Seasons Holidays Enjoys Second Year As Queen Mother Champion Chase Sponsor

Bristol-based Seasons Holidays is one of Europe’s leading holiday ownership developers, with six resorts in the British Isles and three in Europe, was the first sponsor of a race in 2007 that has enjoyed an illustrious 49-year history. The race was won in 2007 by Voy Per Ustedes.

Edward Gillespie, Cheltenham’s Managing Director, said: “We are very pleased to have found a dynamic British-based consumer brand, Seasons Holidays, that we can work with to continue to take this great race forward.”   Read more

Vacation Ownership Software Leader SPI Announces Orange Systems

Software provider to the timeshare, fractional and condo-hotel industries Systems Products International (SPI) announced the company is re-branding its Enterprise software and suite of innovative software products as Orange Systems.“Since 1978, SPI has sustained its position as a global leader in the development and implementation of innovative software systems for the vacation ownership industry,” says SPI Founder and President Karl Lange. “We sought a new and fresh way to express our dedication to assisting resort developers, operators and management entities in achieving faster, more accurate and integrated comprehensive information management systems.” Read more

Ryan Williams Joins 6 Dimensions Consulting

6 Dimensions Consulting, led by timeshare industry veterans Dora and Jay Edmonson, announced the addition of Ryan Williams as Vice President of Business Development, effective on February 1, 2008. Williams has the assignment to help expand the number of clients using 6DC’s consulting services, online training, integrated Web site design, lead generation tools and rental network. He will also lend his expertise as a consultant. Read more

LaTour Signature Group Announces First Vacation Resort Property in Mexico

Hotel Guru’s New Business Venture with ResortCom Elite Signs Luxury Private Residence Club

Tom LaTour, renowned hotelier, vintner and restaurateur is placing his signature touch on the booming second home market in Mexico. 

The former Chairman and CEO of Kimpton Hotel Group, has launched LaTour Signature Group, a joint-venture enterprise with ResortCom Elite that will transform luxury vacation experiences at select five-star fractional resort properties throughout North America and Mexico. The exclusive Olamar property in Cabo San Lucas marks the company’s foray into Mexico’s thriving shared ownership vacation travel industry. Read more

RCI To Welcome Dubai-Based Ivory Grand To Its Worldwide Network Of Affiliated Resorts

RCI® the world leader in vacation exchange, has announced an agreement with Dubai-based Ivory Grand LLC, the property enterprise owned by Mr Mohammed Ali Abdullah Al Shafar and Humaid Al Suwaidi Real Estate LLC, to affiliate their new timeshare project.

The Ivory Grand development is located in Dubai’s fast growing Al Barsha district in close proximity to one of the city’s largest shopping and leisure complexes, Mall of the Emirates. The development consists of 70 units destined for the timeshare market with a further 150 one and two bed apartments marketed for short term rentals. Read more

Conrad Introduces First Ever Bespoke Bar Concept

Conradtini Mixology Menu Encourages Guests to Personalise Their Cocktails
 
The global contemporary luxury hotel brand, has introduced a bespoke cocktail service, Conradtini, which enables guests to create their very own martini or cocktail and even become their own master mixologists.  Read more

Wellness Comes To Malta

As Fortina Spa Hotel Is First To Install New Rejuvenation Room Equipment

The benefit of being an RCI preferred Alliance Partner was the introduction to Michael Zammit Tabona of the 5-Star Fortina Spa Hotel in Malta. Marj Anderson of RCI having been over to East Clare and experienced the Wellness Rejuvenation Rooms there, fell in love with the idea and the products and immediately contacted Michael to arrange a meeting for us.

We traveled to Malta in November 07 and Michael recognized immediately the opportunity. Michael, being known for not letting the grass grow under his feet, decided that this was worth investing in to help promote and market his hotel further as well as to capitalize on a market that is widely known in the industry as the most lucrative - “ The Baby Boomers” The Boomers have now shifted their focus to the Wellness Industry because they are concerned about health and anti-aging. They refuse to grow old, they want to preserve their youth and enjoy the fruits of their hard working years with health and agility, plus they have the spending power. This industry is referred to as the “ Next Trillion Dollar Industry” by noted economists all over the world.

A friend had given Michael a simple pair of Nikken Magnetic insoles eight years previously and he found them fantastic until he mislaid them a few years later and could not get his hands on a pair since! “Funnily enough during my first meeting with Michael he never mentioned this and let me go on presenting the WRR concept as if it was the first time he had heard of it, he did not make it easy for me!” explains Kathryn Duffy of Wellness Rejuvenation Rooms. “He put his toe in the water by purchasing a few rooms for the Hotel and also for him and his family to trial first.

