Timeshare - Your week or mine?

HOSPITALITY: Timeshare is coming up with increasingly unique offers to defer the resistance associated with a "standard" holiday.

Timeshare at a newly created resort in the hills you can understand, but in the heritage segment? But that’s exactly what RCI now has on offer as it becomes more aggressive in its range of property and holiday options for Indian (timeshare) travellers who want a wider range of experiences to choose from.

RCI’s first heritage timeshare affiliate is Bal Samand Lake Palace in Jodhpur. According to Radhika Shastry, director of RCI’s global vacation network in India, it is the beginning of building a portfolio in the heritage segment. “

A lot of domestic and international RCI clients have been demanding heritage properties,” she says. And though the demand is largely seasonal, the timeshare strategy can help heritage hotels sustain themselves during off-peak months when a lot of domestic RCI clients travel.

After a nebulous start in India, timeshare is now growing at 18-20 per cent a year, and with it travellers’ consumption for known brands is increasing. “People are ready to buy timeshare but they want a recognised and credible brand which they can relate with,” Shastry says.

Among newer buyers of timeshare products are non-resident Indians from the Middle East, since timeshare in India is cheaper in comparison with other countries. Eight-five per cent people buy timeshare only to exchange, so buying a cheaper timeshare in India to exchange with properties outside makes sense.

RCI recently introduced its high-end luxury brand, called the Registry Collection, in India. Registry Collection has 450 top-of-the-line properties worldwide. “Registry members are of a different class,” Shastry says, and in India its equivalent would be the Vilas brand from the Oberoi group, or the likes of Umaid Bhawan — both of which she intends to peruse for possible collaboration.

Meanwhile, there’s an equally exciting alternate — the Premium Exchange. Properties under this are aimed at offering unique experiences rather than just hospitality.

For instance, homes on a tea estate, a coffee estate in Coorg or an old kothi in Rajasthan retain the original ambience of these homes, and the owner provides personalised hospitality.

According to B S Rathor, chairman and principal advisor, All India Resort Development Association, 80 per cent of timeshare is domestic tourists driven. He claims that most timeshare resorts are running full at most times. “

The segment is growing at over 20 per cent at the moment and as hotel occupancies stabilise with increasing supply in the market, it will not be long before international hospitality chains start to offer different extensions of their products (including timeshare) for a healthier mix,” he says. That’ll be the day

...note to self...timeshare in India, must look into :-)

Life & Leisure

technorati tags:timeshare, holiday, RCI, Bal, Samand, Lake, Palace, Jodpur, Indian, Indian, vacation, Registry, Collection, Premium, Exchange, resort

Timeshare charity promotes goodwill in Slovakia for children that matter.

Bratislava, Slovakia (PRWeb) January 4, 2007 -- Children in a Slovakian orphanage were recent witnesses of Santa being arrested in the name of good fun for charity. Volunteers from the timeshare charity movement Time4sharing.org, organized an afternoon full of games and fun for children from orphanage in Podunajske Biskupice, Bratislava, the nation's capital.

A showdown of the three typical Christmas characters in Slovakia, a Devil, an Angel and Santa was all the children had anticipated. Moments after they were being enchanted by their arrival, the heroes of Christmas were upstaged by a Kangaroo. Boomerang, the happy kangaroo and mascot of Time4sharing.org charity, made a surprise visit, to arrest Santa.

In order to be released, Boomerang convinced Santa that the children deserved more presents than Santa had prepared and ordered another load be delivered... The children roared when another load was brought into the festive room.

It was all in name of fun for the kids on hand, who cheered in the event sponsored by Time4sharing.org, a timeshare charity with a difference. Christmas is celebrated in the mainly Catholic country twice as many Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on the 6th of January.

The famous Kangaroo mascot of the charity, Boomerang, then played games with the children of lesser fortune during the whole event together with Santa and a Christmas Angel helping Santa to pass out superb treats.

Slovakia, a new member of the European Union, has a long way to go to meet the needs of its underprivileged children. Time4sharing has launched over 10 events and awareness campaigns in the past four years in Slovakia, with support from the presidential palace. In Slovakia earlier this year, the First Lady, Mrs. Silvia Gasparovicová was named by the International movement as Goodwill Ambassodor for 2006. Her support and encouragement to empower children in educational projects and supporting the charities work contributed to the selection. The charity has also taken on projects with the United Nations in Lebanon to support Trees instead of Landmines and has cooperated with Unicef, Sos, Special Olympics and hundreds of orphanages.

