Timeshare Trends Blog

Royal Aloha slashes fees for its new members. Headquartered in Honolulu, the non-profit timeshare company Royal Aloha Vacation Club has announced the reduction of its perpetual membership initiation fees by 60% as part of its 34th anniversary celebration. The promo, which lasts only until September 20, 2011, covers all nine destinations including Waikiki, Kona and Maui, Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, Chandler, Branson, Oregon, Marbella in Spain, and Acapulco in Mexico. Under the promo, every new member will receive a free iPad for a one-time initiation fee of $1,295 for a one-bedroom/one-week membership, or $2,495 for two-bedroom/one-week application. Both packages include a lifetime membership, tax and escrow closing fees, and use of any Royal Aloha location for a week each year. One of the first vacation clubs ever established in North America, Royal Aloha is owned and managed by 8.500 members and has 227 condominium units.

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Located in Camp Sherman, Oregon, Lake Creek Lodge provides newly built cabins, each with two to three bedrooms. The Lodge sprawls over 40 acres around the banks of Lake Creek and is located within the perimeters of the Metolius River. According to Paul Nabor, director of sales at FractionalExchange.com, “Lake Creek Lodge provides access to all the best outdoor experiences Central Oregon has to offer. Whether fly fishing, hiking, biking or wildlife watching in the summer, to accessing the ski resorts, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing in the winter, the lodge provides year-round access to all the activities a family could want. We are thrilled to add this exceptional property to our network. We welcome its owners to our program, and are confident our existing members will relish having access to this beautiful exchange opportunity.” FractionalExchange.com originated in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, when several resort owners were looking for a way to be able to easily communicate with other vacation property owners. As a result of this need, an online bulletin board was created, allowing owners to message each other. FractionalExchange.com was then created to provide a medium through which owners of all vacation properties can communicate. It gives owners the opportunity to visit any location, without any limits on destinations.

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Wyndham Exchange and Rentals, a business unit of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies has acquired James Villa Holidays from the private equity fund Vespa Capital, in a deal reportedly worth $77 million. With a portfolio of approximately 2,300 villas, James Villa Holidays is a popular vacation provider in the Mediterranean holiday market offering superior accommodation across more than 50 destinations at affordable prices. With the new acquisition, the scale and scope of Wyndham’s Vacation Rentals further expand to France, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Italy, Malta and Cyprus. The inclusion of James Villa Holidays is also expected to create a strong presence in Mediterranean countries by providing an array of travel alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of acclaimed brands. James Villa Holidays includes more than 50 destinations and approximately 2,300 villas and unique properties across the Mediterranean and Balearic vacation hot spots.

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Wyndham Worldwide has acquired ResortQuest, a leading provider in full-service vacation rentals in the United States. The acquisition price is approximately $56 million, subject to adjustments. The all-cash transaction is anticipated to close by the end of the third quarter, subject to satisfaction of customary closing conditions. With this acquisition, Wyndham Worldwide becomes the world’s largest full-service vacation rental business, providing access to more than 85,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. ResortQuest will provide a strong platform for the company’s expansion into the U.S. serviced vacation rentals market. According to Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Exchange and Rentals, acquiring ResortQuest, expand Wyndham’s efforts to provide superior rental distribution services to consumers, as well as provide second homeowners the opportunity to rent their properties through a trusted source and well-known brand.

