin in Thailand, Hainan Island in China, Okinawa and Vietnam and also have a number of other destinations targeted for future consideration. This is an exciting
time for Outrigger as we continue to grow throughout the Asia-Pacific region.”


About Outrigger Enterprises Group
Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of the largest and fastest growing privately-held leisure lodging and hospitality companies in the Asia Pacific and Oceania regions and continues to expand its presence throughout the area.

A family-owned company with more than 60 years of hospitality experience, Outrigger runs a highly-successful, multi-branded line of hotels, condominiums and vacation resort properties, including Outrigger® Hotels & Resorts, OHANA® Hotels & Resorts, Outrigger Condominium Collection®, Embassy Suites®, Best Western® and Wyndham Vacation Ownership®. Currently, Outrigger operates and/or has under development 47 properties with close to 12,000 rooms located in Hawaii, Australia, Guam, Fiji, Palau, Bali and Phuket, Thailand.

Outrigger Enterprises Group also operates and develops hotel properties and hospitality-related retail and real estate opportunities for partners in Hawaii, the Pacific, the mainland USA and Asia. For on-line information, log on at
www.outriggerenterprisesgroup.com and www.outrigger.com.

*Embassy Suites is a registered trade mark of Hilton Hotels Corporation.

Interval International, a leading provider of vacation services, presented Captain Morgan’s Vacation Beach Club in Belize with the Interval International Premier Resort Award® for 2008 at a ceremony held recently at the property. The annual award recognizes resorts that provide outstanding vacation experiences with state-of-the-art conveniences, and modern features and appointments.

The beachfront resort is located on Ambergris Caye, the largest island off the coast of Belize, and is just three miles north of the town of San Pedro. It features eight private cabanas and 25 spacious one- and two-bedroom villas that are tastefully designed with indigenous woods and stone finishes. All luxuriously furnished units have scenic views of the white-sand beaches and turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

 “Captain Morgan’s is the first resort in the Central American region to earn the Interval International Premier Resort Award, the highest level in our resort quality recognition program,” said Dmitri Pekhterev, Interval’s director of resort sales and service for Central and South America. “The property’s extraordinary setting, the caliber of its accommodations, and the comprehensive array of activities it offers make it deserving of this designation.”

“We are very pleased to receive the award, which is a testament to both the quality of our resort and the exceptional service our staff provides,” said Ernest Olmstead, president, Captain Morgan’s Vacation Beach Club. “We look forward to giving our owners and guests the opportunity to enjoy memorable vacations and experience all the wonders of Belize.”

Guests can enjoy numerous amenities, services, and activities at or near the property, including a 1,200-foot beach, two freshwater swimming pools, pool-side grill, restaurant, cocktail lounge, spa, convenience store, snorkeling, fishing, scuba diving, sailing, windsurfing, bird-watching treks, river kayaking trips, canopy tours, and Mayan ruins expeditions.

For the outdoor enthusiast, Belize presents unlimited opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities. It offers an intriguing mix of lush tropical rainforests rich with exotic tropical flora and fauna, majestic mountains, and the longest natural barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.

Interval International is a leading provider of exchange, travel, and leisure services to resort developers and vacationers worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 30 years. Today, Interval has a network of over 2,300 resorts in excess of 75 countries and offers its clients and nearly 2 million member families high-quality products and programs through its 28 offices in 17 countries. Interval is part of IAC, which owns and operates more than 60 diversified brands in sectors being transformed by the Internet, online and offline. Other IAC companies include Ask.com, HSN, LendingTree, Match.com, and Ticketmaster.

Diamond Aircraft Lands New European Customer

The London-made D-Jet will be winging its way over Europe.

Diamond Aircraft has received an order for eight of the personal jets from Smart Air, located in Luxembourg, which will operate a D-Jet fleet across the continent when it gets its planes in 2010.

“They have ordered eight but they hope to order many more,” Peter Maurer, Diamond president, said yesterday. “We expected it. If they wait, there will be a backlog and it will take a long time for them to get the aircraft.”

Smart Air is a fractional ownership company, meaning it sells shares in one aircraft to different businesses or individuals and they share the costs and get use of the planes for limited periods of time.

Smart Air will operate the D-Jet in Finland, the UK, France, Germany and Italy, to name a few countries, and Maurer believes the fractional ownership business is poised to grow across Europe, putting Diamond in the position of selling more D-Jets if it does.

“Many companies here in North America are doing fractional ownership, but it is just starting in Europe. This is a significant customer,” he said.

Diamond now has more than 350 orders for the D-Jet which starts rolling off the London assembly line in mid-2009. It is common to get large advance orders because companies want to beat any anticipated backlog for the aircraft, said Maurer.

The D-Jet is getting attention, and sales, because it has a single engine, which means is has lower costs and is easier to use than most larger, costlier personal jets, said Maurer.

It will cost about $1.5 million and can be flown by owner-operators because it has a low ceiling of 7,600 metres as compared to about 12,000 for commercial and military jets.

“That makes it more attainable for average pilots. Things are proceeding well,” said Maurer.

Diamond is now building its forth prototype of the D-Jet.

The company also released its first quarter sales results for 2008. Sales dipped this quarter compared to the first quarter of 2007, but the industry is in decline because of the high cost of fuel and the softening economy in the U.S., added Maurer.

Sales of piston-powered planes dropped across the industry 28 per cent this quarter to 781 sales.

Diamond Aircraft, in both Europe and London, sold 101 airplanes valued at $37.6 million this quarter. Over the same period in 2007 Diamond sold 115 aircraft valued at $44 million.

“Considering the market, we are holding our own,” he said.

For all of 2007, Diamond sold 471 planes valued at $185 million. Diamond in London now employs about 600 people.

In February Diamond received a $19.6-million loan from the federal government to help secure the D-Jet for London.

The London plant now manufactures the DA-42 twin-engine, four-seater aircraft; DA-40, single-engine, four-seater aircraft; and DA-20, two-seater aircraft.

Based in Austria, Diamond is the world’s third-largest producer of light aircraft.

Editors’ Choice Reveals Leading Luxury Destination Club as the Preferred Option in Luxury Travel

Exclusive Resorts (www.exclusiveresorts.com), the world’s leading luxury destination club, has been recognized in Robb Report’s 20th annual “Best of the Best” issue as the “Best Full-Size Destination Club.”

This is the fourth time that Exclusive Resorts has been featured in Robb Report’s annual “Best of the Best” issue and it is the third time the club has received the “Best of the Best” distinction in its category. Coming on the heels of the club’s designation as one of four “Icons and Innovators” that are “redefining luxury” by Robb Report in January of this year, this distinction underscores Exclusive Resorts’ continued leadership in the destination club industry and commitment to providing its members with the finest vacation experiences possible.

“It is a very great honor to be recognized by Robb Report in its 2008 ‘Best of the Best’ issue,” said Jeff Potter, chief executive officer of Exclusive Resorts. “Such recognition by the definitive guide and authority on luxury living for affluent consumers is the highest compliment and is an affirmation of both the hard work of Exclusive Resorts employees and the club’s dedication to providing our members with the greatest choice, flexibility and value possible.”

Robb Report identified Exclusive Resorts as the “Best Full-Size Destination Club” for its continued growth, the exceptional choice and flexibility the club offers members, and the innovative programs the club has put in place to enhance the value of membership and continue shaping the future of the industry.

As noted in the article, what truly separates Exclusive Resorts from other destination clubs is the depth and variety of vacation experiences available to members. Robb Report applauds the ongoing growth of the club’s portfolio of residences, citing as examples Exclusive Resorts’ many residences in development in destinations including Kapalua, Maui; San Francisco, CA; Las Vegas, NV; and Sea Island, GA. The continued growth of the club’s offerings, coupled with the variety of experiences available through the club’s Once in a Lifetime program, ensure that Exclusive Resorts members always enjoy maximum choice and flexibility when deciding where to travel.

