The Timeshare Lord - Timeshare News, Reviews and Advice - Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket

Marriott reign supreme at 2012 Perspective Awards

2012-02-24T14:48:00.000Z

There’s no escaping the awards season at the moment. Golden Globes, Oscars, Brits and BAFTAs, its the time of year when industries recognise some of the highlights over the past 12 months. Earlier this month it was the turn of the Timeshare and Fractional Ownership industries to praise individual achievements in the 2012 Perspective Magazine Awards.

So, without further ado, let’s skip the nominees and take a closer look at some the timeshare resorts that stole the show!

Probably the most notable resort this year was Marriott’s Mai Khao Beach Resort in Phuket, Thailand. It picked up no less than 4 awards for best timeshare resort and best timeshare unit in both the Asia Pacific category and the overall worldwide category. These can be added to a string of other awards already presented by the likes of Conde Nast.

The Marriot Mai Khao offers beautifully furnished 2 bedroom villas with stunning bathrooms and sizeable living and balcony areas. The resort’s grounds blend traditional Thai charm with a sleek, modern feel, and I am told the restaurants on-site are simply mouthwatering!

So, if you’re looking to take a long-haul exchange and you’re an Interval International member check it out!

Another Marriott resort to pick up multiple awards was the Marriott Playa Andaluza in Estepona, Spain. No surprise then that this is one of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket’s most frequently requested resorts. As you can probably imagine, all this quality comes at a price. But, with 2 bedroom Silver weeks starting at just £2,000, you can grab your own week of luxury for the cost of one package holiday!

Resort of the Week - Craigendarroch Timeshare, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

2012-02-23T14:59:00.000Z

Nestled in Scotland’s Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms National Park, Hilton Craigendarroch Resort holds both RCI Gold Crown and Interval International Five Star accolades.

The luxurious accommodation comes in a variety of lodges sleeping 4, 6 and 8 people many with private terraces. All master bedrooms are en-suite and open plan living areas are furnished to an exceptional standard.

The Hilton Craigendarroch Hotel provides guests with 2 exceptional restaurants from where you can enjoy some of the exquisite local produce. There are also 2 very comfortable bars from where you can enjoy some fine scotch whisky!

On site facilities include a fantastic indoor pool with a separate fun pool for children (of any age), an adventure playground, house spa, fitness club, tennis and squash courts.

What to See?
Just a short drive from Craigendarroch is Balmoral Castle, the summer home to the Queen. The grounds are open to the public along with several exhibitions between April and July. If you’re a keen walker, The Royal Deeside Castle Trail takes in numerous castles with some splendid architecture.

What to do?
The area surrounding Craigendarroch provides an exhaustive selection of activities for all ages. The Lochnagar Wildlife Reserve offers some truly breathtaking scenery along with the very likely chance of seeing herds of deer and maybe even a golden eagle if you’re lucky.

With the recent snowy weather we’ve seen in Scotland over the past couple of winters, you may well be able to visit the Glenshee Ski Centre that boasts an impressive 22 lifts and over 30 runs. Catering for all levels of experience Glenshee has nursery slopes, blue, red and black runs. Lecht Ski Centre is also within a short drive and open in the summer with a dry slope.

For something a little less strenuous, there are five golf course within a 20 mile radius or how about a day fishing for wild salmon on the world-renowned River Dee?

Finally, if you have teenage boys who are hard to impress the Deeside Activity Park has kart racing, quad biking, clay pigeon shooting and archery.

WORLDWIDE TIMESHARE COMPLETE MANAGEMENT BUY-OUT

2012-02-14T08:04:00.000Z

Worldwide Timeshare today announced the completion of a management buy-out from its parent company, Worldwide Leisure Group. The move, which was finalised earlier this month, means that the company is now 100% owned and controlled by its current management team.

The buy-out includes Europe’s largest timeshare resale company, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, and the rapidly expanding Worldwide Timeshare Exchange, both key industry players that will continue to be run as separate entities.

“With our newly found independence, we look forward to accelerating the growth of the two companies and strengthening each company’s position as market leaders” said Managing Director Phil Watson.

Phil Watson has successfully led the company over the past decade and even with the current economic challenges facing the travel and leisure industry, has an extremely positive outlook. “We have already seized the opportunity to take on new premises and have begun plans to roll-out a new range of holiday products for our existing customers and to open up new markets.”

Founded in 1995, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is Europe’s largest timeshare resale company having built a solid reputation for providing a transparent and reliable service for both vendors and purchasers. Preferred resale agents for developers such as Silverpoint, Club La Costa, Devere Hotels & Resorts and Petchey Leisure, the company are also sponsors of the UK Travel Channel. For more information, please visit www.timeshare-hypermarket.com or www.timeshare-exchange.co.uk

TATOC announces Perspective Magazine as conference platinum sponsor

2012-02-13T11:39:00.000Z

TATOC, the Timeshare Association, has announced that Perspective Magazine will be a platinum sponsor for the annual conference, taking place from 9th-11th March at the Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, near Warrington, UK.

“We revealed this week that the TATOC conference has received great support from the industry so it is a real pleasure to announce that our platinum affiliate, Perspective Magazine, is continuing to supporting the conference,” explained Harry Taylor, executive chairman. “Having just returned from their very successful GNEX event, we are delighted that Paul and Sharon Mattimoe will be attending our conference and Paul will be joining us on the panel of industry experts.”

This year’s platinum sponsors also include: Dial an Exchange, Diamond Resorts, RCI Europe, Silverpoint and Spice, gold sponsors are Interval International and silver sponsors are Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket.

For further information on sponsorship visit the TATOC website.

This year’s conference speakers include Simon Jackson (Macdonald Resorts), Suzana Gomercic and Susan Crook (Diamond Resorts), Geoff Chapman (TATOC) and Lisa Ann Schreier (the Timeshare Crusader). Professor Buhalis, from Bournemouth University, will make the conference’s keynote address.

There is also a question and answer session with a panel of industry experts including Phil Watson (Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket), Dimitris Manikis (RCI Europe), Linda Freer (Resort Solutions), Susan Crook (Diamond Resorts International), Robin Mills (Spice) and Simon Jackson (Macdonald Resorts).

Delegate places are also still available. Further information can be found at the TATOC website or by contacting Harry Taylor.

Value For Money Holidays in 2012

2012-02-10T10:51:00.000Z

Despite the economic gloom, the British public showed great resilience when it came holidaying in 2011. Official figures show that spend decreased by a margin of just 1% when compared with 2010.

The trend for 2012 is expected to continue with analysts suggesting that, above all, Brits will be keen to seek out the best value-for-money holidays. So, how can timeshare owners look to get the best value-for-money holidays this year? I’ve always found that timeshare comes into its own with bonus weeks or rentals. Here are some ideas based on current availability of rental weeks from Worldwide Timeshare Exchange. Amazingly all these rental are Gold Crown resorts!

Spain & Portugal
Ordinarily you might associate value-for-money with destinations of say Turkey or Egypt. However, you might be surprised to learn that according to the latest Post Office Travel Money survey, Spain came out as a clear winner in the value-for-money. The survey found that a purchase of eight typical holiday items cost over 60% more in Turkey and a whopping 80% more in France than the same items cost in Spain.

One Spanish bargain that caught my eye were weeks 27 & 28 (early July) at the Aucanada Club Majorca. A 2 bed apartment will set you back just £399 p/w.

If you need something slightly later and want to look at Portugal then how about week 33 in a 2 bed at the Alto Golf and Country Club? A week away in August for just £399!

Booking Late
So booking late clearly isn’t for everyone, although if you can afford to leave things until a few weeks before travelling you are almost always guaranteed to find some fantastic deals especially for that week-in-the-sun. Taking a look at the Worldwide Exchange site this morning, 7 nights accommodation at the Gold Crown Hollywood Mirage in Tenerife would set you back just £159 if you could travel on the 9th March (4 weeks away) and for that you would get a 2 bedroom apartment to sleep up to six. So, you could even invite the in-laws!

I’ve tried three of the mainstream internet booking sites this morning searching for seven nights accommodation on a room only basis. I could not find anything of comparable value.

Long haul Holidays
If you’re looking for a long haul family holiday, then you’re going to be hard pressed to beat the value that the sunshine state of Florida has to offer. OK, so the days of $2 to £1 seem a distant memory yet compared to Europe, eating out is still fairly priced as is car hire and petrol.

Available this morning, through Worldwide Timeshare Exchange, were 2 rental weeks at the Gold Crown Orange Lake Country Club. Just minutes away from the Orlando theme parks of Disney, Universal and SeaWorld, this 2-bedroom condo will comfortably sleep up to 8 people and are available for just £599 p/w. Not bad especially when you consider with the first week is the October half-term holiday for many schools in the UK.

Watch out for…
One thing to beware of in 2012 is the increase in Air Passenger Duty that comes into effect in April. This could see a family of four pay as much as £350 in taxes.

It’s Official. Kids’ Favourite “Dream Destination” is…the Moon!

2012-01-20T16:13:00.000Z

Out of all the places in the world to visit, the Moon is still the number one on the list in a recent poll by one of the UK’s leading online independent travel agencies … although “real” destinations ~ Disney World and Lapland were not far behind.

Florida is a big timeshare family favourite, and Orlando themed attractions such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Disney World are always high on the list of must-visit theme parks in the “Big Orange”.

Christmas favourite Lapland, the official residence of Father Christmas, came in fifth in the survey, and there are many timeshare resorts in Lapland. Finnish vacation ownership specialists Holiday Club Resorts, for example, offer holidays at their Holiday Club Saariselka which is Europe’s northernmost spa and holiday home resort and could be the most northern in the world.

Set in Inari’s Urho Kekkonen National Park in northern Lapland, it is a magical place of winter wonderland scenery and part of Holiday Club Resorts International portfolio (which includes warmer destinations such as the Canary Islands and Southern Spain). Despite its reputation as a wonderful winter destination, Holiday Club Saariselka is open all year round and would be a good choice for a fitness and fresh air break for all the family.

Also Club La Costa members who are Disney fans can stay near some of the best themed attractions in Florida, at CLC’s Encantada Resort which is only 8km from Walt Disney World (more details http://encantada.clublacosta.com ).

In the poll, Sunshine Holidays asked 2,105 British parents who had children aged between 3 ~ 8 which their favourite holiday destinations were and the kids came up with a mix of imaginary and real life destinations, as well as some quite unrealistic settings for a holiday ~ not the Caribbean islands their parents might have picked! Although Disney World came second, Harry Potter “destinations” were a big favourite.

The children had to choose the three places that they most like to go on holiday, and the top ten were:

1) The Moon 47%

2) Disney World 41%

3) Narnia 39%

4) Hogsmeade (Harry Potter) 26%

5) Lapland 25%

6) Hundred Acre wood (Winnie the Pooh) 17%

7) Hogwarts (Harry Potter) 14%

8) Pride Rock (Lion King) 9%

Australia

10) Bikini Bottom (SpongeBob & SquarePants) 2%

Of the top ten, six are fictional, four real, and although the number one choice –The Moon- probably technically falls under “Fictional” for the time being until holidays to the moon take off.

Published by www.gotimeshare.org

"Undercover Boss' star finds appearance brings unwanted attention"

2012-01-17T16:07:00.001Z

Diamond Resorts Chief Executive Officer Stephen Cloobeck has discovered his Sunday night appearance on CBS's "Undercover Boss" also came with some unwanted attention.
The reality television series episode, in which Cloobeck visited several of his Las Vegas-based company's resorts in disguise, gave dissatisfied owners of Diamond Resorts' time share properties a vehicle to vent.
More than 100 individuals claiming to be members of Diamond Resorts vacation ownership system sent emails to Cloobeck and the company Monday, asking for refunds and other financial remedies on their investment. Most cited comments made by Cloobeck to the Las Vegas Review-Journal last week in which he said he would return money to unhappy time-share owners.

The vast majority of the concerns focused on The Point at Poipu, a 219-unit time-share resort on the Hawaiian island of Kauai with 13,000 deeded owners. Last year, the homeowners association board asked owners to help pay an estimated $65.8 million to repair water intrusion damage to buildings.
Time-share owners at the development saw their annual maintenance fee payments double or triple, based on the vacation ownership points they had accumulated. Many owners told Diamond Resorts they couldn't afford the added costs.
"I contacted Mr. Cloobeck's office late last year to attempt to work out something," said Ken Anderson of Tucson, who owns two units at The Point at Poipu. "My wife and I are in our late 60's and could not afford the additional (approximately $7,000) costs over the next two years. That fee is over and above the normal maintenance fees."
Anderson said he offered to return his deeded weeks to Diamond Resorts at no cost to the company.
"They responded by saying they are not taking any weeks back at this time," Anderson said.
Angry owners created a website, poipuowners.org, to gather information. They also started anti-Diamond Resort campaigns using social media. Many of the letters sent to Diamond Resorts Monday, which were copied to the Review-Journal, were copied off the aggrieved owners' Facebook page.
Diamond Resorts, which has more than 200 properties in 28 countries, created its own website, poipufacts.com, to reach out to owners.
The company, according to the website, will pay the largest component of the assessment, nearly $10 million or 15 percent of the total cost of the repairs, which are expected to take five years to complete.
Diamond Resorts said it has communicated with almost 60 percent of the Poipu deeded owners and almost 35 percent of the members who own time shares in the company's Hawaii Collection. The company said it conducted five special owner informational meetings and has collected more than 63 percent of the first year's assessments.
Diamond Resorts took ownership of The Point at Poipu when the company acquired Sunterra Corp. in a $700 million buyout in April 2007.
The deal, which was financed by Credit-Suisse and a "sizable personal" investment by Cloobeck, made Diamond Resorts one of the time-share industry's largest companies. The company's corporate headquarters are in Las Vegas, where Diamond Resorts has two time shares; the Polo Towers on the Strip and the Desert Paradise Resort on South Decatur Boulevard.
In a statement, Cloobeck said the company has "worked very hard to be diligent" in communicating with The Point at Poipu owners in providing updates.
"We are empathetic toward the needs and circumstances of every owner and member," Cloobeck said. "In our role as manager of the resort we are in regular contact with owners and members, and we have worked to ensure the plans put in place have the least possible impact on owners and members both in terms of resort usage and financial responsibility."
On the television show, Cloobeck fixed and painted drywall, handled small maintenance projects, and checked in guests at a few of his company's time-share developments. At the end of the episode, when his identity was revealed to the employees with whom he interacted, Cloobeck bestowed gifts, including paying off one worker's mortgage.
Cloobeck called the experience, "unbeatable."
CBS declined comment on matter.
One letter writer, Jeff Moody of Southern California, told Cloobeck he was impressed with the compassion he showed his employees on the television show. He hoped the CEO would do the same with the owners of The Point at Poipu.
"During the recent recession my family has not been as successful and our income has decreased significantly," Moody wrote.
"For this reason the changes that have occurred over the last five years at the Point at Poipu with dramatic raises in annual fees and recent assessment have created significant stress and financial hardship in our family and so I would like to sell back our interest in the property."
Contact reporter Howard Stutz at hstutz@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3871. Follow @howardstutz on Twitter.

Worldwide Timeshare Vacation Club Premiers

2012-01-13T17:15:00.001Z

Europe's leading timeshare resale company - Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket - has once more proven it's commitment to

In a ground breaking agreement with The Resort Group, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket are able to offer a high quality holiday option to it's customers.

The Resort Group are renowned for creating world-class resorts and first-class experiences for holiday makers all over the world.They have a proven track record of property sales and development, as well as delivering 5-star luxury for all clients.

The Resort Group and Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket have combined their real estate and timeshare expertise with an exclusive and unique range of benefits to create the Vacation Club. Imagine owning a 5-star overseas property beside a crystal clear ocean on the stunning paradise island of Cape Verde. Your home away from home, a place for you to indulge, unwind and relax, somewhere exclusive where you can return to be pampered year after year.

Now imagine you can take that property and put it anywhere in the world, at any time of year and in a different location every time you visit. That is exactly what The Vacation Club offers, combining the luxury of an overseas property ownership with the total flexibility of booking a holiday anywhere in the world.

In addition, members of The Club will gain access to a variety of additional benefits, including our worldwide Exchange.

Futher information can be seen at http://www.worldwidevacationclub.co.uk/index.html

Anfi Resorts Get On Their Bike

2012-01-06T17:20:00.000Z

The Anfi Group’s brand will be represented in more than 250 races worldwide over the next twelve months and will feature prominently in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia or the Tour of Spain.

The main attraction of the Danish squad is team leader, Alberto Contador - triple champion of the Tour de France and one of the most popular media sports stars of the moment.

Contador will join his fellow teammates during the first stage of the collaboration between the Canarian company and Saxo Bank next January, when the squad, led by Bjarne Riis, will stay in Anfi Group accommodation in Gran Canaria.

During the two-week visit the cyclists will follow an intense training programme followed by a second equally gruelling training programme that will take place next November, according to the agreement signed by the both parties.

Jose Luis Trujillo, Anfi Group CEO, said that "this new promotional campaign represents our continuing support for top level sports without, of course, forgetting our ongoing commitment to the various social actions which we support."

This mutual collaboration is "a way to consolidate the Anfi brand and promote its international image."

With this in mind, Trujillo said, "We believe that this team will be an excellent international ambassador for Anfi." Anfi will join BMW, which is also one of the main sponsors of the team.

The head of Anfi insisted, "The quality of the Riis Cycling team and their projections have been crucial in sports that we have opted to join forces and work together towards the same objectives."

The Anfi Group is joining the Riis team in order to "enhance their performance in the tourism markets" and he is confident that the initiative will "in the short and medium term break all the moulds in the industry giving Anfi a greater presence and participation in events in the cycling world."

Bjarne Riis, team leader, said: "I am proud of instigating this close partnership with a company as powerful and as well recognized in the tourism sector as the Anfi Group.”

For Riis Cycling the benefits of the alliance "are more than obvious because by partnering with the Anfi Group it gives us a unique, world-class location to prepare our team for next season."

The training base "is unbeatable as the facilities at Anfi and the conditions that Gran Canaria offers us is everything that any team could want at the start of season."

Riis continued, “This, together with the temperate climate during the winter months and the varied landscape with many different alternatives routes fits perfectly with the needs of a professional cycling team.”

Interval’s UK Members Keen Travellers Who Value Their Vacation Ownership

2012-01-03T13:38:00.000Z

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, today revealed that its UK members travel extensively, find holiday ownership satisfying, own an average of 1.9 weeks of shared ownership time or its equivalent, and report average household incomes of approximately £70,050 per year. And, more than one-quarter report ownership of a second home – apart from their holiday ownership.

These findings are from Interval International’s 2011 UK Membership Profile, which was developed from a sample of UK-resident vacation owners maintaining an active membership with Interval.

The online study was undertaken to provide insights for use in the development of services and benefits to be offered to Interval members and may also be useful to resort developers and prospective industry entrants in designing their products and developing their marketing strategies.

Interval’s UK members spend approximately 28 nights away from home travelling solely for leisure purposes. Additionally, these study respondents indicate a penchant to travel across the European continent during the course of the next two years, boding well for future holiday ownership purchases. Further afield, they have a strong desire to visit the USA and Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia and New Zealand.

“As going on holiday remains a high priority for our members, developers can look forward to welcoming more vacation owners to their resorts,” said Darren Ettridge, Interval’s senior vice president of resort sales and business development. “That and the fact that our UK membership base continues to be interested in owning more vacation time should encourage resort sales and marketing professionals to take heed of this potential purchasing group.”

Respondents desiring to purchase additional vacation time remain most interested in the two-bedroom configuration, with more than half (57 percent) citing a preference for that unit type.

Purchase price, the luxury of the unit, and the annual maintenance fee commitment represent the three most influential factors in the decision making process.

Other notable findings from the 2011 UK Membership Profile include:

Approximately 83 percent of Interval’s UK members report satisfaction with their timeshare ownership.
Nearly eight out of 10 acquired their timeshare interests from resort project developers and management companies.
An estimated 61 percent of leisure travel nights are spent travelling across the UK and Ireland and the European continent.
The average length of a leisure holiday within Europe is estimated to be 7.5 nights.
Almost half of Interval’s UK members would be interested in taking a cruise during the next two years.
UK members prefer relatively less-strenuous activities on holiday with sightseeing, swimming, shopping, spending time in a spa and watching plays and concerts rating highly.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T12:33:00.001Z

We Would Like To Wish All Our Readers, Customers and Colleagues A Very Merry Christmas And A Prosperous And Happy New Year.

From Everyone At The Timeshare Lord And Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket.

TATOC News

2011-12-22T16:53:00.003Z

TATOC has announced the first speaker for the annual conference taking place in March 2012 in Stretton, near Warrington.