The charity has a message encouraging every member of every community to spend and share valuable time with children who have not been blessed with physical, mental or social advantages not only at Christmas, but throughout the year.

...it's great to see teh Timeshare charity giving back to the community...

Time4sharing.org's Mascot Arrests Santa at Charity Event in Slovakia

technorati tags:timeshare, bratislava, slovakia, timeshare4sharing.org, children, kids, club

Two Westin Timeshare resorts coming to Avon

The Colorado mountain resort town of Avon is getting two new Westin resorts near the Beaver Creek ski area.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (NYSE: HOT) of White Plains, N.Y., owns both properties.

The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa is a 235-room, high-end hotel that's supposed to open in time for the 2008-09 ski season. East West Partners of Vail is developing the property, which is already under construction.

The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas is a timeshare resort with 113 two-bedroom units on the east and west sides of the hotel. Starwood Vacation Ownership, which is developing the project, expects to start sales by 2008.

Timeshare units are sold in intervals, by the week or via a point system, according to VacationOwnership.com. Units are priced based on size, resort amenities, location and season.

Starwood Vacation Ownership, a Starwood Hotels division, already operates the Sheraton Mountain Vista and Lakeside Terrace timeshare resorts in Avon.

The new Westin hotel will feature the chain's patented Heavenly Bed as well as a "sensory welcome" including a white-tea scent, music and lighting. The Riverfront Mountain Villas will offer full access to hotel amenities, including concierge service, ski valet and gondola service to the Beaver Creek resort.

One of the world's largest hotel and resort owners, Westin Hotels has more than 850 properties in 95 countries and 145,000 employees. Its hotel brands include Sheraton, St. Regis, Four Points, W, Le Meridien, Aloft and Element, as well as Westin.

...it's great to see access and holidaying timeshare to beautiful places

Two Westin resorts coming to Avon - The Denver Business Journal:

technorati tags:timeshare, Starwood, hotels, Resorts, Westin, Colorado, mountain, Beaver, Creek, ski, riverfront, villas, vacationOwnership.com

Timeshare offers term time study

A holiday timeshare club which offers children supervised study during term time vacations has been dubbed irresponsible by a teaching union.

Club Las Calas in Lanzarote says families wanting to make use of lower term-time prices could ask teachers to set their children holiday assignments.

The not-for-profit club's staff would give pupils materials and assist them as they work in a safe environment.

The National Union of Teachers said the scheme was "abusive of education".

Surrogate school?

But the chairman of Club Las Calas owners committee, Adam Johnson, said the private members' holiday club was simply offering a practical solution to an ever-present problem.

It recognised the fact that many parents took holidays in term time because of the high prices charged by travel firms and airlines during school holidays.

He added that the prices could be as much as 100% higher.

Mr Johnson said: "What we feel is that since the government says children can have up to 10 days authorised absence - parents who wish to could offset that loss of term time by helping them undertake learning activities.

"We are not seeking to provide a surrogate school in Lanzarote, what we are saying is our parents need to go to the school and agree something that your children can usefully do whilst you are on holiday.

The holiday club said it was offering a practical solution

... I think it's an excelent idea to be flexbible and accomodate for timeshare families

BBC NEWS | Education | Timeshare offers term time study

technorati tags:timeshare, holiday, club, Las, Calas, Lanzarote

Marriott Vacation Club International Expands Presence in Asia

ORLANDO, Fla., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI), the recognized worldwide leader in the vacation ownership industry and a division of Marriott International, Inc. today announced its continued growth into Asia with the opening of its Asia Pacific Regional headquarters in Singapore. As the first major branded hospitality company in the Asian timeshare market, MVCI brings more than 22 years of experience to consumers in this region.

MVCI Asia Pacific will introduce a new Club Points product uniquely tailored to the vacationing habits of consumers in Asia. The program offers flexibility of use such as duration of stay, accommodation size and location at Club resorts in addition to exchange at MVCI resorts around the world."