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Wyndham Vacation Resorts has re-opened the Wyndham Nashville after a $10 million rehabilitation. In early May, the region was struck by a large flood that ruined many homes, establishments, and hotel properties. Wyndham Nashville was one of the unlucky properties to survive the massive flood, albeit with substantial damages to its landscaping and lower-lying buildings. After over four months, the property is back in top shape and welcoming Wyndham timeshare owners. Conveniently situated near the legendary Grand Ole Opry and the huge Opry Mills outlet mall, Wyndham Nashville features a large indoor swimming pool, two outdoor pools and spa, and a fully-equipped fitness center. All amenities of the property were part of the reconstruction plan that started on May 6. Aside from rebuilding its own property, Wyndham also helped the Tennessee community by donating $25,000 in flood relief to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

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The Tivoli Lodge in Utah is now managed by Gemstone Hotels and Resorts, a luxury management company based in Utah. The Tivoli Lodge is a four-star luxury ski resort located in Vail, Colorado. Originally launched in 1968, Tivoli Lodge reopened in 2006 following the demolition and rebuilding of the property into a state-of-the-art facility. The Tivoli Lodge is located at 386 Hanson Ranch Road, right on the main pedestrian thoroughfare, on the Free Town Shuttle Bus Route and less than a block from the Vista Bahn chairlift, the town’s main access point. Additionally, it is situated just a short walk away from GoldenPeak and the Riva Bahn chairlifts. Amenities include a business center, fitness center, ski valet service, two outdoor mountain view hot tubs, and the Brown Hound Lounge & Bar, a place where guests can sample the hotel’s signature drink, Indini. Rooms at the property offer a choice of mountain or village views and are all equipped with fireplaces, custom leather furnishings, granite countertops, complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access, Turkish bath towels and robes and large soaking tubs.

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With the purchase of The Edinburgh Residence, Hapimag, a Swiss timeshare resort owner, has acquired another resort in a region in Great Britain for its members, in addition to current properties in London and the Lake District. The new city residence is located near the center of the Scottish capital and is only a few minutes walk from the main shopping street, Princes Street. In Edinburgh, Hapimag is taking over a property with 29 suites, which are all classically furnished and decorated. In 1996 the residence was converted for use as a holiday residence and since then has been managed in a timeshare system. With the purchase, Hapimag is assuming the operating activities of the city residence and existing contracts with approximately 900 individual timeshare members.

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The Villa Bossi Pucci Residence Club in Italy is now an Interval International affiliated resort. Surrounded by cypress trees, olive orchards, and vineyards in Italy’s rolling Tuscan hills, the 21 fractional residences are housed in buildings that once comprised a farming village. Each building has been refurbished to evoke its original use, has generous interior space, and offers sweeping views of the Montespertoli valley, the Castello di Poppiano, olive and fruit gardens, and a centuries-old park. A full-time concierge can arrange a variety of services, including pre-stocking refrigerators and pantries on request, booking area excursions (with an English-speaking driver), confirming restaurant reservations and scheduling massages, spa services, and wine tasting.  Located near Montespertoli (known as “the city of the wine”), Villa Bossi Pucci is in the heart of the Chianti region of Tuscany, just 25 minutes by car from the Florence International Airport.

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While highlighting its significant market opportunities and competitive advantages, Marriott International has informed security analysts and institutional investors in New York, that its earnings per share of stock could hit well above the highest earnings achieved during Marriott’s most recent peak earnings year of 2007. The company expects to add at least 80,000 to 90,000 hotel rooms to its portfolio from 2011 through 2013 with additional opportunities for 22,000 rooms to open in Europe and Asia during that same period. Marriott has plans to adapt and expand current brands, such as Courtyard and Fairfield, to meet the growing needs of customers in markets worldwide. The company will also be expanding its new brands outside of the United States, including Edition, which just opened its first hotel on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Marriott is also successful in the high-end timeshare market.

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Pafiana Heights is the newest Interval International property on Cyprus. Located in the outskirts of Paphos on the southwest coast of Cyprus, the resort comprises 57 units that are furnished to high standards. At 700 feet above sea level, there are breathtaking panoramic views from all the rooms overlooking the Paphos coastline and mountains. Amenities at the property include a spa with sauna and whirlpool, a gym and fitness center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a gourmet restaurant, a roof garden with bar. Guests also have access to on-call chef/butler and concierge services. Paphos is a very popular tourist destination, particularly for the British, German, and Scandinavian markets.

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