The Timeshare Crusader, Lisa Ann Schreier, will be crossing the Atlantic to give delegates her frank and honest views on how the U.S. market is meeting the challenges of today.

Ms Lisa Ann Schreier began her career in the timeshare industry in 1998 in Florida and today manages Timeshare Insights (www.timeshareinsights.com) where she writes, educates, consults and speaks on timeshare and related issues.

Known as an outspoken and passionate dynamo, Ms Schreier has written two books on timeshare for consumers and co-authored a college-level text. Her latest consumer “Timeshare By The Numbers” is due for publication soon.

In further related news, TATOC have confirmed that theor consumer helpline will be closed from Thursday 22nd December until Tuesday 3rd January at 9am.

If you have a query you can email the team and they will contact you upon their return. The email address is: info@timeshareassociation.org

Alternatively, there are a number of consumer guides on the TATOC website which might be of assistance to you over the holiday period.

You can find the list of guides here:http://www.tatoc.org/consumer-help/consumer-guid es.

TATOC would like to wish all timeshare owners and industry colleagues a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Fancy Turkey For Christmas?

2011-12-19T17:27:00.000Z

We thought, with Christmas fast approaching, we would share a slice of Turkey that even a vegetarian would find hard to resist!

Club La Costa's stunning Apollonium Spa & Beach Resort.

In its privileged position on the stunning, unspoiled coastline of south-west Turkey, Apollonium offers its guests a beautiful, beachfront base from which to explore the sparkling scenery, sun-drenched beaches, fascinating historical sites and amazing natural wonders of the region.

The local area offers spectacular sunsets over Bozbuk Bay, relaxing nature walks in the vicinity of the resort, and nearby highlights including Akbuk with its tree-lined promenade which is lit at night, and Altinkum with a choice of three safe, sandy beaches, plus shops and a vibrant nightlife. Just a short distance further are the equally popular seaside towns of Kusadasi and Bodrum, and the market town of Söke with a bazaar which still competes comfortably with the modern-day mall.

Rich in history, the region’s most spectacular site is undoubtedly Ephesus, Asia Minor’s best-preserved ancient city and an attraction for visitors the world over. In great company however, it is just one of the important archaelogical sites in the area, with the Didyma ruins (including the Temple of Apollo), the 15,000-seat theatre at Miletus, and Priene, which was once home to Alexander the Great, amongst others.

Holidays are On Our Minds

2011-12-16T14:17:00.002Z

YouGov’s latest survey shows quite clearly that Britons are not ready to give up on what some may term a “luxury”. A winter sunshine boost after Christmas, or a well deserved summer escape are psychologically more of a necessity than a luxury, the survey reveals.

The positive emotional and health benefits of holidays – as well as the value for money it offers – are just some of the reasons timeshare owners take up trial memberships or full membership, buying holidays ahead of time. Trial membership is a good way to test drive the company’s products and services before committing to more long term vacation ownership.

In the YouGov survey, of the 2057 adults questioned, 65% of consumers said they are planning to take a holiday of five days or more in 2012, but 35% not planning to go away.

49% of those who will take a holiday said they think they’ll be going abroad once or more, while 29% are planning to holiday in the UK once or more. Staycations rose in popularity at the start of the recession, and one positive outcome is that Britons are discovering many UK beauty spots they might otherwise never have seen. Timeshare companies with sought after resorts in Britain include Hilton Grand Vacations, which has a selection of properties in Scotland and Club La Costa’s flagship hotel and spa in Cornwall, Hustyns in Wadebridge (it also has a country house hotel near Fowey, a charming Cornish fisherman’s village whose most famous resident was Daphne Du Maurier).

In London, the Pestana Group opened the Pestana Chelsea Bridge, a luxury hotel across the river from Chelsea with a spectacular spa near the fashionable Nine Elms and Battersea districts. Pestana is well known for its Portuguese resort portfolio and the Portuguese group’s London hotel booked up quickly when it opened its doors last year.

The survey revealed that although consumers are painfully aware of the economic climate, they felt it was important not to ditch their holiday plans, so that they had something to look forward to.

- 26% agreed that they were concerned but still planning to take a holiday

- 18% indicated they were concerned and will wait until closer to the time to book their holiday

- 6% said they were not concerned and have already booked their holiday.

ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said recently, "Household budgets are feeling the pinch but for years we have seen that holidays are the last to be cut back in tough times. ABTA's own research has shown that people would rather cut back on eating out or home improvements than give their holiday the chop.

“When there is lots of doom and gloom in the economy, a holiday gives people something to look forward to. Destinations including Spain, Turkey and the USA look set to be popular with holiday makers in 2012 and we're also likely to see tourists returning to places like the Red Sea area in Egypt, and other parts of North Africa, where there are lots of high quality and good value holidays on offer."

Popular timeshare and fractional resort “staycation locations” in the UK include Devon (Barrasford & Bird), Scotland (HGVG), Cornwall (Club La Costa), Kent, The Lake District, the Welsh coast, while Marriott run an exclusive fractional property, 47 Park Street, in London’s Mayfair, which is ideally located for both business and leisure, with super shopping just steps away in Oxford Street and Bond Street.

Cornwall in particular is a popular fractional ownership location – when the weather is good, its unspoiled beaches, surf culture, gourmet food and arts scene and breathtaking scenery make it hard to beat. It has soared in popularity even more since the launch of our TV series Doc Martin, which is filmed there, and it’s Britain’s “surf central”.

reproduced with kind permission of www.gotimeshare.org

A Word Of Caution......

2011-12-08T19:42:00.001Z

As we keep trying to make our readers aware, do not always take what you are told on the telephone as gospel. This is never truer than when you are called, out of the blue, by a company claiming that they can help you sell your timeshare.

We were called today by one of our competitors (one of the good guys in case you were wondering) asking what we knew about "sellmytimeshare.tv". One of our competitors had been called by sellmytimeshare.tv and had been told that they were dealing with a large number of Russian investors who were keen to buy weeks such as hers and if she were to register for sale with them, they were confident that they could secure her a sizable offer.

The guy on the other end of the phone then proceeded to 'warn' the lady not to deal with resale companies based in the UK such as Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket and Visions of the World as they were nothing but scam artists. Is this the biggest case of pot calling the kettle black we have heard?...well it certainly is right up there!

Having heard that sellmytimeshare.tv (who are part of Hollywood Marketing Ltd) were smearing our good name and reputation, we delved a little deeper and came across a very interesting and informative article on Alberto Garcia, Head of RDO's Enforcement Team in his blog www.mindtimeshare.me.

Extracts and replies include the following:

Tricia Mackay says:

November 9, 2011 at 4:00 pm

I have had a number of calls from Travel Promotions offering to help me sell my Marriott Timeshare gold week into the Russian market. I have spoken to two reps but not spoken to the ‘Valuer’ who wants to talk to both me and my partner together to ensure all our questions are answered (and I guess to ensure we dont have cause to back out). I had noticed the need to attend presentations at the holiday resorts but was advised it was a short session advising me of trips etc not pressurising into purchasing another form of timeshare.

The first person I spoke to said he could not guarantee to sell the property but the Russians like the big names like Radission, Marriott etc. They apparently only forward 15-10 properties a week through their Russian office. In the call today I was told they could almost guarantee I would sell by February if I were to place the property with them this week. They also advised their admin departments would handle all the liaison with Marriott. The fee I would have to pay for the service – £885 gives me 3 weeks holiday in a variety of resorts to be used over 5 years. The fee covers all legal fees too apparently. I was advised not to sell myself short. The valuer was asked what he thought the property could sell for – he said between £11-14K. They do sound very knowledgeable and I was feeling very optomistic until I came across your website today!
They are calling me back tomorrow to see if we can sort out time for us to both speak with the ‘Valuer’ – I wonder if that is Mark Rowe by any chance?

Just looking at the first email I received the email was from mark@travelpromotions but I had spoken to Michael who apparently is unable to work at the moment as his wife is ill. I have been speaking today with Jenny.
Does everyone think this Company is bogus and not genuinely selling Timeshares?

Carl Jones says:

November 16, 2011 at 11:44 am

I have also been lured into parting with 294.61 euros (told it was £295) by the smooth talking Travel Promotions. In all honesty I suspected this was a scam but I’m afraid to say greed got the better of me when they started talking re-sale figures and all my good sense went out of the window. I feel ashamed that greed and stupidity was my motivating factor here. Successful scammers prey on these dubious virtues, and some would say I got what I deserve !
I am pursuing the refund with my mastercard provider.

So please take our advice and if you are called by "Sellmytimeshare", "Hollywood Marketing", "Tenerife Bargains", "Resort Results" tread very careful.

You can read Alerbto Garcia's full article HERE http://mindtimeshare.me/2011/07/12/timeshare-disposal-and-hollywood-marketing-sl-in-tenerife%E2%80%A6-the-strange-case-of-jekyll-and-hyde-in-timeshare/

Sharetime Magazine Latest Issue

2011-12-05T14:22:00.001Z

The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees) has now launched the eighth issue of its Sharetime magazine for timeshare owners, members and affiliates.Once again, the 32-page Sharetime magazine contains a range of interesting industry and holiday news and stories for timeshare owners, the committees who represent them and industry professionals.

This edition of the magazine addresses many of the issues facing the industry. There is an article by timeshare owner John Woodward on the impact of negative publicity on the industry and timeshare newcomer Rob Kelsey encourages resorts to rethink their management processes from the outside in. We hear some great stories from happy timeshare owners who explain why they bought timeshare and recount their many enjoyable exchange experiences.

The TATOC timeshare online directory, which contains a listing of all TATOC affiliates, is re-launched in this issue. The directory has been developed as a resource for timeshare owners and committees looking for reputable companies in the industry from re-sale organisations to marketing services. All new affiliates receive a free listing so owners and committees can be assured they are dealing with companies with the highest levels of customer service.

There is a round up of news from our member resorts and we introduce both new resort members and affiliate companies. The issue also includes the final part of our informative series on the role of trustees by Jennie Thompson of Resort Fiduciary Services and we put the spotlight on new affiliate Veranne Wilkinson of Hutchinson & Co Trust Company.

Sharetime columnists Lisa Ann Shreier, the timeshare crusader and owner Katrina Disken, share their thoughts and, as part of TATOC’s on-going support of owner committees, we discuss the importance of keeping up with Google for resorts that run their own websites.

Sharetime magazine is available to read online in digital format from its own dedicated website. To view the magazine, visit www.sharetimemagazine.com.

Six Resorts Achieve TATOC Accreditation

2011-11-30T13:16:00.000Z

TATOC have announced that six new resorts have recently achieved its coveted Resort Accreditation Award bringing the total number of accredited resorts to 21.

The six resorts to gain accreditation are:

The Osborne Club, Torquay, England
The Kenmore Club, Scotland
Club del Carmen, Lanzarote
Santa Barbara Golf and Ocean Club, Tenerife
DeVere Cameron House at Loch Lomond, Scotland
DeVere The Carrick at Loch Lomond Scotland

The TATOC Resort Accreditation Programme was launched in 2008 as an independent award for resorts who meet the gold standard of holiday experience for guests and owners alike. The aim of the programme is to give full recognition to resorts that are truly customer-driven in their approach to timeshare ownership and are willing to commit to all requirements of the association’s code of ethics. The award demonstrates an openness and willingness to involve owners in formulating the fundamental attributes and ethos of the resort, as well as ensuring that all facilities and services are of the highest quality.

As TATOC is the only elected Consumer Association for timeshare owners in Europe, the accreditation should be viewed as wholly independent of commercial influence, not shrouded in politics or bureaucracy of any nature and something that is being conducted with the ultimate best interests of the consumer in mind.

Mr. Harry Taylor, TATOC CEO and part of the accreditation team explained “The accreditation process is undertaken by a qualified practitioner and the resort will be continually monitored to ensure that it continues with the high standards expected. However, if there are in the future complaints that warrant investigation by TATOC and the complaints are proven to be a breach of the accreditation criteria, the resort may have its Accredited Certificate removed. In this way, guests and owners can be reassured that accredited resorts have not only met the criteria during the accreditation process but keep doing so – it is not a one-off”.

Today, TATOC is the largest consumer association for timeshare owners in Europe with 92 resort members throughout Europe representing 350,000 timeshare families. In addition to resort membership, there is an individual membership scheme for timeshare owners or other interested individuals who wish to become a personal member.

Central to its services has been the establishment of a consumer helpline at TATOC’s offices in Manchester. Since it started in 2008 the helpline has received more than 24,000 telephone calls/e-mails and now receives around 1,000 consumer contacts every month. The helpline has assisted consumers to either recover, or better still to avoid losing, more than £3 million. The majority of consumer questions and difficulties are covered by Timeshare Consumer Guides.

TATOC is now recognised as the authoritative voice of timeshare owners by the OFT, BIS, Trading Standards, Citizens Advice Bureau and many other government departments. TATOC has visited both the European Commission and European Parliament and provided evidence to the House of Lords as representatives of timeshare owners.

Club Class Holidays - End of the Road?

2011-11-28T16:25:00.000Z

A petition was made on 30th September 2011 by the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) to close down seven Club Class companies, detailed below.

These companies are linked to ITRA, an organization whose activities are well-known both to RDO’s enforcement department and to consumer bodies such as TATOC, the UK based association for timeshare owners.

Club Class companies under threat:

UK based Club Class Concierge Ltd
UK based Bridge View Consultants Ltd
Seychelles based Club Class concierge plc
Seychelles based Club Class International plc
Seychelles based Club Class Holdings Ltd
Seychelles based Club Class Corporation plc
Seychelles based Club Class plc

The proceedings are currently pending and an update on the outcome of the cases will be available next year.

We have reported, on many occasions, on consumers dissatifaction in their dealings with Club Class Holidays and how they have lost money to various schemes run through this group of companies.

Marriott Completes Seperation

2011-11-23T18:24:00.000Z

Marriott International Inc. has completed the spin-off of its Timeshare business into a new publicly traded company. Marriott also announced that the new corporate name of its vacation club business will now be Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation. Its shares are being distributed tax-free to Marriott International shareholders.

In mid February, Marriott announced this spin-off as part of its “asset light” strategy. The hived off entity is a pure-play Timeshare company, allowing Marriott to concentrate on its core hotel management and franchise business.

Under the Timeshare business, Marriott develops, operates, markets and sells timeshare interval, fractional ownership as well as residential properties. Revenues are generated primarily by selling fee simple and other forms of timeshare intervals, financing consumer purchases of timesharing intervals and operating the resorts.

Timeshare is a capital intensive business. Hence, the separation of two businesses will lessen Marriot’s debt obligation and favor its core lodging story. It will also provide Marriott with a much higher return on invested capital. Pro forma adjustments associated with the spin-off to the unaudited third quarter 2011 balance sheet reflect a $2.5 billion reduction in total assets and a $1.2 billion decline in debt and other liabilities.

Marriott currently expects to receive a 2% franchise fee based on contract sales plus a flat annual fee of $50 million from the new company. The flat fee would increase periodically by an inflation adjustment.

On the other hand, the separated business also has enough inventories to sell over the next few years. The business, which was hit hard during the recession, turned around in 2010. Marriott expects timeshare sales and services to be around $68 to $73 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Management estimated that total cash transaction costs related to this development will be around $40 to $50 million for full-year 2011. With this transaction, Marriott expects to receive approximately $325 to $350 million in cash tax benefits through 2015, including $70 to $80 million in 2011 and $120 to $130 million in 2012. However, the transaction does not actually change the company’s book tax rate. Marriott expects the split of timeshare business, net of the transaction costs, to contribute roughly 10-11 cents to 2011 earnings.

At present, the company has approximately 400,000 timeshare owners and plans to double the number at the earliest. Additionally, the spin-off will give timeshare more flexibility to expand through acquisitions.

Boris Johnson Outlines Case For New London Airport

2011-11-21T18:08:00.000Z

London mayor Boris Johnson has outlined the economic case for a new hub airport in the south east of England.

Making a speech to business leaders and representatives of the aviation industry, he said the constrictions of Heathrow Airport were becoming "ever more apparent and ever more damaging". A £40bn plan for the Thames Estuary has been put forward to increase flight capacity without expanding Heathrow.

But there is opposition to the scheme on environmental and economic grounds. Mr Johnson said: "As the world economy changes and global power shifts to the East, the constrictions of London's hub airport are becoming ever more apparent and ever more damaging."

He added that in the next 15 years 75 million Chinese households would enter the middle classes - a "phenomenal market".

But, he said, their business is "already being snaffled up by our friends on the continent who chortle at our continued inertia". He warned that to do nothing would lead to "economic stagnation".

Passenger demand for London's airports is forecast to increase from 140 million passengers a year in 2010 to 400 million passengers a year by 2050, according to a report by the Greater London Authority.

But when the plan to build a facility between the Essex and Kent coasts was debated in October, concerns were raised about damage to the environment. The RSPB, Medway Council and Kent County Council have opposed the idea, saying it is "undeliverable, unaffordable and unnecessary". They have launched a campaign website where they say people can email the mayor directly.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary is among those who have criticised the financial case for the transport hub, saying that London needs more runways at the existing airports rather than a new one.

Mr O'Leary said: "I think it's absolutely nuts, there's no requirement for any new hub airport." In May last year plans for a third runway and sixth terminal at Heathrow were scrapped when the coalition government took office.

Damage of APD will outweigh benefits, say airline lobby

2011-11-18T18:27:00.000Z

Four leading airlines have called on the government to scrap Air Passenger Duty claiming its damage to the UK economy will far outweigh the benefits of revenues raised by the tax.

Launching their united Axe The Tax campaign, the chief executives of easyJet, Ryanair, British Airways’ parent International Airlines Group (IAG) and Virgin Atlantic publicly signed a letter to Chancellor George Osborne, challenging him to conduct an independent review on the economic impact of APD.

The airlines argued the tax was destroying leisure and business tourism, “strangling” the jobs market, and keeping foreign investors away. APD raises £2.2million a year, they said. Last year, BA passengers paid out £348 million in APD; Virgin Atlantic passengers paid £140 million; Ryanair passengers £150 million and easyJet passengers £120 million.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said: “This is the probably the first time the chief executives representing Ryanair, Virgin, British Airways and easyJet have ever sat down together and that shows how important this is to us. It's an issue that goes beyond the fierce rivalry that exists between us.”
He added: “Passengers numbers at UK airports have fallen in the last three years and are now at a lower level than 2004.” In 2010, there were 7.4 million fewer passengers using UK airports while numbers using European airports increased by 66.3 million.

The four airlines said they were laying aside any differences to launch a concerted long-term effort.

“This is not going to end today. We will continue to keep highlighting this issue," said Walsh, who said removing the tax would allow the UK to become more competitive and generate more jobs.
Michael O'Leary, of Ryanair, argued other countries which had introduced a similar tax had subsequently ditched it because of the negative impact on passenger numbers, tourism and entry-level jobs. “I started out as a hotel porter and these are the kind of jobs the UK is losing because of APD.”
A tax introduced in the Netherlands in 2008/2009 was abandoned after a year because the damage on the Dutch economy were four times greater than the £300 million revenue it produced, while similar schemes have been scrapped in Belgium, Denmark and Norway, he said.

Easyjet's Carolyn McCall said the tax was "easy money" for the government, adding:. "The government can find out for themselves how damaging this will be to the economy and jobs."

According to a survey of 3,000 consumers by the airlines this week, 77% thought APD was an unfair tax. Virgin Atlantic's Steve Ridgway said: "It's evident it's putting business travellers off coming to the UK and putting families off travelling. We want everyone to come to the UK after the Olympics and that's not going to happen if we see APD remaining at this level or increasing."

He cited the small number of Chinese visitors coming to the UK as evidence of the impact of APD. Of three million annual Chinese visitors to Europe, only 175,000 come to the UK. "If you look at the value of that spend [of Chinese visitors] it significantly outweighs the revenues from APD."

The four airlines support more than 200,000 jobs in the UK and contribute 3.5% towards gross domestic product (GDP).

The letter to the chancellor, which comes ahead of an expected rise in APD in the autumn forecast statement on November 29, states: “For hard-working families, APD is a tax too far for the privilege of taking a well-earned holiday. It is also a tax on tourism and a tax on business.

“Aviation doesn’t just drive exports - it is a major exporter in its own right with our airlines earning nearly £11 billion of foreign revenues every year. Tourism is one of the UK’s most important earners and is worth £115 million to the UK economy.”

APD is expected to rise from £12 per person to £16 per person for economy flights of up to 2,000 miles for flights after April 1, 2012. An estimated five million travellers who have booked to fly from the UK after next April are likely to face the additional charge when the expected hike is back-dated.

The Axe The Tax campaign follows reports this month that the industry has so far failed to make its case on APD and must wait until the next election for policies to change. Lobbying efforts to date were last week dubbed “amateur” by the new head of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), Martin Craigs.