He has always had a great interest in the technologies used, - Far Infrared, Negative Ions and Magnetism, but wanted to see for himself how they worked all together.” Michael says “I have now tried them for a month or so and I feel fantastic! More energy, generally feeling better overall it has made a real difference to how I feel” What I really love is the fact that I have not had to adjust my hectic lifestyle, and they have not interfered with it whatsoever. I feel this is the next step up from our normal 5 star accommodation. It is new and different and it is what people are looking for and this is why they choose us”

We are leaders in the field when it comes to new innovative ideas. We have attracted new publicity by having a group of journalists here in Malta last month and they genuinely loved the rooms and concept and are very keen to write about it” Wellness is the way forward. Michael has now decided to devote three floors of the new Tower Block completely to Wellness Rejuvenation Rooms- this is a total of 88 rooms. Fortina are charging an extra 30.00 Euro per double room per night for a WRR. The average cost of a Wellness room being 5,500 Euro plus marketing.

The idea of creating two new revenue streams from the bedroom really appeals to Fortina. That coupled with the fact that vast promotional materials are supplied by WRR to encourage the guest to purchase their own Wellness rooms from a specially created web site creates very little extra effort on staff in the hotel and is all part of the WRR program.

Kathryn says, “As a result of Fortina being the first to embrace the concept, this has been a wonderful coup for us and now we have enquiries from Scotland, Portugal, Ireland, Far East, Egypt and Spain. We are really excited about the future and the difference this is making to the holiday industry.”

“It is a wonderful feeling when you start a project like this. It begins with the dream, then when you put it into action it takes time, effort, patience and most of all belief. Loads of people will give you many reasons why it will not work. You have to ignore them and keep on going. When you know you have a great product you should never ever give up!

I never stopped believing that it was the way forward and now it is happening, it is a wonderful buzz! I once heard the definition of success and that is “Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal” This is so true if you think about it. Also if a goal does not both excite you and scare at the same time, it just is not big enough! Well this one did that for us I can tell you and that is for sure! Now our only challenges are keeping up with demand!
 

Official Product Launch Event
We welcome any interested developers, marketers and suppliers to attend our official launch of Wellness Rejuvenation Rooms to be held at The Park Royal Hotel in Stretton, England on 6th March 2008.
Click Here to register your attendance online at www.wellnessrejuvenationrooms.com or
contact Kathryn on +353 87 2219692 or kathryn@wellnessrejuvenationrooms.com.
If you are unable to attend, please feel free to call or email and request a brochure.

TATOC Set To Announce Radical New Plans At Their Annual Conference!

TATOC will announce radical changes to their mode of operation at their Annual Conference, which is being held at Warrington from 7th to 9th March 2008. The Conference will also be used as a vehicle to reveal exciting and bold new plans. TATOC hope these plans will enhance the timeshare experience for both existing and prospective owners.

In an exclusive announcement issued through The Timeshare Blog and Perspective Magazine, TATOC have also confirmed that one of their new initiatives will be a resort accreditation process. Timeshare resorts in Europe will have an optional opportunity to be examined and awarded a TATOC Accreditation. This will allow the establishment to display a TATOC Endorsement Certificate in the resort reception and to fly the TATOC flag outside the resort. Read more

Dial An Exchange Europe Appoint David Lilley As Their New Managing Director

Dial An Exchange Europe (DAEE) today confirmed that they have appointed David Lilley as their new Managing Director. He will commence his duties immediately.

Up until August 2007, Mr Lilley was Strategic Alliance Director for RCI Europe. Having been in sales, marketing and business development for close to fifteen years, including seven years at global brand American Express, David carries a reputation as an honest and dynamic individual; someone who is well respected and can call on a broad and diverse network to support his business endeavours. Read more

New Research Shows People Buy Timeshare for All the Right Reasons

The first phase of a research study conducted by Sell My Timeshare NOW, LLC, shows that people who buy timeshare understand the product, and buy timeshare resales because they recognize the value and benefits timeshare ownership can provide.

Sell My Timeshare NOW, LLC, a leading timeshare resales and timeshare rentals advertising and marketing company, has completed the first phase of a multi-part timeshare buyer research study.

Nearly 36 percent of the research participants in the study indicated that they wanted to buy timeshare resales because they recognize it as a way to save money on the purchase price of timeshare weeks. Another 31.5 percent identified that owning timeshare is a great way to vacation. Other reasons given for wanting to buy timeshare resales included the flexibility to research the best vacation property deal for themselves (11.8 percent) and  because they offered access to specific amenities such as golf, water sports or skiing (4.9 percent).