The development of Marriott's Phuket Beach Club in 2001 was just the beginning of our long-range plans for the Asia Pacific region. We have recognized for quite some time that while timeshare is booming elsewhere in the world, Asia is still a relatively untapped market. I am excited about the opportunities that are upon us to offer exceptional vacation experiences to consumers in Asia," said Steve Weisz, president, Marriott Vacation

Since 1984, Marriott Vacation Club International has been the recognized worldwide leader in vacation ownership with a program highly regarded for its quality and unique flexibility. MVCI currently has over 8,000 timeshare villas worldwide and nearly 312,000 owners own their vacations "The Marriott Way," offering options to exchange within the MVCI portfolio, trade for Marriott Rewards points, exchange within Interval International's global system of 2,000 resorts in 75 countries or rent their week(s). Please visit http://www.vacationclub.com.

Marriott Vacation Club International Expands Presence in Asia: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

technorati tags:timeshare, Marriott, Vacation, Club, International, Asia, Phuket, Beach

Royal Oasis timeshare owners take legal action

Timeshare owners at the closed Royal Oasis filed a class action suit against the resort owner in a Florida Federal Court on four counts, including breach of contract.

The petition has been at least six months in the making and names Sunrise Properties Limited, Driftwood Freeport Limited and Driftwood Hospitality Management, LLC. as the defendants.

The owners say they have essentially been excommunicated from the resort since November 2004 and are fed up as their attempts to reach the resort have gone unreturned.

The Crowne Plaza Golf Resort and Casino at the Royal Oasis suffered two hurricanes in September 2004 and closed down.

In a November 4, 2004 letter, timeshare owners learned that the resort had anticipated re-opening the vacation club on June 1, 2005, but that never materialized.

Some owners were also informed that there was a hold on their timeshare points.

Desperate for answers, after not hearing anything for several weeks despite countless calls, e-mails and letters, timeshare owners reached out to this daily, The Bahamas government officials and even Prime Minister Christie

Heading the list of plaintiffs which includes hundreds of other timeshare owners in the suit is timeshare owner Robert Snee of Massachusetts.

The 13-page legal document lists the four counts as breach of contract, breach of the implied duty of good faith and fair dealing, unjust enrichment and for a declaration of Snee and the class' ownership rights and interests in their timeshare units.

The Royal Oasis property includes a casino, country club and tower and is the second largest resort on the island.

Government is seeking out a buyer for the defunct resort and, at last report, there were two.

...what happens when resorts go bust...hmmm

The Freeport News - Royal Oasis timeshare owners take legal action

technorati tags:Royal, Oasis, timeshare, legal, action, owners, Florida, Federal, Court

Architectural Concepts Selected to Create New Timeshare in Las Vegas

San Diego, CA – July 2006 – Architectural Concepts, Inc. (ACI) a San Diego firm regarded as one of the Southwest’s top hospitality-oriented architectural and interior design firms announced its new contract to transform the Desert Sky Las Vegas apartment complex into a equestrian style timeshare resort.

Located South of the Las Vegas Strip, the project is inspired by the neighboring hotel/casino and equestrian center known as South Coast Casino.

...the new fit out for the timeshar will include water features and area, Yoga and Fitness centre, club house, gardents...very aesthetic pleasing...

Architectural Concepts Selected to Create New Timeshare in Las Vegas

technorati tags:timeshare, Las, Vegas, Achitechtural, Concepts

Timeshare in a Private Jet

By McGregor McCance.

Meanwhile, business continues to flourish on the general aviation side of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport. Here, Landmark Aviation provides ground services for private and corporate aircraft through a long-term contract with the airport.

That includes selling fuel, providing hangar space, aircraft maintenance and other services.

General Manager John Whitmer said Landmark Aviation opened a new hangar about two years ago, but he already sees a need to plan for more.

As Whitmer talked about operations, a steamroller inched by his office, rattling windows and furniture. Crews are rehabilitating and expanding the general aviation parking apron.

Two years ago, 46 private aircraft took off in 20 minutes after the Hurricanes blew out of town. Some 85 total flew out of the airport’s general aviation wing that afternoon and the next morning.“

It’s like stacking firewood,” Whitmer recalled. “We had our guys use lighted wands and we created our own taxiway. Knock on wood, everything went well.”

The popularity of “fractional” aircraft ownership is increasing as well. That means multiple owners buy the right to use a private jet, almost like a timeshare.

On the horizon, the arrival of a new class of aircraft called VLJs - very light jets - could create a niche that would add to demand for general aviation services. The jets are capable of landing on the shorter runways that are common at many smaller airports.