Winter sun is the “priority” holiday, survey reveals

2011-11-17T20:01:00.000Z

Cheapflights.co.uk recently surveyed 15,124 Brits about their travel habits and the results confirm that travel is still very much a priority despite the economic doom and gloom.

Similarly, timeshare owners are taking advantage of their weeks abroad, with ski trips and beach escapes to sun spots like the Canary Islands also in demand this year.

An astonishing 83% of those surveyed by Cheap Flights said they made savings in other areas to protect their travel budget, proving that holidays remain top of the personal priority list even in a downwards economy – or possibly because of the rather bleak outlook at home. And it seems that Britons are a nation of winter sunseekers, for obvious reasons.

This year, the Canary Islands tourist office has been reporting high levels of airport arrivals at its islands’ airports, and travel to Morocco this winter also looks popular, with British favourite Marrakech hovering in the high 20Cs, basking in all day sunshine, while temperatures in the UK dip towards those all too familiar single digits.

It’s not all sun and sand, however, as Swiss timeshare specialists Hapimag recently announced that its Swiss ski resorts are almost fully-booked already for the 2011-2012 ski season as Europe’s ski resorts hope for some good snow this year. There are conflicting predictions about this British winter, as it’s still too early to be certain, although many experts are forecasting lower than average temperatures and a strong possibility of snow again, before Christmas.

Hugo Burge, CEO of Cheapflights Media, said:"Even - or perhaps especially - when times are tough and wallets are being pinched, the preference is to squirrel away funds for a sunny getaway. We all need things to look forward to, and travel, in search of a little sun, family time and R & R is the luxury that has become something of a necessity for us all."

Winter sun is the most popular choice, with 66% voting for winter breaks as their favourite getaways and 57% of those surveyed said they also took more than one holiday this year and 75% said their holiday spend for the year would be £500 or over.

Of the 15,124 respondents who took part in the survey, 58% were female while 41% were male and the majority were aged 41 and over.

Looking at actual destination trends, the choices were split, with the strongest performers coming in as Europe at 25%, USA at 18% and Australasia at 17%. Demand for flights to the Middle East has dropped slightly. Cheap Flights reported that the preferred destinations for winter sun this year are Bangkok, Sydney, Dubai, Orlando and India, with Las Vegas, Manila and Johannesburg also up there.

Article re-produced with kind permission of www.gotimeshare.org ( http://www.gotimeshare.org/news-items/610.aspx)

RCI releases new Blackberry and Android apps for members

2011-11-16T20:05:00.000Z

RCI has released applications for BlackBerry® and Android® devices that will give RCI® subscribing members a convenient way to access vacation planning tools.

The creation of the RCI apps for BlackBerry and Android follows the release of similar apps for the iPhone®, iPod touch® and iPad® last year. The BlackBerry and Android apps were developed after the original versions were met with praise by members and downloaded by tens of thousands of users.

“Because the RCI apps for the iPhone and iPad were so well-received, we wanted to provide the same experience to BlackBerry and Android users,” said Phil Brojan, senior vice president of global marketing for RCI. “With the perpetually growing number of mobile users, we wanted to make it as convenient as possible for members to make use of RCI tools and features by putting them literally in the palms of their hands.”

The new apps have three features for members: Resort Directory, RCI TV and Account Alerts. The Resort Directory feature provides users with the same information found on the RCI website in a mobile-friendly format. This feature provides resort descriptions, information on amenities, resort photos and ratings. For easy navigation, ’Berry and ’Droid users can sort by destination, save resorts and compare resorts to each other.

The second feature, RCI TV, consists of informational, educational and entertaining videos presented by an animated host known as “Dan the RCI Guy.” Users will find the Destination Review and Resort Showcase videos particularly helpful in researching their many RCI vacation options, and with the new apps they can easily watch these clips on the go.

The Account Alerts feature will provide users with text-based alerts that are specific to their accounts. These will include reminders and updates that are personalized to each user and are intended to assist them in making the most out of their RCI memberships.

RCI also announced that it will soon be launching a mobile version of its website, which streamlines the look and feel of the site to make it more convenient for those accessing it from a mobile device. RCI will be one of the first in the industry to release a mobile version of a website for members.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people accessing our site from a mobile device in the last year and saw an opportunity to make the usability even better for our members,” said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “With this new mobile site, we will be helping our members take advantage of the benefits of RCI in a way that is easy and convenient for them.”

With the new mobile site, members will be able to access their account information on their mobile devices in real time, making it easier to for them to use their RCI memberships on the go. RCI Weeks members will be able to search for vacation options, deposit weeks, view vacations on hold, view the status of any ongoing searches, browse recommendations, and view confirmed vacations and saved searches. RCI Points® members will be able to search vacations, browse recommendations, and view confirmed vacations and vacations on hold.

Even those who are not RCI members will be able to experience the benefits of the new mobile site: there will be no login needed to access the mobile versions of the Resort Directory, RCI TV, information about RCI or to connect on social networking pages.

To download the new apps, search for “RCI” in the BlackBerry App World™ or the Android Market.

Spain Welcomes Surge in British Tourist Arrivals

2011-11-14T14:45:00.000Z

The first 9 months of the year has seen Spain welcome in excess of eleven million UK tourist arrivals, a cumulative increase of 9.2% year on year, making it one of the best years ever for UK tourism to Spain.

The UK continues to be Spain’s most important tourism market cumulatively capturing the largest share (24%) of all international arrivals, followed by Germany (15%) and France (15%).

Broken down by period, during the month of April, Spain attracted well over 1.1 million UK tourists, a 42% increase year on year. This is attributed in part to the 2010 ash cloud which for 2010 caused a slump in visitor numbers ahead of the busy summer period. Despite this year on year anomaly, from June to September 2011, Spain welcomed more than 6.7 million British tourists compared to 6.2 million for the same period last year, representing an increase of 8%. For September alone, British tourist arrivals were up 11% year or year, further strengthening Spain’s tourism position.

Broken down by region, for the period January to September 2011 the Spanish Islands captured the highest percentage of all UK tourist arrivals with the Balearic Islands attracting almost a quarter of all UK arrivals (24%), followed closely by the Canaries (23%). For mainland Spain, the southern region of Malaga region pulled in the most British tourists (18%) whilst the region of Valencia also proved popular (attracting 15%). For the same period in 2010, these regions followed an identical pattern but with the Canary Islands proving more popular for the later winter months (October, November and December).

The outlook for the whole winter season is looking very positive too with a forecast growth, year on year, being as high as 15% for Tenerife. Tenerife seems to be aiming to re-position itself as a higher end destination than has been the common view in recent years. Commenting Carlos Alonso, Chief Executive of the Cabildo Insular de Tourismo for Tenerife, said “the good prospects for the Island as a luxury destination, a segment in which for Tenerife Tourism are betting heavily on the United Kingdom.”

This increase in interest in Tenerife as a holiday destination has been mirrored in Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket's(

http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.com) figures for enquiries they have dealt with over the past three months. These have shown a marked 25% increase in the numbers looking to purchase timeshare in Tenerife (http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.com/destinations/teneri ...)and a 23% increase in those looking to rent timeshare on the island.(http://www.timeshare-exchange.co.uk/bonus-weeks.aspx)

The Canary Islands remain a very important sector for Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket's operations with Gran Canaria, home to high class timeshare resorts such as Club Gran Anfi and Anfi Beach Club, coming a close second in popularity behind Tenerife.

Tenerife itself has long been seen as the major timeshare destination out of all the Canary Islands due to the volume of resort and choice on the island with resorts such as Royal Sunset Beach Club and Parque del Sol Beach Club in and around Playa de Las Americas and Fairways Club and Royal Tenerife Country Club in Golf del Sur.

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket sees the Canaries as key to it's continued growth and have set up a network of agents in many European countries who specialise in the Canary Islands timeshare resale market.

Accomodation Review Sites - To Trust or Not To Trust

2011-11-10T12:41:00.000Z

A recent survey by Netflights.com shows that despite recent doubts over the authenticity of online travel and hotel reviews, over 75% of UK travellers flying long haul do believe online reviews.

Despite the fact that TripAdvisor and a recent Channel 4 documentary questioning whether or not all reviews can be trusted have both been making headlines in the travel news lately, regarding doubts that some online reviews are not totally credible, 76% of those surveyed by Netflights said they rely heavily on site reviews when choosing where to stay on holiday.

Of the 550 travellers surveyed, all of whom have travelled long haul at least once in the last 12 months, the vast majority said that on the whole they found the content on online review sites to be a valuable guide.

Perhaps more encouraging for hoteliers and timeshare resort owners and operators is the fact that only 12% would rule out a hotel on the basis of one negative online review. However, 54% would choose alternative accommodations if two or more reviewers had indicated that service, facilities or another part of the holiday experience were not up to expectations. 18% claimed these sites only make up part of the hotel decision making process, and that other more traditional factors such as price and location were important.

Surprisingly, a tiny minority, less than 5% of respondents suspected that any content on review sites was biased in any way. A Netflights.com spokesperson said: "Our advice to our customers is always to consider the possible motives of online reviewers and bear in mind that human nature dictates that people are more likely to report a negative experience than a positive one. Seek the advice of family, friends or friends of friends as well as that of impartial travel professionals, whether over the phone or on the high street."

The results of the survey are good news for online review sites including TripAdvisor as they battle to protect their reputations as a fair and impartial consumer champions. Now that postcards are slowly going the way of the dinosaur, social media such as Facebook and Twitter, with their facility to post photos of locations and resorts, are playing a major role in influencing people’s holiday choices and inspiring them – or not! - to try new destinations, based on the first hand holiday experiences of friends, colleagues and family members.

Article published with kind permission from www.gotimeshare.org

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket Becomes First TATOC Certified Resale Company

2011-11-07T18:24:00.000Z

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket - http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.com - has become the first timeshare resale company to receive full TATOC approval and certification.

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket TATOC Certification

As part of the process Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket has committed to operate within TATOC's Code Of Conduct which is very much focused on the consumer's interests.

Phil Watson, Managing Director of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket commented "Whilst we have always been keen advocates of all that TATOC stand for, we were keen to move that relationship forward and give our commitment to providing a professional service which benefits our customers"

"Our commitment in this regards signals, in the clearest manner possible, how we operate and the confidence that both buyers and sellers can have when dealing with Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket".

TATOC recently launched their Code of Conduct and signatories to this have to undergo a stringent vetting process prior to being considered for certification.

“The reputation of the industry has suffered in the past with some less than transparent companies preying on owners,” explained Harry Taylor, TATOC’s executive chairman. “It is important that consumers can identify companies that are open and transparent and have products to suit their family needs and aspirations and it is our hope that these high-quality, consumer focused timeshare organisations recognise the commercial benefits of committing to the TATOC Code of Conduct.”

The Code is the first of its kind in Europe and breaks new ground in the development of relationships between industry suppliers and recognised consumer representatives.

“Image, trust and reputation are everything for consumers today. A business can now prove its credentials with a partnership with TATOC and by committing to the Code,” said Taylor.

TATOC Cold Caller October List Published

2011-11-03T13:34:00.000Z

TATOC has today issued the cold callers list for October 2011. The list is compiled by the team that runs the TATOC consumer helpline and consists of companies that have been reported to the helpline during that month. You can read the full list here.

http://www.timeshareassociation.org/consumer-help/cold-callers

During October 2011, 42 companies were reported to the helpline. TATOC also provides a list of all companies that have been reported to have undertaken cold calling since the beginning of 2010.
A full report from the helpline on the calls and emails they have received over the last month will be available later this week.

The Timeshare Lord and Dial An Exchange Live - Your Chance To Join In

2011-10-31T20:19:00.000Z

Dial an Exchange the well regarded international exchange organisation, is hosting it's Autumn Roadshow in Bournemouth on Thursday 3rd November.

It is your chance to meet the Dial and Exchange team and, in their words:

Come and see how Dial An Exchange can work for you
Unlock the true potential of your holiday property
Meet the DAE Team
Industry experts on hand to give advice
Question and Answer session
Refreshments upon arrival and Afternoon Tea

We look forward to welcoming you to our Autumn 2011 Roadshow. Please ensure you book a place early to avoid disappointment.

Register Now!

Also in attendance will be TATOC and your very own "Timeshare Lord - Phil Watson - of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket who will both be available to discuss any issue within the industry or to simply answer your questions.

The event is at the Menzies Carlton Hotel, East Overcliff, Bournemouth, BH1 3DN from 1:15pm onwards.

Timeshare DOES Make You Happier

2011-10-26T20:06:00.000+01:00

Leading exchange organisation Interval International has revealed that the vast majority of its US resident members surveyed recently are satisfied with their timeshare ownership. The average family owns almost two weeks of shared ownership holidays (1.9 weeks) in a two-bed self-catering apartment and normally travels on average 22 nights a year for leisure purposes.

The survey indicates a “bullish” outlook for future timeshare sales, with 20% of owners saying they will be buying more shared ownership time to spend with their families in the coming years.

Active Interval members were asked about the type of timeshare they owned, how often they use it and how they acquired it, as well as the destinations they’d most like to visit in the next two years. Some of the main findings were:

· Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona and South Carolina represent the destinations members plan to visit in the next couple of years, with the Caribbean a strong favourite.

· Nearly a third own a second home (not including their own timeshare)

· 68% are thinking of taking a cruise holiday in the next 24 months.

· The average household income was just over $121,000.

Of the sample of owners surveyed, 83% said they were definitely satisfied with their timeshare.

These findings are from Interval International’s 2011 U.S. Membership Profile, which was developed from a sample of U.S.-resident vacation owners maintaining an active membership with Interval. The online study was undertaken to provide insights for use in the development of services and benefits to be offered to Interval members and may also be useful to resort developers and prospective industry entrants in designing their products and developing their marketing strategies.

Respondents desiring to purchase additional vacation time continue to seek warm-weather locations and family-style accommodations. They remain most interested in the two-bedroom configuration, with nearly two-thirds (65.8 percent) citing a preference for that unit type. Approximately nine percent aspire to purchase a unit consisting of three bedrooms or more.

“The opportunity to vacation with family and friends has long been one of the hallmarks of timesharing,” noted David Gilbert, Interval’s executive vice president of resort sales and marketing. “Even in challenging economic times, it is very encouraging to see that the appeal of vacation ownership remains strong among our members.”

Interval International, known to its members as just II, doesn’t sell timeshares or peddle cruises. Instead, they facilitate timeshare and holiday trades. By enforcing a strict set of quality criteria at all of their affiliated resorts, they ensure that members know what to expect from an Interval International holiday trade. With resorts of every size and character located all over the world, Interval International is a useful service for the timeshare owner.

TATOC announces LiveShareTravel affiliation & collaboration

2011-10-25T12:10:00.000+01:00

LiveShareTravel has become a TATOC silver affiliate and will collaborate with the Association to inform, protect and educate consumers about timeshare and fractionals.

Timeshare consumer champions the Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), known as TATOC and LiveShareTravel, a leading timeshare and fractional online magazine, have announced they are to collaborate to help promote consumer interests.

As a silver affiliate of TATOC, LiveShareTravel will work with them to take the latest news, information and advice on buying shared ownership products (timeshare and fractional) to a wider audience of existing owners and potential buyers.

LiveShareTravel will have a regular column in TATOC’s quarterly Sharetime Magazine highlighting member resorts and various themes around the timeshare and fractional purchase. TATOC meanwhile will join in developing an educational base for interested buyers on LiveShareTravel – helping to take the site’s Consumer Guide to the next level.

The two organisations will also link up across social media channels to further share information about the industry to owners and potential owners.

Harry Taylor TATOC’s executive chairman said: “TATOC is delighted that LiveShareTravel has become a silver affiliate. They provide a great service to the industry. We are developing some great ideas together, which will be beneficial to owners, prospective owners and our industry partners. It is an exciting time for both organisations and we are looking forward to our on-going collaboration.”

Sarah Lee publisher of LiveShareTravel said: “We are really excited about our affiliation to TATOC. As an organisation it is rightly respected for the work it does in representing consumer interests and reaching out to the industry. “We all know timeshare and fractional are great travel products and we showcase their benefits in our news and features. Working with TATOC we aim to offer more of the information that’s so important to consumers as they consider a shared ownership purchase.

“We’re also impressed by the way TATOC has been cementing relationships between government agencies, the police and the legitimate industry. It has introduced a code of conduct for timeshare re-sales, launched a very successful resort accreditation programme and their excellent consumer helpline produces a monthly report aimed at stopping the scams that the public are subjected to.”

The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), known as TATOC, was formed in 1989 and is the only elected consumer association representing the interests of timeshare owners in Europe. There are 90 member resorts located across Europe giving TATOC access to over 350,000 timeshare-owning families. Individual members and professional business affiliates from the timeshare industry community also support the association.

The mission of TATOC is to safeguard and enhance the timeshare holiday experience for existing and prospective users and to be the voice of owners. In recent years, TATOC has focused not only on increasing the membership base but also raising the profile of the association and timeshare in general, establishing TATOC as the recognised voice of the timeshare consumer and an informed point of contact. The association is now a regular contributor to the consumer press and works closely with the UK authorities.

LiveShareTravel is one of the world’s leading online magazines promoting timeshare and fractional products to travel and lifestyle investors.

LiveShareTravel was launched in 2010 by Maia Communications Ltd to showcase the very best in timeshare and fractional lifestyles with news, features, consumer guides, resort listings and more. As well as being the destination for comprehensive information on timeshare and fractional, LiveShareTravel has a host of travel and lifestyle feature content and videos.

Contact: Sarah Lee
Email: sarah.lee@maiacommunications.com
Tel: +44 (0)1536 626727 or +44 (0)794 1022147
Web: www.livesharetravel.com

Greece Receives Tourism Boost From Joanna Lumley Programme

2011-10-21T18:18:00.000+01:00

Greek timeshare resorts are expecting a new TV programme starring Joanna Lumley to provide a much-needed boost to tourism levels as the country struggles with strikes and economic turmoil.

The first episode of travel documentary Greek Odyssey aired on prime-time ITV1 October 13 and operators are already hailing the programme as a saving grace for the Greece market.

In the series, the actress visits historic sites of the Greek empire, explores the destination’s diverse cultures and meets local people.

One leading Timeshare Executive said "This TV show highlights what Greece has to offer and may go some way to offsetting the negative press given to this beautiful country by the recent economic situation and strike action in Athens"

“People should remember that the current problems are temporary, but the legacy of Greek civilisation is long lasting and people can always enjoy the amazing lifestyle, climate and country”

Greece has several resorts in popular areas:

Corfu: http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.co.uk/search-results.aspx?page=1&country=Greece&property=494

Crete: http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.co.uk/search-results.aspx?page=1&country=Greece&property=1022

Rhodes: http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.co.uk/search-results.aspx?page=1&country=Greece&property=811

and Skiathos: http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.co.uk/search-results.aspx?page=1&country=Greece&property=894

TATOC Announce New Silver Affiliate

2011-10-20T18:36:00.001+01:00

Press Release

Date: 20^th October 201

TATOC, the Timeshare Association, announces silver affiliation of UK-based collection business, CBC International

TATOC, the Timeshare Association, is delighted to announce that CBC International, one of the UK’s most successful collection agencies, has become a TATOC silver affiliate.

CBC International has worked within the timeshare sector for several years handling the collection of annual maintenance fees and finance charges.

Key to their success is CBC’s recognition that the client values the owner and wants to enjoy a long-standing relationship so tact and diplomacy are important skills. Empathy, understanding and the wish to find a resolution suitable for all parties are crucial to their operation.

The team works closely with resorts, management companies and developers to ensure payments are made in time. “In this way, quality standards at the resort can be maintained,” explained director Roy Caligari. “If payments are late or not made at all, huge financial constraints are placed on the development and might even lead to additional increases in annual fees to the detriment of owners who pay promptly.”

CBC International is licensed by the Office of Fair Trading, registered under Data Protection and holds the international Quality Assurance Accreditation ISO:9001/2008.

Speaking about the new affiliation Harry Taylor, executive chairman of TATOC, said: “CBC International is a very successful organisation in this area of the business and we are delighted that they have come on board. Maintenance fee collection is a major operation for many of our members and CBC International might well be able to assist them with this annual task”.

As silver affiliates of TATOC, CBC International will adhere to the TATOC code of conduct issued in August 2011. All companies wishing to affiliate to the Timeshare Association are thoroughly vetted beforehand and continually monitored. Further details of the code of conduct can be found on the Association’s website (www.timeshareassociation.org).

Background information:

The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), known as TATOC, was formed in 1989 and is the only elected consumer association representing the interests of timeshare owners in Europe. There are 90 member resorts located across Europe giving TATOC access to over 350,000 timeshare-owning families. Individual members and professional business affiliates from the timeshare industry community also support the Association.

