Timeshare Trends Blog

Naima Village is the newest Interval International resort in Italy. The resort is located in Puglia along the Salento coast of southeastern Italy and situated near Castellaneta on the Salento Peninsula. The area features beaches that are not crowded, feasts with a distinct rustic feel and a very good golf course. Naima also stays warm almost throughout the year, and is a picture-perfect setting surrounded by vineyards and olive trees, with majestic sea views The new resort is designed to be family-friendly and is expected to open its doors come May 2012, just in time for new timeshare owners to book for the summer. Current development plans include 105 villas with two studio units, 92 one-bedroom apartments and 11 two-bedroom apartments, all furnished in the classic Mediterranean style. The air-conditioned units will also have open-air verandas overlooking the gardens. Each unit will have its own kitchenette with microwave ovens, as well as an LCD TV with cable or satellite service and Wi-Fi service. Amenities also include two pools, a tennis court, a playground, a theatre, a restaurant health club and spa, and a mini-market.

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Disney Vacation Club is imposing new restrictions on buyers who purchase their timeshares from existing owners rather than directly from Disney. Disney Vacation Club, which sells points that can be redeemed for stays in various accommodations, said it will no longer allow owners who acquire their points via resales to redeem them for nights in conventional hotel rooms at the company’s five theme park resorts worldwide, voyages aboard its cruise ships or vacations through its guided tour operation. Such owners will only be allowed to use their points only for stays in one of its eleven timeshare properties or in third party hotels available through exchange operator RCI.

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The Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa has added an adventure option for their owners and walk-in guests. It has a new package called Adrenaline Rush Guaranteed, which combines rejuvenation and wellness with exceptional service and stylish amenities. The Westin Riverfront Adrenaline Rush package starts at $319 per night and includes lodging for two in a studio suite, a $200 credit to Timberline Tours for a whitewater rafting adventure down the Colorado or Eagle Rivers or an off-road Jeep tour, two four hour bike rentals, two complimentary fitness classes at the Riverfront Club (including yoga, pilates, kickboxing, and body sculpting), and complimentary valet parking.

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The Better Business Bureau, one of the country’s best known consumer watchdog groups, is being accused by business owners of running a “pay for play” scheme in which A plus ratings are awarded to those who pay membership fees, and F ratings used to punish those who don’t. To prove the point, a group of Los Angeles business owners paid $425 to the Better Business Bureau and were able to obtain an A minus grade for a non-existent company called Hamas, named after the Middle Eastern terror group. “Right now, this rating system is really unworthy of consumer trust or confidence,” said Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal in an interview that was broadcast as part of an ABC News investigation on 20/20

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The Bay Gardens Beach Resort And Spa is the newest member of the Interval International exchange network of resorts on St. Lucia. The island paradise is well known for its spectacular beaches, unspoiled tropical rainforests, and majestic mountains. The Bay Gardens Beach Resort features one and two-bedroom suites complete with a full kitchen and living and dining areas. Its design juxtaposes the charm of neoclassical Caribbean architecture with timbered balconies and verandas. The amenities are state-of-the-art with DVD and CD players, high-speed Internet access, and Wi-Fi in all public areas, including the beach.

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Timeshare operations have learned from the credit crunch. According to a recent article in the Orlando Sentinel, the plummeting sales of timeshares have finally leveled off. Nationwide, timeshare sales have fallen from a peak of $10.6 billion in 2007 to $6.3 billion last year, according to figures released during the 12th annual Vacation Ownership Investment Conference held at the Peabody Orlando Hotel. Employment in the industry has fallen 30% from about 279,000 to about 196,300. Timeshare business was humbled as credit markets dried up in late 2008, but the industry’s major trade group said the credit crunch that crippled the industry also helped change the way companies do business for the better. Marketing techniques have changed into more efficient tactics, such as selling more product (upgrades) to current owners and targeting prospects with higher credit scores resulting in higher closing percentages. Down payments are up, occupancy is steady at 80% and individual units are now selling at an average of $20,468 versus $16,278 in 2005. Financing is still tight, but it is easing up, but according to officials in the timeshare industry, it is still going to be awhile until we get back to the way it was three years ago when there was plenty of financing.

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Economic Impact – Westgate Resorts and Wyndham Vacation Ownership, both Orlando-based vacation ownership companies have recently been caught in the nation’s credit crunch and have had to lay-off employees because of what they consider the “turbulent financial sector”.

Both Wyndham and Westgate employ thousands in the Orlando area. According to recent reports in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper, both companies are refocusing sales and marketing efforts on more credit-worthy consumers and will be decreasing timeshare developments in the fourth quarter.

Westgate Resorts is the seventh largest employer in central Florida with over 8,000 employees. Wyndham Vacation Ownership has about 3,000 employees in the Orlando area.

To view the latest deals on Florida timeshares for rent or purchase on our web site, click here.

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Bluegreen Corporation has announced that it has agreed to extend until November 15, 2008 the period during which Diamond Resorts International has an exclusive right of negotiation to acquire all of the Bluegreen common stock at a price of $15 per share.

The parties have agreed to continue to work to reach a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Bluegreen at the earliest possible time.

According to Alan B. Levan, Chairman of the Board of Bluegreen commented, “Diamond Resorts has advised us that it is continuing to move forward with the acquisition of the company at a price of $15 per share, but needs the additional period to finalize due diligence and its financing arrangements. Diamond Resorts has also agreed to pay us an amount approximating Bluegreen’s expenses in connection with the transaction.”

To view the latest deals on international timeshares for rent or purchase on our web site, click here.

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RCI announces two new affiliated resorts in the Orlando area.

The Vista Royale resort and Encantada resort in Kissimmee are now part of the RCI Points program. The strategic locations of the resorts allow for easy access to Disney World and the nightly fireworks shows.

The world-class Vista Royale resort has 248 units in two 16-story towers. The two and three-bedroom fully furnished suites feature Jacuzzi tubs, flat-screen televisions, and comfortable balconies. The resort includes pool facilities, a clubhouse with fitness equipment, a stocked bar, and a game room for the kids.

The two and three-bedroom townhouses at Encantada are furnished and have fully-equipped kitchens. Each unit has its own private, screened-in pool facility with patio and lounge chairs. The Mediterranean-style resort also has an outdoor pool, a clubhouse, a spa tub, and a playground. A gazebo behind the clubhouse overlooks the resort’s private lake.

To view the latest deals on international timeshares for rent or purchase on our web site, click here.

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Disney Vacation Club continues unprecedented growth with two new development projects in Disney World.

Two highly anticipated resort developments announced today will expand the Disney World experience and continue the rapid growth of Disney Vacation Club, Disney’s vacation-ownership program. The 15-story Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort is scheduled to open in the Fall of 2009, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, is scheduled to open in summer 2009.

Bay Lake Tower sales began in September 21 for Disney Vacation Club Members. Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa sales will begin at a later date.

To view the latest deals on international timeshares for rent or purchase on our web site, click here.

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