Richard McIntosh speaks to Fiona Klonarides about what consumers should look for before they buy timeshare, how the market is evolving, and how RDO can help both consumers and quality developers in this growing industry.
Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), today announced the renewal of its master affiliation agreement with Marriott Vacation Club International, the timeshare division of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR). The multi-year agreement extends the relationship first established in 1990 between two leaders in the shared ownership industry, each highly regarded for their commitment to quality, exemplary customer service, and innovation.
Timeshare's biggest names will gather at the Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino for the premier timeshare industry event of the year in the States, the 2010 ARDA Convention and Exposition.
Top timeshare companies and service providers will be in Las Vegas, March 14-18, for this year's ARDA (American Resort Development Association) Convention. There's an impressive line up of speakers and Signature Sponsors for the networking event, with presentations, exhibitions and plenty of opportunities for discussion about industry trends, all part of the agenda.
Of all the world's cruise destinations, Alaska has come out on top, according to a panel of 13 experts for the Cruise Show in London (March 27th and 28th) who selected the unspoilt region as their number one choice.
This year's Cruise Show at London's Olympia Exhibition Centre on the weekend of March 27/28 promises to be a don't miss event for cruise fans and anyone contemplating a cruise in the future. As a timeshare holiday option it continues to grow in popularity because there's nothing quite like it – and with so many cruise lines offering so many varied itineraries, you'll never be bored onboard.
American author Mark Twain's quote has become a classic, and you'd be hard pressed to find a more apt one for the world of cruising: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bow lines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Airport delays aren't part of the holiday plan but they happen. Here are the world's top 10 most punctual airlines with the best record of getting you there on time.
Spain, the timeshare favourite, is now even easier to fly to, whatever the season. British Airway's summer-only schedule from London City Airport to Barcelona will now operate year-round, the airline has just announced - good news for fans of the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada. Now those looking for a quick city break in one of Europe's best-loved and most vibrant cities will be able to hop over from London City Airport to beautiful Barcelona from the end of March 2010 and flights will continue through summer and winter.
Useful information about how RDO protects consumers, and where to get news, consumer advice and updates on the latest developments in the timeshare industry
If you have been invited to a presentation to discuss ways in which to dispose of your timeshare/ points or to join a class action scheme against your resort developer but then signed up for membership of a holiday club, we would like to hear from you.
The Corn Exchange at Brighton's Dome is the venue for this year's 2010 Enjoy England Awards For Excellence. The finalists have just been revealed, and the event takes place on April 23, to mark St. George's Day. Competition in the various categories is exceptionally strong, and a large number of entries are in for the Sustainable Tourism Award.
Last year “Staycations” (holidays spent “at home” in the UK rather than overseas) were big news. There are a number of reasons to holiday closer to home – economising on the cost of travelling internationally, the convenience of driving or letting the train take the strain rather than heading off to an airport. Britain has no shortage of beauty spots to rival its European neighbours. There's Cornwall, The Lake District, The Peak District, The Scottish Highlands, The Northumberland Coast - everyone has their favourite and the list is a long one.
Some travel experts are even going as far as predicting that if global warming continues, British holidays will rise in popularity – all we need, it seems, is a bit more sun, because inspiring beaches, scenic landscapes and historic villages are all on our doorstep!
Skyscanner's January search results show Spain still reigns, as Britons look for “sun, sand and sangria” to escape the winter blues. Malaga tops the bill and five Spanish cities made the top ten. Faro and Dalaman (Turkey) also appear, implying that British travellers are dreaming of sunshine and beaches while the snowy UK winter overstays its welcome.
Searches for city break destinations such as London, Amsterdam and New York show that people are also looking for urban getaways – shopping in New York, sightseeing in London or exploring Amsterdam's cafés and canals.
The launch of its Milan Malpensa to Porto route recently was a memorable one for every staff member at the airline: easyJet has finally reached its 500 route target.
15 years since its inception, the charter champion has become Europe's number one transport network. It operates on 45 of Europe's top routes and now has 19 bases in 28 countries and 182 planes flying the globe.
Hotel and timeshare giant Disney is putting its guests' left over soaps and shampoos to good use. Walt Disney World's Florida hotels now participate in the Clean The World charity campaign to recycle soap and shampoo products from hotel rooms. The charity sends the soap to regions in need – even in this decade people are dying from lack of hygiene in parts of the world.
Timeshare company Resort Properties has released a new website uniquely showcasing its original resort on Tenerife, the Palm Beach Club [www.palmbeachclubtenerife.com]
Online visitors can explore the resort and its facilities from this stylish and easy to navigate portal. The new site offers a thorough overview of this popular beachfront resort, under dedicated sections relating to the local area, the facilities and services available and the types of accommodation on offer.