The article specifically calls attention to Exclusive Resorts’ innovative Once in a Lifetime program, launched in April 2007. This program is both the most unique and the most expansive in the luxury destination club industry, taking members on private journeys that have been specifically designed for Exclusive Resorts and cannot be replicated. Offering everything from a cultural tour of the Kingdom of Bhutan to a family cycling trip through France’s Loire Valley, the club’s Once in a Lifetime program allows members to explore more than 20 countries and six continents on genuinely unique journeys that have been created with them in mind.

In addition to outlining Exclusive Resorts’ innovative Once in a Lifetime program, the article briefly mentions the variety of membership plans that the club now offers, which range from 10 to 60 days. With the launch of this entirely new suite of membership plans in April 2008, Exclusive Resorts became the first club in the industry to un-package destination club membership and work with members to design plans that work perfectly for them.

“This recognition is greatly appreciated by everyone here at Exclusive Resorts,” continued Potter. “It is a reflection on the constant efforts of our employees who strive to always seek out and implement innovative ways to add value to club membership and make our members’ vacations even better. We look forward to continuing our success and guiding the ongoing development of this dynamic industry.”


About Exclusive Resorts
Founded in 2002, Exclusive Resorts is the world’s leading luxury destination club, with more than 3,000 members and a real estate portfolio valued at more than $1 billion, consisting of more than 350 luxury residences in dozens of vacation destinations and another 125 in development. The club has maintained a satisfaction rating of 95 percent among its members after providing more than 50,000 vacations. Recognized by Robb Report as an “Icon and Innovator” that is “redefining luxury” and named “Best of the Best” three times by the same publication, Exclusive Resorts combines the spaciousness and elegance of a private residence with the services and amenities of a five-star resort. Exclusive Resorts is the destination club partner of choice for leading companies including American Express, Neiman Marcus and Marquis Jet. For more information, please visit www.exclusiveresorts.com.

The fractional ownership market in South Africa is being driven by consumer demands, not by the promoters, and the projects that will emerge victorious will be those that cater for what consumers are looking for. So says co-founder of fractionalownership.co.za and member of the South African Association of Fractional Intermediaries (SAAFI) Working Committee, Dirk Wilson.

“It really boils down to what service levels the South African consumer expects from a luxury lifestyle investment such as fractional. When they arrive at their fractional holiday home at Pinnacle Point or Zimbali they expect a hotel-style check-in, cleaning services and check-out facilities. Everything must be of a very high standard in terms of value-added on-site services – for example, being able to phone down to reception and book a round of golf or organize fresh towels for the morning. They can’t just arrive at a game farm, be pointed 2 km down the road, given their keys, and told ‘There’s your bush lodge, see you in a week!’.”

Wilson explains this trend of consumer control further: “There are many resort developers who are looking to do mixed-use developments, and they want fractional to be a component. Undoubtedly the on-site hospitality provider is the most intricate part of making a successful project – those who do not have a specialized hospitality or hotel operator on the resort and don’t have the standard of say a Three Cities or Legacy, have to provide an equivalent standard – because this is what the market expects. Many developments just don’t have the infrastructure to be able to provide this standard.

“Many leading fractional promoters now are only taking on properties where there is a leading hotel operator at that resort, since the market demands it. Feedback from the recent World Fractional Ownership Conference in San Francisco, USA, is also that by far the most successful fractional ownership resorts in the USA are those serviced by the likes of Marriott, Hyatt Hilton and Fairmont, and the South African market is following suit. It is mirroring what is happening in the USA – where they have 8 years’ more experience in this arena than us – and we see it as a good sign that our market is aspiring to live up to that same standard of shareholder hospitality and exchange.”
He says that feedback from consumers that have bought fractional indicates is that their experience of top-notch services is the defining factor that really makes their purchase worthwhile. “Fractional ownership should equal shareholder hospitality and comfort – and this is a reality that developers have to face. We endorse this and aim to educate potential players in our regular workshops of what logistics they need to provide in order to roll out a successful fractional ownership resort.”

fractionalownership.co.za holds workshops every 2 months – one each in Cape Town and Johannesburg, the next scheduled for mid-June. Says Wilson: “We are happy to assist the developers and service providers. We see many at our workshops that would like to do fractional because it adds value to their entire development, but they have to be able to live up to what the consumer expects from their purchase.” He adds that he is now seeing many players from the financial sector attending the workshops – since their clients want to know whether they should buy shares in fractional, a trend once again driven by the consumer.

To book for the workshop or for any enquiries contact Dirk Wilson on 072 591 0582 or 021 556 5064, visit www.fractionalownership.co.za

Program Expands With a Number of New Partners Across Popular Categories, including Wynn® Las Vegas, Air Tahiti Nui, Legal Sea Food and USGA®

American Express today announced the 2008 partner lineup for its industry-leading Membership Rewards® program, which includes the addition of several new partners across popular categories and gives Cardmembers even more ways to redeem points.

Among the latest additions to the program are Wynn Las Vegas, one of the premier resorts in Las Vegas and Air Tahiti Nui, which provides non-stop flights from New York and Los Angeles to Tahiti. Other new additions to the 2008 Membership Rewards program include:

Retail partners, such as west elm®;
Dining & Entertainment partners, such as Legal Sea Food, Forth Wall Restaurants, U.S. Golf Association [USGA®]; and
Travel partners, such as Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and The Peninsula Hotels.
These latest additions are among the hundreds of redemption options that are available to enrollees and span across the program’s nine major categories: Airlines, Car Rentals and Rail, Charities, Dining & Entertainment, Financial Services, Hotels, Merchandise, Retail, and Sports and Adventure.

“Continuing to grow and enhance the Membership Rewards program is a key goal for American Express,” said Tracey Beberman, vice president, Membership Rewards, American Express. “We know that Cardmembers value the program’s redemption options and by adding more partners we give them more ways to redeem points and get the kinds of things they want.”


The 2008 Membership Rewards Program Partners are:

Airlines: Aeromexico, Aeroplan®, Air France KLM, Air Jamaica, Air Tahiti Nui, AirTran Airways, Alitalia Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Cathay Pacific Airways, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, EL AL Israel Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines®, JetBlue Airways, Mexicana® Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Southwest Airlines®, SWISS and Virgin Atlantic Airways.

Car Rentals and Rail: Amtrak®, Avis®, Enterprise Rent-A-Car®, Hertz® and Rail Europe.

Charity: GivingExpress [run by JustGive.org].

Dining & Entertainment: AMC Entertainment® , American Express ® Gift Cards Especially for Dining, Benihana, BLOCKBUSTER®, By Invitation Only® Events for Platinum Cardmembers, California Pizza Kitchen, Cinemark Theatres®, CityPass®, Create Your Own Reward, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar®, Fourth Wall Restaurants, iTunes®, Legal Sea Food, Lettuce Entertain You® Enterprises, Inc., McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Morton’s® The Steakhouse, Olive Garden®, Patina Restaurant Group, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro®, Red Lobster®, Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine, Regal Entertainment Group, Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group©, Telecharge.com, The Capital Grille®, The Cheesecake Factory®, The Melting Pot, Ticketmaster, Tribeca Film Festival and USTATM.

