Timeshare Trends Blog

Interval International has launched Interval Community; an on-line social network designed to provide its 1.8 million members of the Interval Network a platform to share their love of vacation ownership, travel, and social networking. It is live on IntervalWorld.com.

Peninsula Bay Resort is a new resort on Bali. It is also one of the newest Interval International properties and is situated on the Indonesian island of Bali. It is the latest vacation ownership property developed by British entrepreneurs, Roger and Alan Thomas, and is located on the waterfront of Nusa Dua overlooking the golden sand beaches of Benoa Bay. Upon completion, the purpose-built project will feature 65 one and two-bedroom units, all with sea-facing views. The resort is being built using contemporary Balinese architecture and is set within lush tropical gardens to create an eco- friendly atmosphere. The new property is just a five-minute drive from Peninsula Beach Resort, with shuttle service between the two, so that owners are free to enjoy the amenities at both properties. Other planned amenities include an on-site spa, swimming pool, gym, two restaurants, and three bars.

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Divi Resorts appears to be a good steward of the environment, implementing an impressive number of “green” programs at all of its properties across the Caribbean. Divi’s property in Barbados, Divi Southwinds, has served as the catalyst and leader for the earth-friendly practices in 2008 after it was certified as a “Green Hotel”, the first property in Barbados to receive the designation. Last year, the resort was a semifinalist for the prestigious Ministry of Tourism Green Hotel Award and received the “Honorary Award” from the Travel Foundation’s “Switch Off Save Big” challenge. “Our guests are increasingly attuned to the health of the planet and basing their hotel selection on environmental standards,” commented E.J. Schanfarber, CEO of Divi Hotels Marketing, Inc. “It is imperative for hotels to recognize their responsibility to the environment, and our efforts evidence Divi’s corporate belief in sustainable tourism. Our success at Southwinds has been a key building block for the lessons and initiatives we are applying to the rest of the properties.”

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The Hotel Hacienda La Purisima is now an RCI exchange timeshare property. Located in Ixtlahuaca, Mexico and just one hour from Mexico City, Hacienda La Purisima has 12 units complete with hardwood floors, a fireplace and a soaking tub. The property offers a lake with boating, 18-hole golf course, entertainment and game rooms, an indoor pool, spa and barbecue facilities. Also on site are tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball and badminton courts. Hacienda La Purisima offers several wooded acres with horseback riding trails, a leisure farm, bullring and church. Local attractions include the famous Nevado de Toluca, Valle de Bravo, Metepec, El Oro, Temoaya, Tlalpujahua and The Otomi Ceremonial Center.

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The first St. Regis Resort in China will debut in Tibet in November 2010. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort when opened will be the first St. Regis resort in China. Located about 12,000 feet in elevation, the resort will offer an unrivaled dimension of luxury, service and refined elegance at one of the most mystical and exotic addresses in the world. Located on Jiangsu Road and situated in the famous ancient Barkhor area, The resort will be just minutes away from the holy Potala Palace and will feature 150 beautifully adorned oversized rooms and villas and 12 suites including the Presidential Suite, as well as world-class restaurants, bars, an exclusive Iridium Spa, ballroom and state-of-the-art meeting space. The St. Regis Lhasa Resort will also be the first international luxury hotel in Tibet.

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Seven of Starwood Hotels and Resorts newest properties have made the Conde Nast Traveler Hot List. Starwood is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies, and among timeshares, it provides generally the most luxurious and spacious vacation accommodations. With seven premier new hotels making this year’s Conde Nast Traveler Hot List, it is more than any other hotel group. Bearing the flags of Starwood’s luxury and design-led brands, hotels that gained spots on the famous list includes the majority of new St. Regis hotels that opened last 2009, including three W Hotels from Washington D.C to South Beach to Santiago, Chile, and the first Luxury Collection in Peru. Properties on the Conde Nast list include Hotel Paracas in Peru; St. Regis Atlanta; St. Regis Mexico City; St. Regis Deer Crest in Park City, Utah; the W Santiago, Chile; W South Beach in Miami; and the W Washington, DC.

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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.

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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.

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Starwood Hotels and Resorts are dramatically expanding in India with plans to expand its presence in India by nearly 60% by 2013. The first Starwood resort was located in Mumbai in 1973, and since the 70s, the company has opened 26 other resorts under names including Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, the Luxury Collection and Le Meridien. With all of the different locations and brands to choose from, this makes Starwood the largest upscale US resort operation in all of India. Breaking down the future expansion plans, Starwood has 15 resorts under development in India alone. They have been working on six Aloft resorts, and three of which are scheduled to open this year. The new line of Aloft resorts put a chic spin on traveling. With hip villa décor, on-site bars, and live music performances, Starwood hopes that this new spin on resorts will attract travelers of all ages.

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Sol Melia Vacation Club has opened two new resorts in Coatia. Sol Melia, one of the world’s leading timeshare resort brands has opened two luxury resorts in Umag, Croatia. Previously part of Sol Hotels, both resorts are now part of the Sol Melia group, which owns over 300 properties in 28 countries across four continents. The luxury makeovers mean the Melia Coral and Melia Istran Villas are now the most luxurious properties on the Umag coast. Both resorts offer guests the amenities and standards of service that have become Sol Melia’s gold seal. The Meliá Coral offers 244 rooms, six luxury suites, a spa, pool, solarium, an elegant bar and Mediterranean tavern, and two outdoor leisure areas known as the Club Elite Automat and the Beach Club. The Meliá Istrian Villas is an environmental village without cars in an oasis of 180 properties set on the edge of the sea, well-known for its 15-court tennis center. The villas combine traditional architecture with modern comfort, new facilities include the O Grill restaurant.

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ResortCom Elite has been rebranded as LaTour Hotels and Resorts. LaTour Hotels and Resorts offers personalized, luxury hospitality management services for four and five-star properties. Currently, LaTour, operates seven developments representing nearly 500 units, with nearly 400 more units at multiple properties planned in the near future. For every client, the company’s goal is transform the ownership experience through superior service, distinctive amenities, imaginative activities and an obsessive attention-to-detail. LaTour Hotels and Resorts include the Tonopalo Private Residence Club in Lake Tahoe, California; El Secreto and El Caracol in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; IndoChine Resort and Villas and Grove Gardens Resort in Phuket, Thailand; and the Lodge at Stillwater in Deer Valley, Utah; as well as an in-construction project, the Delcanto Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico scheduled to open summer 2010. The LaTour Signature Group also actively operates Dewa Resort in Phuket, Thailand and has two projects in various stages of construction, which include the Wyoming Club in Black Hills, Wyoming; and Olamar Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

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