DailyProgress.com | Airport traffic dips

technorati tags:timeshare, private, jet

Hyatt Hotel and Timeshares Voted Best Hotel

2006 PlanetOut Travel Awards Honors Hyatt Hotels & Resorts as Best Hotel Collection for LGBT Travelers
 
(New York, NY) - PlanetOut has awarded Hyatt Hotels & Resorts 'Best Hotel Collection' for its commitment, sensitivity, and appeal to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) travelers.

PlanetOut's 2006 Travel Awards recognize achievements in LGBT travel during the past year, as well as bring attention to an industry increasingly opening doors to LGBT travelers. Founded in 1992, the awards were previously known as the OUT AND ABOUT Travel Awards.

"It's a tremendous honor for Hyatt to be recognized by some of the world's leading and most respected experts in gay travel," said Jeff Flater, assistant vice president of resort marketing for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. "We're committed to helping set the standard for excellence in gay and lesbian travel."

In addition to recognizing Hyatt for exceeding the expectations of LGBT guests, judges of the PlanetOut Travel Awards singled out Hyatt both for its comprehensive practices promoting equal rights and sensitivity in the workplace and for its innovative national marketing campaign targeting LGBT leisure travelers.

Hyatt, which boasts a mandatory diversity awareness and sensitivity training program, was named one of the "Best Places to Work" for LGBT employees in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2006 survey of corporate workplaces.

Hyatt earned a perfect score for its policies, including protecting employees against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and its parity of health care benefits for domestic partners.

Over the past year, Hyatt's Resorts division has also mounted a highly- praised advertising campaign featuring gay-specific ads in a wide range of both print and online outlets. Designed by Prime Access, Inc., one of the nation's leading advertising and marketing agencies specializing in marketing to LGBT consumers, the campaign has received widespread acclaim in the LGBT community.

About The PlanetOut Travel Awards The PlanetOut Travel Awards, chosen by a panel of PlanetOut travel editors and gay travel experts, are selected on the basis of excellence, innovation and solid gay-family travel values. Panelists include: Ed Salvato, the travel editor for PlanetOut Inc., which includes Gay.com, PlanetOut.com and the OUT&ABOUT TravelGuide; Steve Rothaus, a staff reporter covering the LGBT community at The Miami Herald; and Kenneth Kiesnoski, editor of Destinations, and Travel Weekly, a leading travel trade newspaper.

About Global Hyatt There are 215 Hyatt branded hotels and resorts (over 90,000 rooms) in 43 countries around the world, operating under the HyattÒ, Hyatt RegencyÒ, Grand HyattÒ and Park HyattÒ brands. Currently, there are an additional 30 Hyatt hotels and resorts under development, including 11 new hotels in China. Hyatt Corporation (domestic U.S., Canada and Caribbean hotels) and Hyatt International Corporation (international properties) are subsidiaries of Chicago-based Global Hyatt Corporation.

Global Hyatt Corporation is also the owner of Hyatt Vacation Ownership, Inc. operators of the Hyatt Vacation Club (timeshare and fractional residential product), Hyatt Equities, L.L.C. (hotel ownership), Select Hotel Group L.L.C. (which owns, operates and franchises AmeriSuites hotels, Hyatt Place and Summerfield Suites hotels) and U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. (which franchises Hawthorn Suites, and Microtel Inns and Suites).

... I can concur as when I was a student I use to work for the Hyatt hotel, and it was one of the best places I worked at :-)

247Gay.com - 2006 PlanetOut Travel Awards Honors Hyatt Hotels & Resorts as Best Hotel Collection for LGBT Travelers - - PlanetOut has awarded Hyatt Hotels & Resorts '

technorati tags:timeshare, resort, Hyatt, Hotel, Hyatt, Regency, PlantOUt, Travel, Awards

Timeshare Theme Park Vacations

There's no better way to squeeze every ounce of value from your vacation budget than with a spacious resale timeshare conveniently located near one of America's great theme park destinations, such as Orlando, Disney, Six Flags, or Knott's Berry Farm.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) July 22, 2006 -- Summer sun sparks theme park fun! There's no better way to squeeze every ounce of value from your vacation budget than with a spacious resale timeshare conveniently located near one of America's great theme park destinations, such as Orlando, Disney, Six Flags, or Knott's Berry Farm.

