SPI Orange Software Chosen By Costa Rica-Based Timeshare Resort
March 16, 2010 by Timeshare & Fractional News · Leave a Comment
Costa Rica-based OSA Resort Club, is the latest company to join with SPI Software as a valued customer. OSA Resort Club has licensed the SPI Orange Enterprise Vacation Ownership Suite including integrated modules for marketing, sales, mortgage and maintenance fee servicing, central reservations, property management and operations.
Matt Brosious, Vice-President of sales for SPI states, “We are very proud to have been selected by OSA Resort Club as their technology platform. Developers are making SPI their overwhelming choice as the benefits of SPI’s easy user interface, quick implementation and rich functionality is a distinct strategic and competitive advantage.”
Paula Mead, General Manager for OSA Resort Club adds” I chose SPI Orange after carefully evaluating available software. SPI has everything we needed for both now and the future, ‘out of the box,’ without additional customization.”
SPI Orange can be deployed on a modular basis for an individual department or as an integrated enterprise suite that is available as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) or as a traditional client-based package. For companies wanting additional information, please visit SPI at ARDA Booth 343 during the ARDA national convention March 15-18th or email sales@spisoftware.com.
About OSA Resort Club
OSA is a new and exciting resort concept that combines aspects of a private club with a membership resort. The resort club is located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica near Puerto Jimenez and will feature many exciting amenities. For further information visit http://www.osaresortclub.com/osaresortclub.html.
About SPI Software
SPI Software provides developers and operators of vacation ownership (timeshare, fractional, private residence club and others using either traditional or points-based usage strategies) with Microsoft .NET-based software as either an enterprise suite of software called Orange Systems, or in specific modules to handle marketing, sales, property management, finance, maintenance fee and receivables servicing, centralized reservations or Website access operations. Founded in 1978 and based in Miami, FL, SPI can be reached at 305-858-9505, sales@spiinc.com or www.spisoftware.com.
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
Email this postSPI Orange Software Selected By Steele Hill Resorts
December 2, 2009 by Timeshare & Fractional News · Leave a Comment
The timeshare industry’s technology leader, SPI Software (www.spiinc.com), recently announced that Steele Hill Resorts of Sanbornton, NH has selected SPI Orange Systems enterprise software to augment and replace the resort’s existing applications.
SPI Orange marketing, sales, property management, reservations, rentals, maintenance fee and mortgage loan servicing and web-user interface software applications will be put to use to provide the highest level of service possible to Steele Hill’s owners and guests, while increasing productivity and reducing operating costs. The SPI Orange software will be deployed in a company-wide network to replace the existing system the company has had for several years.
According to Douglass Cutillo, vice-president of Steel Hill Resorts, SPI Software was the only available technology that would truly meet their needs. “We did a thorough study of available software packages and, frankly speaking, the decision was an easy one to go with SPI Orange. When we explored the efficiencies SPI would bring and realized the cost-savings we were going to be able to achieve, we got pretty excited. The fact that the system can interface together all of our departments - from the marketing of our resort, through the sales process and on to management - was another highly desirable motivator.”
Matt Brosious, vice president of sales for SPI adds, “Steele Hill is a quality property with one of the best operators around. We are very pleased to be assisting them with their mission to provide great service and hospitality to their guests and owners. Both of our companies share a passion for the resort business and we look forward to providing Steele Hill Resorts with the most advanced software system in 2010 and for years to come.”
Resort or vacation club operators wishing to see a demonstration may contact SPI Sales at 305-858-9505 or by email to sales@spiiinc.com.
About Steele Hill Resorts
Steele Hill Resorts, Inc.’s property, situated in the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, sits atop the hill from which it derives its name and enjoys stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam, framed by the White Mountains. Set amongst 500 acres of unspoiled fields and hardwood forests, guests enjoy an executive golf course, snowmobile trails, snowshoeing, hiking trails and fishing in our private pond. Magnificent year-round swimming pools and hot tubs in a plant-filled conservatory are the centerpiece of The Amenities Center. Other guest privileges include additional indoor and outdoor pools, tennis and racquetball courts, exercise rooms, a roman spa, whirlpools, a sauna and an enclosed observation tower. Contact Steele Hill Resorts at 1-800-284-6985 or visit www.steelehillresorts.com.