According to Steve Luba, Sell My Timeshare NOW’s director of communications, “Only 16 percent of the people who want to buy timeshare resales on our site said they were doing so in order to avoid high-pressure sales presentations at timeshare resorts. This directly counters the perception that on-site sales tactics hurt the industry and speaks well of an overall positive image of timeshare sales, both as new properties and as timeshare resales.”

Sell My Timeshare NOW’s study included only qualified participants, meaning that the respondents had already placed an offer to buy timeshare before they were asked to participate in the study. Of the more than 2100 respondents, none were casual web surfers or ‘window shoppers’ on the Sell My Timeshare NOW website. All participants in the study did so anonymously. Because phase one of the study was conducted over a four-month period, Sell My Timeshare NOW believes the participants represent a genuine demographic cross section of timeshare buyers.

The company’s founder and CEO, Jason Tremblay says, “Sell My Timeshare NOW’s research is very positive, showing a stable industry where people buy timeshare resales because they understand the product. The decision to buy timeshare should not be an impulse buy.”

Sell My Timeshare NOW is an internet marketing company that provides timeshare owners a way to advertise their timeshare for purchase or rental, creating an extensive inventory of timeshares on their website which attracts both timeshare buyers and renters.

LaTour Signature Group Announces First Vacation Resort Property in Mexico

Hotel Guru’s New Business Venture with ResortCom Elite Signs Luxury Private Residence Club

Tom LaTour, renowned hotelier, vintner and restaurateur is placing his signature touch on the booming second home market in Mexico. 

The former Chairman and CEO of Kimpton Hotel Group, has launched LaTour Signature Group, a joint-venture enterprise with ResortCom Elite that will transform luxury vacation experiences at select five-star fractional resort properties throughout North America and Mexico. The exclusive Olamar property in Cabo San Lucas marks the company’s foray into Mexico’s thriving shared ownership vacation travel industry. Read more

Three Years In The Making: Sol Melia Vacation Club Builds On Formula For Success And Global Expansion

Just three years ago, in 2004, Sol Meliá Vacation Club (The CLUB) started by promptly developing three international properties.  Today, the internationally branded club, which is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, has 13 international locations in Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America with more than 20,000 members worldwide.  In 2008, the company prepares to open two more resort locations in Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico.  With total revenues in excess of $130 million in 2007, The CLUB continues to focus on its vision to be a pre-eminent global provider of exceptional leisure lifestyle experiences for its members, while moving to the next stage of its development with The CLUB by Meliá. Read more

Wyndham Vacation Ownership Adds Wyndham Palm Springs Hotel To Its Fairshare Plus By Wyndham Program

Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), today announced that owners of FairShare Plus by Wyndham, its points-based, flexible vacation ownership exchange program, may now use their points to stay at Wyndham Palm Springs, an upscale desert retreat in the Wyndham Hotels and Resorts family of properties. This marks the eighth Wyndham hotel available to Wyndham Vacation Resorts’ owners as a part of their FairShare Plus by Wyndham program. Read more

Chevy Grand Prix Takes on Tamarack Resort

The Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix is back in action for its second tour stop of the year at Tamarack Resort. The event will host the Visa Snowboardcross competition, part of the Visa SBX Championship Series, and a halfpipe competition in Tamarack’s legendary SuperPipe. It’s the only pipe in Idaho that features 22-foot walls, the Olympic standard for the 2010 Vancouver Games.
 
The halfpipe competition will showcase a number of U.S. Snowboarding athletes including Olympic silver medalist and 2008 X Games gold medalist Gretchen Bleiler (Aspen, CO), former X Games medalist Scotty Lago (Seabrook, NH), ‘07 Grand Prix champ Tommy Czeschin (Mammoth Lakes, CA) and Elijah Teter (South Lake Tahoe, CA), who was third in the Grand Prix’s most recent stop in Breckenridge. Read more

NHRA Announces Marketing Partnership With Wyndham Vacation Ownership

NHRA announced today that it has signed a marketing partnership with Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE; WYN). 
     
As part of the agreement, the company, through its Wyndham Vacation Resorts brand, will have a major presence at all NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events in 2008 with an on-site promotional display in the NHRA Manufacturers Midway.
     
“We are pleased to welcome Wyndham Vacation Ownership into the NHRA family of sponsors,” said Gary Darcy, senior vice president of sales and marketing, NHRA. “We look forward to working with Wyndham to help them identify new customers by providing access to the fans that attend NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series events each year.”   Read more

I ♥ TIMESHARE! OTE’s Valentine Wish for Timeshares everywhere!