"These resale timeshares represent perhaps the best vacation value out there, especially for families who can't afford to rent multiple hotel rooms for lodging," notes Alan Renberger, C.O.O. for Holiday Group. "The extra space that timeshares offer, plus the ability to prepare meals in the kitchen, translates into time and money saved."

Holiday Group, one of America's premier resale timeshare vendors, now offers a special Web page that caters to the timeshare theme park market. For more information, visit Holiday's new Theme Park page at

http://www.holidaygroup.com/themes/themepark.php?trkid=popsearch

...this Theme Park timeshare is a great idea for families...

Introducing Timeshare Theme Park Vacations Page by Holiday Group

technorati tags:timeshare, Theme, Park, resale, Holiday, Group, Orlando, Disney, Six, Flags, Knotts, Berry, Farm

Ritz-Carlton developers predict project and timehsare will be world famous

By David  Bunker

More than 200 guests gathered at the Northstar-at-Tahoe resort Wednesday and celebrated the beginning of construction of a $300-million Ritz-Carlton hotel project that developers say will be world famous.

The 173-room hotel and accompanying timeshare and condominium units overlook the Martis Valley, the Carson Range and portions of Mount Rose.

"This is sure to propel Northstar into one of the top-10 resorts in North America," Maurer said, referring to both the residential and village construction and the new upgrades planned for the mountain.

The project, complete with a 19,000-square-foot spa, is expected to open in 2009. A gondola will connect the new Northstar Village and the hotel area, which in the coming years will be surrounded by the 1,450 condominiums of the Highlands project.

East West Partners and Ritz-Carlton had been working on solidifying the Northstar deal for six years, Frampton said.

The luxury hotel project is just one of the many pieces to East West Partners' massive plans for resort development for the Truckee-Tahoe area.

...timeshare go, go ahead...

Tahoe Daily Tribune - News

technorati tags:timeshare, Ritz-Carlton, resort, NorthStar, Tahoe

Here's an idea - Timeshare Childcare

What is Time share childcare?
One of the growth areas in timeshare is actually facilitating the "swapping" of times that you are supposed to use the facility.

What if you organised a website where parents log on and "buy" into childcare timesharing. Then for X weeks in a given year you host a pack of screaming kids at your place before the next person takes over at their place and so on.

You charge a membership fee and a deposit to cover a nanny if people renege on their commitment for providing the time matching service.

...there's potential...

The Chaser

technorati tags:time, share, childcare, swapping

Here's an idea - Timeshare Childcare

What is Time share childcare?
One of the growth areas in timeshare is actually facilitating the "swapping" of times that you are supposed to use the facility.

What if you organised a website where parents log on and "buy" into childcare timesharing. Then for X weeks in a given year you host a pack of screaming kids at your place before the next person takes over at their place and so on.

You charge a membership fee and a deposit to cover a nanny if people renege on their commitment for providing the time matching service.

...there's potential...

The Chaser

technorati tags:time, share, childcare, swapping

Gov’t looks at timeshare rules

By Alan Markoff. Caymanian Compass.

The Cayman Islands Government has asked the Attorney General to look into the possibilities of regulating the timeshare industry in the aftermath of the failure of Indies Suites, Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbett said.

“We certainly would like some way to protect timeshare owners in cases like [Indies Suites],” Mr. Tibbetts said.

Indies Suites failed after Hurricane Ivan because the operators were about 50 per cent underinsured and could not afford to rebuild the facility. The former timeshare owners of that property publicly called for some regulation in Cayman’s timeshare industry after they had to negotiate a compensation settlement for about 20 cents on their dollar invested.

Although Mr. Tibbetts did not get into any specific elements of regulation, the Indies Suites group had suggested at minimum timeshare operators should be required to have adequate insurance coverage to rebuild their property if destroyed.

The former Indies Suites club members would also like to see timeshare owners have a registered interest in the property. Because they were not registered, the former Indies Suites owner was able to sell the property to a third party without consulting with, or even telling the club members of the sale until months after the fact.

“There’s no protection for timeshare owners here,” said Mr. McCallum. “The laws do not allow for the subdivision of property to that extent.”

Mr. McCallum thinks it would be good for business to give timeshare owners a registered interest here.

Rod Broome, a former Indies Suites timeshare owner who represented about 230 other owners during the civil action against the former owners, was happy to see the Government respond to the issue.

“We are glad to see that the Cayman Government is finally going to act on matters related to the timeshare industry and take some action to protect the rights of timeshare owners in Cayman,” he said, adding that it is hoped any new regulations are enacted promptly.  