Retail: Banana Republic, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Bath & Body Works®, Bloomingdale’s, Brooks Brothers, Cole Haan, Crate and Barrel, DellTM Computer, ESCADA, FTD.COM®, Gap, Lands’ End®, Linens’n Things®, L’Occitane, Nike, Pottery Barn®, Pottery Barn Kids®, Red Door Spas, Restoration Hardware, Saks Fifth Avenue, Smithsonian Institution, SpaFinder®, Talbots, The Home Depot®, Tourneau, 800wine.com, west elm®, Williams-Sonoma® and Williams-Sonoma Home®.

First Collection: Baccarat, Bergdorf Goodman, Chopard, Davidoff Cigars and Accessories, Ermenegildo Zegna, Exclusive Resorts, Girard Perregaux, Gucci, IWC, Lamborghini, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Mikimoto, Monarch Billiards, Montegrappa writing instruments, Neiman Marcus, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Pebble Beach Resorts®, Piaget, Premium Wines, Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Relais & Chateaux Grands Chefs Restaurants, Salvatore Ferragamo, The Peninsula Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton, Tiffany & Co. and Virgin Limited Edition.

Financial Services: American Express® Gift Cards, American Express® Gift Cheques, American Express® Travelers Cheques, MileageManager, Link2Gov (www.pay1040.com/mr), Official Payments Corp.® (www.officialpayments.com/mr), Points.com and Upromise®.

Hotels: Best Western Gold Crown Club® International, Destination Hotels and Resorts, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts/Raffles Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Honors® (Hilton®, Conrad®, Coral by Hilton, Doubletree®, Embassy Suites Hotels®, Hampton Inn® , Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn®, Hilton Grand Vacations Club®, Homewood Suites by Hilton®, and Scandic), Hyatt Hotels & Resorts®, Priority Club® Rewards (InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo®, Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®), Joie de Vivre Hotels, Loews Hotels, LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels, Marriott Individual Incentives, Marriott Vacation Club International, Miraval Life in Balance Resort and Spa, Omni Hotels®, Preferred Hotel Group (Preferred Hotels & Resorts and Summit Hotels & Resorts), Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Preferred Guest® (St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W Hotels®, Le Meridien®, Sheraton® Hotels & Resorts, Four Points® by Sheraton, Westin® Hotel & Resorts), Swissotel Hotels & Resorts and Wynn® Las Vegas.

Sports and Adventure: Abercrombie & Kent, Aspen/Snowmass, Butterfield & Robinson, Classic Car Club, Epiculinary, ESPN Golf Schools Presented by American Express, Golf Academy at The Sea Pines Resort, Intrawest Mountain Resorts, Lake Austin Spa, Mountain Travel Sobek, Mizuno Golf, The Moorings, The Moorings Power, O.A.R.S, Richard Petty Driving Experience™, Skip Barber Racing School, Six Flags, Smithsonian Journeys, Space Adventures Ltd., Tauck World Discovery, The Worlds of Busch Gardens, The Canyons, Troon Golf, Theme Parks Unlimited, USGA®, Vail Resorts, Van Der Meer Tennis and Xperience Days.

Merchandise: Adidas, All-Clad, Anolon, AT&T, Bang & Olufsen, Baume & Mercier, Bodum®, Bose®, Boston Acoustics, Bowflex®, Bulova, Bushnell, Callaway® Golf, Camelback, Canon, Casio, Celestron, Circulon, Cobra Golf, Coleman, Creative®, Cuisinart, DeLonghi, Dooney & Bourke, Dunhill, Dyson, Garmin, Hartmann, Hewlett Packard, Hoover, iRobot, Jabra, JA Henckels, Jansport, JBL, JVC, Kate Spade, Kenneth Cole Reaction, KitchenAid®, KOSS, Krups, Lagos, Lalique, Le Creuset®, Lenox, Life Fitness, Lladro, Logitech®, Magellan, Majorica, Maui Jim®, Microsoft, Mizuno, Monster Cable, Montblanc, Motorola, Movado, Nambe, Nautilus, Nike, Nikon, The North Face, Oakley, Ogio, Omas, Oreck®, Panasonic, Pentax®, Philips, Pioneer, Plantronics, Polar, Ray-Ban, Riedel, Royal, Samsonite, Samsung, SanDisk, SenrySafe, Sharp, Skagen, Skil, Sky Golf, SIRIUS Satellite, Sony®, Staub, Steiner Sports, Swarovski, TAG Heuer, Takamine, TaylorMade®, Timberland, Titleist® Golf, TIVO, Toro, Toshiba, Travelpro, Trek®, Tumi®, Villeroy & Boch, Waterford, Weber, Wilson®, Yamaha, and many more.

The Membership Rewards program from American Express has more than 140 redemption partners. The program allows Cardmembers to earn one point for virtually every dollar charged on eligible, enrolled American Express® Cards.

Membership Rewards points are redeemable in a wide selection of reward categories. Enrollees may also customize their own redemption experiences through the program’s Create Your Reward and Experiences options and use points for just about anything they can imagine. Points have no expiration date, and there is no limit on the number of points a Cardmember can earn.

For more information about the Membership Rewards program, Cardmembers can visit: www.membershiprewards.com or call 1-800-THE-CARD.

American Express company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850.

YachtPlus, one of the worlds’ most exclusive fractional ownership companies, has announced that it will be launching its first superyacht this September at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Formed in 2005 by a group of financial investors, YachtPlus is rapidly becoming the market leader in fractional ownership and this year will introduce one of the most spectacular and exceptionally beautiful contemporary yachts to the market. Named YachtPlus 1 this floating masterpiece was designed by internationally renowned architect Norman Foster and will be the first of 10 identical superyachts to be built over the next three years at the Rodriquez Cantieri Navali yard at La Spezia, Italy.

With a strong emphasis on quality and quantity of space this stunning four deck boat has an overall length of 41 meters. Once commissioned, the yachts will have five suites for up to 12 guests at any one time who will be looked after by a permanent crew of seven highly trained and experienced staff. The internal planning of the yachts will offer total flexibility to respond to the most discerning needs of owners and their guests and families with keen attention being paid to design and detail ranging from space and ambience down to crockery, cutlery, fabrics and crew uniforms.

Commenting on his design Foster said, “I am personally hugely excited by the challenges posed by the YachtPlus fleet starting with the design of the 40 “Signature Series.” For me this is an invitation to think afresh the whole concept of a 41 meter luxury superyacht from a broad brush strategy down to the smallest detail both inside and out.”

On his appointment as YachtPlus CEO Sergio Dell’Acqua said, “Fractional ownership is fast becoming acknowledged as the way forward for those wishing to have a personal involvement in top- end luxury products. At YachtPlus we offer the discerning investor the opportunity to part- own a truly spectacular yacht without all the hassles and financial burdens found in sole ownership. It is one of the most exciting concepts to hit the luxury market in recent years and we look forward to an exciting and developing future.”

The concept of fractional ownership is one of the fastest growing options in the market and is rapidly becoming recognized as the most cost effective and enjoyable way of gaining part ownership of ultra- luxury products. One of the main attractions of this type of ownership is that it removes all the problems, worries and concerns associated with sole ownership thereby giving total pleasure, relaxation and privacy to those participating.

In order to join the YachtPlus ownership programme an initial payment of EUR1,850,000 will give a 1/8th shared ownership of the yacht and guarantees 30 full days per year on board – 10 days peak season in the Mediterranean and 10 days peak season in the Caribbean and two five day “cultural cruises.” 1/8th ownership will also give access to the YachtPlus fleet of 10 identical yachts worldwide so the owner can choose when and where they go. The contract period is for eight years after which time the yachts will be sold and the owners will receive full pro-rated proceeds from the sale. All arrangements from bookings to transport, private jet and helicopter transfers and onboard requests will be handled by the YachtPlus Concierge who will take care of every detail and all requirements thereby further enhancing the ultimate experience in hospitality, service and luxury available to the owners.