With Valentine’s Day upon us and as couples think about how to declare their love for each other, OTE (Organisation for Timeshare in Europe) is as focussed as ever on ensuring that consumers are able to love timeshare.

OTE, the industry trade body for timeshare, is dedicated to promoting the very best the timeshare industry has to offer and to making sure that consumers are aware of the wealth of fabulous timeshare holiday options out there.  

If owners who have already fallen in love with their timeshare are anything to go by, this is a true affair of the heart!   An on-line survey of owners in 2006 found that 93% felt that timeshare offers a better experience than other self catering holiday options.* Read more

Bluegreen Corporation Promotes Two Senior Executives

Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE: BXG), a leading provider of Colorful Places to Live and Play®, announced today the promotions of two senior executives in its National Sales and Marketing and Mortgage Operations.

David A. Bidgood, Senior Vice President of National Sales and Marketing, Bluegreen Resorts, has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Bluegreen Resorts, and Senior Vice President, Bluegreen Corporation. Allan J. Herz, Senior Vice President, Mortgage Operations, Bluegreen Corporation, has been given the additional responsibility of Assistant Treasurer of Bluegreen Corporation. Read more

Shell Vacations Continues Positive Momentum

Developer signs two new franchisees, adds new lender, Napa resort inventory

As Shell Vacations begins a new year, the future looks extremely bright for the vacation ownership developer with successes continuing to mount … adding new franchisees, financing partners, offsite brokers, and winning national awards. 

“The momentum continues,” says Franklin Khedouri, President of Shell Vacations Systems, “as we proudly announce the signing of two properties of American Leisure Holdings, Inc. of Orlando, Florida. The first, slated to begin sales in 2008, is The Boulevard, a landmark art deco hotel located in the heart of South Beach, Miami. Upon completion of a major renovation, the entire property will become a Shell Vacations Club destination resort.” Read more

Announcing the formation of a new and totally independent collection agency, Fidelity Credit Services, INC

Mr. Richard Spielman, President of Continental Central Credit, Inc. of Carlsbad, CA, is pleased to announce the formation of a new and totally independent collection agency, Fidelity Credit Services, INC..

Continental Central Credit, Inc. is a leader and innovative collection agency in the recovery of HOA Maintenance Fees, Club Membership Dues, etc.. The company has more than twenty (20) years of extensive experience in the timeshare/vacation ownership marketplace wherein it has been assisting hundreds of clients. Continental Central Credit, Inc. and its employees have strongly supported ARDA throughout this time period as members, event sponsors, Chairmen League and Trustee designees.  Continental’s management team has more than one hundred and fifty (150+) years of combined service in the timeshare/vacation ownership business and each of its collection staff/support team members has an average of ten (10) years of experience in the industry. Read more

Shell Vacations Hospitality Selects Las Vegas Property For Company’s Top Resort Management Team Award

Shell Vacations Hospitality recently named the winner of its annual competition for the top management team within its company.

Under the leadership of Chris Breed, CHA, RRP and General Manager, the Desert Rose Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, was honored with Shell Vacations Hospitality’s Management Team Appreciation Award, the most prestigious recognition given to any of the management teams at the 19 resorts managed by the leading management organization. Read more

Shell Vacations Hospitality Selects New Resort Managers

Shell Vacations Hospitality has recently announced several new promotions in its western and Hawaii regions, according to Susan Kelley, President of the company.  “All of these new managers are seasoned veterans in the resort timeshare industry. We are proud to have them on our growing team of hospitality professionals.”

Linda Anthony, Vice President of Shell Vacations Hospitality in Hawaii has announced Jasmine Lopez-Silva has been named General Manager of the 108-unit Kauai Coast Resort, supervising 48 employees. Previously, she served as General Manager of the 73-unit Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village and brings to her new position over 21 years of hospitality management expertise in the Hawaiian Islands. Read more

Shell Vacations Continues Positive Momentum

Developer signs two new franchisees, adds new lender, Napa resort inventory

As Shell Vacations begins a new year, the future looks extremely bright for the vacation ownership developer with successes continuing to mount … adding new franchisees, financing partners, offsite brokers, and winning national awards. 