The mission of TATOC is to safeguard and enhance the timeshare holiday experience for existing and prospective users and to be the voice of owners. In recent years, TATOC has focused not only on increasing the membership base but also raising the profile of the Association, establishing TATOC as the recognized voice of the timeshare consumer and an informed point of contact. The Association is now a regular contributor to the consumer press and works closely with the UK’s Trading Standards offices, the police and other authorities.

Contact:

For further information about TATOC, the Timeshare Association, please contact Mr Harry Taylor by email at: harry.taylor@timeshareassociation.org or by telephone on: +44 (0) 161 237 3518

For further information about CBC International visit www.cbc-international.co.uk. You can contact Roy Caligari by email at: Roy@cbc-international.co.uk or by telephone on: +44 (0) 151 515 3014.

RCI And The Registry Collection Launch Guide To Shared Ownership

2011-10-19T17:30:00.000+01:00

RCI and The Registry Collection have launched a major guide to shared ownership showcasing the many benefits of operating within the sector to prospective developers and investors.

Creating Opportunity in Shared Holiday Ownership is a 52-page handbook packed with information about the industry - from where it began to to its future path.

Sales and marketing strategies for the shared ownership sector are also included within the Handbook.

Dimitris Manikis, vice president of business development for RCI in Europe and Africa, said this new publication demonstrated precisely why shared ownership represented a significant opportunity for hotel operators, residential complexes and property investors.

"This is an industry with an 87% satisfaction rate - and an occupancy rate of 80% according to recent research, which makes shared holiday ownership a compelling opportunity for new industry entrants from the hotel sector and beyond.

"The Shared Holiday Ownership handbook sets out the reasons why timeshare and fractional ownership are a great fit for many resort developers and leisure real estate investors across the world."

You can read the handbook Here : http://issuu.com/rciventures/docs/creating-opportunity_in_shared-holiday-ownership-h. For a hard copy, contact Amanda White.

Greek Air Travel Disruption

2011-10-18T18:38:00.000+01:00

British travellers are being warned of further flight disruptions to Greece this week after air traffic controllers announced a 48-hour strike starting from midnight tonight.

Airlines are warning holidaymakers that this may cause flight chaos for the rest of the week, with British Airways and Easyjet confirming flights would be affected tomorrow and Thursday.

EasyJet is offering passengers booked on flights from Gatwick, Manchester, Liverpool and Bristol to Athens and the Greek islands tomorrow and Thursday the option to transfer their booking to another flight. BA said passengers should check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.

Flights were also affected at the beginning of the month when a 24-hour strike was called by the General Union of Greek Employees in protest against government cuts.

Those travelling to nearby locations such as Cyprus may also be affected.

Resort Spotlight - Diamond Club Las Calas

2011-10-17T17:40:00.000+01:00

In the latest in our series of resort over-views, today we take a closer look at Diamond Club Las Calas in Lanzarote.

The resort is situated just over half a mile from the main beach with its many shops, restaurants, bar and night clubs and just over a mile from the harbour and Old Town of Puerto del Carmen. Puerto del Carmen is the biggest and the busiest of the four main tourist areas on island of Lanzarote and can be found at the central, southern part. Lanzarote continues to be a popular holiday destination due to the lack of high rise buildings, good all year round weather and that the island on a whole is a very clean and tidy.

If you want to get away from the beach or the pool for some retail therapy, Puerto del Carmen offers some great shopping opportunities. Whether you want to look at the tourist offerings of the main Beach Avenue or fancy something a bit more upmarket in the new Biosfera shopping complex, you will find everything duty free electronics equipment, local arts and crafts through to luxury designer clothes and shoes.

And choosing where to eat every evening will not be a problem. There are over 100 restaurants alone on the Avenida de Las Playas.

Diamond Club Las Calas is a superb, safe, family friendly resort with swimming pools, on-site entertainment, bars and restaurants.

It is a large resort consisting of 145 apartments and is split into four areas with four swimming pools, two restaurants and bars offering live entertainment and great value for money food. The communal gardens and the pool areas at Las Calas are very well maintained and provide a safe and secure destination.

All of the apartments have their own terrace, are well equipped with modern interiors and overlook the shallow swimming pool.

Recently refurbished to a high standard, the apartments and penthouses are very comfortable, light and bright with open plan living area and balconies/terraces. The kitchen area is part of the sitting area and has all the necessary equipment including a fridge, freezer, oven, hob, microwave, filter coffee machine and juicer.

Younger guests staying at the resort have their own Kids’ Club; it offers supervised play and other fun activities for kids. Facilities for older children and teenagers include pool tables and arcade games.

Malta resort achieves the acclaimed TATOC accreditation

2011-10-14T23:22:00.000+01:00

The luxury resort, Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Malta Golden Sands has achieved TATOC’s prestigious accreditation award.

The resort is one of Malta’s quintessential five star hotels with a 90-metre outdoor lagoon pool and direct access to the private fully serviced sandy beach. Within the Radisson Blu Resort & Spa is the Island Residence Club (Interval International) as well as the Heavenly Collection, which comprises nine unique and lavishly furnished penthouses (part of RCI’s Registry Collection).

Perry Newton, project director for Azure, the resort’s marketing wing, said: “Having endorsement already from RDO, we feel that TATOC membership is a valuable addition and will further enhance our full commitment to our current members as well as to potential new ones. Resort accreditation from a professional consumer body such as TATOC strengthens our position within the vacation ownership business.”

The TATOC resort accreditation programme was launched in 2008 as an independent award for resorts that meet the gold standard of holiday experience for guests and owners alike. TATOC is the only elected Consumer Association for timeshare owners in Europe which gives tremendous credibility to the accreditation.

Resorts who apply for accreditation undergo an inclusive on-site inspection and audit. The process is rigorous, robust and comprehensive. The association believes it is essential that the award is seen as hard-earned and meaningful. Any resort applying for and passing the accreditation process will be declaring themselves to be open and honest operators - resorts that have nothing to hide and everything of which to be proud. In this way, the industry’s tarnished reputation can be repaired and improved.   

Mr. Harry Taylor, TATOC executive chairman and part of the accreditation team added: “We are delighted that Radisson Blu Resort & Spa have not only joined TATOC but have committed to accreditation”.

Registry Collection Adds 14 New Affiliates

2011-10-10T22:35:00.000+01:00

The Registry Collection, the world’s largest luxury exchange program and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, has already welcomed 14 newly affiliated resorts since the beginning of 2011, including 10 new affiliations in the US and Caribbean.

“These new luxurious properties in sought-after destinations around the world are wonderful additions to our network and provide the high-quality amenities and first-rate services our members have come to expect from the resorts in The Registry Collection portfolio,” said Gregg Anderson, global vice president, The Registry Collection program.

The newest resorts to join are:

Freedom Bay St. Lucia, The Registry Collection program’s first resort on the island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean, scheduled to open in 2012.
Garza Blanca Preserve Residences, due to open in 2012 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, offering guests a variety of five-star dining options, a top-of-the-line spa and on-site whale watching, kayaking, fishing, boating and tennis.
Grand Pacific Estates, opening December 2011 will offer visitors access to the famous white sand beaches that create a striking contrast against the azure waters of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
Hacienda San Antonio el Puente in Mexico, which is known for its elegantly decorated suites and will start welcoming guests in 2013.
Marival Residences and World Spa in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, which is a family-friendly resort offering private terraces and fully-equipped kitchens in each unit, complimentary nanny services, renowned spa services, a wine bar, a pool and a choice of restaurant options.
Palmyra Resort & Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica, which is surrounded by beautiful beaches and tropical landscapes and also offers access to the world-renowned golf courses nearby.
Puerto Bahía Villas and Spa, which is scheduled to open in early 2012 in the Puerto Vallarta region of Mexico where guests can enjoy beautiful ocean views from the resort.
Snowmass Club, in Snowmass, Colorado, a top ski destination which also offers guests access to golf courses, tennis courts, and spa treatments year-round.
The Manhattan Club Penthouse Suites, New York’s new destination in the “city that never sleeps.”
The River Club, a new shared ownership landmark in Telluride, Colo.

Under the RCI umbrella, The Registry Collection program offers members access to more than 180 world-class properties available for exchange or under development in approximately 35 countries.

Since its inception in 2002, The Registry Collection program has grown to become the world’s largest luxury exchange program and now helps send more than 33,000 member families on vacation to luxury resorts located in popular destinations across six continents

TATOC issue Consumer Alert - TS Consultants

2011-10-07T16:08:00.000+01:00

It has been brought to the attention of TATOC that a company, TS Consultants, is allegedly claiming to be part of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket.

We have spoken with the team at Worldwide, a TATOC platinum affiliate, who have confirmed that this is NOT the case and TS Consultants has nothing to do with Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket.

From TATOC's own investigations TS Consultants say they are a marketing company that arranges meetings between timeshare owners and an investment company. At these meetings they assure consumers they will receive an unconditional offer for their timeshare and a possible upgraded offer if they participate in certain investment opportunities.

TS Consultants operate from 220 Ashley Rd, Hale, Cheshire, WA15 9SR. Two other companies also use this address:

· Invicta Solutions
· Supreme Services

TATOC's September List of Cold Callers

2011-10-06T18:41:00.001+01:00

The following companies have been reported to TATOC's consumer helpline as undertaking cold calling. We have repeatedly warned our readers that they should never, under any circumstances, provide any such cold callers with any personal details, give over any ownership details, pay any money or agree to any face to face meeting.

If you have suspicions about any company who calls you with regards to timeshare, please contact TATOC's helpline on 0845 230 2430.

Sept 2011 List:

Blue Chip
Blue Water Travel Services
Bonus weeks
Breakaway Marketing Solutions
Client Mediation Services
Continental Connections
Eze Group
FME Solutions
GB Consultants
GC Resorts
Grand Canary Resorts
Green Gef
Half Moon Holdings
HM Holdings
Holiday Rentals Direct
I.T.R.A
In Touch Marketing
Incentive Leisure Group
JW Management
LA Bartle
Legal Taxation London
Mason Goodwin and Liscoe
Personal Travel Group
Ramirez and Ramirez
Resort Service and Care
RSC
Simple Timeshare Sales
Supreme Services
TC World
Timeshare Disposal
Timeshare Factory
Timeshare Freedom Compensation
Timestop Travel
Travel Investment Administration SL
TS World
UK Holiday Consultants
United Online
Viva Connect
World Sales Marketing Group

Spain Is Top Family Destination

2011-10-05T18:21:00.000+01:00

Spain has been voted the number one destination for families as revealed today in the ABTA 2011 Consumer Trends Survey at The Travel Convention in Palma Mallorca.

Spain narrowly beat the UK as the most family friendly holiday destination. The Mediterranean countries shine through as especially appealing for families occupying six out of the top 10 spots.

Consumers were asked which country they regarded as the most family friendly for holidays and almost one in five gave their vote to Spain, Spain proves most popular with one in four 35-44 year olds being particularly keen on the country. The UK came in at second place overall and especially popular among an older age group with those aged 55+ voting it their most family friendly destination.

The amazing theme parks and hospitality of the USA drove it to a very strong third spot.
The Mediterranean dominates the top ten with Spain joined by France, Greece, Italy, Turkey and Cyprus and an honourable ninth spot goes to Spain’s neighbour Portugal. Further afield, the long flight to Australia is clearly worth the effort as it completes the ABTA Top 10 for Family Friendly destinations.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive said: “For many years Spain has been our favourite overseas holiday spot. One of the main reasons for this has been the amazing welcome and facilities that Spain and its people offer to families. All of the countries in the top 10 deserve our thanks and congratulations for the incredible holidays they have provided to British families for many years and will continue to for many more years to come.”

Ignacio Vasallo, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office welcomed the news: “We are delighted to see that even in tough times families continue to see Spain as their preferred holiday destination. We continue to support the travel trade to update them on all our new developments in culture, sport and gastronomy. It truly is a pleasure to see so much loyalty from the travel trade and British public.”

Top 10 family friendly destinations:

1. Spain
2. UK
3. USA
4. France
5. Greece
6. Italy
7. Turkey
8. Cyprus
9. Portugal
10. Australia

Source: ABTA

Timeshare Scams And Frauds - The Facts

2011-10-04T18:41:00.001+01:00

Below is a very well written and thought out article from www.gotimeshare.org - part of the Resort Development Organisation - detailed the truths about timeshare scams which do nothing but harm the industry's image with the public as well as racking up financial loses for the unsuspecting owners.

Please take the time to make yourself aware of the article's message and protect yourself from the bogus schemes out there.

Fraud - the real facts....

Fact - the vast majority of fraud or deceptive activity is not carried out by timeshare companies, but by companies operating on the fringes of the industry – usually bogus resale companies, holiday clubs or even self styled ‘class action’ schemes. These companies are becoming more and more prevalent and are causing owners to lose considerable sums of money.

Given the serious nature of the situation, in 2005 RDO appointed a former Spanish police inspector who works with the police around Europe, the European Consumer Centres and enforcement bodies such as Trading Standards with the ultimate goal of having fraudulent companies closed down.As a result of RDO’s work with the authorities, over 97 fraudulent operators have ceased trading since 2005.

What 'scams' to look out for:

Bogus resale offers - timeshare owners receive a call out of the blue and are told that a buyer has been found who is ready to pay a high price for their week, often close to the original purchase price. A fee is, however, required from the owner in order for the sale to proceed. The practice of taking a fee before the contract is concluded will no doubt continue until countries such as Spain have implemented the new legislation (see below)

The reality: more often than not, the sale fails to take place and the timeshare owners are unsuccessful in obtaining a refund of monies paid

Holiday club offers – timeshare owners receive a call out of the blue or respond to an advertisement to discuss ways in which to dispose of their timeshare. They are invited to attend a presentation during which they are told that the company will take over ownership of their timeshare, so the annual management fee will no longer be their responsibility. At the same time, they are persuaded to sign up to membership of holiday club, frequently with the promise of cashback (see below)

The reality: the company frequently fails to take over the customers’ timeshare, leaving the management fees still liable for payment each year. Furthermore, the customers have signed up to membership of a holiday club which they probably never wanted in the first place! Holiday clubs claim to offer savings and discounts at luxurious resorts around the world but the discounts are not guaranteed and many customers have reported that the reductions are no better than those available on the high street

Cashback offers - this tends to be used as a hook to persuade people to sign up to a holiday club. There are also cases of members of the public later being called by a separate company to be told that their cashback certificate has not been correctly registered. As a result they are invited overseas to find ways around the problem and pay a further sum of money to another company they know little or nothing about.

The reality: the vast majority of people will not be successful in cashing in their certificates. Most schemes are deliberately designed to make it almost impossible to recoup the value of the certificate

Class actions - timeshare owners receive a call out of the blue or respond to an advertisement inviting them to join a class-action against their developer or exchange company. At a subsequent presentation they are instead persuaded to sign up to membership of holiday club

The reality: the majority of these class action schemes are bogus, the primary objective being to persuade people to sign up to holiday club, something that is never made clear in the company's initial contact with timeshare owners. Far from being a straightforward process, the reality is that in Europe, class actions can take many years to come to a conclusion and there is no guarantee that these will ever be successful and that money will be paid out. RDO is unaware that court proceedings have in fact been instigated

New legislation to protect consumers

In February 2011, a new Directive came in to force that provides timeshare buyers with additional levels of protection, namely a 14 day cooling off period throughout Europe (currently this is only 10 days in Spain) and a ban on taking deposits.
The new legislation also covers holiday club and resale contracts and requires that they too provide a cooling off period and they may not take an upfront fee. Furthermore, the payment for a holiday club must be divided into equal yearly instalments, with a cooling off period provided when each payment is due.

RDO advice to members of the public

Never respond to cold calls – your details have probably been obtained illegally

If you're not sure of a company's credentials, check it out with RDO on info@rdo.org or TATOC, the timeshare owners’ association, on 0845 230 2430

If you're looking to sell your timeshare, contact a resale member of RDO and never use a company that hasn't signed up to its code of conduct

Do not agree to travel to a resale company’s offices, whether in the UK or overseas. There is absolutely no need to do this and you may well find that rather than selling your timeshare, you are persuaded to sign up to a holiday club

Be careful of accepting invitations to join class actions as the actual claim may not exist or be quite as risk free as promised. You may also find that if you attend a meeting to discuss such an action, you are in fact being sold a holiday club

Do not agree to post your ownership documents to a company you don’t know is reputable. You may never see the paperwork again but at the same time if the sale is not finalised, you may still be liable for your annual management fees

RDO (Resort Development Organisation) is the European trade body for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries. Formerly called OTE, it was created in 1998 to promote fair trading and growth within the timeshare industry and to encourage the highest service standards amongst its members.

Pergola Club Hotel and Spa Joins TATOC

2011-10-03T17:50:00.000+01:00

PRESS RELEASE

Released by: TATOC, The Timeshare Association, Manchester

Date: 3rd October 2011 For immediate release

Maltese resort Pergola Club Hotel & Spa joins TATOC, The Timeshare Association

TATOC announced today that the popular timeshare resort Pergola Club Hotel & Spa located on the holiday island of Malta is the latest resort to join the Association.

Located in the picturesque village of Mellieha with views of the bay and the islands of Gozo and Comino Pergola Club Hotel is close to the centre of the village's main street. Shops, banks, restaurants and bars are just a two-minute walk away. The largest and most beautiful sandy beach in Malta is just 1km away from the village.

The resort consists 52 apartments and 30+ hotel rooms over seven floors with a restaurant, bar, Internet cafe, games room and kiddies’ room. Facilities at the resort include an indoor heated swimming pool, two outdoor pools with a children's paddling pool, fitness centre, Jacuzzi and sun terraces with views over the village, valley and bay. The Da Vinci Spa provides an extensive range of health, beauty and wellbeing treatments.

The comfortable self-catering apartments offer superior accommodation and have an open plan design. All apartments have an Italian style kitchen with modern equipment including convection oven, microwave and electric cooking rings. The resort is affiliated to RCI for worldwide exchanges.

Ann Jennings has been resort committee chairperson since 1989 and is assisted by Bryan Frost and Sylvia Wilde. The committee has built a good working relationship with the resort’s developer John Grima.

Ms. Jennings explained why the committee has chosen to become a member of the Timeshare Association: “Having watched TATOC grow over the years I felt it was now time to rejoin TATOC in the hope that we can collectively be part of moving things forward within the industry, at the same time as representing our owners fairly, this in turn can only benefit the industry and the end user.

These are difficult times for owners and I look forward to being able to share and obtain knowledge and ideas that will benefit our Club and its members alike.”

“We are delighted that the Pergola committee has decided to join TATOC. It is a popular resort run by a very competent and forward thinking committee and management team and we are sure membership will be beneficial to them” commented Mr. Harry Taylor, executive chairman.

Individual members and professional business affiliates from the timeshare industry community also support the Association.

The Association is now a regular contributor to the consumer press and works closely with the UK authorities.

Contact:

For further information about TATOC, the Timeshare Association, please visit the website at www.timeshareassociation.org or contact Mr. Harry Taylor by e-mail at harry.taylor@timeshareassociation.org or by telephone on: +44 (0) 161 237 3518.

For further information on Pergola Club Hotel & Spa, please visit either the website at www.pergolahotel.com.mt or contact the resort team by e-mail at info@pergolahotel.com.mt. Alternatively you can contact Ann Jennings direct at medjen@medjen.co.uk

Timeshare Guide Comes To Android

2011-09-30T18:00:00.000+01:00

Timeshare Guide now on Android

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket have today announced the launch of their Timeshare Guide for Android.

Planning your family holidays has never been easier following the release of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket's “Timeshare Guide” for Android mobile devices.

Europe's leading secondary timeshare company released version of the guide earlier this year for other mobile and tablet systems and the popularity and support for these made their decision to produce the app for Android a simple one.

The guide has been designed as a very simple to use, yet feature rich, application which can be used on or offline, therefore allowing users to avoid hefty roaming charges if you are using it abroad.

The application is split into several areas:

Resort Directory – A write up on timeshare resorts which included image galleries, map locations and resort descriptions. This is a very useful feature which gives you the opportunity to view details on a resort before you travel and to look for a resort close to a specific area. You even have the ability to search, via a map, or keywords, for resorts wherever you want.

Destination Guides – Useful information on popular holiday destinations include overviews of the area and videos.

What is Timeshare – A detailed overview of how the various aspects of timeshare work, what type of timeshare may be right for you and how to best use timeshare to your advantage. Included in this section is coverage of the various exchange options open to you.

About Us – Here Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket explains how they work and operate and the links they have within the industry.

The Timeshare Guide also offers content and deals exclusively for users of the app.

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket are seen as market leaders in the timeshare resale market place and have long been renowned for introducing new initiatives to the industry and this application is no exception. It is unique within the industry and as well as resort overviews it also gives the user direct and live links to availability of weeks at the resort.