“While for the ex–Indies Suites club members it is too late, for the Cayman timeshare industry this would be a big boost as we believe this would be the first of its kind of action in the worldwide industry to level the playfield between timeshare resort owner/operators and resort club members.”

...this is promising news to protect timeshare owners

Cayman Islands - Cay Compass News Online - Gov’t looks at timeshare rules

technorati tags:timeshare, Cayman, Islands, Government, Vacation, Ownership, Indies, Suites, regulate, timeshare, industry, Reef, Resort, timeshare, property, Tom, McCallum

Kauai time-share firm bought by Wyndham

Wyndham Vacation Ownership Inc. has acquired privately held Pahio Resorts Inc. and Pahio Vacation Ownership Inc., both of Kauai.

Wyndham's resort portfolio now will include 12 resorts throughout the state. CEO Franz Hanning said he was "excited to accelerate our growth in Hawaii."

The company will assume property management, sales and marketing for Bali Hai Villas, Ka Eo Kai, Kauai Beach Villas and Shearwater and Makai resorts, which collectively have 20,000 owners and more than 400 vacation ownership units.

"Hawaii remains one of the most popular vacation destinations for our more than 750,000 owner families, and we look forward to introducing them to the wonderful island of Kauai," Hanning said.

Wyndham entered into an exclusive relationship with Pahio CEO David Walters to expand the Bali Hai Villas resort, adding 125 vacation ownership units and a new club house.

"Wyndham Vacation Ownership will provide Pahio with a robust platform for future growth," Walters said.

...there maybe refubishments work on the time-shares...

Kauai time-share firm bought by Wyndham - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):

technorati tags:timeshare, Wyndham, Vacation, Ownership, Pahio, Resorts, Pahio, Vacation, Ownership, Kauai, Hawaii

EC prepares to act on timeshare scams

Standardisation of ‘cooling off’ periods and extension of the scope of consumer protection were among possible changes to the Timeshare Directive under discussion at a workshop held by the EC’s Health and Consumer Protection Directorate-General last week.

Its ideas for changes designed to combat ‘timeshare-like scams’ have been published for consultation as part of a review of eight consumer protection directives.

’Consumers should have every confidence that they will not be taken for a ride if they opt for a timeshare formula or similar products’, said Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou. ‘I want to make sure that unscrupulous traders do not take advantage of potential clients – many of whom sign up to these products after falling in love with a holiday resort’.

After strong growth in the 1970s and 1980s, the European timeshare market slowed the early 1990s with the growth in sales halving from approximately 30 per cent to 15 per cent. Since 1996 the rate of increase has dropped further and now stands at less than 5 per cent - in strong contrast to the rest of the world and in particular the 10 new EU member states and eastern Europe, the USA, north Africa, South Africa, the Middle and Far East, and Mexico, according to the EC.

European timeshare industry sales were an estimated £1.6bn in 2001, with £1.3bn being spent on new timeshare and £280m on resale timeshares. About 217,000 households acquired about 260,000 timeshare weeks, or the equivalent in points. Latest figures suggest 80,000 timeshare transactions were completed in 2005.

The EC said it receives regular complaints about timeshare, timeshare-like products and travel discount clubs. Most come from UK citizens, although it says information from other sources shows that citizens from other Member States are also significantly affected: in particular those from Germany, Sweden, Finland and, to a lesser extent, France and Italy.

Most consumer complaints relate to timeshare-like products, travel clubs and other new products developed since the Timeshare Directive was introduced, said the EC.

In reviewing current timeshare laws ‘the Commission’s key goals remain to enhance consumer and business confidence in the internal market through a high common level of consumer protection, the elimination of internal market barriers and regulatory simplification through the application of the principles of better regulation’, it said. ‘In this area this could be achieved by undertaking measures with the aim of:
• Extending the protection that consumers enjoy when purchasing classic timeshare products to the timeshare-like products and travel discount clubs;
• Ensuring appropriate protection of consumers entering into resale contracts and exchange systems;
• Harmonizing fully the consumer protection provisions throughout the EU (right of withdrawal, administration and management systems etc) where appropriate;
• Ensuring effective enforcement;
• Enabling consumers to make informed choices; and
• Enabling legitimate timeshare businesses to flourish across the EU and protect them from unfair competition’.

