Daily Timeshare and Hospitality News - The Timeshare Blog

RCI Confirms Support Of New Consumer Publication For Shared Ownership Industry

Owners Perspective magazine, the independent global publication for existing owners and prospective buyers of all shared ownership products which launched last week with an initial subscription base of 5,300 can now confirm the support of the industry’s largest exchange company to help extend its reach in delivering valuable content to consumers.

Jonathan Back,
Managing Director, RCI commented:
“As my parents were timeshare owners, I came into the industry knowing what a great product timeshare is. Surprisingly, the majority of…

Orange Lake Orlando Resort Opens New 2.7 Million Dollar Water’s Edge Complex

New Complex Features Zero-Entry Pool With Cabanas

The Family of Orange Lake Resorts announces the opening of the new Water’s Edge recreation and entertainment complex in its premier resort village. The West Village was the first of four resort villages to open at Orange Lake Orlando in 1982. The 2.7-million-dollar Water’s Edge complex is the latest revitalization project of the more than 1,450-acre Orlando timeshare resort located next door to Walt Disney World® Theme Parks.

The Water’s Edge…

Tour GCX And The Markers Partner To Increase Member Options

TOUR GCX Partners – golfers’ passport to access private clubs worldwide, including hosts of two PGA Championships, a Ryder Cup and other prestigious tournaments – has partnered with The Markers to offer new stay-and-play opportunities for its members.

The first of its kind in the world, The Markers is a golfer’s residence club offering access to luxury properties in golf destination hotbeds. Each four bedroom / four bathroom home is appointed with the finest amenities, including chef-level…

Travel Advantage Network Sponsors BBB Charity Golf Classic

Travel Advantage Network (TAN), one of the nation’s fastest growing wholesale travel companies, was a major sponsor of Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Greater Maryland’s recent Charity Golf Classic. Over 100 golfers participated in the much-anticipated golf tournament, held June 9 at the Greystone Golf Course in White Hall, MD. The event raised over $15,000 for BBB’s Educational Foundation, whose mission is to enhance consumer confidence through education and information.

TAN not only sponsored the event, they…

LRA Worldwide To Conduct Brand Assurance Program For aloft Hotels

aloft Hotels, the new lifestyle brand offering from Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has selected LRA Worldwide, Inc. to design and deploy its brand assurance evaluation program.

This selection represents an extension of the partnership between LRA and Starwood; LRA currently conducts the global brand assurance programs for all of the Starwood brands – Westin Hotels & Resorts, W Hotels, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Le Méridien, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis and Four Points by Sheraton. Beginning this…

TATOC Captures The Attention Of The Timeshare Industry!

Consumer Association TATOC today announced major support of their new strategy from key names within the European timeshare sector.

In March this year, TATOC presented a definitive new plan to delegates at their annual conference. This plan included an opportunity for businesses to provide support to the association in the shape of website sponsorship.

Amongst the big name players to announce their support of TATOC through the Platinum Sponsorship package are Club La Costa, Dial An Exchange, Diamond…

Shell Vacations Club Agrees To Use SPI Vacation Ownership / Timeshare Software

Systems Products International (SPI) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Shell Vacations LLC of Northbrook, IL to provide marketing and sales software to support Shell Vacation’s sales and marketing operations.

Shell Vacations will implement the Orange Systems marketing and sales software suite for tour booking and registration, mini-vacation fulfillment, sales center management, gifting/premiums, contracts and sales administration.

“After a thorough evaluation of SPI’s technology and functionality, we determined that SPI Software was…

Anfi Group Scoops Highly Prestigious Property Award

The results of the European Property Awards in association with CNBC Television and SIMA for 2008 have just been revealed and Anfi Group is delighted to announce that it has won an award in the category of European and African Property Awards. The award will be presented at a glittering gala dinner to be held at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in London on 27th September.

The fact that Anfi Group earned one of these coveted awards…

TAN Employees Shave The Way For The Fight Against Alopecia

Travel Advantage Network manager shaves head in fundraising challenge

Travel Advantage Network (TAN), a nationwide leader in wholesale vacation accommodations, found a unique way to raise awareness and funds for juvenile alopecia areata, an autoimmune disorder that causes patches of hair loss on parts of the body, usually the scalp.

TAN’s Total Vacation Services Department Assistant Manager Steve Ogden promised to shave his head if TAN employees reached their fundraising goal of $1,000 for the National Alopecia Areata…

Marriott Vacation Club Announces Marriott’s Lakeshore Reserve At Grande Lakes

Marriott Vacation Club International, the vacation ownership division of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR: 22.63, +0.18, +0.80%), announced today the development of Marriott’s Lakeshore Reserve at Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla. Located on the pristine grounds of Grande Lakes Orlando, the resort will be the first-ever Marriott Vacation Club property to be co-located with a JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, offering a distinguished level of amenities.