YachtPlus’s second boat will be launched in early 2009 with two more to follow later in the year. A further six yachts are scheduled to be launched during 2010/2011 to complete the YachtPlus fleet.


Source: www.superyachttimes.com

PINE Lake Marina Holiday Resort on the Swartvlei on The Garden Route was sold recently for R118m by Van Rensburgs Auctions.

It was bought by a consortium of investors, and sold as a going concern, inclusive of all its moveable assets.

The resort — developed in 1986 and sold on a timeshare basis — has been awarded gold crown status by RCI International, one of the largest brokers of timeshare trades.

Pine Lake Marina covers an area of 9,3ha, with direct 200m Swartvlei frontage.

The resort has 185 accommodation units as well as infrastructure such as an administration block, staff housing, a clubhouse, four swimming pools, tennis courts, games room, a squash court, putt putt course, a restaurant with a bar, a laundry, a salon and a shop, and water sports facilities. Auctioneer Louis van Rensburg, of Van Rensburgs Auctions in George, conducted bidding, which began at R60m.

“Everybody seems to be very happy with the outcome. It again emphasises the demand for excellent properties on the Garden Route,” Van Rensburg said afterwards.


Source: Business Day

SnOasis – €600m mixed-use development outside Ipswich, UK

First Equity Group (the “Group”), an Irish private equity and real estate group today confirmed that, Onslow Suffolk Limited (“OSL”), a consortium in which the Group and its investors are a 70% shareholder, has received significant support from the UK Government for a mixed-use residential, leisure and commercial development outside Ipswich, UK with a gross development value of €600 million. The development, known as SnOasis, will enjoy the status of the world’s first indoor winter sports resort. SnOasis will be developed on a c. 360 acre site and comprise an iconic sports complex, 350 ski lodges, a four-star hotel and conference centre, an athlete’s village and the facilities to house many other sporting activities.

Following a public enquiry, a Government appointed Inspector has recommended the scheme be approved in its entirety subject to certain conditions. The Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government today announced that she agrees with these conclusions and has approved the residential and other elements of the scheme and “is minded” to approve the leisure elements of the scheme subject to OSL complying with relevant planning and legal requirements which centre mainly on sustainability and wildlife issues.
The development will deliver enormous benefits for the local community generating 3,500 jobs during the construction phase and 1,800 permanent jobs on completion. Construction is expected to commence during the second half of 2008 and will complete in 2011 in advance of the London Olympics. This development represents the single largest project undertaken by First Equity Group on behalf of its investors. Bank funding for the site acquisition and planning process was provided by AIB.

In a separate development, Sir Jeremy Hanley, formerly Northern Ireland Minister and former Chairman of the Conservative Party, has been appointed as Chairman of OSL.

SnOasis | Development Highlights
SnOasis will be the world’s first indoor winter sports resort offering a totally new concept in family activity holidays and also a dedicated facility for winter sports training – 14 different winter sports disciplines will be catered for in one venue for the first time in the UK. The development is located in Great Blakenham, 4 miles from Ipswich, and just 70 miles from London. It will be linked by a main line railway station to London’s Liverpool Street with a commuting time of just over an hour. The key elements of the SnOasis development include:

• Europe’s largest indoor ski slope: 415m long, 70m wide with a 100m vertical drop
• Nursery slope: 100m long, 30m wide with 6-degree pitch
• External Ice Rink: 60m by 30m with 1,500 spectator seats
• 400m Speed Skating track & 100m dry Bobsleigh push start track
• 1.5km Cross-country ski run
• National Winter Sports Academy with 200-bed hostel
• 350 room four star hotel and conference centre, capacity for 1,000 delegates
• 350 self-catering holiday village style 4, 6, 8, bed ski lodges
• 100 one and two bed apartments
• 17 bars and restaurants
• New main line railway station with link to London’s Liverpool Street
• Planting of 130,000 trees and development of a 40 acre ecological mitigation project

In addition to the winter sports resort, the development allows for the construction of over 400 new homes on a c. 40 acre site adjacent to the SnOasis site.

Alan Barry, Managing Director, First Equity Group, commented “We are delighted to announce this positive news in the planning process for the SnOasis development. This is an important milestone for our investment in this project and represents a significant uplift in the valuation of the project for our investor group. We can now begin the process of implementing plans to construct an iconic world class facility at this unique location.”

He added “First Equity Group has a proven track record of delivering attractive returns to its investor group for more than a decade. The SnOasis development represents our largest ever investment project and further consolidates the Group’s growing reputation and position as a leader in the private equity and real estate market.”

About First Equity Group
First Equity Group is an Irish private equity and real estate group. First Equity is focused on providing private equity and mezzanine finance primarily to the property sector. First Equity Group is based in Dublin with offices in London and Los Angeles.
Please visit www.firstequity.ie

About SnOasis
SnOasis will be the world’s first indoor winter sports resort offering a totally new concept in family activity holidays. At the heart of the complex lies Europe’s largest indoor ski slope, measuring 415 metres long by 70 metres wide, with a 100 metre vertical drop, giving an exhilarating run to both dedicated and fun seeking skiers. For further information, please visit www.snoasis.co.uk

SnOasis | Environmental Approach
From the outset, Onslow Suffolk Limited, the developers of SnOasis, have set demanding principles to guide the development and operation of the scheme. These include the following:

• Enhancing the natural environment;
• Prudent use of resources;
• Efficient use of, and wherever possible, reduction of energy consumption;
• Minimising waste and maximising recycling levels;
• Personal and professional development for staff; and
• Contribution to the local economy and a drive to meet the needs of the national and regional objectives for sustainable tourism.

After careful analysis, it has been determined that the SnOasis development will not only contribute to sustainable development at Best Practice levels, it will also meet the aims and key priorities of Government policy towards sustainable development, in many and various ways.

Interval International, a leading provider of vacation services, has announced it has added the Hungarian resort of Pólus Palace Thermal Golf Club Hotel to its global network. Pólus Palace is situated about 15 miles north of Budapest, Hungary’s historic capital, in a small village called Göd.

The development opened in 2006 and its amenities include a spa, 18-hole golf course, one indoor and one outdoor swimming pool, two restaurants and a bar. There are also tennis courts in the resort’s grounds and a horse ranch nearby. Its proximity to Budapest also makes it popular for sightseeing and nightlife.

In a first phase, there are 16 timeshare units comprised of four studios, four one-bedroom and eight two-bedroom units. In a second phase, it is planned to extend the resort, by building villas around a lake. This is scheduled to commence around 2010. The resort is being sold on a fixed week/fixed unit basis with a thirty year right-to-use.

“Hungary has been an important growth sector for Interval and the European timeshare industry in the last few years,” says Joachim Mezger, Interval International’s director resort sales & service, (Europe). “This latest development is a quality resort which will be popular with our growing eastern European membership base.”

For more information contact:
Adrian Bascombe, Corporate Communications Manager, Interval International
Phone: +44 (0) 20 8336 9573
e-mail: Adrian.bascombe@intervalintl.com


ABOUT INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL
Interval International is a leading provider of exchange, travel, and leisure services to resort developers and vacationers worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 30 years. Today, Interval has a network of over 2,300 resorts in excess of 75 countries and offers its clients and nearly 2 million member families high-quality products and programmes through its 28 offices in 17 countries. Interval is part of IAC, which owns and operates more than 60 diversified brands in sectors being transformed by the Internet, online and offline. Other IAC companies include Ask.com, HSN, LendingTree, Match.com, and Ticketmaster.