...this is a good move forward in protecting the consumer against timeshare scams

Fly2let - Overseas Property Investment News

technorati tags:timeshare, scams, EC, Timeshare, directive

$300m development for Ritz Resort and Timeshare in Lake Tahoe

By Barbra Murray. CPN

A groundbreaking today kicked off development of the Ritz-Carlton Highlands, an upscale hotel and residential destination at Lake Tahoe, Calif.'s Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort. East West Partners of Lake Tahoe is teaming with Crescent Real Estate Equities Co. on the $300 million project, which will mark The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co.'s entree into the Northern California ski resort market.

Located on an on-mountain site, Ritz-Carlton Highlands (pictured) is a multifaceted ski-in/ski-out project that will bring the first five-star hotel to the town. The lodging segment will feature 174 guestrooms, as well as 11,000 square feet of meeting space and a 14,000-square-foot spa.

The full-ownership residential portion of the development, the Ritz-Carlton Residences, will offer 82 condominiums, while The Ritz-Carlton Club, the deeded fractional ownership or timeshare segment, will consist of 78 units. A bevy of other developments will surround the property, including East West's and Crescent's new Highlands condominium and townhome community and the mixed-use Village at Northstar, to which Ritz-Carlton Highlands will be linked via gondola.

East West and Crescent designed the new project to fill what they see as a gap in the local market. "Lake Tahoe is a very unique market in the sense that 12.5 million people are within a three-and-a-half hour drive, and as of today there's not a five-star full-service resort community in the area," Ritz-Carlton Highlands project manager Tom Dunlap shared with CPN. "The three facets of the project will create a fantastic critical mass and wonderful synergies."

Ground Breaks on $300M Ritz Resort in Lake Tahoe

technorati tags:timeshare, Ritz, Resort, Lake, Tahoe, Ritz-Carlton, Highlands, Northstar-at-Tahoe, ski, resort, EastWest, Cresent, development, $300million

Baby Boomers and Empty Nesters Lead in Vacation Ownership

The study of 938 recent timeshare buyers was conducted by Ragatz Associates and will be officially released in August.

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) International Foundation has released preliminary results of the new 2006 Timeshare Resort Owners: Who They Are Why They Buy study. The study of 938 recent timeshare buyers was conducted by Ragatz Associates and will be officially released in August.

Of recent buyers, only 18.5 percent are under 40, whereas 30.4 percent are 60 and over (and 8.8 percent are 70 and over), according to the study. Another 23.0 percent are in their 40’s, and 28.1 percent are in their 50’s. By comparison, among all owners, 9.3 percent are under 40, 40.2 percent are 60 or over (15.5 percent are 70 or over), 21.0 percent are in their 40’s, and 29.5 percent are in their 50’s.

Only 31.4 percent of recent buyers have children under 18 years of age living at home. For all owners, this proportion is even lower at 24.9 percent. This figure is down from 36.4 percent for those purchasing in 1996 and 34.3 percent of those purchasing in 2002, in accord with the aging baby boom generation.

The study showed a dramatic increase in the number of single females as recent buyers with the proportion of single females increasing from 8 percent in 1996 to 12.7 percent in 2005, a 58.5% increase. At the same time, the percentage of single male buyers has remained fairly consistent, with 4.1 comprising new buyers in 1996 compared with 4.3 percent in 2005. Overall, nearly one in five new buyers is single (17%).

The study also showed:
• 83.0 percent are couples, whereas 17.0 percent are singles;
• 31.4 percent have children under 18 living at home; and,
• 41.5 percent are in their 40’s or younger, whereas 30.4 percent are in their 60’s or over.

“With the profile of the average timeshare buyer becoming increasingly diverse across population segments, this study underscores the flexibility and value of vacation ownership products for a broad range of consumers and lifestyles,” said Howard C. Nusbaum, ARDA’s president and CEO. “This study will be of great interest to those in the industry in terms of how timeshare is marketed and to whom. The owner base is shifting in accordance with the general population with an increasing number of empty nest couples and single women.”

...these timesharing trends are very interesting survey...