The resort was formally introduced this morning with a groundbreaking ceremony…

Owners Perspective Magazine Launches - First Edition Now Online

After two and a half months of waiting, the first edition of the new independent consumer publication for the shared ownership industry has now been revealed at http://www.ownersperspective.com

Owners Perspective magazine has been designed specifically for the existing owner and prospective buyer of any timeshare, fractional, destination club or private residence club product; offering independent reviews of the best resorts, products and services; the latest on the newest resort developments; trend-setting reader offers and much more…

More than…

London’s Fractional Summit Inspired Industry Professionals

Monday 7th July saw the first Fractional Summit, held in the heart of the city of London, England and attended by more than 120 delegates from around the globe.

The event looked at the history and concept of the Fractional Industry with David Disick, President of David M Disick and Associates and Peter Kempf, CEO, Managing Director Europe, DCP International, followed by a session with Brett Archibald Senior Vice President, Business Development, The Registry Collection who explained…

Glen Tanar Estate Wins Gold For Customer Service

The staff at Glen Tanar Estate have been recognised for their outstanding customer service skills by securing a Gold Service Achievement Award from Scottish Enterprise. The Deeside-based tourism business is a hot-spot for weddings, corporate events, holidaymakers and day trippers.

The Scottish Enterprise Service Achievement Awards represent excellence in tourism organisations for their commitment to customer service. Companies are assessed over a 13-month period to include business workshops, one-to-one interviews and visits from mystery shoppers and are…

St. Regis(R) Makes The Next Stop On Its Global Expedition With The Debut Of The St. Regis Dubai

Opening in 2012, The St. Regis Dubai and The Residences at The St. Regis Dubai Will Offer Guests Superior Design and Unparalleled Service in One of the Middle East’s Most Exciting Metropolises

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the introduction of its renowned St. Regis brand to the rapidly growing city of Dubai. Scheduled to open in 2012, The St. Regis Dubai and The Residences at The St. Regis Dubai will feature 220…

Bluegreen Corporation Renews $30 Million Revolving Line Of Credit With Wells Fargo Foothill

Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE: BXG), a leading provider of Colorful Places to Live and Play®, today announced the renewal of its $30 million revolving line of credit with Wells Fargo Foothill, part of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC). Bluegreen® will pledge certain receivables generated by its Bluegreen Resorts and Bluegreen Communities business segments to secure borrowings under the facility. The borrowing period under the facility ends on December 31, 2009 and the facility matures on December 31,…

Wyndham Brand To Expand In China With 337-Room Shanghai Hotel

Wyndham Hotel Group International today announced plans to expand the Wyndham® brand in China with the construction of a 337-room, 15-story luxury hotel in Shanghai.

The Wyndham Baolian Hotel, scheduled to open in April 2010, is being developed by Shanghai Baolian Real Estate Company Ltd. in the city’s Baoshan district.

Weijie Zhu, principal owner and president of Shanghai Baolian Real Estate Company Ltd., signed a 10-year agreement with Wyndham Hotel Group International to manage the property.

The hotel will…

Gold Coast Company Celebrates 30 Years

2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the Classic Group, the largest privately owned timeshare resort management company in Australia, and the occasion was celebrated by a gathering of staff, friends and business associates at a gala evening, this week on the Gold Coast.

CEO of the Classic Group, Ramy Filo puts their success down to several key factors.

“Thirty years is a milestone for any company, and in the timeshare industry in particular, it represents a significant achievement.…

Group RCI Offers Solution To Ease Credit Crunch

Group RCI, the world’s largest holiday exchange company, has developed a unique rental and exchange product designed to boost sales for property developers feeling the squeeze as the global credit crunch tightens. The international credit crisis, with its rising interest rates and mortgage difficulties, continues to dominate the headlines and many consumers in the US and Europe are shying away from property investment opportunities for fear of becoming another credit casualty.

During this challenging economic cycle, it’s…

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts To Enter Turks & Caicos Market

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts today announced it will expand its Caribbean portfolio into the Turks and Caicos Islands with the development of a luxury 251-unit oceanfront resort at Pirate’s Bay on the west coast of Grand Turk Island.

The Wyndham® Cacique Royale Beach Resort is being developed in two phases by Prestigious Properties Ltd., the largest real estate brokerage firm in the Turks and Caicos,and will be managed by Wyndham Hotel Management Inc.

Cacique Royale is the Lucayan…

RCI® Signs On Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point As Its First Points-Based Affiliated Resort In The Philippines

RCI, the world leader in timeshare exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), today announced the launch of its first points-based affiliated resort in the Philippines. RCI entered into an agreement to sign on Thunderbird Resorts Poro Point – the company’s 18th affiliated resort in the Philippines, which will be part of the RCI® global network of over 4,000 affiliated resorts in nearly 100 countries.

