Timeshare Trends Blog

Halcyon Hills Spa Resort and Marina on the Greek island of Samos is near completion and is Europe’s newest member of the Registry Collection, the world’s largest luxury exchange program.

The Halycon Hills Resort will boast an array of luxury facilities including a large spa, a 35-berth private marina, two beaches, tennis courts and more. The fundamental character of the resort combines luxury with the traditional Greek charm of Samos.

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The International Riviera in Tunisia, North Africa, is set to be completed in 2011 and will be a member of the Registry Collection Exchange Program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program offered by Group RCI.

The International Riviera will include 50 luxury waterfront villas, and the concept was created as a fusion of European elegance and the 21st century pioneering spirit of Dubai. The five-star residential resort development will have at its heart a Las Vegas-style casino complex and a range of other upscale amenities, including golf, spa, marinas and retail.

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The West Sands Phuket Beach Club in Thailand has been added to the Interval International global vacation exchange network. The resort seamlessly blends state-of-the art development with a commitment to green building practices and was honored with the prestigious Green Development Award in 2007 and 2008 at the Thailand Property Awards.

Tucked into 48 lush acres with its own 500 yards of private beachfront, the resort is situated on Mai Khao Beach on Phuket’s west coast. The studio, one, and two-bedroom units range from 990 to 1,798 square feet, and the three-bedroom units measure 3,605 square feet. The residences have been designed to have minimal impact on the environment and all feature European-style kitchens and bathrooms, as well as balconies with views of the pool, gardens, or the Andaman Sea. Mai Khao, which is part of the Sirinat National Park, is home to a golden sand beach, which stretches for 10 miles along the Andaman Sea and is the longest beach in Phuket.

Activities in and around the area include water sports, sailing, diving and fishing and further inland activities include elephant riding, trekking, golf, and horseback riding. Guests at the resort have access to the West Sands Water World, one of the largest water parks in Asia. Facilities at the resort include a fitness center, cooking school, PADI National Geographic Dive Centre, freeform swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, and spa.

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Hawaii timeshare occupancy has increased in 2009. Despite the economy and its impact on Hawaii, according to the Honolulu Star Bulletin, timeshare visitors have posted solid gains.

According to the newspaper, “The number of visitors who stayed in a timeshare for part of their Hawaii vacation rose by 4.6 percent during the first six months of this year, with the number of visitors who spent their entire vacation in a timeshare up by 5.8 percent, according to data from the Hawaii Tourism Authority.”

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Despite tighter credit markets and high unemployment rates, the U.S. timeshare industry continues to demonstrate its resilience.

Although overall sales continue to reflect the national trend of lower consumer spending, timeshare owners continue to enjoy their pre-paid timeshare vacations, with an 80% occupancy rate and an 86% product approval rate. This compares with a 60.4% hotel occupancy rate, according to Smith Travel Research.

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Bluegreen Resorts is now managing the Cibola Vista Resort in Arizona, adding to its ever-increasing roster of Bluegreen affiliated resort properties. The Cibola Vista Resort and Spa is located in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria and is a luxury timeshare property located between the popular Lake Pleasant recreational area and the city of Phoenix.

The property is in close proximity to Cardinals’ stadium and numerous Major League Baseball spring training venues. The resort boasts amenities including a spa, fitness center, two pools, meeting rooms and equestrian programs, in a western village-themed environment. There’s a total of 204 units, including studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and penthouse accommodations, all offered in Spanish Colonial-designed buildings.

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Fairmont Resort Properties has signed an affiliation agreement with RCI. Fairmont is the largest Canadian-owned vacation ownership developer with resorts located throughout Canada and USA, along with a worldwide network of resort hotels.

Two of Fairmont’s newest properties are also now a member of the RCI network of more than 4,000 affiliated resorts. The Fairmont Vacation Villas in Fairmont Hot Springs and the Sunchaser Vacation Club at Fairway Cottages, located at the Makaha Resort & Golf Club in Hawaii now carry RCI membership and exchange opportunities.

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Wyndham recently announced that its Orlando-based timeshare division issued $350 million in notes backed by timeshare receivables. Tom Conforti, Wyndham’s chief financial officer was quoted as saying that the transactions suggest a steadily improving asset-backed securities market, evidenced by significantly better pricing.

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The Villa del Palmar Cancun Luxury Beach Resort and Spa has been added to the Interval International exchange network. With the development of its first shared ownership resort in the Mexican Caribbean, the Villa Group is building on its success in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Nuevo Vallarta, and Loreto.

Currently under construction, the property will be situated on 35 acres along Mujeres Bay, opposite Isla Mujeres, and a 15-minute drive from downtown Cancun. The first phase is slated to open in 2010 and two additional phases are expected to be completed by 2012. Each villa will be elegantly decorated and include a living room, dining room, full kitchen with granite countertops, modern appliances and electronic equipment, and a spacious terrace.

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The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas in Colorado is now part of the Interval International vacation exchange network. The Westin Riverfront Mountain Villas is the newest Starwood resort. Starwood Vacation Network has been affiliated with Interval International since 2000 and has 21 resorts in its collection.

The resort is nestled at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain and showcases dramatic views of the surrounding Rocky Mountain landscape through each of the units expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. The spacious 34 two-bedroom villas also feature natural stone fireplaces, large closets, a balcony, a full kitchen, and table seating for six. Other Westin brand signature products and services found in all the villas include the trademarked Heavenly Bed, Heavenly Bath, marble bathrooms, individual climate control, flat screen televisions and Internet access.

The resort is part of the Riverfront Village, which is situated in the Vail Valley on a private 19-acre site fronting the Eagle River. Its gondola provides access to all of Beaver Creek Mountain, Bachelor Gulch, Arrowhead, and the McCoy Park snowshoe and ski tracks. Outdoor offerings also include kayaking or rafting down the Eagle River, as well as hiking and biking along well-paved trails.

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