About SPI Software
SPI provides developers and operators of vacation ownership (timeshare, fractional, private residence club and others using either traditional or points-based usage strategies) with its .NET-based software as either an enterprise suite of software called Orange Systems, or in specific modules to handle marketing, sales, property management, finance, maintenance fee and receivables servicing, centralized reservations or Website access operations. Founded in 1978 and based in Miami, FL, SPI can be reached at 305-858-9505, sales@spiinc.com or www.spiinc.com.
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
Jim Walsh Named As Spirit Incentives Sales Vice President
October 20, 2009 by Timeshare & Fractional News · Leave a Comment
A senior marketing professional with experience at the world’s largest timeshare development company will now direct sales efforts for Spirit Incentives, one of the nation’s most respected incentive organizations.
Jim Walsh, a veteran of over two decades in the timeshare industry, has been named Vice President of Sales by Spirit Incentives president Gary Barron. Walsh joined Spirit after nine years with Wyndham Vacation Resorts, where he most recently served as Senior VP of Marketing, helping to lead that company to its status as the nation’s largest vacation ownership company. His formerly held positions at Wyndham include: Vice President of Marketing and Director of Marketing.
In his new position, Walsh will develop, manage and guide all sales activities, including its primary (Direct and Value Added Retailers) and its secondary (Brokers and Resellers) distribution channels. In coordination with product development, production, finance, marketing, and servicing, Walsh will also interface with internal support areas to maintain high service standards and client relationships. As the new VP of Sales, he will also review and implement marketing initiatives, in coordination with all aspects of the sales organization, providing recommendations to support improvement and growth.
Added Walsh, “Having used Spirit Incentives as a valuable vendor for the last 18 years, I am confident that our past relationship will serve as a springboard to help provide further growth successes for the company.”
Prior to his affiliation with Wyndham Resorts, Walsh was president of a marketing company that provided marketing support functions for Marriott Vacation Club and Fairfield Resorts, now Wyndham Vacation Ownership. He also served as Project Director for three Caribbean resort properties in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
Spirit Incentives is a full service, privately owned incentive marketing firm specializing in marketing programs delivered as customer acquisition, retention and reward incentives. Founded in 1990 and located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spirit has become respected as the premier incentive solution provider for small to medium sized businesses as well as private and Fortune 500 companies. Spirit’s client list and travel vendor partners are among the most successful and prestigious in the country.
Visit: www.Spirit-Incentives.com
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
Bryan Ten Broek Named As Senior Vice President Of Resort Sales And Business Development Of Interval International
October 20, 2009 by Timeshare & Fractional News · Leave a Comment
Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services, announced the promotion of Bryan Ten Broek to senior vice president of resort sales and business development. He reports to David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing.
In his new position, Ten Broek oversees the sales and service team who manages Interval’s resort relationships in the U.S., Canada, and Caribbean and plays the lead role in building the company’s developer client base in these regions.
In addition, he is responsible for the resort affiliation, service, and marketing of Preferred ResidencesTM, a branded membership and exchange program for luxury fractional resorts and private residences clubs, in the same territory.
Ten Broek also directs initiatives that enhance the scope of services Interval provides to its existing clients, develops third-party business relationships, manages participation in hospitality-related conferences, and pursues new business opportunities.
“Bryan has done an outstanding job growing our business in the regions he has managed and launching new programs that significantly enhance the value we add to our clients’ products,” Gilbert said. “His extensive knowledge of the sales, marketing, and operations aspects of our business will serve him well in this new role and I am confident that he will continue to excel.”
Ten Broek joined Interval in 1995 and has held a number of positions of increasing responsibility. Most recently, he was vice president of resort sales and service for the western region.
He has been an active participant in the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the vacation ownership industry’s trade association, for more than 14 years and is currently a member of the research committee. He earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in political science from Northwestern University.