Situated on a peninsula across 650,000 square…

Barceló Launches New Global Microsite For UK Market

Barceló Hotels and Resorts has launched a new on-line microsite specifically geared to driving outbound business from the UK to its global destinations.

With 130 Hotels in 15 countries across four continents, Barceló, which bought the Paramount Group of Hotels in September last year, has a significant global presence and aims to increase market share by making UK consumer access to its international portfolio of hotels simpler and faster.

Featuring bold graphics and colour images of global destinations…

Deep Pockets Send Hyatt Skyward

$100 million fractional ownership resort has funding and buyers

At a time when most new condo projects in Sarasota are on ice, and new construction as a whole is hard to come by, there is one notable exception these days out on Siesta Key.

The $100 million Hyatt Siesta Key Beach, a “fractional ownership” resort scheduled to open next year, is moving ahead at full speed, after clearing its remaining permits last month. Cranes and bulldozers are at…

The Family Of Orange Lake Resorts Assumes Management Of Ascutney Mountain Resort In Vermont

Orlando-based Vacation Ownership Resort Acquires Additional Inventory

The Family of Orange Lake Resorts announced the acquisition of an additional 26 villas at Ascutney Mountain Resort in Vermont, in addition to the 34 villas purchased last year at this location. Orange Lake will also be assuming the management responsibilities of Ascutney Mountain Resort, with the exception of the ski operations, which will remain under the management of Snowdance, LLC. Orange Lake Vermont is one of four destinations owners…

Star Resort Group Moves East

Tierra del Sol, Aruba Added to List of Projects

Star Resort Group (SRG) has announced that Tierra del Sol, Aruba will be its first sales and marketing consulting agreement in the Caribbean. SRG is a leading developer, marketer and seller of luxury fractional ownership real estate, private residence clubs, condo-hotels, timeshares, and whole ownership resort real estate products in The Americas.
Star Resort Group provides sales and marketing, development and management expertise to developers throughout the United States,…

The Group RCI Christel House Open – UK Tournament

Monday 30th June saw the UK golf tournament which comprised of 41 golfers playing at the Hilton Puckrup Hall Hotel & Golf Club, set on the edge of the Cotswolds in 140 acres of secluded parkland. The 18-hole championship golf course offered superb views of the Malvern Hills and included three lakes and strategic bunkers, offering challenges to golfers of all abilities.

For those who attended and not playing there was a spa, the golf club bar,…

New Management at Anfi Gran Canaria - John MacDonald, Christian Kuth and Célia Fonseca

The Anfi Group in Gran Canaria, one of Europe’s leading Vacation Membership Resorts, has recently appointed John MacDonald as the Sales and Marketing Director. Completing the team will be Christian Kuth in the role of Sales Director and Célia Fonseca as Marketing Director. The new venture sees John and Christian’s careers coming full circle, since they were key players during the company’s foundation back in 1992.

John returns to Anfi with a wealth of experience behind him,…

DHH Launches Luxury Alpine Chalet

Luxury destination club Distinctive Holiday Homes has announced the latest addition to its stable of sumptuous getaways: a stunning chalet nestled high in the Alpine village of Les Mouilles, Megeve.

Famed as one of the most stylish locales in the Haute Savoie region of France, the bustling town is a skier’s dream, and hosts two unique winter sport events: the Vacheron Constantin Snow Golf Cup and the International Snow Polo Meeting. With a plethora of high-end boutiques,…

Brand Tango Diversifies With Neoptx Account

Brand Tango, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based marketing and advertising firm, has announced its selection as exclusive agency of record for optical-supplies firm Neoptx of Miramar, Fla.

Brand Tango was established in 2005 as a “timeshare/real estate/hospitality” specialty group, and has since branched out to serve clients in other fields. The Neoptx relationship continues Brand Tango’s emphasis on targeting clients outside of its niche market.

“We’re delighted that Neoptx could see beyond the obvious differences in product types and…

Telkonet Promotes Jeff Sobieski To Chief Operating Officer

Energy Management Functions and COO Functions to be Combined

Germantown, MD – Telkonet, Inc. (AMEX:TKO), the leading provider of innovative, centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, networking, building automation and proactive support services, announces that it has appointed Jeff Sobieski as Chief Operating Officer with immediate effect. Formerly Executive Vice President (EVP) of Energy Management, Jeff has been with Telkonet since March 2007 and is taking over as COO following Dottie Cleal’s resignation in May due…

New Group RCI Research Shows Steady Growth Of Timeshare Sales In Latin America Of Twelve Percent During 2007

Group RCI, a global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN) today released findings about the timeshare industry from its Latin America and the Caribbean Vacation Ownership Fact Book 2007. As reported by Group RCI there were 876,000 timeshare weeks sold worldwide in 2007, representing an increase of six percent over 2006. Sales in Latin America represented a robust 30 percent of this figure with 261,000 weeks sold,…