“The momentum continues,” says Franklin Khedouri, President of Shell Vacations Systems, “as we proudly announce the signing of two properties of American Leisure Holdings, Inc. of Orlando, Florida. The first, slated to begin sales in 2008, is The Boulevard, a landmark art deco hotel located in the heart of South Beach, Miami. Upon completion of a major renovation, the entire property will become a Shell Vacations Club destination resort.” Read more

2007 Was Record Breaking Year for Timeshare Resale Advertising Company

Timeshare resales and rentals advertised through Sell My Timeshare NOW continued strong throughout 2007. The online timeshare resales company released a fourth quarter earnings synopsis indicating that activity remains solid despite the softening economy.
 
Sell My Timeshare NOW, LLC, a leading timeshare resale and rental advertising and marketing company, finished 2007 with strong fourth quarter earnings, consistent with sales and revenue throughout the year. The privately held Dover, New Hampshire company does not release earnings reports, however does issue synopsis statements three times each year, along with an end-of-year statistical synopsis. For 2007, Sell My Timeshare NOW reports a 37 percent increase in annual company revenue, over its 2006 earnings, making it a record year for the company. Read more

Wyndham Signs Multi-Year Endorsement Partnership with 2007 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Brandt Snedeker

Snedeker commits to 2008 Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, NC

Professional golfer Brandt Snedeker, who won his first TOUR victory at the Wyndham Championship, crowned an outstanding 2007 with the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year Award and a sponsorship contract with Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), one of the world’s largest hospitality companies. Snedeker will promote the Wyndham brand as he continues his rise to the top of the golfing world.

“2007 was an unbelievable year for me from my first TOUR victory at the Wyndham Championship to winning the PGA TOUR’s Rookie of the Year award,” said Snedeker. “I learned a lot about my game and myself during the season.  For a company like Wyndham to take an interest in my career and display their confidence in my abilities, both on the golf course and as a spokesperson off the course, is truly an honor.” Read more

Starwood on the Brink of its 900th Hotel as Growth Accelerates

With 500 Hotels and 120,000 New Rooms in the Pipeline, Starwood to Expand Around the Globe

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) anticipates another year of extraordinary growth in 2008, building on the company’s record-setting success in 2007. Early this year Starwood will mark a milestone with the opening of its 900th hotel, and expects to increase its portfolio by 50% over the next five years, driven by aggressive global expansion across all its brands and the unprecedented growth of its two new brands, Aloft and Element, which both expect to open their first hotels this year. Read more

Future Collegiate World Tour To Stop At Plantation Golf Resort & Spa

The Future Collegiate World Tour (FCWT) will host the Plantation Inn Open on February 23 and 24 at the beautiful Plantation Golf Resort & Spa. Golfers tee off on Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. on both nines.  

The Plantation Inn Open is a 36-hole event played by boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 19. It’s one of 50 tournaments scheduled around the country in the 207-2008 season.   Approximately 100 golfers are expected to participate.

“This is our fourth year hosting the event, and we are pleased to have this group of young golfers return to Plantation Resort & Golf Course,” said Jimmie Brothers, Director of Golf at The Plantation Golf Resort & Spa.   Read more

RCI Unveils First Ever “Green” Resort Directory

The “Ultimate Vacation Guide” will Now Include Updated Resort Content and Editorial Highlights from Deepak Chopra

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange, today announced the introduction of its first ever directory printed on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for meeting the standards of compliance for sustainable forestry practices. Read more

Director of Architecture at Architectural Concepts, Inc. Receives LEED® Accreditation

Brian J. Giguere AIA Becomes Accredited Professional

Architectural Concepts, Inc. (ACI) has announced that Director of Architecture, Brian J. Giguere AIA has been officially designated as a LEED® Accredited Professional. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Its system offers project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources. Read more

Accor Première Vacation Club Selects SPI’s Enterprise Software

Systems Products International (SPI) announced it has successfully completed the implementation of its enterprise system on behalf of Australia-based timeshare/holiday ownership resort developers Accor Première Vacation Club (APVC).

SPI Director of Sales Matt Brosious says, “Our enterprise system will answer the full range of APVC’s software needs, including marketing, in-house marketing, tours, sales, commissions, premium/gift tracking, reservations, club dues billing, receivables administration and resort operations. We are excited to be part of the growth of a phenomenal company doing business in this part of the world.” Read more

La Tranquila® Breathtaking Resort – Spa & Beach Club

Exclusive Private Residence Club First Resort In Branded Program

Preferred Residences™, a hospitality branded membership and exchange program for luxury shared ownership resorts, announced that La Tranquila® Breathtaking Resort – Spa & Beach Club is the first resort to join the network. Interval International and Preferred Hotel Group formed a strategic alliance last year to develop the high-end, branded program for fractional resorts, private residence clubs, and condominium-style hotels. Read more

Next Page »