Interval International operates membership programs for vacation owners and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 33 years. Today, Interval has a network of approximately 2,500 resorts in more than 75 countries and offers its resort clients and about 2 million member families high-quality products and programs through offices in 26 cities in 16 countries. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
Timeshare Industry Proves Resilient
October 8, 2009 by Timeshare & Fractional News · Leave a Comment
Occupancy, Satisfaction Rates Remain Strong
Despite tighter credit markets and high unemployment rates, the U.S. timeshare industry continues to demonstrate its resilience.
Although overall sales continue to reflect the national trend of lower consumer spending, timeshare owners continue to enjoy their pre-paid timeshare vacations, with an 80 percent occupancy rate and an 86 percent product approval rate. This compares with a 60.4 percent hotel occupancy rate, according to Smith Travel Research.
“The downturn in our economy has hit the tourism industry particularly hard; the timeshare segment, however, due in part to its pre-paid nature, is better equipped than most to weather a downturn,” said Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). “The good news is that timeshare owners are still vacationing, and occupancy remains strong. Coupled with our industry’s emphasis on new efficiencies and improvements to our business model, we will come through the current downturn and be ready to meet the expectations of customers.”
Preliminary 2009 second quarter research indicates that nine out of 10 owners were current on monthly payments, a .2 percent increase over the preceding quarter. Sales efficiencies have improved, as measured by Volume Per Guest (VPG) of $2,043 that was up by two percent from the previous quarter level.
In addition, use of exchange options that offer timeshare owners the ability to trade resort destinations other than those of their “home resort” location are also strong, demonstrating that owners continue to enjoy their timeshares.
Several leading timeshare developers agree with Nusbaum’s outlook.
“We’ve had the best summer on record, and sales continue to be robust. Just because the economy has slowed doesn’t mean we have stopped doing what we do—we’ve taken a closer look at how we can refine our processes and products to deliver memorable vacations that families want to come back to year after year,” said Don Harrill, president and CEO of Holiday Inn Club Vacations.
“At Disney, we have confidence in vacation ownership. In fact, we’re enlarging our footprint outside of the Orlando area by the opening of our newest resort in California and developing one in Hawaii,” added James M. Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club.
Sergio Rivera, CEO for Starwood Vacation Ownership said, “Closing rates have held up better than expected given the discretionary nature of the product. This supports our belief that consumer dynamics will be strong over the long run.”
This comes as no surprise to David Palmer, CFO of Diamond Resorts International. “Our closing rates this year are identical to those last year, and our collections remain strong. Additionally, our diversified cash flow business model has allowed us to substantially decrease our reliance on the capital markets.”
Most developers report that decreased sales, in part, are a result of purposely slowed sales to maintain a healthy cash flow during the tightened credit market environment. In addition, the industry expects to limit new construction until inventory levels are reduced.
“An increase in volume aided by improving consumer sentiment and recovering capital markets will accelerate absorption,” said Nusbaum. “Most of all, demographics are on our side, with baby boomers and succeeding generations eager to purchase a piece of flexible vacation real estate, allowing them the better vacationing and the undeniable value proposition that timeshare offers. Our industry is primed to fulfill the increased consumer demand for quality vacation experiences.”
The American Resort Development Association is the Washington D.C.-based professional association representing the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Established in 1969, ARDA today has over 1,000 members ranging from privately held firms to publicly traded companies and international corporations with expertise in shared ownership interests in leisure real estate. The membership also includes timeshare owner associations (HOAs), resort management companies, and owners through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC). For more information, visit www.arda.org or ARDA’s consumer website at www.VacationBetter.org.
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
Sales Training For New Economy Developed By Tom Goetschius
October 8, 2009 by Timeshare & Fractional News · Leave a Comment
It’s not business as usual anymore. Over the last 18 months, the economy has witnessed wrenching changes, re-adjustments and dramatic upheaval. Many of our long-held beliefs turned out to be deceptive and downright fraudulent. Gone is the “borrow and spend” philosophy. The bubble has burst on the prosperity we enjoyed over the last decade. This is common knowledge to the average consumer. But if you make your living as a sales professional, how do you adjust to these cultural changes?