Press and cruise fans will get a first hand tour of the brand new MSC Magnifica this weekend as the ship sails in to Southampton for a three day showcase event. The special one-off visit will enable travel agents and invitees to see the ship for themselves before it joins its sister ships out on the open seas.
After the 26-28 February event, MSC Magnifica heads to Hamburg for her official christening ceremony, then leaves from Amsterdan on 9th March on her maiden voyage. She'll carry 2,500 passengers who will be looked after by 1,000 on board staff - luxury is a key theme on the fourth, and latest, “Musica” branded ship.
Charter operator Jet2.com is introducing new flights from Edinburgh to Majorca for its summer 2010 schedule. Mallorca's busy airport will be the airline's twelfth destination from Edinburgh and Jet2 will begin the new flights on June 26th.
The island is the largest of the Balearics, but equally popular Ibiza, renowned for its famous Café del Mar beach bar and dusk-till-dawn nightlife, will also be served by Jet2.com which plans to increase its frequency of flights for Ibiza lovers with three weekly services due to passenger demand.
Hotel or timeshare resort - which is better? With more families choosing timeshare as their preferred holiday option, these are five main reasons it makes sense to buy timeshare.
Visitors will be able to fly into Turkey's Antalya airport this winter from three UK airports – Gatwick, East Midlands and Manchester, as two operators, Thomson and First Choice, extend their year-round flight schedules, making it easier for timeshare members to catch some winter sun in that region.
Already one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations, Turkey is hoping that tourism in 2010 will further boost its economy. It has been giving Spain a run for its money in recent years - popular resorts such as Bodrum and Antalya have ample amenities, clean beaches, plenty of sun and the fact that Turkey is a euro-free zone is a significant plus.
Novaterra Resorts today announced that Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate in Cadiz, Spain, has affiliated with The Registry Collection® exchange programme, the world’s largest luxury exchange network.
Located among the Andalusian hills and adjacent to the famed white village of Arcos de la Frontera in the province of Cadiz, the Arcos Gardens Golf Club & Country Estate is an exclusive low-density golf community designed for upscale luxury living. The 440-acre property was a former olive grove that was transformed through the transplanting of over 2,000 olive trees into a leading golf destination featuring a championship 18-hole course.
El Bullí, Spain's top restaurant is closing. Food critics are shocked, while those hoping for a table may never get one. But with new Spanish chefs winning awards left, right and centre, Spain's still up there in the good food rankings . . .
There's a 3,000-long waiting list for a seat at Ferran Adriá's restaurant in northern Catalunya, but the long hours and financial losses have forced him to rethink. Adriá's experimental, ultra-modern cuisine knew no bounds as he blazed a trail through the dimensions of texture and taste with his crème brulée blow torch. After its closure next year, El Bullí will be re-born as a chef training academy - great news for would-be Ferran Adriás, but not good news for all those who dreamed of sampling Adriá's legendary multiple courses, each fantastic creation more delicious than the one before.
UK timeshare owners looking for a different kind of holiday this summer have plenty to choose from. Thanks to the exchange programmes at RCI and Interval International, they could be watching the World Cup in South Africa, getting a taste of the States featured in Jamie Oliver's American Road Trip series, and exploring Istanbul, next year's European City of Culture.
There are two things one must try when visiting Scotland: a wee dram of whisky — preferably single malt — and haggis. Both were well loved by Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet and favourite son.
The Bard of Ayrshire (or, as he is known in Scotland, the Bard) is famous for such poems as Tam O’Shanter, and his lyrics to Auld Lang Syne ring in the New Year. Scots the world over celebrate his birthday every 25th January with recitations of his works during raucous Burns Suppers, in which whisky and haggis figure prominently. Last year (2009) marked the 250th anniversary of his birth in a humble cottage in Alloway, South Ayrshire. Donna Dailey hits the Burns Trail in Scotland.
Perspective Magazine, the leading monthly publication for the shared ownership industry has again created another industry first – a standalone social networking platform based on the most popular features of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter all on one site.
Perspective Forums (http://www.perspectiveforums.com) has been created to encourage communication between developers, marketers and suppliers of the timeshare and fractional ownership industry on a global scale providing opportunities for forging new alliances and collaborations, discuss pertinent issues and learn what’s currently working best in the sales and marketing arena.
Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited is proud to announce that on the 5th February 2010, the Group celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a gathering of nearly one hundred staff, past and present, at the beautiful Elvetham Hall in Hampshire. Elvetham is steeped in history, having been owned by the family of Jane Seymour, one of Henry VIII’s wives and famed as being the site of the first performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Perspective Magazine has announced that 11 new companies have selected the timeshare and fractional ownership publication for marketing campaigns.
