Timeshare Trends Blog

Slovakia’s first timeshare resort is now an Interval International affiliate. The Greenhill Skiing & Wellness Club now joins the exchange network. This is Interval International’s first resort in Slovakia and the fifth affiliation in Eastern Europe in the past 12 months.

Located in the popular Slovakian vacation destination of Donovaly, the stylish new timeshare resort with spa facilities is scheduled to open in December 2009. The resort is being developed by Greenhill Investment, a Slovakian development company and will have 40 timeshare apartments upon completion.

Donovaly is a part of Low Tatras National Park, and is one of the biggest ski resorts in Slovakia. It is also renowned for its annual dogsled racing championships.

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The Wyndham brand is expanding in China. Scheduled to open in 2010, the Wyndham Baolian Hotel will be opening as a 337-room, 15-story luxury hotel in Shanghai. The hotel is being developed in the city’s Baoshan district.

A 10-year agreement has been signed with Wyndham Hotel Group International to manage the property. This is likely Wyndham’s first step at vacation ownership and timeshare development in China.

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International Timeshare News: Starwood Resorts

Starwood Resorts is expanding in Dubai with a new edition to the St Regis brand. The St. Regis Dubai and The Residences at the St. Regis Dubai will be opening in 2012.

This planned resort will offer guests superior design and unparalleled service in one of the Middle East’s hottest markets and growing metropolises.

The resort will feature 220 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, including 44 junior suites, 80 branded residences as well as three world-class restaurants, two bars, a fitness center, swimming pool, shops and more than 4,500 square feet of meeting and banquet space.

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The Miami Herald reported on November 25, 2008 that timeshare owners are being misled into donating to a political fundraising arm of the timeshare industry.

Here is the scoop.

• The Federal Election Commission performed an audit of the fundraising activities of the American Resort Developers Association (“ARDA”), the timeshare industry’s trade organization.
• The audit found that management fees charged by the resort management companies included about $3 to $5 for these contributions.
• These $3 to $5 contributions were not separately itemized or disclosed to the owners.
• The funds went to a Political Action Committee for ARDA, which lobbied for the following:
  • Spending $540,000 for lobbying AGAINST mortgage reform legislation on Capitol Hill. This is legislation included truth in lending requirements to timeshare buyers and this legislation was opposed by ARDA.
  • Spending $814,000 to support federal candidates and causes from both major parties.
  • Spending over $500,000 in the State of Florida alone on various causes and candidates.
• This billing scheme went on at least through 2006, and at least one major resort continues to bill timeshare owners for ARDA lobbying efforts.

1. Call your management company and resort to see if this has been added to your maintenance bill. If so, request that it be removed.
2. If they refuse to remove it, report the resort to the Federal Election Commission in Washington D.C.

Give me your feedback. How do you feel about paying additional fess for timeshare industry lobbying?

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