TimeShareWare, the leading provider of software solutions for shared-ownership mixed use resorts, will be attending and exhibiting at the 22nd Annual AMDETUR Conference June 18-20, 2008, at the Sheraton Hotel in the Historical Center of Mexico City. This year’s convention theme is “Tourism, Development Driver for Mexico.”

Allen Rice, Chief Marketing Officer of TimeShareWare, explains that TimeShareWare services many clients in the region and over a dozen resorts in Mexico. “With our recent contract with Sol Melia Vacation Club, TimeShareWare is optimistic the AMDETUR Conference will help us build on our success and expand our clientele in Mexico.”

“We have always been impressed with the quality and professionalism of the AMDETUR Conference and TimeShareWare is committed to the market it serves,” continued Rice. “We plan to continue to have a strong presence and make significant contributions in Mexico for years to come.”

AMDETUR (Mexican Resort Development Association) is the tourism and development driver for all of Mexico. This convention boasts hundreds of participants and dozens of exhibitors from around the world. This year’s program also includes economic, legal, tax, financial, and marketing topics which all have a direct impact on the vacation ownership development of Mexico. Guest speakers at this year’s convention include Peter C. Yesawich, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ypartnership, America’s leading marketing, advertising, and public relations agency serving travel, leisure, and lifestyle clients. Other speakers include Vicki Hitzges, Ciro Gómez Leyva, Hugo Semolioni Bravo, and Gustavo Abad Lepe.


About TimeShareWare & CondotelWare:
TimeShareWare is the industry standard software platform for shared-ownership, mixed use resorts. Since 1993, TimeShareWare serves all sizes and types of vacation ownership associations, fractional ownership properties, and timeshare resorts including multi-site, single-site, and points-based clubs. The TimeShareWare software platform includes solutions for lead management, contract processing, sales and marketing, owner accounting, loan servicing, property management, reservations, and web-based owner servicing.

CondotelWare is the first full-service software solution designed specifically for condominium hotels. The software helps owners and operators master all aspects of condo-hotel management and administration, including owner accounting, billing, rental rotation, inventory management, reservations, owner relations, reporting, and more.

Sell My Timeshare NOW, a global leader in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals, has released its annual HOT 100 list, just in time for Memorial Day and the start of the summer vacation season. With fuel costs high, many vacationers look to offset the cost of vacation accommodations with values in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.

Sell My Timeshare NOW has just released its HOT 100 list revealing which timeshare resort properties advertised and marketed by them receive the most offers to buy or rent. As gas prices soar, vacationers look for values in timeshare resales and rentals to help them keep vacation expenses in check. Released just in time for Memorial Day and the start of the summer vacation season, this is the second year the online timeshare resales advertising leader has published the HOT 100 list.

Jason Tremblay, CEO of Sell My Timeshare NOW says, “People want to spend their hard earned dollars on in-demand timeshare properties, where resort maintenance is excellent, and timeshare exchange or timeshare resale opportunities should remain solid.”

This year’s HOT 100 list is based on a record number of offers to buy or rent timeshare placed through the Sell My Timeshare NOW website. These 100 properties attracted a total of 48,532 offers in 2007.

The list indicates consistency among the leaders at the top, with this year’s top eight all appearing in last year’s top ten. Notably, WorldMark by Wyndham, multi-destination timeshare has jumped from seventh on the previous list, to claim the top spot at number one for this year. New to the top ten are the Manhattan Club and Marriott timeshare’s Ko Olina Beach Club in Oahu.

For high-demand destinations, Hawaii timeshares claimed four of the top ten spots. In addition to the Ko Olina Beach Club, the list includes Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Diamond Resorts Ka’anapali Beach Club and Marriott timeshare’s Maui Ocean Club, all in Maui.

The timeshare resort brand that dominated the top ten list was definitely Marriott , also known as Marriott Vacation Club. Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club, Maui Ocean Club, Newport Coast Villas and Ko Olina Beach Club accounted for the most properties under one timeshare brand.

Here is the top ten from the Sell My Timeshare NOW HOT 100:

• 1. WorldMark by Wyndham, (Multi-Destination)
• 2. Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui, Hawaii U.S.A.
• 3. Orange Lake’s West Village, Orlando, Florida U.S.A.
• 4. Marriott Timeshare’s Aruba Surf Club, Palm Beach, Aruba
• 5. Diamond Resorts Ka’anapali Beach Club, Maui, Hawaii U.S.A.
• 6. Marriott Timeshare’s Maui Ocean Club, Maui, Hawaii U.S.A.
• 7. Marriott Timeshare’s Newport Coast Villas, Newport Coast, California U.S.A.
• 8. Harborside Resort at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
• 9. Manhattan Club, New York, New York U.S.A.
• 10. Marriott Timeshare’s Ko Olina Beach Club, Oahu, Hawaii U.S.A.

To view all 100 timeshare resorts listed in the Hot 100, click Sell My Timeshare NOW HOT 100 (http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/media/pdf/hot-100.pdf).

Sell My Timeshare NOW’s Director of Sales, Rosanne Luba, explains, “Many people want to know which timeshare resales other timeshare owners are buying. They ask us because they are interested in exchange or in resale value. This list makes it easy to see what consumers are asking for when it comes to name as well as location.”

Since the company was founded, less than five years ago, Sell My Timeshare NOW has risen to be the recognized global leader in the advertising and marketing of timeshare resales and rentals via the Internet, averaging over 2 million website visitors per month. Jason Tremblay is available for interviews at (603) 516-0649 or by emailing steveluba@sellmytimesharenow.com.


About Sell My Timeshare NOW, LLC:
Sell My Timeshare NOW provides advertising and marketing for timeshare owners who want to sell timeshare or rent timeshare. For 2007, www.SellMyTimeshareNOW.com  presented its customers over $274 million in offers to buy or rent timeshares.

Rachael Betteridge has returned to Generator Systems, taking on a new role as Results Manager, responsible for managing partnerships in Europe and the Middle East.

Formerley Deployment Manager, Rachael is looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead. “Generator is moving at a fantastic pace and I am delighted to be able to play a part in driving the business to new heights”.

Generator Systems Ltd, with its European Head Office in the UK, is the global leader in integrating technology into the sales process within the leisure real estate marketplace. Working with sales teams in the timeshare, fractional, condo and whole ownership sales sectors, Generator has multi-award winning installations in over 70 sales decks, working with over 1,000 sales people across 6 continents and translated in 11 languages.

Recipients of the following industry awards:
ARDA 2007 ACE Innovator Award
OTE Managing Change Award
OTE Innovation Award

Creation Of Saadiyat Island To Include 30 New Hotels, 3 Marinas, And 2 Golf Courses

The eyes of the world could soon be on Abu Dhabi, which, as Steffan Rhys found out, is exactly what it wants.

Days earlier, President George W. Bush had checked out of the Emirates Palace. The leader of the free world is one of the few people alive considered eminent enough to occupy the eighth floor of the world’s only seven star hotel, at £1.1bn the most expensive ever built.

You will not get the top floor simply by virtue of being a national leader, however, as the cut-off point between those premiers deemed important enough and those not is unclear.

“Some presidents get to stay,” is all staff will say.

Elton John was refused the top floor on a recent visit to Abu Dhabi and Tony Blair turned it down because it was too big. Hopefully, when Bon Jovi played the hotel’s auditorium this week they knew not to ask.

Jutting out into the Persian Gulf at the western end of Abu Dhabi’s corniche, the palatial hotel, awash with gold and marble and garnished with 1,002 chandeliers made of Swarovski crystals, is a colossal and unapologetic monument to opulence.