The resort guide will be constantly expanded upon to make sure that, wherever you are looking for, the information will be at your fingertips. The guide is a great asset, whether you are looking to buy, already own or need help to sell. If you are already an owner, or looking to buy, this will give you some suggestions on resorts to visit as well as location and image galleries.

The application is available as a free download now via the Android Marketplace (https://market.android.com/developer?pub=Worldwide+Timeshare+Hypermarket . The release of the Android version completes Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket's app stable having already released versions for iPhone, Blackberry and iPad.

Earthquakes Raise Fears of Volcano Euruption in Canaries

2011-09-29T23:11:00.000+01:00

Tourists and residents are being evacuated from the foot of a volcano on El Hierro in the Canary Islands after a series of earthquakes raised fears of an eruption.

The islands’ regional government said it was in a state of pre-alert and was stocking drinking water and medical supplies, but played down any risk of a disaster.

The Pico de Malpaso mountain is reported to be spitting rocks intermittently, prompting authorities to make emergency preparations in case the volcano erupts.

More than 50 tourists and residents have been evacuated to protect them from flying volcanic rock and the defence ministry said it was preparing emergency shelters for 2,000 people on the island which has a population of 11,000.

The last volcanic eruption on the Canary Islands was on nearby La Palma in 1971. A future landslide triggered by an eruption of the La Palma volcano is predicted by many to have devastating repercussions for North and South America as it is thought it could trigger a massive tsunami which will travel at great speed across the Atlantic caused waves possibly up to 650 metres in height.

RDO2 Update

2011-09-28T20:31:00.001+01:00

Focusing on the core product during challenging times is the silver bullet to expanding into new market spaces. This article comes courtesy of RCIVentures' Dave Thackery who is covering the RDO2 conference from Marbella.

Roy Peires, Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels chairman, explained that the industry at large needed to take stock of the situation today in order that marketing budgets of companies within the shared ownership sector, and the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) itself, could be grown tomorrow.

Peires was responding to suggestions at this year's RDO Conference that the trade body be endowed with a consumer-facing kitemark and offer a licensing programme for the industry's sales force.
RDO board member was discussing improving the industry's image in the marketplace. "RDO's core competency is interfacing with governments and working on legislation and regulation," explained Peires.

"This market is suffering. Licensing is a lovely thing to do but we need to cut our cloth accordingly. We need to focus absolutely on the product and if and when we get stronger, we can invest in new initiatives and marketing."

Regulation reaps rewards

It's widely acknowledged unique strategies in the sales arena have proved a big boon in the South African timeshare marketplace. Stuart Lamont, executive chairman of Club Leisure Group, told RDO Conference attendees the code of conduct for domestic sales teams defined by South Africa's trade body - VOASA - was being embraced by legislators including the official association for estate agencies.

All salespeople operating in the timeshare marketplace will be obliged to sign up to this scheme. "From the end of next year salespeople will have a legal obligation to adhere to the code of conduct. If they're found to be in breach of its conditions, their registration will be revoked," said Lamont.

Work to be done

Eugene Miskelly, chairman of the RDO's legislative council, said the organisation was still spending huge swathes of time combatting the incursion of unscrupulous operators into the timeshare arena.
told delegates 15 rogue companies a month were launching and operating under the auspices of timeshare. "I wish I had Harry Potter's magic wand and could make these rogue traders disappear - but in reality it's not like that.

"Every member you lose because of rogues feeding off the industry hits you in the pocket."
A panel at the RDO Conference will discuss in more detail tomorrow the effective work of the trade organisation in countering the efforts of unscrupulous companies.

Stelios Haji-Ioannou To Launch EasyJet Rival?

2011-09-27T19:28:00.000+01:00

EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has revealed he is to set up a rival airline called FastJet.

The website fastjet.com has already been established, but only says: "By Stelios. Coming soon."
In a statement on its website, easyJet said any new airline controlled by Stelios would infringe its rights and promised to protect its shareholders.

EasyJet's statement said: "EasyJet plc announces that it has received notice from Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou that he intends to set up an airline branded FastJet and that a website, www.fastjet.com, has already been established.

"EasyJet has a number of rights under its agreements with Sir Stelios and easyGroup IP Licensing Ltd (a subsidiary of easyGroup Holdings Limited) as described in the Circular to shareholders dated November 16 2010.

"To the extent that any activity of FastJet, Sir Stelios or any company controlled by him infringes or would infringe those rights, easyJet will take necessary action to protect the rights of easyJet and the interests of its shareholders.

"Sir Stelios also alleges that easyJet has breached the terms of the binding comfort letter between him and easyJet of 10 October 2010 and that that letter is no longer in force, claims which easyJet emphatically rejects.

"EasyJet continues to seek constructive dialogue with easyGroup and Sir Stelios."

RDO2 Conference Gets Underway

2011-09-26T18:56:00.000+01:00

The European shared ownership industry's leading conference gets underway today with more than 160 delegates in attendance to share and learn the latest news and success stories from across the sector. Harry Taylor, TATOC's executive chairman, is attending the event on behalf of the association.

The conference is taking place at the Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa, one of the most exclusive and luxurious hotels in Marbella.

The Resort Development Organisation's (RDO) second convention comprises sessions and networking events for timeshare and fractional developers and prospective industry entrants.

While previous years have been taken up with responding to European legislation and the economic crisis, this year’s theme, Mapping The Journey, will explore the challenges and increased opportunities we can expect over the next two to three years.

As the new EU Directive, a new landmark for the industry, looks set to boost both consumer confidence as well as the industry, this is the time to capitalise on new opportunities and new buyers. The 2011 Conference will cover topics such as: What strategies will you need to stay successful in the changing global climate? What are RDO’s own plans for taking the industry forward, with the new EU Timeshare Directive now in place? Which innovations are most likely to be the most successful? What are your burning issues?

To help you make the right decisions for the future of your business, this year’s conference sessions will focus sharply on these questions and more. Over the course of two days, delegates will have the opportunity to spend time learning, talking, and sharing ideas about the European timeshare and fractional industries.

Speakers include Jim Lawless of Taming Tigers; Professor Alan Fyall, Deputy Dean Research & Enterprise – School of Tourism, Bournemouth University; ARDA's president and CEO Howard Nusbaum; and human performance improvement author, Jim Madrid.

RCI is reporting live from the RDO Conference with up-to-date reports on the conference, from the sessions to the exhibition floor and beyond. The official Twitter hashtag for the event is #rdo2.

Silverpoint Goes Social

2011-09-23T16:51:00.001+01:00

Silverpoint Leisure has today launched its new "social community website" which adds to Silverpoint's already impressive, and award winning stable of websites.

The developer decided to develop the site as social media is very much part of the internet experience in the 21st century and they also felt that Silverpoint customers needed a place to share their thoughts, ideas and opinions and provide vital feedback on the company’s policies and products.

Said Silverpoint Leisure’s CEO, Mark Cushway: “The vast majority of our customers are proud of the products they own and want to share their experiences with other members of the Silverpoint community.

“Up until now, new and potential members have only had the company’s corporate and product websites to give them information, and we felt it was vital for people not only to get information “from the horse’s mouth” but also to be able to provide their own feedback, whether good or bad, to give a full and balanced view of Silverpoint and its products”.

This balanced view is actively encouraged by the new site with direct feeds from Silverpoint’s Facebook, Trip Advisor, YouTube and Twitter pages as well as a regularly updated blog where readers are encouraged to leave comments and put forward their own opinions.

There is also a testimonial section which features not only feedback from members and guests who have stayed at a Silverpoint resort, but also from Silverpoint Experience clients who give their explanations about why they decided not to purchase a Silverpoint holiday product.

Silverpoint Leisure’s marketing manager, Susanna Thraves, explained the rationale behind this section of the site: “Our policy is to be as open and upfront as possible with potential customers. Our marketing campaigns and strategies are completely transparent and we wanted to show people who are maybe thinking of taking us up on one of our promotional offers that there is no obligation to buy anything when someone visits a Silverpoint resort. We want people to enjoy the experience and tell everyone about it. Word of mouth is one of the best ways of getting a product recognised and that is why social media is such a valuable marketing tool”.

For people who want to speak directly with the company there is even a “Get in Touch” section which allows you to submit your questions and receive a direct response from a member of the Silverpoint Customer Service team.

The video section of the site features Silverpoint’s latest promotional films for the Club Paradiso and Vacation Club products as well as videos of all things leisure related. Other sections provide great articles about Silverpoint destinations around the globe to help customers get the most from their Silverpoint holiday products as well as whet the appetites of any potential customers who may wish to try out a Silverpoint Promotional Holiday.

To join the new Silverpoint community visit: http://community.silverpoint.com

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket Announce LiveShareTravel Sponsorship

2011-09-22T19:31:00.000+01:00

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is delighted to announce it's position as sponsor of LiveShareTravel's guide to buying timeshare and fractional properties.

LiveShareTravel is a leading online travel and lifestyle magazine showcasing timeshare and fractional resorts and provides unbiased news and features encompassing all aspects of shared ownership as well as travel articles and lifestyle orientated features.

Given timeshare’s longevity, spanning 30 years in Europe, the circumstances of early purchasers may have changed. Families grow up and no longer holiday together or perhaps an owner’s financial situation, age or fitness become factors in limiting their travel.

By providing a buoyant and successful resale platform, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket can offer timeshare owners and new purchasers every assurance they can sell their timeshare should their circumstances change.

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is the European leader in timeshare resales, located in Bournemouth in the UK, with over 30 years’ experience in the industry.

Timeshare resale companies like Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket specialise in matching buyers' needs with the weeks available from their database of sellers. And the company is listing its timeshare resales at resorts across Europe, the US and more on LiveShareTravel.

Phil Watson managing director of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket said: "It became very clear that LiveShareTravel has a strong passion for both travel and shared ownership and this is something that we share with them.

“As such, it was a natural choice for us to support them by committing to a sponsorship package. We are sure that this relationship will provide positive benefits, not just for each other, both also for the readers, owners and industry as a whole."

Sarah Lee publisher of LiveShareTravel said: “We’re delighted to be working with Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket. It is a greatly respected company that helps people realise their travel and lifestyle needs.

“We are passionate about sharing the very best that the shared ownership market has to offer with our readers and timeshare resales is an important aspect of this.

“Owners looking to sell should only deal with recognised and reputable timeshare resale companies like Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket and never discuss their details with anyone who cold calls them.”

LiveShareTravel was launched in 2010 by Maia Communications Ltd to showcase the very best in timeshare and fractional lifestyles with news, features, consumer guides, resort listings and more. As well as being the destination for comprehensive information on timeshare and fractional, LiveShareTravel has a host of travel and lifestyle feature content and videos.

Disney Appoints New Senior VP

2011-09-21T13:32:00.000+01:00

Disney Vacation Club has appointed Claire Bilby as its new Senior Vice President overseeing all aspects of the shared ownership operation.

Bilby succeeds Jim Lewis, who left the company after serving as its president since 2006.
Claire has a distinguished history with Disney, starting in marketing at Walt Disney World Resort in 1988 and taking increasing levels of executive responsibility with the company in Florida, California and around the globe.

She recently served as Senior Vice President of Distribution Marketing and Asia Pacific Sales for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Among her responsibilities were leading all sales channel marketing for Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Travel Company, Adventures by Disney and Disney Institute.

Bilby also served as the top sales leader for Disney Destinations’ Asia Pacific Region, with responsibilities for Hong Kong Disneyland, Disney’s regional sales office in Tokyo and sales offices in Australia and China.

Most recently, Claire led the sales organization at Disneyland Resort Paris on a temporary assignment.
"Claire brings to Disney Vacation Club an impressive track record in global sales, as well as an inspirational leadership style and innovative thinking," said Karl L. Holz, President of New Vacation Operations and Disney Cruise Line, and whose responsibilities include Disney Vacation Club.

Claire’s many accomplishments include helping to launch several Disney theme parks and serving as a key leader in the milestone 50th anniversary celebration for Disneyland Resort.

RCI Expands Asian Choices

2011-09-20T16:39:00.000+01:00

RCI today announced two new affiliation agreements with Hon Tam Resort & Spa in Vietnam and Patong Bay Garden Resort in Thailand. The signing of these agreements expands RCI’s Asian portfolio to 158 properties.

Earlier in the year, another two new properties were welcomed into the program. Both in China, the Shining Star Vacation Club, Xing Yao Shui Xiang Resort and Huangshan Grandview Resorts Hotels offer high-quality vacation experiences to the 3.8 million members in RCI’s network.

“These four new affiliation agreements not only show a growing interest for timeshare travel throughout Asia but evidence that we’re offering an innovative and appealing timeshare exchange product,” said Adrian Lee, managing director, RCI Asia. “Adding new resorts in China, Thailand and Vietnam reaffirms our commitment to offering great vacations in highly-desirable destinations in Asia and throughout the world. We’re happy to have them on-board.”

Hon Tam Resort & Spa is located on Hon Tam, an eco-green island in the middle of Vietnam’s Nha Trang Bay surrounded by crystal blue waters and a private and pristine beach. This luxury resort features 49 cozy bungalows blending both traditional and modern Vietnamese architecture. Recreational facilities include a golf driving range, mini-golf, tennis courts, fitness center, Kids’ Club, spa, and water sports including scuba diving and fishing. A good selection of restaurants and bars serve international seafood and Vietnamese cuisine.

Nha Trang is known for its endless beach and warm tropical weather, as well as several notable islands such as Hon Tre, Hon Yen, Hon Rua and the Spratly Islands. The name Nha Trang is a Vietnamese pronunciation of a Cham word “Eatran” or “Yjatan.” Ea or Yja means river, and tran means reed. According to the locals, there once were a lot of reeds along Ngoc Hoi River, winding its way through town; Ngoc Hoi was later renamed Nha Trang.

Patong Bay Garden Resort is located on the popular Patong Bay in Phuket, Thailand offering a full range of facilities and activities, along with the classic touch of Thai charm and hospitality. The beachfront resort offers 71 charming and affordable rooms with a range of styles to meet the varied needs of the modern international traveler – for both families and couples alike – from wireless internet access and varied food and beverage options to a spa and beauty salon as well as a retail outlet.

Phuket, also known as the Jewel of the Andaman Sea, is a world-class destination offering a dynamic, vibrant and diverse holiday destination; world-class diving in the Andaman Sea; golfing at world-standard championship courses; eco-adventures in tropical forests; exhilarating speedboat trips to the surrounding islands; and serene cruises around mystical Phang Nga Bay.

Shining Star Vacation Club, Xing Yao Shui Xiang Resort is located in the Jia Lize wetland in Kunming, China. This mega upscale integrated tourism development consists of more than 10,000 diverse vacation accommodations spread across themed resorts, hotels, holiday villas and town houses; equestrian club with a landscaped 20-kilometer riding boulevard; ecological wetland park; country-style fishing club; golf academy and driving range exclusively designed by Phil Mickelson; extensive lavender and sunflower fields; organic fruit and vegetable garden; meeting and conference facilities; and a myriad of retail and dining facilities.

Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, is known as 'the City of Eternal Spring' for its pleasant climate and flowers all year long. With a history of more than 2,400 years, Kunming was the gateway to the celebrated Silk Road that facilitated trade with Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar and India. It offers alluring highland scenery, bewitching landform, exotic habitats, varied customs and historical interest.

Huangshan Grandview Resorts Hotels, part of the Yuan Yi Group, is a global lifestyle and mixed-used development strategically located in the south of Xin An River and flanked by Pei Lang River to its east. It is surrounded by renowned tourism sites such as the charming Old Antique Street, the awe-inspiring Huangshan, China (also known as Yellow Mountain), diversified cultural wetlands and historical Anhui villages.

This 320,000 square meters community is comprised of: Grand Villa, Grand Mansion, Parrion Huashan Hotel, Hilton Hotel, an Opera and Concert House, multiplex Cinemas, theme hotels (under development), local Anhui restaurants and museum, and Spa Club.

Article from www.tatoc.org

BMI Possibly Up For Sale

2011-09-19T14:04:00.002+01:00

BMI could be sold by parent company Lufthansa as the UK carrier continues to see its losses mount.

The German aviation giant has appointed investment bank Morgan Stanley to look at options to offload BMI, according to reports last weekend. These options could include a “sale or partnership”.

BMI lost £54 million in its first quarter of this year which equates to around £38 per passenger carried and is set to see its losses widen from last year’s £125 million loss.
The airline’s major asset is its 11% of landing slots at Heathrow – these were valued at up to £770 million three years ago – and it is the second biggest carrier at the airport after British Airways.

BA’s new parent company International Airlines Group could be interested in acquiring BMI for these Heathrow slots while Virgin Atlantic has also been seen as another suitor.

In a further move the union representing pilots at BMI has written to transport secretary Philip Hammond asking him to try to protect its members’ jobs should owner Lufthansa try to sell the airline.
Hammond should meet with the German airline and tell bosses that any deal should protect UK jobs, according to the British Airline Pilots’ Association.

Lufthansa board member Stefan Lauer said earlier this month that the carrier had hired a bank to “support in the search for a partner” for loss-making BMI.

BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslan said: “Too often in the UK, compared to elsewhere in Europe the human factor is ignored. This is serious. Unemployment is on the increase and British jobs are at risk.”

Lufthansa took control of BMI in 2009 when then-owner Sir Michael Bishop exercised an option to sell it to the German carrier.

Lufthansa has since been cutting costs at key Heathrow slot-holder BMI in an effort to make the business either sustainable or attractive to bidders, with British Airway and Virgin Atlantic both tipped as potential suitors.

Air Passenger Duty Under The Spotlight Again

2011-09-16T19:02:00.000+01:00

Three out of four MPs say a planned hike in Air Passenger Duty (APD) next year may prevent ordinary families from flying.

Abta published the results of a survey of more than 150 MPs today showing the level of concern about APD in Parliament. Fears of the tax's impact on holidaymakers was highest among Conservative MPs, with four out five saying next year's rise "may price people out of flying".

Twenty cross-party MPs and peers have written to Chancellor George Osborne today, urging him to re-consider plans to hit air travellers with the tax increase. Osborne is expected to confirm a double-inflation rise in APD next year in his autumn statement on November 29.

The survey, conducted for Abta by ComRes, found 75% of MPs agree "further rises in aviation taxation may price some people out of flying". In a similar poll last year just 39% of MPs said the same.

Conservative MPs were most worried: 83% agreeing that further increases "may price some people out of flying". But MPs across all three main parties expressed concern, with 67% of Labour MPs and 71% of Lib Dem MPs agreeing.

MPs in all parts of the UK expressed concern, but those in London (78%) and the South of England (90%) appeared to show the most concern.

In their letter to Osborne, the 20 MPs and peers “urge the government to reconsider its plans for a double-inflation rise in APD in 2012”. They say the effect of a double-inflation rise“will be a significant increase in the cost of flying abroad next year, at a time when many ordinary families are already coming under severe financial pressure”.

Brian Donohoe MP, chairman of the All Party Group on aviation, said: “With so many MPs concerned about the impact of rising aviation duty, the Treasury should change course and suspend its plans. The government should be trying to support ordinary families, not adding to the financial pressures many are facing.”

Abta head of public affairs Luke Pollard added: “Tax on aviation in the UK has risen disproportionately over the past five years. The travel industry knows George Osborne wants to balance the books, but to maximise the tax take it must be set at a level where people can still afford to fly - not at a level where people are priced out of the skies. “We’ve already seen air passenger numbers fall from the UK to European destinations. The Chancellor has the opportunity to arrest this trend and make sure flight taxes don’t put off the travelling public.”

A Gatwick spokesman said: “Our passengers pay £400 million in APD every year. It is difficult to understand why hardworking families should pay so much extra just to go on holiday. For many of them, it’s a luxury they save all year to afford.”

TripAdvisor Alters Website

2011-09-15T20:07:00.000+01:00

TripAdvisor has removed the wording "reviews you can trust" from its hotel and resort listings site, which includes the world’s most prestigious hotels and spas and many international timeshare resorts.

A spokesperson said the move is unrelated to an ongoing investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority (the ASA is looking into complaints from thousands of hoteliers that allege TripAdvisor contains misleading and/or bogus reviews).

Britain’s advertising watchdog is also looking into the use of the word "trust" on the site following a complaint from online reputation management company KwikChex that this was a misleading statement.

This news item was reported on The Timeshare Lord blog HERE

TripAdvisor said it had changed the slogan "reviews you can trust" to "reviews from our community" as part of the site's evolution. Spokeswoman Emma O'Boyle said. "The description of TripAdvisor as a trustworthy source of travel advice and information continues to be used in other parts of the site, and by example you’ll still see this wording on the homepage."