According to Tom Goetschius, a 25-year Orlando, Florida-based consultant and trainer in the resort development industry, “We have undergone a transformational shift in consumer attitude and behavior. As consumers shake off the effects of this economic readjustment and return to the marketplace, they will be more savvy and aware, thriftier, more cautious and less trusting. What that means to sales professionals is the need for a serious paradigm shift in how the consumer is engaged and new sales practices are applied.”
Goetschius acknowledges that there are serious challenges facing sales professionals, forcing them to review traditional practices and re-examine them in light of a new economy and a newer conservative consumer. His new sales training program, “Sales Training For the New Economy,” re-establishes not only the validity of relationship selling but goes beyond to apply the principles of focusing on the customer, earning the right to continue with the sales process through empathic listening, involving the customer in the sales process and influencing them rather than trying to sell them something through persuasion.
Trust has always been the foundation of effective sales, but how can a sales person be successful when the failure of long-trusted institutions and too-good-to-be-true sales claims have made consumers more skeptical than ever? Goetschius does this by teaching skills that enable sales people to communicate a non-manipulative, non self-serving and life-enhancing approach.
“As we emerge from the recession, it is clear that the buying habits of American consumers have changed,” explained Goetschius. “Rising from the ashes is a major restructuring of consumer buying culture. Almost overnight, we have been transformed from a ‘spend society’ to a ‘save society’. A new kind of thriftiness will rule the day. How people approach a salesperson will be entirely different from the past. It will take a new breed of sales professional, selling any product or service, to be successful in the New Economy.”
For further information: Contact TomGoetschius@aol.com
Or go to www.tomgassociates.com
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
Kristie Irvin, RRP Joins Perspective International As The North American Account Manager
September 2, 2009 by Timeshare & Fractional News · Leave a Comment
Timeshare & Fractional Ownership magazine publishers increase presence in America with experienced advertising sales manager.
Perspective International Ltd has seen rapid growth over the past few years. Perspective Magazine, has become the most read independent trade publication globally for the shared ownership industry and become media sponsor of 18 major industry events around the world, and this past year saw the launch of the only shared ownership consumer publication available to the general public, which in less than a year has developed a circulation of nearly 50,000 readers comprising of print and online subscriptions and distribution via first class and business class airport lounges worldwide with British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates Airlines and American Airlines in addition to leading UK supermarkets, and selected hotels and resorts across Europe.
“During the economic turmoil of 2009 we have concentrated on building more creative marketing and advertising channels to provide larger and more quantifiable results for our clients and are now ready to increase our presence further in all main regions of the world, so we are very pleased to welcome Kristie Irvin to our team as we continue to rapidly grow within USA, Canada, Mexico & Caribbean regions.” said Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Perspective International Ltd.
Kristie Irvin’s adventures in the timeshare industry started twelve years ago with Fairfield Resorts (now Wyndham Vacation Ownership) out of Nashville, Tennessee where she worked for five years starting as a telemarketer and rising through supervisor to Assistant Director and Recruiter / Trainer of a team of 30 telemarketers. Her career continued at Fairfield Glade as the In House Marketing Manager before taking a different direction to work for The Trades Publishing Company where she has handled two resort publications, The Resort Trades and Resort Management & Operations for the past six years forming many long lasting and heartfelt relationships with her clients.
“My time at The Resort Trades has opened many avenues for me to investigate and I have made a very comfortable and well thought out decision to join Perspective International. I am so excited and ready to undertake this journey to an even broader level in my next step within the timeshare industry.” said Kristie Irvin.
Kristie is available now to deal with all prospective clients within the USA, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean and neighboring regions and is also currently booking appointments with clients who are attending the Vacation Ownership Investment Conference (VOIC) in Orlando 14-17 September.
Kristie can be reached at kristieirvin@perspectiveinternational.com or by calling 931-200-3229
For more details on advertising and editorial opportunities visit http://www.perspectiverates.com
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