It sits on a plot of one million square metres which leads down to its private mile-long beach, boasts 2,000 staff – 170 of whom are chefs who prepare the food in its 11 restaurants – and 114 domes, including the 42 metre wide gold leaf Grand Atrium Dome which floats above the lobby considerably higher and grander than those which sit atop St. Paul’s Cathedral in London or Basilica San Marco in Venice.

A moonlit meal on one of the hotel’s dimly lit and ornate balconies with views over the landscaped grounds stretching out below is some way to spend an evening, and the members-only Embassy Club, the latest addition to the Mayfair restaurant and nightclub chain owned by Mark Fuller and Gary Hollihead, is across the lobby.

With sights extremely thin on the ground in Abu Dhabi and little to achieve from simply walking around the city, the hotel is the Emirate’s main attraction, even for those who cannot afford to stay there. But all that is about to change with the creation, from scratch, of Saadiyat Island, an astonishingly ambitious project that will include around 30 new hotels, three marinas, two golf courses and housing for 150,000 people.

It will also be the latest location for two of the world’s foremost cultural institutions, the Guggenheim and Louvre museums, which will dominate the 670-acre seafront area along with a performing arts centre by 2012.

Despite temperatures which average well above 45ºC in summer, the Guggenheim will not feature an air-conditioning system. Instead, it has been designed in such a way that the angles and locations of its walls and roofs will naturally channel air through its corridors.

Other projects include Al Reem Island, which will eventually house 280,000 people and 100 skyscrapers and Yas Island, which will feature a Grand Prix circuit.

The cost of Saadiyat alone has been placed by some at around the £15bn mark, but there is a widespread belief that few people, if any, really know the cost, nor do they seem that concerned.

Fifty years ago, Abu Dhabi – the capital of, and richest city in, the United Arab Emirates – had a population of 15,000 people mainly busying themselves with traditional Bedouin activities like camel herding and small-scale agriculture. In 1958, British explorers discovered what would turn out to be the world’s fifth largest crude oil reserve, 90% of which was under Abu Dhabi, turning it from nomadic desert into a wealthy skyscraping metropolis.

Its gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is already second highest in the world at £37,000 and its total GDP could surge to £150bn by 2025, Abu Dhabi’s department of planning and economy has just announced, largely thanks to tourism, recent investments and giant projects.

Its transformation is largely due to His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who, having overseen his Emirate’s acquisition of unimaginable wealth through oil, revealed his vision in the late 1990s that Abu Dhabi was to become the ultimate travel destination for business, sports and the arts, as well as a lazy mecca for European sun worshippers.

To get people there, he founded Abu Dhabi’s own airline, Etihad. On arrival, these passengers mostly head for the sumptuous hotels, which in Abu Dhabi veer towards traditional Arabic rather than the ultra-modern design of Dubai.

As it happens, comparisons between the two Emirates do not go down all that well in Abu Dhabi, which is already considerably richer and also outwardly confident it is going to be a vastly superior destination fairly soon.

Joining the Emirates Palace among the Gulf’s finest hotels is the Shangri-La at Qaryat Al Beri, still unquestionably grand but a more peaceful and less imposing hotel whose best rooms feature private gardens.

Its four restaurants range from a buffet with three giant chocolate fountains, through Chinese and Vietnamese, to the fine dining of the French Bordeau, where a simple menu features lobster, foie gras and Black Angus tenderloin.

The hotel has stunning views of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque – the world’s third largest mosque – rising across the water but Shangri-La’s jewel is its Chi spa. Its claim that “upon entering there is a palpable sense of detachment from the outside world” could be applied to much of Abu Dhabi but its 10 private treatment rooms make it an oasis of calm and relaxation.

Life in Abu Dhabi has changed beyond recognition and what little Bedouin tradition that remains – camel racing and falconry at Al Ain, for example – is contrived. But a short journey into the desert is worth an afternoon for no other reason than the desert safari, in which lunatic drivers charge their shiny 4x4s up and down near-vertical sand dunes with the screams of passengers as music to their ears.

Snorkelling, diving, jet-skiing, fishing or simply lazing on the private beaches of the more expensive hotels are all good ways to take advantage of Abu Dhabi’s clear waters and perpetual blue skies, and the hotels will bend over backwards to help you plan.


icwales.icnetwork.co.uk

The More than $30 Million Renovation Will be Completed by Mid-Summer 2008

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(R) (NYSE:HOT) announced today that the Sheraton Universal Hotel is undergoing a massive renovation to be completed by mid-summer 2008. The property is managed by Starwood Hotels and owned by Destination Hotels & Resorts, which owns or manages more than 30 properties in the United States.

For nearly 40 years, the Sheraton Universal, located in the Hollywood Hills, has been a central location for guests in the entertainment business and those seeking a welcoming retreat near Universal Studios, CityWalk and countless other diversions. Come mid-summer 2008, guests will have more reasons to pay a visit as the hotel completes more than $30 million in renovations -The remake will be worth the price of admission and will include upgrades all guest rooms and certain public spaces, including the new Sheraton park like lobby experience and the Link @ Sheraton, finishing just in time to celebrate the legendary hotel’s 40th anniversary.

“We are delighted to invite guests from all over the world to the Sheraton Universal, where they will discover a welcoming environment that is both energetic and interactive, as well as direct access to leading Hollywood attractions,” said Hoyt Harper, Senior Vice President, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “The Sheraton guest experience is designed to meet the needs of travelers who are seeking comfort and familiarity, providing them with spacious accommodations, thoughtful amenities and superior service.”

Since its opening in 1969, Sheraton Universal has become known as the “Hotel of the Stars,” due to its warm, friendly, discreet staff, and close proximity to Universal and other Hollywood studios. The hotel has also served as a base camp for hundreds of film, television and music entertainers.

Once the revitalization is complete this summer, the property will offer 451 guest rooms, several specialty suites, beautiful poolside Lanai rooms, California’s restaurant, private dining rooms and two bars, semi-private cabanas in the lobby bar and refreshed pool area allow guests to connect socially with friends and colleagues. More than 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space and a more extensive pool renovation are slated for 2009.

“We have catered to the entertainment community for many years and will soon be the ‘newest’ hotel of the stars. In addition to our warm, personal service that will be enhanced by Sheraton’s latest technological and service standards, we have thought outside the Hollywood box to incorporate a red carpet experience every step of the way. We are inviting guests – from business travelers looking for an extended stay to leisure guests – to ‘play among the stars’ in a friendly yet cool, lively yet warm, centrally located hotel,” said Ryan Laskey, general manager of Sheraton Universal.

All guests at the Sheraton Universal will be treated like stars with four-star amenities in a warm, welcoming environment, with service from seasoned staff, some who have been with the hotel for more than 20 years. The revitalized hotel will salute Hollywood’s heyday and feature elements in the Hollywood Regency style inspired by the 1920s through the 1940s. Guest rooms, designed by Beth Mondello of ESM Interiors, feature art deco design complete with dark wood paneling and a color palette of brown, blue and ivory. The new, breathtaking rooftop space and lobby bar, designed by hospitality design shop Intra-Spec, highlights Hollywood’s glamour with semi-private cabanas in the lobby bar and a black and blue themed backdrop beneath a starry sky ceiling in the rooftop space.

Sheraton’s latest, sought-after amenities guarantee even the most discerning guests will feel their best with the help of the Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, Shine by Bliss bath amenities, Starbucks 1-cup service, ” LCD HDTVs, iHome iPod docking station/clock radio, wireless Internet throughout hotel and complimentary entertainment during happy hour in the lobby. Additional services include Sheraton Adventure Club for kids, 24-hour Sheraton fitness center programmed by Core Performance, and in the lobby, the Link@Sheraton communications hub will offer an inviting space where guests can connect with others through the Internet and interact with fellow travelers. The hotel’s Club Lounge will feature amenities and service fit for a studio exec, from the Express Power Breakfast to the Evening Jumpstart, which includes hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.