Marriott Vacations Moves Closer to Seperation

2011-09-14T18:58:00.000+01:00

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation has announced it's future board of directors. Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation expects to become a publicly traded company separate from Marriott International, Inc. by the end of 2011, becoming the world's largest purely timeshare company.

Chairman of the Board, William J. Shaw, retired this year as Vice Chairman from Marriott International after 37 years having served in various roles including president and chief operating officer. He was a senior leader within Marriott International at the time of the company's entry into the timeshare industry and remained actively involved in Marriott International's successful timeshare business over the course of his career.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Stephen P. Weisz, is a 39 year Marriott International associate who has served in various senior leadership positions. For the past 15 years he has served as president of Marriott Vacation Club International. He is currently a member of the board of directors and a trustee of the American Resort Development Association.

Other board members are:

Deborah Marriott Harrison who is the senior Vice-President of Government Affairs at Marriott International.

Raymond L. "Rip" Gellein, Jr. is known for his leadership as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., (formerly Vistana).

Thomas J. Hutchison III is a Senior Executive with more than 40 years of experience in the lodging, hospitality, travel, golf, real estate development and financial services industries.

Melquiades R. Martinez is Chairman of Florida, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

William W. McCarten is Chairman of DiamondRock Hospitality Company.

"We are excited to welcome these respected and accomplished individuals to the board of directors of Marriott Vacations Worldwide," said Mr. Weisz. "We are looking forward to working with them as they represent and promote the interests of shareholders with a view toward creating long-term shareholder value."

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation will be responsible for all of the Marriott timeshare resorts which include:

Marriott Marbella Beach Club
Marriott Son Antem
Marriott Phuket Beach Club
Marriott Grande Vista
and
Marriott Desert Springs

Timeshare and Fractional On The Agenda at ExCeL London

2011-09-13T16:24:00.001+01:00

Timeshare and fractional ownership will be among the top topics up for discussion at The Property Investor Show and OPP Live event which returns to London's ExCeL for a tenth consecutive year from 13th-15 October.

The event is seen as the ideal place for networking, obtaining reliable and up to date property market information and, of course, investment property to buy. Equally it is designed to cater for all levels of property experience – everyone from the novice to the seasoned investor will find an answer to their questions.

With a seminar headed "What is happening with timeshare, shared ownership and fractional schemes? What difference will the timeshare directive make?" the chair Nick Turner, VP and Head of New Business Development RCI / The Registry Collection will be on hand with his deep knowledge and experience of the industry.

Fractional Life Expo - Europe's largest consumer fractional ownership exhibition
has a new home for 2011. After four years at Broadgate Arena, London, this event will form a dedicated fractional ownership area within The Property Investor Show & OPPLive.

Fractional Life Expo will feature fractional developers, private residence clubs, destination clubs, exchange programmes, currency exchange specialists and other service providers.

ExCeL is located in the heart of London's Docklands, the infrastructure and leading edge support services have been created to provide a one-stop shop of exhibition needs.

Set within a stunning waterfront environment in the dynamic and thriving Docklands, just a stone's throw away from Canary Wharf, ExCeL is the ideal venue for The Property Investor Show & OPP Live.

Located less than 5 minutes drive from London City Airport, ExCeL is accessible by air, rail, road and sea, with an impressive building and growing on-site services it's no surprise more and more large exhibition shows are moving their shows to ExCeL.

Egypt Visa Restrictions

2011-09-12T17:54:00.000+01:00

Egypt will no longer grant visas to most foreign visitors on arrival at its airports, amid a new tide of protests that threatens to dampen efforts to revive tourism to the country.

However, it appears the airport visa restriction will not apply to those travelling in groups or booking through tour operators. Demonstrators stormed the Israeli embassy in Cairo on Friday night, leading to heightened tensions between the countries.

Earlier on Friday, the military government announced that only tourists travelling in groups would be able to obtain visas on arrival. All others would need to apply at Egyptian embassies before travel.

It is unclear when the new rules will come into effect. But Egyptian tourism minister Mounir Fakhry Abdennour said: “This does not affect any organised travel groups or families coming through travel agents.”

He added: “We will try to alleviate problems for individual problems by introducing internet visas.”
Three people died and more than 1,000 were injured in the protest at the Israeli embassy which ended with crowds tearing down a security wall and storming the building.

There have been continual protests outside the embassy since Israeli forces killed five Egyptian policemen on the border with Israel on August 18, the same day gunmen killed eight people outside Red Sea resort of Eilat.
Tensions have also risen around the trial of former president Mubarak who was overthrown in February. The Egyptian army remains in control of the government, with elections promised but yet to materialise.

RDO2 Fast Approaching

2011-09-09T16:08:00.002+01:00

Following on from the sucess of last years conference, the Resort Development Organisation’s 2011 event, “RDO2 – Mapping The Journey” will be back in Marbella on 26-28 September.

The “Mapping The Journey” theme this year will explore the best strategies for companies – anyone involved in the timeshare and fractional industries – to survive and thrive in the challenging economy.

Worldwide exchange providers RCI and Interval International are the main sponsors, and Generator Systems and special media sponsors Perspective Magazine are also supporting the event.

“RCI are delighted to once again support the RDO Conference as Platinum Sponsor. Mapping the journey will provide the medium for positive and productive debates on how we continue to develop and grow our industry going forward” - Dimitris Manikis, VP Business Development, RCI Europe, Middle East and Africa.

This year’s line up of guest speakers includes some of the world’s top authorities on the timeshare and tourism industries.

Howard Nusbaum, President and CEO of ARDA, the American Resort Development Association

Jim Madrid, author and leading consultant who founded the California-based human performance specialist company Entelechy Training & Development

Professor Alan Fyall Deputy Dean, Research & Entreprise, at the School of Tourism at Bournemouth University

Professor Dimitrios Buhalis Deputy Director of the Internataional Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research (ICTHR), School of Tourism, Bournemouth University.

“After the success of the RDO Conference last year, Interval had no hesitation in being a Platinum Sponsor again for RDO2. We look forward to joining our industry colleagues in “Mapping The Journey” -Darren Ettridge, Vice President, Resort Sales & Service, EMEA for Interval International

Registration for RDO2 “Mapping The Future” 2011 is still open for last minute registrations.

To register, visit http://www.rdoconference.org/register-online

Registration includes three nights’ accommodation including breakfast at the 5-star beachfront Don Carlos Resort & Spa, as well as welcome cocktails, lunches, the Gala Dinner and Wrap Party

Resort Video Spotlight - La Manga Club - Murcia - Spain

2011-09-08T19:00:00.001+01:00

The La Manga Club in the Murcia region of Spain has long been regarded as one of the premier destinations for golfers, with three PGA courses hosting national and international tournaments and qualifiers.Other sports are extremely well catered for in ultimate style at La Manga.

This includes 28 tennis courts with a mix of clay, hard and artificial grass and an impressive floodlit "show" courts. 8 football pitches which have been used for winter training by teams such as Liverpool FC, Newcastle United, Celtic FC and the England National Team.

La Manga, however, is such much more that just a sports resort. The Hyatt Spa allows you to be pampered and de-stressed in elegant surroundings.

Dining at La Manga Club is a truly tantalising experience for your taste buds. You will discover a delectable choice of gastronomy in more than 15 bars and restaurants, each with its own particular style and all with the highest standard of quality, bringing you a dazzling array of global tastes without setting foot outside the resort.

Within La Manga Club are two extremely luxurious timeshare resorts:

La Quinta La Manga : http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.co.uk/search-results.aspx?page=1&country=Spain&property=1145

and

Peninsular Club at La Manga : http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.co.uk/search-results.aspx?page=1&country=Spain&property=1097

Both offer a range of apartments and villas with one, two and three bedroom units available and offer a flexible (floating) week system which allows you the option to book at various times of year so you can plan your stay around your work life.

TATOC's Latest List of Cold Callers Published.

2011-09-07T11:29:00.000+01:00

TATOC has released the cold callers list for the month of August. This list is compiled by the TATOC helpline from inbound calls. The list includes companies that have been reported to the helpline in August. There is also a list of companies who have undertaken cold calling in 2010 and 2011.

You can report any company that cold calls you about your timeshare ownership by contacting the TATOC consumer helpline on 0845 230 2430 or by email at info@timeshareassociation.org.

The full list directly from TATOC is available HERE

Abbey Services
AS Services
Blue Chip
Bonus week
Border Line Investments
Breakaway Marketing Solutions
Bridge View Consultants
Bridgeway Marketing Solutions
C.S.S
Capital Marketing
Cedar Consultants
Claims Specialist Group
Consuldat Solution Services
Continental Connections
Essential Marketing
Europa Leisure
Excalibur
Extra Time On Line
Extra Weeks,
FMD World Sales
FME Solutions
Frazer and Ward
Freedom Vacations Network
GC Resorts
Gift Company
Half Moon Holdings
HM Holdings
Hobson Bach
Holiday Rentals Direct
I.M.O
I.N.M.O
I.T.R.A
Ideal Solutions
Incentive Leisure Group
LA Bartle
La Cascada
Mason Goodwin and Liscoe
New Frontiers Marketing
Now Online. Com
Off Shore Solutions
Paramount Marketing
Pro Call Corp Services
Ramirez and Ramirez
Red Rock Marketing
Resort Direct
Resort Servie and Care
Rest Assured Property Services Ltd
RSC
RSL Litigation
Secondary Marketing Consultants
Simple Timeshare Sales
Supreme Services
The Timeshare Factory
Timeshare Exit Solutions
Travel And Leisure UK (not Travel & Leisure)
Travel Investment Administration SL
True Valid
UK Holiday Consultants
United Online
Vacation Property Marketing
Viva Connect
World Real Estate and Development

Airline passengers paying £265,000 a day in 'excessive' debit card surcharges

2011-09-06T17:35:00.000+01:00

Airlines are still charging travellers excessive fees for booking flights with their debit cards, despite a ruling by the OFT that they should be banned. Which?, the consumer watchdog, said consumers are paying £265,000 a day more than they need to.

Which? submitted a super-complaint to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in March, asking the regulator to investigate excessive credit and debit card surcharges.

The OFT proposed that charges for paying by debit card should be banned at the end of June. A simple amendment to existing Payment Services Regulations by the Treasury would achieve this, Which? said.

The Government still has not taken action and consumers continue to be hit by excessive card fees. Two airlines – Swiss and Lufthansa – have announced plans to start charging customers for using debit and credit cards since the OFT response.

Since the the end of June, consumers have collectively paid an estimated £18 million in airline debit card surcharges.

Richard Lloyd, Which? executive director says:"With most airlines yet to drop these card surcharges and some introducing new fees, it's time for the Government to put a stop to this. A minor change to the law is all it would take to ban the charges on debit cards that you only find out about at the end of a lengthy online booking process.

"Thousands of people have complained to Which? that these hidden card fees are unfair. The Government must act so that consumers can easily compare the cost of their flights."

Article reproduced from telegraph.co.uk

RDO Takes it Easyjet

2011-09-05T17:10:00.001+01:00

European timeshare industry body the Resort Development Organisation (RDO) has taken a four page section in the September 2011 edition of easyJet’s inflight magazine.

The extended article will appear in the no-frills airline’s inflight magazine ‘easyJet Traveller’ and is designed to reach a wide international audience and educate them about timeshare and the role of the industry trade body.

As well as including advertisements from RDO members, there will be an article that gives background information on timeshare and explaining why is it important that consumers deal only with RDO members, who abide by a strict code of conduct.

Nearly 300,000 copies of the easyJet magazine are printed every month and made available to passengers on all easyJet flights. The airline has a leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes, including many popular timeshare destinations.

Paul Gardner Bougaard, RDO’s chief executive, said: “This was an excellent opportunity to promote RDO and its members and, should there be sufficient interest, we will repeat the experience in 2012.”

easyJet has 182 aircraft, operates more than 569 routes between 129 airports in 29 countries and last year carried over 46 million passengers. Its inflight magazine is produced by London-based Ink, and contains a mix of destination guides, reportage and lifestyle articles.

TripAdvisor Being Investigated By ASA

2011-09-02T14:55:00.000+01:00

TripAdvisor is to be investigated by the advertising watchdog after receiving a complaint on behalf of thousands of hotels that its claims to provide trustworthy and honest reviews from travellers are false.
The Advertising Standards Authority has launched a formal investigation into TripAdvisor, the hugely popular travel review website that parent company Expedia intends to spin off as a separate business, after receiving a complaint from a company called KwikChex.com.

Bournemouth-based KwikChex.com, which helps companies manage their online reputations, has been vigorously pursuing TripAdvisor since last year over what it claims are numerous misleading, fake and defamatory reviews posted about hotels, timeshare resorts and restaurants.

The ASA has launched an investigation to see if claims that TripAdvisor makes which underpin its business – such as that it provides "trusted" advice and "real", "honest" reviews from travellers – are in breach of the advertising code.

"You'll find real hotel reviews you can trust at TripAdvisor," the company claims. "Millions of travellers like you have shared their honest reviews of hotels, B&Bs, inns, and more."

Under its remit the ASA cannot investigate the veracity of the reviews, but TripAdvisor will be forced to offer evidence to prove that its reviews are real and fair or the claims on its website will be deemed to be misleading and have to be removed.

In its complaint to the ASA Kwikchex.com claimed that TripAdvisor does not verify any of the 50m reviews on its network of websites – the company operates 18 sites covering 27 countries – and therefore they are misleading and cannot be described as genuine.

Last year KwikChex.com started talking to what has become thousands of businesses that believe they have been affected by malicious reviews.

As reported by gaurdian.co.uk

Nexus Leisure Gains TATOC Affiliation

2011-09-01T17:12:00.000+01:00

TATOC have today announced that Nexus Leisure, one of the Canary Island’s most successful resort developers, management companies and rental businesses has become a TATOC silver affiliate.

Founded 20 years ago, Nexus Leisure has grown and diversified from sales and reservation agents to managing resorts and becoming involved in complete projects. The group also now includes rental and estate agency businesses in the Canary Islands.

Today, Nexus Leisure manages three resorts in Tenerife and Lanzarote as well as operating the successful Compass Club and Compass Premier. Resort members also have access to the services of the Nexus Travel Club an ABTA bonded travel agency.

Nexus Leisure’s group managing director Diana Aitchison commented: “We see our affiliation as another positive step in demonstrating the integrity within our industry. Harry Taylor has done a fantastic job in bringing together various sectors of the industry and supporting owners. The last conference TATOC held was a testament to that with many serious industry players coming from around the globe. Having attended these conferences year after year it was time to show that we really are supportive of this organization by joining and showing we are committed to their code of conduct.”

Speaking about the new affiliation Harry Taylor, executive chairman of TATOC, said: “Nexus Leisure has supported TATOC and our annual conference for several years now so we are thrilled that they have made the decision to become an affiliate. For such an established and successful organisation to do this is wonderful news for the Timeshare Association and confirms our position as Europe’s leading consumer association.”

As silver affiliates of TATOC, Nexus Leisure will adhere to the TATOC code of conduct issued in August 2011. All companies wishing to affiliate to the Timeshare Association are thoroughly vetted beforehand and continually monitored. Further details of the code of conduct can be found here

Irene Continues To Cause Travel Chaos

2011-08-31T09:00:00.003+01:00

Thousands of Britons due to fly back for the US are stuck on the other side of the Atlantic as flights from the eastern seaboard of the US were thrown into chaos caused by Hurricane Irene.

Driving rain and strong winds across the region prevented airlines from operating flights at four of the main New York-area airports over the weekend.

Airlines warned that the threat of heavy flooding could mean further delays even after the passing of Irene, which was downgraded from a hurricane on Sunday morning. Irene has passed into Canada after causing havoc on the US east coast from North Carolina to Vermont.

Torrential rain and flood tides damaged homes and cut power to more than three million people in New Jersey, Connecticut and New York alone. In New York City, which escaped the worst of Irene, the subway network and three main airports all reopened on Monday.

But British Airways and Virgin Atlantic could not say how long routes to the US east coast would return to normal given the backlog of delayed passengers.

A BA spokeswoman said: “Flights to and from New York JFK and Newark will be particularly badly affected after the local authorities made a decision to completely close the airports for much of the weekend.” Some flights to Philadelphia and Boston were also cancelled, she added.

Virgin Atlantic said it regretted having to cancel flights to and from New York and some Boston services over the weekend. A statement on its website warned those waiting for flights home from the US that they may have to wait more than three or four days.

“We are focusing all our energy on a recovery plan to bring people back home. Because flights are already very full it will be a little while before everybody is accommodated,” the airline said.

More than 10,000 flights in the US were cancelled from Friday mostly at New York-area airports that handle about 100 million passengers a year. The storm caused part of a ski lodge to collapse in the town of Killington, where as many as 300 guests and 100 staff were stranded on Monday due to flooded roads.

The Associated Press news agency estimated that 40 people had been killed in 11 US states, mostly because of falling trees, ocean waves, downed power lines and raging floods. Insurance claims could top $7 billion (£4.3 billion), the Consumer Federation of America estimated.

Resort Spotlight De Vere Cameron House

2011-08-30T18:24:00.000+01:00

Set on the shores of Loch Lomond, the world famous Cameron House resort encapsulates the very highest standards and hospitality you owuld expect from a De Vere resort. You can view the location HERE.

Lodges on the estate are notable for their spacious design and quality of construction, and the overwhelming impression is one of superb quality and fastidious maintenance. Everything you'll need for a luxury holiday will be there, including top of the range TV, DVD, CD/tape/radio deck, fully fitted kitchen, dishwasher, washing machine, large drying cabinet, jacuzzi, crystal glassware and all bed linen, towels etc. The presentation is immaculate and you might feel you're the first to step inside

The outstanding variety of walks, cycle tracks, lakes, boat trips, restaurants, stately homes and castles will spoil you for choice if you can bear to leave the luxury of your lodge and grounds.Within the grounds you have access to an exclusive leisure complex, private golf course, fishing and boating facilities and award-winning restaurants

Golf has long been a key feature of Loch Lomond and Cameron House estate caters for golfers in the best possible way:

The Carrick on Loch Lomond is the 71-par course designed by the acclaimed golf course designer Doug Carrick, this stunning course uses every inch of the dramatic landscape straddling the fault lines between the Scottish lowlands and highlands with nine holes set in each. Elevated holes offer spectacular views of Loch Lomond to the west and Ben Lomond to the north, this stimulating and challenging course for golfers of all abilities has played host to the Ladies Scottish Open and recently to the PGA Cup. It boasts a spectacular layout, offering a truly memorable day’s golf of magnificently maintained, with velvet greens and testy sloping fairways.

There is also the nine hole "Wee Demon" course which offers a different, yet very challenging test of your golfing prowess.

Those who wish to be wined and dined in style have a range of options open to them.

The Cameron Grill - for finest steaks and grill style dining in the Highlands
The Boathouse - Family dining from the bonnie bonnie banks
The Claret Jug - The 19th hole redefined, delicious and uncompromising heart fayre
Wishart’s at Loch Lomond - Fine dining from legendary Scottish chef Martin Wishart
Private dining - for special celebrations
The Great Scots Bar - Relaxed, contemporary style with a view to die for..
The Boat House – Enjoy refreshments on the deck by the Loch.

After all that food and wine, you will be relieved to learn that the leisure facilities are good enough to help you burn off those calories. There are 19 pieces of Cardiovascular Equipment in total as well as indoor swimming pool, with jacuzzi. Many lodges also incorporate their own private sauna!

Loch Lomond is an area close to everyones heart. It is 23 miles long, 5 miles wide, more than 600ft deep, lies 22ft above sea level and covers 18,000 acres. The rugged highland peaks with hidden glens and passages are steeped in history and heritage. Full of romance and mystique Loch Lomond has inspired poets and songwriters throughout the centuries.

Keen hill walkers can tackle the longer and more strenuous outings along the West Highland Way or the ascent of Ben Lomond.

Over looking Loch Lomond

Cameron House Spa

Cameron House Hotel Exterior

The indoor pool at Cameron House

A typcial De Vere interior

Resort suites at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa selects Interval International

2011-08-27T10:48:00.000+01:00

Interval International has affiliated Resort Suites at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa located near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is part of the spectacular 800 acre Sunway Integrated Resort City, which attracts 30 million visitors a year and houses more than 7 million square feet of world-class facilities.

The resort's 36 timeshare units are studio apartments with kitchenettes, living, and dining areas and on-site amenities include a swimming pool complete with waterfall and poolside bar, a fully equipped fitness centre and Mandarin Spa.

"Resort Suites at Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa is the first vacation ownership project and flagship development of the Sunway brand," said Cirioco Publo Raj, CEO of Sunway International Vacation Club. “Our members and guests enjoy a one-stop vacation here, along with access to exceptional resorts around the world. We look forward to a long relationship with Interval International.”