The magazine said that the deals had been secured since the news broke of the launch of Perspective Magazine North America, which will be introduced in both online and print forms later this month.
Timeshare owners in the north east of England can enjoy a number of historical sites in the area, including Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island.
Other major attractions in the region are Cragside as well as Alnwick Garden and Castle, explained Sheelagh Caygill, spokesperson for Visit Northumberland.
Timeshare owners heading abroad have been advised to take both cash and plastic with them.
Sarah Munro, head of Post Office Travel Services, explained that carrying cash around will help with things like paying for taxis and drinks, while in many destinations it will be needed to buy goods.
Endless Vacation Rentals (EVR) has launched the Armed Forces Vacation Club, allowing military families and government workers to easily look for and book discount holiday rentals at resorts worldwide.
Sean Lowe, managing director at Endless Vacation Rentals and Revenue Management, explained that the improved site, www.AFVClub.com, lets visitors search for available dates for certain destinations, book securely and complete the reservation transaction in just three simple steps.
Timeshare organisation RCI has renewed its affiliation with Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited and Bluegreen Corporation, two of the biggest holiday ownership companies in the industry.
The deal means that Bluegreen Club Members will gain access to a wide selection of holidaying experiences that make up the RCI exchange networks.
Bulgaria and Andorra are great places for timeshare owners to enjoy some good value skiing as they are said to be two of the cheapest destinations in Europe for the activity.
They are great places to go for those timeshare owners who are new to skiing, according to Anthony Chenery, travel expert at Teletext Holidays.
Timeshare owners do not have to spend considerable sums of money if they want to head on a trip to the capital of Japan.
Many English people believe that when they go to Tokyo it will be an expensive trip, but this is not the case, according to Reiko Tani, director for City Sales at the Tourism Division in the Bureau of Industrial and Labour Affairs of Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
A trip into space will be a dream for some and now they may be able to enjoy this life-changing experience.
Virgin Galactic recently unveiled the world's first manned commercial spaceship, the SpaceShipTwo, and it is designed to take private astronauts into space after test programming.
The Trades Publishing Company, which runs online timeshare and fractional ownership magazine Resort Trades, has joined forces with operations and technology consulting firm 6 Dimensions Consulting (6DC).
Together, the companies will start by creating mobile sites for the timeshare industry online newspaper www.ResortTrades.com, 6DC co-owner Jay Edmonson told Fractional Life.
The OFT and Trading Standards have launched a campaign to raise awareness of scams by encouraging people to drop scam mail they have received into ‘Scamnesty’ bins located at public places around the country between the 1-26th February 2010.
It is also possible to report bogus web sites, telephone calls, emails or even text messages through the Consumer Direct website. This has an online function for consumers to log/ forward scam emails and websites.
On a gondola in Venice is women's top pick for where they would like to be proposed to, with Times Square, New York in second, according to a survey.
Sunshine.co.uk questioned 1,694 single women where they would like their man to pop the question, with the gondola option named by 86 per cent as a dream location for such an occasion.
The biggest timeshare building in the world, PH Towers Westgate in Las Vegas, celebrated its grand opening January 29th.
As part of the celebration, property tours were be on offer, while the ribbon-cutting took place with company executives and Miss America 2009 Katie Stam present, TravelAgent Central has reported.
EasyJet has announced four new routes to Turkey and the Greek Islands which will start running from Gatwick this coming spring.
The new services will be going to Antalya in Turkey, as well as the Greek Islands of Crete, Kos and Zakynthos - great news for timeshare owners heading to property in those areas.
VisitBritain has launched its Cities Campaign, pointing out the various delights that cities such as London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Liverpool have to offer.
The initiative is looking to highlight contrasting themes of certain cities, such as Glasgow, which VisitBritain said offers both trend-setting and traditional treats for timeshare owners to enjoy.
Timeshare and fractional ownership industry publication Perspective Magazine North America is looking to convert its online readership to print subscribers.
The magazine believes the first print issue, which will focus on timeshare and fractional ownership issues within the USA, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean regions, will see a launch circulation of over 7,000 subscribers.
The launch of a new Michelin guide to Kyoto and Osaka will lure foodie travellers to visit the two Japanese cities, it has been said.
Indeed, timeshare owners can enjoy plenty of gastronomic treats in both destinations, according to Kylie Clark, press manager at the Japan National Tourist Organisation.
There are other places that timeshare owners can head to for their Valentine's Day break other than the typical European destinations of Rome and Paris.
Marrakech in Morocco is one example, which offers the benefit of hot temperatures, added to the fact that it is out of the eurozone, which can prove expensive for British travellers at the current time, explained Nick Trend, editorial director of Simonseeks.com.