The Sheraton Universal is located adjacent to Universal Studios and Universal CityWalk, one Metro stop from Hollywood & Highland and in close proximity to the heart of Hollywood, L.A.’s most popular beaches, Rodeo Drive and Pasadena. The Sheraton Universal is located at 333 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, California 91608. For more information, please visit www.sheratonuniversal.com or call 1-800-325-3535.


About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton, the largest brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(R) (NYSE:HOT) has more than 408 hotels including 58 resorts in 70 countries. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), and ElementSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.  ** Please contact Starwood’s new, toll-free media hotline at (866) 4-STAR-PR (866-478-2777) for photography or additional information. **

On Thursday 22nd May, the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe held their road show event in Edinburgh. The road show is held in different locations each year and concentrates on the timeshare market in the host location ahead of their annual European Timeshare Business Forum (13-15 October 2008, Madrid visit www.ote-info.com for more information) which covers the varied markets across Europe.

Around 95 delegates attended the eagerly anticipated event which was opened by Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism in Scotland and included amongst many others, guest speakers from hosts Scottish Development International and OTE UK Chairman, Frank Chapman who was also responsible for the first ever timeshare resort in the United Kingdom, Loch Rannoch, Scotland.

There were interesting and informative sessions about the evolution of timeshare, looking at fractional projects, mixed use resorts and added flexibility. There were also sessions on innovations in direct marketing; mixing print and digital media for enhanced lead generation and also innovations in resort design and the challenges developers often face.

Delegates were also treated to an inspiring look at the future of Scotland with a little over 20 new projects planned around the country, including golf, marina and loch resorts, capitalising on some of the best of what Scotland has to offer tourists.

Jon Baker, GE Money gave a run down of the latest industry statistics with special reference to Europe, UK and Scotland individually (more on this will feature in Perspective Magazine –June Edition), plus Peter van der Mark and Paul Gardner Bougaard gave updates of OTE’s work within European legislation and the main areas of focus for the coming year.

Just before the conference concluded, the delegates were given an opportunity to quiz a panel of OTE team members about anything they wished; which included issues on resales, comparisons and relationships between timeshare and fractional products (covered earlier in the day by Leslie McCann, Seasons Holidays).

A full review of the event will be included in Perspective Magazine in June.
Just visit www.theperspectivemagazine.com to subscribe free online.

Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World (LRW), has been honored for the third year in a row by Robb Report’s 20th annual “Best of the Best” issue. The magazine ranks Quintess, LRW as “Best Midsized Destination Club” in the world.

The Robb Report article notes that since its 2006 merger with DreamCatcher Retreats and its acquisition of The Leading Residences of the World, Quintess, LRW has grown from 280 members and 49 homes to more than 425 members and over 80 homes, many of which are worth at least $6 million: “Its recent growth has placed Quintess in a position to provide both the services of a larger club and the stand-alone residences of a smaller club.”

Ben Addoms, Founder and EVP, Membership Development for Quintess, LRW is quoted as saying: “It’s a great balance to be able to offer our members such a variety of services, locations, and options without resorting to buying town homes and condos.”

The Robb Report points out that Quintess recently launched Q Leading Experiences, an experiential-travel program in conjunction with its partner The Leading Hotels of the World. One of the first experiences is a stay at the 15th Century Palazzo Arzaga Hotel Spa & Golf Resort in Italy, where guests can golf at Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player designed courses and take private museum tours. “The partnership allows us to offer unique travel experiences in locations that our members would like to visit, but not necessarily frequent,” says Addoms.

Quintess, LRW is applauded in the article for adding a 70-foot Viking yacht to its portfolio and launching its resort-within-a-resort enclaves. The first, in Los Cabos, Mexico, includes 16 residences reserved for Quintess, LRW members. A second enclave, at the Ritz-Carlton’s Molasses Reef Resort in Turks and Caicos, debuts in 2010.

According to the Robb Report, Quintess, LRW differs from other luxury destination clubs in that it allows its members to share their time with their extended families, and it will refund the entire membership deposit—which starts at $210,000—if a member chooses to cancel his or her membership within one year of joining.

“We are thrilled that Robb Report acknowledges the distinctive qualities and value of Quintess,” says Addoms. “Their ‘Best Of’ award further confirms our position as a leader in the luxury destination club industry.”


About Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World
Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World is a luxury destination club that creates amazing personalized vacation experiences for its members. Quintess, LRW provides its members with access to 70+ multimillion-dollar residences in 30+ international resort and city destinations, including Aspen, Los Cabos, Florence, Hawaii, Jackson Hole, London, Napa Valley, New York City, Paris and Tuscany, among countless others. With 425+ members, the club’s member-to-home ratio is less than six-to-one—one of the lowest in the industry. The company remains committed to financial transparency and full disclosure to its members and continues the practice of providing its members with third party audited financial statements. For more information, visit www.quintess.com.

The time-share holiday rights of some 1.5 million European families will soon be better protected. A draft EU directive, unanimously approved by the EU internal market committee on Monday, updates rules that are 14 years old so as to address consumer concerns and revitalise a business that is performing below potential.

Time share deals, which allow buyers to occupy holiday accommodation for specific periods in alternation with others, have won millions of takers worldwide since the 1970s. They are often sold as a cost-effective alternative to renting, hotels or a second residence. According to data from the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE), in 2001 there were 1.452 million holiday centres in 25 European countries, 1.4 million families using this kind of accommodation and 200,000 Europeans employed in this sector, with sales totalling €2.3 billion per year.
 
Since 1994, an EU directive has helped to harmonise time-share rules across the EU, but litigation between operators and holidaymakers is still frequent, notably about conditions and quality of service. Furthermore, new holiday products and services, similar to time share but not covered by the directive, have emerged. These include new types of holiday clubs giving holidaymakers reductions in the cost of their stays if they take out a subscription. Some of these new contracts clearly circumvent consumer protection rules.

More deals covered by consumer protection rules
 The revised draft directive, which supplements the general rules introduced by the recent directive on unfair commercial practices, will cover both time-share packages and new products that so far have escaped any legislation. Consumers will be better protected by rules that clearly state their rights, and will find it easier to go to court. Honest operators will no longer have to face unfair competition from fraudsters.
 
The text strengthens a series of existing harmonised provisions (right of withdrawal, choice of contract language, prohibition on deposits during the reflection period, pre-contractual information). Some consumer rights will be widened, e.g. MEPs would like to extend the withdrawal period to 21 days (compared with 10 days now and 14 proposed in the Commission draft).
 
MEPs did not back a proposal by rapporteur Toine Manders (ALDE, NL), who would have preferred a regulation (directly applicable throughout the EU), rather than a directive (which must be transposed into Member States’ national laws), so as to achieve more thorough harmonisation.
 
By contrast, they advocated a higher standard of consumer protection for long-term holiday deals (e.g. clubs), to be paid for in stages, than for traditional time-share contracts. But, not wishing to push this distinction too far, they rejected amendments that would have introduced more restrictive provisions (obligation to register agencies, national registers of service providers, mandatory civil liability insurance), leaving it to Member States to decide whether to supplement their laws in this area.
 
Clearer rules for holiday firms
 The proposal aims to enhance consumer confidence and legal clarity, which are essential to the growth of this promising sector, via simplified EU-wide rules. Most time-share holidaymakers are from Germany or the UK, where most of the agencies are located, whereas most of the holiday centres are located in Spain, Italy, France and Portugal.

