Timeshare Trends Blog

The Hanalei Bay Resort has received Fodor’s Choice Gold Award in 2010 and recognition as Fodor’s “Best Hotel Pool in the US”. This distinction represents a remarkable achievement and recognizes Hanalei Bay as having one of the top pools located on a US hotel property. The pool is distinguished as one of the best on Kauai, with authentic lava-rock waterfalls, an open-air hot tub, and a kid-friendly sand beach. According to Fodor’s, what really sets it apart is the stunning view of Hanalei Bay and the Napali Coast. The architects used the setting to great effect, by building the resort angling down the cliffs, with the pool as the crown jewel. Hanelei Bay is a Trading Places managed resort.

Bookmark To:

LaTour Hotels and Resorts will be managing Grove Gardens Phuket in Thailand. US based LaTour Hotels and Resorts, which offers personalized luxury hospitality management services for four and five-star properties worldwide, will now manage Grove Gardens Phuket, an exclusive residential estate property located on prestigious Cape Yamu on the East Coast of Phuket, Thailand. Grove Gardens Phuket brings the number of LaTour Hotels and Resorts properties in Asia to three. LaTour Hotels and Resorts delivers highly personalized vacation experiences at new and existing four and five-star golf, ski, urban and oceanfront properties. LaTour Hotels and Resorts currently operates properties in the United States, Mexico and Thailand, with upcoming expansion plans throughout South America, Europe and Asia.

Bookmark To:

The Grand Miramar Club and Spa has now been added to the list of Interval International properties. The luxury resort is located in the Sierra Madre Mountains in Conchas Chinas, a neighborhood often known as the Beverly Hills of Puerto Vallarta. “Every detail of this property, from the quality furnishings in each unit to its state-of-the-art wellness center reflects the high standards of its developer, Group Disyga” said Marcos Agostini, vice president for Latin America, resort sales and service, of Interval International. The Grand Miramar features 38 suites with between two and four bedrooms each. They are decorated in a contemporary Mexican style and have large balconies, beautiful views, granite countertops in the kitchens and bathrooms, marble flooring throughout and deluxe high thread-count linens. There’s also wireless internet, a business center, a concierge, a state-of-the-art spa and gym, three spectacular swimming pools, and an outdoor jacuzzi.

Bookmark To:

Over 100 new resorts in 2009 were welcomed by RCI, the world’s largest vacation exchange company. Demonstrating that vacation exchange remains a bright spot in the travel industry, RCI, considered the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, announced that it added more than 100 new resorts in 2009 alone, including 10 properties under development.

Bookmark To:

The Sithonia Beach Club of Porto Carras in Greece joins the RCI network of affiliated resorts. The resort is a fabulous mixed-use resort offering guests a variety of activities, from golf, casino and spa to Blue Flag beaches and secluded coves. The Sithonia Beach Club at Porto Carras is located on the west coast of the popular Halkidiki area of mainland Greece and is part of the stunning mixed-use Porto Carras Grand Resort, which incorporates four luxury hotels, a private casino, modern Thalassotherapy and spa facilities, a conference center, plus an 18-hole international standard golf course. Guests can enjoy a variety of additional on-site activities, including live entertainment, fitness facilities, swimming pools, tennis courts and horseback riding.

Bookmark To:

Dominican Republic’s Presidential Suites By Lifestyle has joined RCI’s network of affiliated resorts.  In alliance with Globalia of Spain, this resort group is one of the most prestigious chains in the Dominican Republic. The newest Presidential Suites by Lifestyle is located in Bahia de Cofresi, Puerto Plata and offers fully-equipped two-bedroom units and an exclusive specialized restaurant called Jazz which serves French fusion style cuisine, a blend of New Orleans and French haute cuisine. It also has a Bourbon Street bar, a private swimming pool and three tennis courts. The resort is part of the Lifestyle Holidays Vacation Club complex, with access to three semi-private beaches, seven restaurants, four swimming pools, a spa, a kids club, a gym and more.

Bookmark To:

The Aulani Resort in Hawaii begins accepting reservations on August 2 and is set to open on August 29, 2011. The notice that reservations would be opening soon was made on the Disney’s Magical Kingdoms blog. The 800-room Aulani Resort is the first Disney hotel not part of one of its theme parks. The hotel is at the Ko Olina Resort and Marina is located on the west side of Oahu and is also home to a Marriott hotel and condominiums. The new Disney hotel, built on 21 oceanfront acres, will have an expansive pool and water play area, with such features as tubes and body slides and a snorkeling lagoon. Accommodations will range from studio units to grand villas. The hotel also has an 18,000-square-foot-spa, a convention center, a lawn set aside for weddings, a children’s club and two restaurants.

Bookmark To:

Marriott’s Grande Vista is open. The first phase of Marriott’s Lakeshore Reserve at Grande Vista has officially opened. The timeshare resort is the first to be on the same campus as a Ritz-Carlton hotel and a JW Marriott. It is also the first time that Marriott Vacation Club has built two-story town home-style units in North America. Marriott broke ground on the Mediterranean -style development nearly two years ago. The first phase includes 85 villas out of a proposed 340. Marriott’s Lake Shore Reserve is Marriott’s seventh timeshare resort in the Orlando area.

Bookmark To:

New Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong to be World’s Highest Hotel. The new Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, once completed, will be the highest hotel in the World and is set to open in December 2010. The hotel will occupy the top 16 floors of the International Commerce Center, a 118-story skyscraper that serves as the base for financial giants like Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank. According to Mark Lettenbichler, Vice President and Area General Manager for Ritz-Carlton, he said that “the hotel will stand as a showcase of contemporary design, and become an iconic landmark in a city known for its architectural excellence.” The hotel’s design is set to be varied but consistent with a classic theme. Vast windows and high ceilings will be found all over the hotel together with several trendy restaurants, an indoor infinity pool and a rooftop bar that is sure to take ‘chilling out’ to a whole new height. Aside from the top-quality service for which Ritz-Carlton hotels are known, there will be panoramic views of the skyline, green mountains, and busy ports.

Bookmark To:

Marriott Vacation Club introduces new vacation ownership program. Marriott Vacation Club, the timeshare brand of Marriott International, recently announced the launch of the points-based Marriott Vacation Club Destinations program in North America and the Caribbean, rather than the once usual week at a designated resort. The points system is designed to accommodate new trends in travel and increase flexibility for timeshare owners, allowing them to book multiple, shorter stays rather than a full week. Current owners of Marriott timeshares will maintain their full rights and privileges, but will also have the option to enroll in the new program.

Bookmark To: