Timeshare Trends Blog

RCI has welcomed Branson’s Nantucket Resort to its global network of resorts. As part of the affiliation, Nantucket Resort plans to offer its owners RCI points platinum membership with free unit upgrades and cash-back rewards for certain transactions. Branson’s Nantucket Resort is a lakefront property that offers views of Table Rock Lake. All homes are Nantucket themed with two, three and five-bedroom options that sleep up to 14 people. Each home has a fireplace, are individually furnished with a fully equipped kitchen, dining room and livingroom, in unit washer/dryer, and more.

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The timeshare industry has contributed $69 billion of economic output in the US economy. A recently released economic impact study of the timeshare industry highlights the key economic and fiscal impacts on the U.S. economy in 2009, according to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). Developed in conjunction with Ernst & Young, the report shows that the U.S. timeshare industry generated an estimated $69 billion of economic output with 465,800 full and part-time jobs, more than $22 billion in income and nearly $8.4 billion in total taxes. “The contribution of the timeshare industry on local economies goes beyond the resort footprint,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO. “In addition to sales and corporate operations, development of new resorts and renovation projects, it also includes the impact of expenditures from vacationers during timeshare stays.”

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Among timeshare owners, owner satisfaction rates are high, while defaults are low. According to the latest research by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and Smith Travel Research, despite the fact that timeshare sales continue to reflect the national trend of lower consumer spending, there are 80% occupancy rates in timeshares versus a 60.4% hotel occupancy rate.

Timeshare buyers also remain happy about their purchases with 86% reporting that they are satisfied are very satisfied with their purchase. Research also indicates that nine out of ten timeshare owners are current on their monthly payments.

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Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is adding Minneapolis to its Wyndham Grand Collection of hotels. Wyndham and Graves Hospitality Corporation has announced that the 255-room, 21-story Graves 601 Hotel, a luxury, AAA Four Diamond hotel in the heart of Minneapolis, has joined the exclusive Wyndham Grand Collection of hotels.

The Graves 601 Hotel, flagship of Graves Hospitality Corporation, a Minneapolis-based hotel ownership, development and management company, now will be known as Graves 601 Hotel Wyndham Grand. The hotel has earned numerous accolades since opening in 2003, including designation as one of the World’s Best Business Hotels by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine, selection to the Gold List Reserve of Top Hotels in the World by Conde Nast Traveler and three Gold Key awards from Interior Design and Hospitality Design magazines.

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The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is scheduled to open this spring at Universal Orlando. Currently, the Hogwarts castle is beginning to take shape above Hogsmeade. Hogwarts will be the home of a new, state-of-the-art attraction, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, that uses groundbreaking technology to bring the magic, characters and stories of Harry Potter to life.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter will feature multiple themed attractions, shops and a restaurant. It will be known as a “Theme Park within a Theme Park”. The Harry Potter theme park will open around the same time as the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie. This 20-acre theme park built within the Islands of Adventure Park will enable visitors to experience scenes from the books and movies.

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The Oceana Palms of the Palm Beaches has recently opened as Marriott Vacation Club’s 50th resort. The Marriott Vacation Club, the premiere timeshare brand of Marriott International, officially welcomed owners and guests in January. Perfectly situated in the heart of Palm Beach County and on the tip of Florida’s “Gold Coast,” the first phase is completed with a 19-story tower offering spectacular ocean views from 75 two-bedroom villas (169 proposed villas upon build-out).

Located just steps from the water, owners and guests will enjoy spending the day on the beach or relaxing by the pools while the kids play in the zero-entry pool featuring “The Splash Zone” and waterslide. The “Reflections” pool bar and grill is also on site. Each villa has more than 1,100 square feet of living space and a blend of traditional furnishings and fresh, contemporary pieces.

Villas feature a fully-equipped gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and GE stainless steel appliances, generous living and dining areas, multiple LG flat-panel televisions with DVD players, an oversized shower with multiple shower heads in the master suite, and washer/dryer. Each villa accommodates up to 8 guests.

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ILX Resorts, based in Arizona, may be purchased by Diamond Resorts International. Sedona’s Los Abrigados Resort and Spa may soon be under new management if an acquisition offer for ILX Resorts by Diamond Resorts Corp. is approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Diamond Resorts will assume all of ILX’s debt in exchange for acquiring all of its property, including three Sedona area resorts. ILX filed for Chapter 11 under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in March 2009, and its representatives appeared in the District of Arizona’s US Bankruptcy Court in November.

When the acquisition is completed, Diamond Resorts International will assume control of all of ILX’s assets, including its 10 resorts, all its sales and marketing centers, its real estate holdings including five acres in Bullhead City and 2.1 acres in Puerto Peñasco in Mexico. Based in North Las Vegas, Nev., Diamond Resorts is one of the largest timeshare and vacation resort companies in the United States.

It owns or manages more than 150 resorts in Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe and North America, including the Ridge on Sedona Golf Resort, Sedona Summit in Sedona. Sedona Springs, the Villas of Sedona and the Villas at Poco Diablo, all in Sedona. ILX Resorts currently owns Los Abrigados and the Inn at Los Abrigados, both in Sedona, and the Premiere Vacation Clubs with four located in Arizona, as well as Las Vegas, Colorado, Indiana, and San Carlos in Mexico.

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A 100-acre Michael Jackson entertainment complex is expected to begin construction this year in Gary, Indiana. The Michael Jackson theme park will include a museum, performing arts center, hotel, golf course, and theme park inspired by the artist’s Neverland Ranch. According to a recent newspaper article, the park will include rides from or like the Neverland Ranch, and it will be built over 10 years starting with a museum, arts center and hotel, then golf course and theme park.

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The Disney Doorway to Dreams is a new store now open in the Roosevelt Fields Shopping Center in New York. It is a new and convenient way to discover the excitement of the Disney Vacation Club. The Disney Doorway to Dreams showcases the spacious, family-friendly accommodations featured at the vacation club resorts.

Through the Disney Doorway to Dreams, clients may purchase Disney Vacation Club ownership for anyone of the Disney Resorts located at the Disney parks in Florida and California, as well as separate resorts in South Carolina, Florida and Hawaii. Disney Vacation Club ownership also allows you to utilize more than 500 vacation locations around the world. Also included is the Disney Cruise Line and family-friendly interactive adventures by Disney Trips.

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The Barrier Island Station Duck Resort in North Carolina is now being managed by SPM resorts. The resort’s Board of Directors recently hired SPM Resorts, which has a 30-year history of reliability and integrity. SPM Resorts currently manages 30 resorts and serves approximately 100,000 timeshare owners up and down the United States eastern seaboard.

According to SPM, their philosophy is to maintain an environment of appreciation, respect and sound working conditions for their employees. The SPM team manages the operations of facilities under their control in a highly ethical and professional manner to produce the greatest possible financial accountability and responsibility to the timeshare owners.

In addition, SPM’s management team is frequently called upon by banks and investment groups to assist with workouts and turnaround situations. The resort consists of 130 total units, two swimming pools and is located right in the heart of the quaint town of Duck, and is close to attractions, shopping, and restaurants.

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