Procedure: co-decision, first reading — Plenary vote: July (Strasbourg)

19/05/2008
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
In the chair : Arlene McCarthy (PES, UK)


Source: http://www.europarl.europa.eu

On Friday, May 16th in Sandwich, Illinois, Waves of Fun’s hosted its groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate its opening in early 2009. SCS was in attendance for this momentous occasion. SCS Interactive is collaborating with Waves of Fun, a new waterpark located in Sandwich, Illinois, to create a tropical themed iconic waterplay structure and is delighted to be part of this new 72,000 square foot indoor waterpark development.

“SCS is excited about creating a unique waterplay attraction for Waves of Fun and it is great to be here today for the kick-off to support the Waves of Fun family. SCS is looking forward to this install and is also happy to be working with the local companies, Riccio Construction and BE Aquatics,” said Sean Barrett, director of municipal sales for SCS Interactive at the Waves of Fun groundbreaking ceremony.

The SCS structure that will be installed at Waves of Fun is unlike anything the company has done in the past. The attraction has a seven platform bucket tower, which allows guests to climb up a spiral pattern of decks to the top. The 752 gallon tipping bucket; which crowns the top of the structure, is accompanied by nearly 50 different interactives such as hydro blasters and jets. All elements of this attraction offer a memorable experience of soaking wet fun, interaction and adventure for the whole family.

“We are all very excited about Waves of Fun becoming a reality in the near future. The SCS structure will be central in helping us cater to our multi-generational guests. The innovative SCS structure with its Hawaiian theme will offer our guests a truly unique and memorable experience,” stated Tony Korzyniewski the assistant general manager for Waves of Fun.

The SCS structure will also include four towers full of interaction, three bridges which span 28 feet collectively and two water slides. There will be full integration from the moment you step on the first stair to the moment you splash down the slides to the spray pad below.

SCS Interactive partnered with Ramaker & Associates Inc. of Sauk City, Wisconsin and Splashtacular of La Quinta, California on this exciting attraction.


About SCS Interactive
SCS Interactive has been the source of great waterparks since 1986. SCS has revolutionized the waterplay industry as the originator of the multi-level interactive tree house concept, the creator of the giant tipping bucket seen at amusement parks around the world, and the developer of the world’s first wet and dry water coaster known as SplashTrack™. Some of the biggest resorts, amusement and waterparks all over the globe showcase SCS Interactive structures as signature attractions. Additional information about SCS Interactive can be found on the website at www.scsinteractive.com.


About Waves of Fun
Waves of Fun, opening in early 2009, is located in Sandwich, Illinois, just 60 miles from Chicago. Waves of Fun will feature a variety of exciting attractions such as the Hawaiian themed SCS structure, a Surfstream (the first standing wave surf machine in the U.S), an elevated hot tub, four water slides, a wave pool and a lazy river. It will also offer a surf shop, an arcade, a concession court and the Aloha Grill restaurant. For more information about all that Waves of Fun will feature please go to the website at www.waves-of-fun.com.

French Property Fractional is the newest and hottest way to own your own piece of Paris simply, easily and inexpensively without the hassles of purchasing it on your own, but with all the benefits of doing it yourself. The declining dollar means that people saving their money with the dream of buying property in Paris have less to spend. With fractional ownership, they can make an important investment in a euro asset at a fraction of the cost. Paris based property experts and developers offer fractional ownership solutions.

In a May 14, 2008 New York Times article by Linda Hervieux, Adrian Leeds, Director of Adrian Leeds Group, LLC, affirmed that due to the dwindling dollar, fractional ownership is one of the most affordable ways to realize the dream of owning property in Paris or France.

A hybrid of direct ownership and time sharing, fractional ownership, also called shared ownership, combines the best elements of both. The primary differences are that while timeshares involve many shares in a large complex with “resort” amenities and costs built specifically for that purpose, fractional ownership is joint ownership by only a few individuals in a single property whose value can easily be determined on the open market.

“French Property Fractional is the newest and hottest way to own your own piece of Paris simply, easily and inexpensively without the hassles of purchasing it on your own, but with all the benefits of doing it yourself,” says Ms. Leeds, considered an expert on living, investing and purchasing property in Paris and France. “The declining dollar means that people saving their money with the dream of buying property in Paris have less to spend. With fractional ownership, they can make an important investment in a euro asset at a fraction of the cost.”

While most fractional ownership properties have already been purchased, renovated and decorated by one developer who then sells off the shares, French Property Fractional offers a unique opportunity: a chance for investors to design their own fractional ownership property, a “pied-à-terre” in the popular Marais district of Paris. Those interested in the option of shared home ownership can contribute to an investment pool, then Paris property search professionals will find the ideal apartment, based on agreed upon specifications.

The Adrian Leeds Group, LLC also offers existing fractional ownership properties in Paris and throughout France through partners Steve Navaro of Paris Home Shares, Ginny Blackwell of French Property Shares and Château Living France.

In addition, Adrian Leeds hosts the “Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conferences,” bringing together real estate, financial and legal experts from the U.S., France and Europe. Fractional ownership will be a hot topic of discussion at the upcoming conferences in London on June 22, 2008; San Francisco July 26-27, 2008 and Paris October 11-12, 2008. All the details can be found at www.FrenchPropertyConference.com.


Adrian Leeds of the Adrian Leeds Group, LLC, is author of the twice-weekly newsletter www.ParlerParis.com, editor of the weekly www.FrenchPropertyInsider.com E-zine, and co-founder of the www.ParlerParlor.com French-English Conversation Group. As Director of French Property Consultation, she and her team of property professionals provide comprehensive search, purchase, renovation services, offer mortgage brokerage through www.FrenchPropertyLoan.com and offer charming and luxurious vacation rentals through www.ParlerParisApartments.com

Luxury Items Added to List of Prestigious Amenities At The Villa Group’s Most Exclusive Property

The view is a picture postcard of azure skies and blue seas. The whisper of tropical palms lulls visitors and residents into the sweet warm rhythm of a Mexican holiday siesta. Lovely weather, ease of travel and affordability fuel what Forbes FYI calls “Mexico Dreaming”. With comfortably luxurious spacious villas, Mexican architecture and internationally acclaimed amenities it is evident why Mexico is enjoying unprecedented success in the hospitality industry.

A clear example of this heightened opulence, paired with homey comfort, is Villa La Estancia, a distinctive beachfront resort created by The Villa Group. Recent announcements by The Villa Group have confirmed that Villa La Estancia is truly “bathed in luxury.”

The elegant property, with iconic settings in both Nuevo Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas, has been made famous with its stylish accommodations and cache accoutrements. The original Villa La Estancia, located on Medano Beach overlooking the world famous Arches in Cabo San Lucas, and its sister property on the shores of the famous Banderas Bay just north of Puerto Vallarta in Riviera Nayarit continue to build a solid reputation for high-end pampering and casual elegance.

“We have just added to our repertoire of bath amenities,” said Ricardo Orozco, Corporate Director for the privately owned real estate hospitality development company. “Now when our guests relax in the privacy of marble baths, refresh themselves in their opulent walk-in showers and luxuriate in their whirlpool tubs, the experience will be further enhanced with L’Occitane and Bulgari soaps, shampoos, gels and lotions. We consider this a statement of our continuing commitment to unique excellence.”

Founded in 1984, The Villa Group is one of Mexico’s leading privately owned hospitality and real estate development companies. Its portfolio features beachfront timeshare resorts located in Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, and Los Cabos, as well as well as fractional and full-ownership luxury real estate vacation resorts. Additionally, new timeshare and fractional properties are slated to open in Loreto and Cancun in 2010.