Sunway International Vacation Club is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunway Group, which started as a small tin-mining company in 1974. Sunway Group is now one of Malaysia's most widely recognized and diversified conglomerates with a multitude of established businesses, including construction, property development and investment and hospitality.

Resort Solutions Becomes Latest Sharetime Magazine Sponsor

2011-08-25T17:53:00.000+01:00

The Timeshare Association, also known as TATOC, has announced today that Resort Solutions Ltd is the latest leading industry organisation to become a sponsor of the Sharetime magazine website.

Other website sponsors include Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, RCI and Merlin Software for Vacation Ownership.

Resort Solutions is Europe’s largest, independent property management company specialising in the holiday ownership industry. Today, the company provides professional and unbranded management services to 15 resorts with over 25,000 owners throughout Europe. Resort Solutions is a TATOC silver affiliate and a member of the RDO.

With over 20 years' industry experience Resort Solutions works with resorts at all stages of the resort life cycle - from start-up sales to mature and committee-run. Together with the resort, the Resort Solutions team provides the best possible holiday experience for owners and guests while at the same time increasing resort profitability, boosting performance and improving efficiency. A feature on the company including detailed information on Resort Solution’s management fee insurance for owners was included in the recently published Sharetime magazine.

Sharetime magazine is a quarterly magazine published by the Timeshare Association for all timeshare owners, the committees who represent them and the association’s business affiliates. The 32-page Sharetime magazine contains a range of interesting industry and holiday news and stories. The seventh issue of the magazine (summer 2011) has just been published and is available to view at www.sharetimemagazine.com. Industry expert Colin Collins edits the magazine.

The current issue of the magazine focuses on TATOC’s Code of Conduct, which has been developed to provide a formal structure for partnerships between TATOC and reputable companies operating in the timeshare arena. The issue also includes an update on the TATOC resort accreditation programme and Harry Taylor, TATOC’s executive chairman, shares his experiences of the GNEX conference held earlier this year. Sharetime reveals the latest scam-busting success from Surrey’s Economic Crime Unit and the RDO enforcement team.

“We are delighted that Resort Solutions has chosen to sponsor the Sharetime magazine website,” said Mr. Harry Taylor, TATOC executive chairman. “As well as being the site to download the Sharetime magazine, the website is increasing in popularity and covers a wide range of daily news and stories from both the timeshare industry as well as the wider travel industry.”

Sharetime magazine is available to read online in digital format from its own dedicated website. To view the magazine, visit www.sharetimemagazine.com.

The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), known as TATOC, was formed in 1989. There are 90 member resorts located across Europe giving TATOC access to over 350,000 timeshare-owning families.

The aim of Sharetime magazine is to provide a positive image of the industry to both timeshare owners and the general public. Sharetime magazine supports the efforts of TATOC to promote timeshare, protect consumers from scammers and to secure the future of a legitimate industry for its members to continue to enjoy. The new digital format allows this message to be spread even further.

New Silver Affiliate for TATOC

2011-08-24T19:40:00.000+01:00

TATOC, the Timeshare Association, has announced today that Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited, one of the world’s leading trustee organisations, has become a TATOC silver affiliate.

Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited began more than 25 years ago as a collection agent for resorts in Portugal and Malta. The group has grown to become one of the top specialised holiday ownership trustees in Europe and the largest in India and the Far East. The group now has offices in the UK, Spain, India, Thailand and China.

Key to the group’s success has been its ability to adapt to the demands of the market and maintain a superior level of service. As such, they are the perfect business partners for new developers, taking them through the planning and set-up process of the legal structure of their timeshare or fractional project and into its operational phase.

Managing Director, Veranne Wilkinson said: “TATOC has grown and evolved since it began in 1989 to become the leading shared leisure owner association in Europe, a journey we have watched with close interest over the years. We are proud to become silver affiliate members of TATOC and we look forward to supporting the future growth of the association as we believe TATOC has a pivotal role to play in ensuring that timeshare resorts and service providers continue to maintain and deliver the high quality of service owners and members expect.”

Speaking about the new affiliation Harry Taylor, executive chairman of TATOC, said: “We are absolutely delighted that such a respected and established company like Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited has become an affiliate of the Association. This is wonderful support from the industry and an acknowledgement of the progress TATOC is making.”

As silver affiliates of TATOC, Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited will adhere to the TATOC code of conduct issued in August 2011. All companies wishing to affiliate to the Timeshare Association are thoroughly vetted beforehand and continually monitored. Further details of the code of conduct can be found on the Association’s website (www.timeshareassociation.org).

Background information:

Amongst its portfolio of services, Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited not only delivers all the documentation necessary to effect the sale, but can also provide escrow and stakeholder facilities for an efficient and proper collection and distribution of purchase monies, contracts administration through to completion and the issue of ownership certificates, professional and efficient inventory control, as well as management fee collection services.

In 2007, the Group set up a specialist subsidiary, Citadel Trustees Limited, which is authorised by the UK Financial Services Authority to set up, operate and manage Unregulated Collective Investments Schemes, an area of business which the Group expects will be of particular focus for the company in the future.

Orange Lake And RCI Announce Renewed Affiliation Agreement

2011-08-23T17:16:00.001+01:00

RCI, and Orange Lake Resorts - home to Holiday Inn Club Vacations - announced a renewal of their affiliation agreement that represents a business relationship spanning almost three decades.

The multi-year agreement covers Holiday Inn Club Vacations' six resorts, which feature suites and villas with a range of amenities to suit many types of vacationers. The resorts again continuing in the RCI Points and The Registry Collection programs include:

Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando, Florida (View)
Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Ascutney Mountain Resort in Brownsville, Vermont
Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Lake Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida
Holiday Inn Club Vacations South Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Holiday Inn Club Vacations Smoky Mountain Resort in Gatlinburg, Tennessee

"We've enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with RCI, who through the decades has been a leader and innovator in the timeshare exchange community," stated Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts. "As they continue to build on an already impressive collection of high-quality destination options for our members to enjoy, we are pleased that our growing resort network remains part of their worldwide exchange portfolio."

Holiday Inn Club Vacations' resorts are strategically located to give vacationers access to top attractions in the U.S., from world-renowned Orlando theme parks and Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee, to the snow-covered peaks of Vermont and beautiful waters of Lake Geneva, Wis. The family-friendly resorts feature activities and amenities to provide visitors memorable vacation experiences, such as special activities and events, swimming pools, on-site restaurants, fitness centers, mini golf and lake or beach access.
"We are very pleased to continue our relationship with Holiday Inn Club Vacations, which began with the affiliation of Orange Lake Resort almost three decades ago," said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. "The vacation experience provided at their six high-quality resorts is in line with the types of vacations that our members have come to expect. Over the years our companies have grown together to create a strong alliance that benefits both members and owners. We look forward to more great things to come at these beautiful resorts."

RCI's exchange programs offer many benefits to Orange Lake Resorts' owners and all RCI members. Those who belong to The Registry Collection program are offered a world of luxury vacation opportunities and experiences at many of the most desirable resort destinations around the world. They also enjoy special services including a personal concierge to assist them 24/7, a Reservation Consultant for trip planning and a unique Guest Certificate program, among other benefits.

RCI Points members enjoy the advantages of exchanging with the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the world's first global points-based exchange program, which allows flexible exchange for stays from as little as one or two days to as many as 21 days. To further enhance their vacation experience, RCI Points members have the opportunity to upgrade to a Points Platinum membership, which offers opportunities for automatic upgrades, priority exchange privileges and a myriad of exciting new travel and lifestyle benefits.

Timeshare 'Booming' As Families Seek A Sea View After Crooks Forced Out Of The Market

2011-08-22T19:20:00.001+01:00

The word timeshare will send a shudder up the spine of many holidaymakers. For years it has been associated with pushy touts, fraud and mis-selling.

However, the timeshare industry claims that business is now booming after EU regulations forced out the crooks.

One of the reasons for what it calls the biggest timeshare boom in 20 years is the soaring cost of seaside homes in the UK.

Detached houses with sea views in Cornwall and Devon regularly fetch up to £1.5million, while those on Dorset’s ‘millionaire coast’ are the fourth most expensive in the world.

However, families can buy a stake in a luxury property in Florida, the Caribbean or Australia for as little as £2,500.

One company claims that the number of Britons interested in timeshare for their holidays has risen by 25 per cent in the last 12 months – the biggest annual increase since the timeshare heyday in the late 80s.

The figures were released by Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, one of the UK’s largest marketplaces for such properties.

Boss Philip Watson said: ‘Timeshare is becoming a very attractive option for families who can no longer afford to purchase holiday or second homes.’

'We have experienced a 25 per cent surge in interest in the last year, primarily from families looking for luxury accommodation with sea views but without the millions of pounds needed to obtain them in the UK.'

Until recently, timeshares were synonymous with touts and were tarnished by cases of fraud and mis-selling.

Swindler John ‘Goldfinger’ Palmer was ordered to pay a record £35 million plus in confiscation, compensation and costs payments when he appeared at the Old Bailey recently.

But EU regulations designed to protect consumers - and the introduction of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO), the governing body for timeshare in Europe and TATOC, the recognised timeshare consumer association - have cleaned up the industry.

Disney Has Problems in Paradise

2011-08-19T13:46:00.000+01:00

There is trouble in paradise for Disney. The company's latest mini-theme park is scheduled to open in less than two weeks, but while Goofy, Donald and the rest of the gang are packing their hula skirts and leis, the bosses back at corporate headquarters just fired the executives in charge of the new venture in Hawaii. Investors are bracing for bad news.

The Disney Corporation is spending an estimated $850m (£513m) building the Aulani resort and spa on the island of Oahu, but the company has suspended sales of timeshares at the resort after a review of the costs of Aulani, which concluded that the business could be on course for operating losses unless it raised fees.

Jim Lewis, the president of Disney Vacation Club, the company's timeshare division, was fired last Friday, shocking Disney insiders who viewed by many as a rising star at the company's parks and resorts division.

The debacle in Hawaii has enraged the bosses at Disney headquarters because Aulani represents a departure from their traditional mega-theme parks business and a test case for what they hope will be a lucrative new chain of mid-size resorts and spas across the US and beyond. Instead of imposing the company's brand of Americana in carbon-copies of Disney World, the new ventures are meant to tack to the local culture and geography of their surroundings.

At Aulani, guests get all the usual Disney trappings, including the chance to breakfast with Pluto and hang out by the pool with Minnie Mouse, and to watch Disney movies and learn about its animation processes, but other family activities sound distinctly Hawaiian. There are hula dancing classes and, for kids, storytelling around the fire pit, featuring traditional Hawaiian tales.

Disney acquired the 21 acres in 2007 and built more than 800 residential and hotel units. It had been marketing timeshares at Aulani for more than a year before putting the temporary halt in place last month. Now, it is in talks with the Hawaiian government to revise paperwork that estimated income from dues at the resort, and has told Disney Vacation Club members they will have to pay more than they were expecting if they sign up from now.

Such turmoil is not unknown for Disney, which suffered a much more financial painful crisis over the opening of Disneyland Paris. After protests from politicians and unions, the park opened to mediocre attendance and went through several senior management changes before becoming profitable for the company.

The parks and resorts division is the second most important to Disney, after its television channels, outstripping even the famous movie studios business. In the first nine months of its financial year, ended 2 July, the division brought in revenues of $8.7bn, up 9 per cent on the same period a year ago. Its operating profit of $1.1bn, up 13 per cent on 2010, accounted for 17 per cent of the total profit for the group.

content extracted from news article published on the independent.co.uk website on Thursday 18th August 2011

Club La Costa travel agency up for top award

2011-08-18T18:56:00.000+01:00

Club La Costa Travel, the exclusive travel agency which provides a comprehensive service to members and clients of Club La Costa Resorts and Hotels (CLC), has been nominated for one of the travel industry’s most prestigious awards.

Ambassador Holidays Ltd, T/A Club La Costa Travel, is on the shortlist for the Retail Travel Company of the Year TTG Travel Awards, run by the industry’s leading trade magazine, Travel Trade Gazette.

Club La Costa Travel is a member of ABTA and holds its own ATOL licence. Members and clients receive expert attention and guidance from the company’s full service travel agency professionals, based at its call centre headquarters in Southend.

They offer a complete package of advice and assistance, including competitive flight prices, holiday car hire, travel insurance, cruises, airport parking, short break hotels and theme park tickets to members and clients who are based all over the UK and Europe.

Julie Fenlon, Group Travel Manager of Club La Costa Travel, said: “The TTG Travel Awards are regarded as a universal benchmark of quality within the travel industry. We are tremendously proud to have been short listed alongside other very strong entrants. Reaching the shortlist is a big achievement in itself and it has been made possible by the efforts and hard work of every team member in Club La Costa Travel.”

Julie added that Club La Costa Travel had responded to significant advances in many areas as new CLC resorts in Turkey and Florida had led to increased demand for the company’s travel products. Cruising had grown enormously in popularity - as a result of the work of the specialist team of agents and the excellent relationship developed with major cruise suppliers, there had been a 350 per cent increase in bookings and income generated for the period 2006 to 2010.

“In the last two years we have seen year-on-year growth of 77 per cent (2008-09) and 31 per cent (2009-10), and projections for 2011 indicate a further 34 per cent year-on-year increase. Our target is to achieve 1000 individual cruise bookings in 2011, compared to just 168 in 2006,” said Julie.

Daniel Pearce, editor of the TTG, said: “This year’s entries have been of an amazing quality – and our unique combination of voting by travel agents and judging by industry experts means that the eventual winners of the TTG Award will have truly earned their status. We congratulate all those who’ve made it onto our hotly-contested shortlist.”

Judges include experts from leading travel companies and trade bodies and leading figures from the worlds of commerce and retail, and this year’s winners will be announced at a spectacular ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on September 22nd.

Consumer Alert - Sky Services/New Horizon Resorts

2011-08-17T23:57:00.000+01:00

We would like to share the following consumer alert from TATOC:

It has been brought to Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Ltd's attention that Sky Services UK/New Horizon Resorts are using its company name and logo in an unauthorised manner and are making untrue statements, advertising that consumers’ rights in New Horizon Resorts are legally protected by them.

Neither Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited, nor any of its associated companies are involved with Sky Services UK/New Horizon Resorts. We would advise consumers to be cautious about approaches made by entities not associated with Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Ltd and any questions or requests for clarification should be emailed to Hutchinson on enquiries@hutchtrust.co.uk

Sharetime Magazine Issue 7 Available Now

2011-08-15T21:24:00.000+01:00

The summer 2011 issue of Sharetime magazine has now been published. Click on the link at the bottom to download your copy.

Sharetime magazine is written by timeshare owners for timeshare owners and the committees who represent them. It includes the latest resort and industry news together with features that will be of interest to anyone involved with the industry - owners, timeshare professionals and committee members.

Ultimately, Sharetime is about the one thing that we all have in common - TIMESHARE HOLIDAYS. And what better way to show the world how great timeshare is by sharing your holiday photos with other visitors to the Sharetime website?

The online version of the Sharetime Magazine is available HERE

RCI Platinum Comes To Europe

2011-08-12T22:20:00.000+01:00

RCI recently announced the introduction of RCI Weeks Platinum to Europe following the programme’s successful U.S. debut earlier this year during the American Resort Development Association’s annual conference. The new premium tier of membership gives timeshare owners access to exclusive exchange privileges and year-round lifestyle benefits. (as detailed HERE)

“As the largest exchange provider in the world, we’re always looking at ways to enhance the timeshare experience and provide value-added benefits for our members,” said Sean Lowe, managing director, RCI Europe. “Through the RCI Weeks Platinum membership tier we can offer new opportunities for priority access, special member discounts and great lifestyle benefits. The overwhelming feedback on RCI Weeks Platinum from our U.S. members and affiliated resorts has been extremely positive and we expect a similar response from our members in Europe.”

RCI Platinum membership for the RCI Weeks programme offers opportunities for room upgrades, exclusive “first look” access to specially acquired vacation inventory and rebates for various RCI transactions. Taking the member experience even further, RCI Weeks Platinum membership will offer restaurant discounts and preferred pricing, advance purchase and front-of-the-line privileges for select theatre and city destination attractions.

TATOC's Latest List of Cold Callers Published.

2011-08-11T19:34:00.001+01:00

TATOC, the Timeshare Assocation, which exists to protect the interests of consumers and provide advice and support for both timeshare committees and owners, has recently updated their "Cold Calling" list for July.

The list is compiled from information given by owners who have contacted TATOC's helpline for advice regarding unsolicitered calls the owner may have received. These calls are usualy the pre-cursor of attempts to defraud the owner by claiming they have bogus offers for their timeshare, or by persuading the timeshare owner to invest in any number of schemes.

You can report any company that cold calls you about your timeshare ownership by contacting the TATOC consumer helpline on 0845 230 2430 or by email at info@timeshareassociation.org

Companies cold calling DURING July 2011

BIC Leisure

Blue Chip

Breakaway Marketing Solutions

Cashback Madrid

Cedar Consultants

Claim Specialist Group

Client Mediation Services

Connections 6

Consultancy Investment Services

Cotswold timeshare Resale’s

DWVC

Etoo

Europa Leisure

Excalibur

Exclusive Concierge Services

Extra Weeks

FME Solutions

Fraser and Ward

Future Resorts Marketing

Gallent Marketing

Greystone Leisure

HM Holdings

Hobson Bach

Holiday Rentals Direct

Holiday Sales Insured

I.T.R.A

Ideal Solutions

Incentive Leisure Group

Inmobiliaria Leon

Invictor Solutions

Joshua Brooks

JW Management

LA Bartle

Leisure Marketing

M.G.L

Mason Goodwin and Liscoe

Mi Casa Real Estates

New Frontiers Marketing

Now Online. Com

Odyssey Group

Office Admin Services LTD

Personal Travel Group

Pexo Investment

Pro Call Corporate Solutions

Quinta da Balaia

Ramirez and Ramirez

Realm Travel Services

Red Rock Marketing

Rest Assured Property Services Ltd

Simple Timeshare Sales

Tenerife Experts

Thomas Consulting Ltd

Timeshare Exit Solutions

Travel and Leisure UK (NOT Travel & Leisure)

Travel Investment Administration SL

Travel World

True Valid

UK Holiday Consultants

Viva Connect

Waterstone Consultants

Typical Scams:

One of the current scams that TATOC has received a significant number of complaints about is the resale scam. Timeshare owners are being targeted by fraudsters who are offering to sell their weeks for them.

The victims are being asked to pay upfront fees for any number of reasons and then hear nothing more from the scammers - no sales, no refunds. Others are duped into parting with upfront cash - often hundreds or even thousands of pounds - only to find that the supposed buyer has dropped out of the deal. They are then lured to a foreign country to meet a "corporate buyer" who is interested in buying their week. However, when the owners arrive at their destination they usually find that the corporate buyer is really a sales person who subjects them to a hard-sell presentation for a bogus Holiday Pack. TATOC strongly recommends that consumers only deal with resale companies who are affiliated to TATOC and/or are members of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO).

How to stay safe

TATOC recommends that consumers are extremely cautious of resale companies that:

Make an unsolicited contact i.e. a cold call
Request any form of upfront payment. Common reasons for an upfront fee are: deposits, administration fees, bonds of trust, surety against withdrawal, insurance cover, validity survey, land registry tax, certificate charge and VAT
Assure you your payment would be fully protected under laws governing the use of Credit Cards.
Ask for your credit card, debit card or bank details but assure you they will not take any payment.
Suggest they can obtain an unexpected or unrealistic high price.
Say they have a buyer waiting to buy your particular timeshare product.
Ask you to send them your Ownership Certificate.
Apply undue pressure for a decision within a short time period.

These people have unlimited imaginations when it comes to stealing your money so don't trust them - no matter how convincing and reassuring they may seem.

You can report any company that cold calls you about your timeshare ownership by contacting the TATOC consumer helpline on 0845 230 2430 or by email at info@timeshareassociation.org

This list will be updated on a monthly basis.

Resort Spotlight Macdonald Dona Lola

2011-08-10T18:55:00.000+01:00

The Macdonald Resorts Dona Lola Club near Marbella in the Andalucia region of southern Spain, offers holiday ownership and apartment rental in high quality accommodation and with facilities ensuring a great vacation experience.

The Dona Lola Club is one of four Macdonald resorts on the Costa Del Sol. Facilities include two outdoor pools including one with solar heating, bars, restaurant, tennis courts and a leisure centre and spa offering a fully equipped gymnasium, exercise room, heated swimming pool, snooker room and a range of health and beauty treatments. The well maintained mature gardens with palm trees and tropical plants slope gently down to the beach and the Mediterranean Sea.

Holiday Activities are offered throughout the year with a kids' club in the summer. There are several excellent golf courses nearby.

A large resort built around a 270 foot long curved swimming pool, Dona Lola is situated within a short stroll of Calahonda with its shops, tapas bars, restaurants and nightlife.