Study: Baby Boomers, Empty Nesters Lead in Vacation Ownership

technorati tags:vacation, ownership, timeshare, baby, boomers, empty, nesters, single, women, American, Resport, Development, Association, ARDA, timeshare, buyers, survey

Alton Towers Gives Away Beach Hut Timeshare

Beach huts are prime real estate these days - communities of beach-hutters jealously guard their property, and huge sums of money change hands on their sale! But here's a chance to grab your own share of this idyllic, very British past-time, as Alton Towers launch the first ever timeshare opportunity to own a beach hut for a day for free during its great Bucket and Spade Event from 22nd July - 3rd September.

However this is no ordinary beach hut! The Alton Towers' version, painted appropriately in union jack livery, will be on tour in selected cities[1] from 17th -21st July with the Beach Hutters, an appreciation society that believes that everybody should be able to spend some time in a hut. "Beach huts are traditionally associated with the sea and are hard to come by - but we want to take the beach hut into the urban environment, so that everybody can appreciate their charm, and better understand their unique appeal. This beacon of Britishness will inject a reminder of traditional summer holidays into our city centres", says James Lovell, Head Hutter. Look out for the Beach Hutters who will be erecting the hut in city centre locations where they will entertain passers-by with silly summer games (think knobbly knee competitions) and give away opportunities to win a free timeshare, with exclusive use of the hut with all its added extras (picnic, deckchairs, prime view etc) and entry to the park throughout the summer.

...some like it Hut...

Some Like it Hut!

technorati tags:timeshare, prize, giveaway, Beach, huts, Alton, Towers

Blogged with Flock

Did you know you could timeshare luxury cars?

The Otto Club is Boston's exotic car-share club.

Created by lifelong car fanatics, The Otto Club lets you drive a wide range of cars-without the burdens and costs of traditional ownership. It's a chance to spend time with the cars you love. It's a smarter alternative to ownership.

Imagine the possibilities… Take the Ferrari Spider to a spring wedding in Rhode Island. Drive the BMW Z8 to your Cape house in June. Spin up to Maine for the Fourth of July in an Aston Martin coupe. Head to Vermont this fall in Lamborghini Gallardo. Whatever car, whenever you want it.

With The Otto Club, exotics and sports cars like these become part of your life. We encourage members to try as many of the cars in the collection as possible. They're all amazing. And with The Otto Club, they're all yours-when you want them, and where you want them.

Membership in The Otto Club is offered in three levels: Black, Red and Silver. All levels of membership offer you complete access to the entire Collection. Using the Club's point system, you choose the cars, the days and the amount of time you want behind the wheel of these extraordinary machines.

contact details:
The Otto Club
Boston’s exotic car-share club
Boston, MA United StatesWebsite: http://www.theottoclub.com
Phone: 978-662-1616

...I'll look into The Otto Club and timesharing exoctic and luxury cars...

PRESS RELEASE Emerge PR Achieves Significant Growth at Mid-Year Mark

technorati tags:timeshare, The, Otto, Club, exotic, car-share, club, Bostons

Mountain Village Metro District, Colorado's tourism and timeshare rates "A"

Business Wire.

Fitch Ratings assigns an 'A-' rating to the Mountain Village Metropolitan District, Colorado (the district) $8.9 million general obligation (GO) bonds, series 2006A. The bonds will be sold through negotiation with Piper Jaffray & Co. and D.A. Davidson & Co. on or about August 2. Additionally, Fitch affirms the 'A-' rating on the district's $28.8 million in outstanding GO bonds. The Rating Outlook is Stable.

The district encompasses 2,072 acres near the town of Telluride and is coterminous with the town of Mountain Village. The town was established in 1995 to gain more control over land-use issues than the district was afforded by state law. The district's luxury second-home and tourism-based economy has exhibited strong development to date. Assessed value gains have been sizable, averaging 14.4% compounded annually from 2000 through 2006.

The tax base includes the ski area and related commercial holdings, a high-end resort and spa, timeshare units and condominiums, single-family and duplex homes, and commercial and retail business. Dependence on top 10 taxpayers increased in 2005 (to 19% from 13% in 2004) as a result of sizeable investments by two large taxpayers. Nearly all infrastructure is in place to support full build-out, which could bring population to about 8,000, up from about 1,650 currently. Residential property makes up about 51% of assessed value and commercial about 11%. The remainder is vacant land, mostly zoned for residential development.

...this hotspot rocks with toursim, timeshare and the economy...

Fitch Rates Mountain Village Metro District, Colorado's $8.9MM GOs 'A-'

technorati tags:timeshare, Mountain, Village, Metro, District, Colorado, GO, bonds