Most of the apartments at Dona Lola have south facing balconies or terraces. Bordering the spectacular outdoor pool is a welcoming bar and restaurant where there is regular entertainment. In this area is a shallowpool for young children, while a second outdoor pool for adults completes the picture.

For more informal dining, barbecues are weekly events during the summer months. The resort has magnificent leisure facilities including tennis courts, a heated indoor pool, gym, snooker and pool tables, sauna, whirlpool and Turkish bath. The health and relaxation centre offers a top quality service, including waxing, facials, hydromassage and many other treatments.

Nearby Urbanisation Sito Calahonda is located 10 minutes away from the coastal town of Marbella and is a 25 minute drive from Malaga airport. The area of Calahonda is devoted to low rise apartments, villas, townhouses and four golf courses. There are, therefore, three commercial centres which house most of the urbanisation's 45 restaurants, cafeterias and pubs as well as seven banks, several supermarkets and a wide variety of other shops.

Calahonda is well postioned on the costa del sol in that it is centreally located to all the top attractions and resorts like the historic town of Granada with its Alhambra Palace and Ronda with panoramic views.

A good choice of restaurants & bars together with mini-supermarkets are all located within a 5 minutes walk away. The nearby El Zoco Complex, has a larger supermarket and a oasis of other shops coupled with great restaurants and bars to relax in. The gastronomy of the area is of an international theme so there really is something for all tastes.

Calahonda has its own Marina - Cabopino, situated a couple of minutes drive away from Dona Lola is undoubtedly the Coast's best kept secret and has a host of fine bars & restaurants as well as a really superb sandy beach.

Sports are easily incorporated into a Calahonda lifestyle. For starters, there are a total of 10 golf courses within a 10 kilometre radius of Macondald Dona Lola. Health care needs are provided for by a chemist and three medical centres should the need arise whilist on holiday.

This resort has become more and more popular in the past few years, due to its ideal location, friendly atmosphere and laid back way of life.

A little further inland lies Mijas, one of the finest examples of the "white villages" it is still has much of its charm with its little whitewashed houses perched on the hillside. The village has still managed to retain some of its quaint traditions, one of the most unusual being the donkey-taxis which line the central plaza. Mijas is a typical Andaluz village, perched high above Fuengirola and Mijas Costa with spectacular views of the coast and surrounding heavily wooded mountains. Mijas is a web of narrow cobbled streets complete with terraces overflowing with geraniums, red tile roofs, archways and, of course, the occasional chirruping canary. Like Ronda just over the mountaintop, the village dates back to distant time and there are two Mudejar churches here to prove it, as well as the sanctuary of the patron saint of Mijas, from the year 850.

There is a thriving arts and crafts movement in Mijas, particularly linen and wicker items and the locally made bread and honey is definitely worth trying.

Mijas and Mijas Costa are actually separate entities. While Mijas Costa refers to an area of the coast, including Calahonda, Mijas itself is a small village in the hills over looking Fuengirola. Mijas still has much of its charm with its little whitewashed houses perched on the hillside. Its narrow streets are restricted to pedestrians and donkeys (who act as taxis). There are many small craft shops selling leather work, pottery and other traditional wares.


Macdonald Dona - Sea FrontLocation


Madonald Dona Lola - Well Kept Gardens


Macdonald Dona Lola - Typical Lounge

As recomended and approved resale agents for Maconald Resorts, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket have a wide selection of timeshare resale weeks available at Macdonald Dona Lola Here

TATOC Code Of Conduct Launched

2011-08-09T11:01:00.017+01:00

PRESS RELEASE

Released by: TATOC, Manchester Date: 8^th August 2011

TATOC, the Timeshare Association, launches the first Code of Conduct for timeshare organisations

The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), also known as TATOC, has today launched its Code of Conduct.

The Code of Conduct is a commitment by TATOC, our members, accredited and affiliated companies to the highest standards of business ethics, principles and practices. It is also an assurance of the highest standards in the provision of products and services; they will be correctly sold, well managed and well maintained with the consumer as the principle focus. Commitment to the Code creates a partnership between timeshare businesses and timeshare consumers that will help secure a strong and healthy future for everyone involved.

The Code has been developed to provide a formal structure for partnerships between TATOC and reputable companies operating in the timeshare arena. It incorporates detailed Codes of Practice for specific areas including timeshare re-sales. Commitment to the Code is essential for any company to be recognised by TATOC or considered for affiliation or accreditation or allowed to place advertising material in any TATOC publication such as Sharetime magazine.

“The reputation of the industry has suffered in the past with some less than transparent companies preying on owners,” explained Harry Taylor, TATOC’s executive chairman. “It is important that consumers can identify companies that are open and transparent and have products to suit their family needs and aspirations and it is our hope that these high-quality, consumer focused timeshare organisations recognise the commercial benefits of committing to the TATOC Code of Conduct.”

The Code is the first of its kind in Europe and breaks new ground in the development of relationships between industry suppliers and recognised consumer representatives.

“Image, trust and reputation are everything for consumers today. A business can now prove its credentials with a partnership with TATOC and by committing to the Code,” said Taylor.

The full Code of Conduct and the Codes of Practice currently published are available to view on the TATOC website (www.timeshareassociation.org > About TATOC > Code of Conduct). Additional Codes of Practice will be added wherever a need is identified. TATOC is currently seeking official recognition of the Codes by the Office of Fair Trading and other government agencies.

The new European Directive (2008/122/EC) and UK Regulations (2010 No 2960) that came into force on 23 February 2011 provide for professional bodies and other associations to establish codes of conduct and behavior. Timeshare companies are required to include in their marketing material information about which of these recognised codes they have committed to, or to indicate where they have not signed up to operate to any code.

The TATOC Code is an opportunity for reputable companies to demonstrate the high quality of their business ethics and practices, and their consumer-focused products and services. It is an opportunity, for consumers to have good confidence in a company that has made a commitment to the TATOC Timeshare Code of Conduct.

About TATOC

The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), known as TATOC, was formed in 1989 and is the only elected consumer association representing the interests of timeshare owners in Europe. There are 90 member resorts located across Europe giving TATOC access to over 350,000 timeshare-owning families. The Association is also supported by individual members and professional business affiliates from the timeshare industry community.

The mission of TATOC is to safeguard and enhance the timeshare holiday experience for existing and prospective users and to be the voice of owners. In recent years, TATOC focused not only on increasing the membership base but also raising the profile of the Association, establishing TATOC as the recognized voice of the timeshare consumer and an informed point of contact. The Association is now a regular contributor to the consumer press and works closely with the UK’s Trading Standards offices, the police and other authorities.

Contact:

Free Timeshare Guide For iPad Users Launched

2011-08-08T14:20:00.000+01:00

iPad Timeshare Guide

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket have redesigned their Timeshare Guide App with a new version specifically for iPad users. The comprehensive guide to timeshare now takes advantage of the iPad's increased power and screen size.

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket have today announced the launch of their FREE Timeshare Guide For iPad app available. The first ever iPad app for timeshare buyers, sellers and owners.

As a complete redesign of their incredibly successful app for iPhone, the new iPad version takes full advantage of the iPad’s screen size and resolution to give users an immersive and rewarding experience. The Timeshare Guide For iPad layouts work equally as well in landscape or portrait mode.

The guide has been designed as a very simple to use, yet feature rich, application which can be used on or offline, therefore allowing users to avoid hefty roaming charges if you are using it abroad.

The application is split into several areas:

About Us – Here Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket explains how they work and operate and the links they have within the industry.

What is Timeshare – A detailed overview of how the various aspects of timeshare work, what type of timeshare may be right for you and how to best use timeshare to your advantage. Included in this section is coverage of the various exchange options open to you.

Resort Directory – A write up on timeshare resorts which included image galleries, map locations and resort descriptions. This is a very useful feature which gives you the opportunity to view details on a resort before you travel and to look for a resort close to a specific area. You even have the ability to search, via a map, or keywords, for resorts wherever you want.

Destination Guides – A library of resources on different holiday destinations which includes video guides, maps and information on the local area, traditions and tourist attractions.

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket are seen as market leaders in the timeshare resale market place and have long been renowned for introducing new initiatives to the industry and this application is no exception. It is unique within the industry and as well as resort overviews it also gives the user direct and live links to availability of weeks at the resort.

The app will be constantly expanded, free of charge, to make sure that, wherever you are looking for, the information will be at your fingertips.

The guide is a great asset, whether you are looking to buy, already own or need help to sell. If you are already an owner, or looking to buy, this will give you some suggestions on resorts to visit as well as location and image galleries.

A direct download link is available on Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket's website:
http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.com or directly from iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/timeshare-guide-for-ipad/ ...

The iPad app adds to Worldwide Timeshare's stable of apps already released for iPhone, iPod and Blackberry devices.
# # #

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket are Europe's leading timeshare resale company and have undertaken many new initiatives aimed at educating the public to the benefits of timeshare.

Issued By	:	Mark Pelleymounter
Phone	:	0871 781 6781	Email: markp@wwlg.co.uk
Address	:	Woodland Point, Wootton Mount
	:	Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 1PJ

Timeshare Holidays ARDA Checklist

2011-08-05T11:59:00.000+01:00

Another hot summer has many would-be vacationers trying to figure out how to get the most from their time off. Nearly eight million timeshare owners would encourage them to try holidaying with timeshare. With a satisfaction rate of 85 percent and an occupancy rate that outpaced hotel occupancy by over 20 percent, a timeshare holiday may be the ideal solution for making the most out of your holiday.

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) has found that many consumers are often stressed by holiday planning, agreeing on the destination, cost, available activities and the uncertainty of knowing what your room will look like. Timeshare holidays can help to alleviate that stress, but how do you know if they are right for you? To help determine if a timeshare vacation is a good fit for some travelers, ARDA has created a checklist to help consumers make an educated decision.

“If you’re the kind of vacationer who is happy spending a week at Grandma’s house or taking short trips to the local lake, timeshare vacations may not be right for you,” said Howard Nusbaum, CEO and president of ARDA. “But for people that put a priority on regular getaways, the value of a timeshare is unmatched.”
Should Your Next Vacation Be a Timeshare Vacation? A Checklist

Do you want more bang for your buck? If you compare a typical family vacation spent in a hotel to one spent in a timeshare, the hotel vacation tends to cost more – between eating every meal out and the price of two or more rooms to accommodate an entire family, the value of a timeshare holiday is unbeatable.
Do you enjoy beautiful locations? Ranging from mountaintop chalets to beachfront resorts, timeshare offers destinations around the world. And with the ability to trade from your home resort, you can choose to visit that same destination you love each year or try a variety of other resorts.
Do you like the comforts of home? With timeshare, you have plenty of space for the family to relax and spend time together. As timeshare units typically feature two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room and a full-sized kitchen, a timeshare resort provides both the comforts of home along with the amenities you’d expect at resort destinations.
Do you want to take the hassle out of planning each holiday? When you travel with timeshare, there are no surprises. It takes the stress out of planning a vacation while ensuring that every traveler’s holiday desires are met.
Do you value the benefits of taking a holiday? From medical doctors to wellness gurus, more experts suggest that taking time off from the stresses of daily life is good for you. The prepaid nature of timeshare holidays ensures that you are committing to a regular holiday at least once every year.

Today, there are more than 5,000 timeshare resorts in 100 countries. “I encourage anyone who answered yes to the checklist questions to try out a timeshare vacation,” said Nusbaum. “It’s a better way to vacation.”

Second U.S. resort for Club La Costa

2011-08-04T12:23:00.000+01:00

Regal Oaks, a resort just 3 miles east of Walt Disney World®, Orlando, is getting a princely makeover following its purchase by Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels.

Club La Costa, which trades in America as CLC (™), has a major refurbishment and improvement programme for the existing resort, while selling 69 built town houses initially and constructing more going forward. Club La Costa is a TATOC platinum affiliate.

Brad Margison, director of CLC Estates, Club La Costa’s real estate division, says Regal Oaks, which is scheduled to open in 2013, will offer great value freehold homes, especially with current exchange rates, and should prove irresistible to shrewd customers anticipating Florida’s economic turnabout.

Club La Costa’s first Orlando property: ‘Encantada’, which was purchased in 2010 and also lies close to Disney World®, has virtually sold out; it opened its doors to holidaying guests and members in April.

Regal Oaks, a CLC Worldwide resort, sits directly behind Kissimmee Old Town with conserved forestry along one boundary, it features a lake and swimming pool complex with lazy river, waterfalls and waterslide. CLC landscaping will ensure greenery surrounds the avenues of 2, 3 and 4 bedroom town homes, which are offered in a choice of four design models and with Club La Costa specification furniture and furnishings.

In the short term, upgrading of the main entrance will indicate the “better things to come” for the resort, with a 1000m2 two-storey clubhouse with reception, gym, shop, coffee shop, lounge and internet areas, part of the ongoing plans.

“With more than 50million* visitors in 2010, a record breaking figure, Orlando’s worldwide popularity is enduring – not only for its exciting theme parks, which have something new each year, but also for the full holiday package that is Florida,” says Margison.

Regal Oaks fulfills the Club La Costa strategy to build where there is popular demand. Every child wants to go to Disney, and parents love the Florida lifestyle. “By owning at Regal Oaks or Encantada, generations of the same family can enjoy the very best this spectacular area has to offer.”

New Hotel Savoy Madeira Gains Interval International Affiliation

2011-08-03T11:30:00.001+01:00

Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, has affiliated Hotel Savoy on the Portuguese island of Madeira to its global exchange network. Upon completion in 2014, it will include 246 timeshare apartments, ushering in the second chapter of the vacation ownership product for Siet Savoi SA, the developer of the successful Royal Savoy affiliated in 2002."

We're very happy to be able to offer more exchange options to Interval members who want to visit this magnificent island, known for its stunning scenery and spring-like temperatures," said Darren Ettridge, Interval's senior vice president of resort sales and business development for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. "There are nearly 5,000 vacation owners at Royal Savoy who enjoy consistently high standards at this award-winning property. We're sure that Siet Savoi will build on its outstanding success to deliver another truly wonderful holiday experience."

All of the Hotel Savoy timeshare apartments will be air-conditioned, offer Internet access, and have ocean-facing balconies or terraces. One-bedroom apartments will have separate lounge and dining areas, a full kitchen and master bedroom with en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet. The two- and three-bedroom lock-off apartments will be ideally suited to holidays with friends or family sleeping up to six and eight guests respectively. Studio units will have a kitchenette and a spacious lounge area.

Hotel Savoy guests also will have access to a full-service spa with sauna; fitness centre; heated indoor, outdoor, and children's swimming pools; whirlpool; tennis court; and restaurants and bars on the grounds of the resort. Other amenities will include 24-hour reception service, room service, and underground parking.

"Hotel Savoy is the newest generation of a small family-run hotel first opened at the beginning of the 20th century," said Isabel Cristina, project director of the Savoy Group (Siet-Savoi S.A). "We're proud of our reputation for hospitality and very pleased to have Interval International as an exchange partner, so that we can introduce many more people to our beautiful home."

Closer to the coast of North Africa than Europe, the volcanic island of Madeira is just 35 miles long by 13 miles wide, studded with dramatic ravines and rocky headlands. Along the roadways that wind their way through sleepy hamlets and larger villages, the manmade watercourse "levadas" appear to be ribbons of water meandering through the countryside sparkling in the bright sunlight that bathes the area.

The island that many call "the floating garden of the Atlantic" is a 90-minute flight from Lisbon and the Hotel Savoy is 15 minutes from Madeira's Funchal International Airport and a five minute walk to the historical centre of Funchal

German strike threatens summer flight disruption

2011-08-02T18:26:00.000+01:00

The prospect of flight disruption over the summer holiday period has been raised as German air traffic controllers voted to strike in a row over pay.

The GdF union said a ballot of members produced a 95.8% vote in favour of a walkout. No decision has been made on whether or when strikes will go ahead.

A decision is expected on Tuesday August 2 when union leaders consider a new offer made by Germany's air traffic control authority over the weekend. GdF has been seeking a one-year wage deal with a 6.5% pay increase for some 5,500 controllers.

Germany's air traffic control authority said its new offer involves a 3.2% rise and a one-time payment now, followed by a smaller rise - of 2%, or at least the level of inflation - in November 2012.

Diamond Resorts Greener Gardens

2011-08-01T12:51:00.001+01:00

Diamond Resorts International® is promoting eco-awareness at its resorts through a sustainable gardening initiative.

The leading shared ownership specialists are cultivating and using home-grown fruit and veg at selected resorts to enhance the natural environment and benefit both the eco-system and local economy.

Three resorts in three dream locations are utilising fresh product straight from the resorts’ own grounds in the kitchen, so that guests at Ka'anapali Beach Club in Maui, Hawaii, The Historic Powhatan Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia and Vilar do Golf in Algarve, Portugal get to taste food “straight from the garden”.

Methods include minimal chemical pesticides and fertilizers and the installation of underground watering systems to decrease water waste and eliminates runoff. Each garden is planted with fresh produce native to the region and guests and children can tour the gardens, pick ingredients and take part in on-site cooking demos.

Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Resorts International® said, "As a leader in the hospitality industry with a major global footprint, it's important that we actively take steps toward sustainable growth. Through the production of on-site sustainable gardens, Diamond promotes eco-awareness and encourages properties worldwide to engage in green initiatives."

Closer to home, Club La Costa’s award-winning restaurant at its Cornish resort Hustyns has been serving seasonal product straight from its gardens to guests since CLC acquired the resort some years ago.

Also on Hustyns menu is fresh seafood and meat reared at local farms, while Camel Valley Vineyards close by even produce their own, British champagne.

Recently, CLC’s sister resort to Hustyns, Trenython Manor, scored a top award for its high standards of food hygiene in a nationwide scheme which lets the public know just how well their local pub, takeaway or restaurant fares.

“Scores On The Doors” is the UK’s no. 1 scheme which lists the official local authority hygiene ratings and Trenython was awarded five stars by Cornwall Council’s food safety environmental officer.

The kitchen got top marks for overall hygiene, cleanliness and training and will be proudly displaying its award, which gives it one star more than London’s famous Ritz Hotel

Diamond Resorts International® is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world with more than 200 branded and affiliated resorts and over 27,000 guest beds in 28 countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa.

Resort Spotlight - Oura View Beach Club

2011-07-29T16:50:00.000+01:00

Located directly on the beautiful Oura beach, the majority of the units face south, giving maximum exposure to the sun. The resort is within easy walking distance of many restaurants and night spots, and it is about 2 miles from Albufeira.

The resort offers child and adult swimming pools adjacent to its own restaurant and bar and also has an indoor pool. Guests have access to the on-site health club, for a fee, and also to all amenities of the Oura Praia Hotel (a few minutes drive away), including tennis and squash courts

The Algarve, the most popular Portugese holiday destitnation, has some of the best and most beautiful beaches in the entire world! Equally appealing is the Algarve's all year round mild climate, the entire coast enjoys a Mediterranean style microclimate.

In Roman times Albufeira was known as Baltum and then re-named Al-Buhera by the Moorish settlers in the 8th Century. It was finally taken from the Moors in the middle of the 13th Century by the 'Knights of the Order of Santiago'.

Albufeira, like many Algarve towns, has the remains of a castle dating from Roman times, but most of the castle along with the town, was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. The most visible pointer to the castle remains is the Torre do Relógio (clock tower), which was built on one of the old castle towers, and is normally lit up on festive occasions.

Albufeira was a small fishing village until the arrival of tourism in the 1960s. Substantial developments since then have turned it into a major holiday resort (and probably the most popular resort in the Algarve). Even with all of the developments, some of Albufeira Old Town still retains the essence of the village it once was, with narrow cobbled streets winding up and around the hillsides and typical single storey houses lining the roadside.

The bars in the old town are still open late - most will be open until 4am during the summer months but may close at 2am in the winter. It does mean that you can take a rest after a busy day on the beach before getting ready for the night!

There are two main beaches in Albufeira itself - 'Fishermans beach' (Praia dos Pescadores) is overlooked by a variety of restaurants and there is always the tempting aroma of barbecued fish in the air. Here it's possible to walk straight onto the beach without the need for steps. Adjoining Fishermans beach is Albufeira beach (Praia do Túnel), slightly to the west through the tunnel near the tourist office. There are more bars and restaurants here and steps down to the beach.

Featuring spacious self-catering apartments and an outdoor pool situated within gardens overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Oura-View Beach Club is 30 km from Faro International Airport.
Every guest accommodation has fully equipped kitchen. All studios and apartments have a separate seating area with satellite TV.

Breakfast is served in the Terrace Bar and Restaurant, and the Sunset Restaurant serves delicious meals all day, with indoor and outdoor seating. There are several bars providing relaxing seating and sea views.