Timeshare Trends Blog

WorldMark by Wyndham adds another property in New Zealand with its first ski destination vacation ownership property. The newly developed WorldMark Wanaka is on New Zealand’s South Island.

The resort is purpose built for WorldMark and adjacent to the Mt. Aspiring Hotel. The Wanaka resort is only 40 minutes from the world-class ski resorts of Treble Cone and Cardrona and provides WorldMark South Pacific with access to the company’s first ski destination. It is also only a short walk from the pristine shores of Lake Wanaka and only two minutes from Lake Wanaka village.

The resort offers a range of luxury apartments as well as a gymnasium, heated pool with water slide, spa pool, steam room and the fully refurbished Rafters Restaurant and Bar.

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

Bookmark To:

Festiva Resorts adds Maine to its portfolio. Festiva Resorts has acquired the remaining unsold inventory at Rangeley Lake Resort in Rangeley, Maine.

Less than two hours from the Canadian border and about an hour from New Hampshire, Rangeley is a four season destination with various year-round activities both at the resort and nearby including hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, fishing and more.

The Rangeley Lake Resort has approximately 2800 owners and boasts 39 log cabin units; a clubhouse complete with a heated indoor pool, jetted hot tubs and cedar saunas; there’s a 120 foot dock on Rangeley Lake for swimming, boating, fishing and other lake activities. Several famous ski areas are also nearby, including Saddleback and Sugarloaf.

Festiva Resorts was founded in 2000 and now has 24 vacation ownership resorts and four sailing vacation destinations under its moniker.

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

Bookmark To:

Interval International expands in Italy with the new affiliation of Villaggio Cala La Luna situated on the small island of Favignana just off the west coast of Sicily.

The development which was completed in May 2008 is comprised of 70 units with a mix of studios, one and two-bedroom units out of which 58 are allocated to the timeshare portion of the resort.

The property features an outdoor pool, restaurant, live entertainment, and it is within walking distance of a harbor where fresh lobster and octopus can be bought every morning. The property is situated in the fishing village of Favignana, which is admired for its beauty and crystal clear waters.

The island offers a wide range of leisure activities including diving, deep-sea fishing, shopping, nightlife and good food. Sailing is also a major attraction and Favignana hosted the America’s Cup in 2008. The Villagio Cala La Luna is the fifth Interval International affiliation in Italy since July 2007.

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

Bookmark To:

The Villa Group has started construction on the new Villa del Palmar Loreto.

This latest project encompasses hotel, timeshare, fractional ownership, and whole ownership real estate. The new five-star resort is to be built as part of an 1800-acre resort development in Loreto, Baja Sur, Mexico.

Loreto is located on the east coast of the Baja California Peninsula facing the Sea of Cortez in the largest protected sea park in the world. With practically no rain and a source of pure water coming from underground springs, Loreto is becoming one of Mexico’s prime vacation and second home destinations. It is surrounded by the Sierra La Giganta, one of Baja’s highest mountain ranges.

The resort will feature 161 villas with views of the Sea of Cortez and the five islands. The first phase is slated to open in January 2010. Each villa will be decorated with elegant furniture and will include a living room, dining room, full kitchen with granite countertops, modern appliances and electronic equipment, and a 10’ wide spacious terrace.

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

Bookmark To:

Westgate Resorts has eliminated its telemarketing program and laid off at least 600 people in one office in the Orlando area according to a recent report in the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.

According to the report, the telemarketing program has been eliminated for the time being, as the continuing worldwide credit crunch has forced the timeshare industry to evaluate programs and cut less profitable ventures to conserve cash.

The same Orlando Sentinel story also states that Westgate Resorts has also been hit with $1 million in punitive damages related to a marketing campaign that promised potential timeshare buyers a free vacation.

Interested in selling your timeshare?  See how we market more effectively at Timeshares By Owner.

Bookmark To:

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has reported a 12 percent drop in profits for the third quarter in 2008. With this announcement, they joined the ranks of other timeshare developers, including Marriott, Hilton, and Westgate that have all acknowledged that they are sharply feeling the credit crunch and the economic downturn.

Starwood, the parent company of Westin and Sheraton timeshare resorts reported revenue was flat at $1.5 billion, with international operations improving against those in North America. Starwood specifically blames the revenue shortfall on Hawaii and Florida declining timeshare sales, along with the sellout of the Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort on Maui.

Compared to 2007, revenue in timeshare sales is down 27.4 percent. Starwood sales of vacation ownership intervals have decreased almost 30 percent. Starwood says it expects operating income from its timeshare business to drop as much as $115 million this year as demand for Hawaii timeshares and Orlando timeshares continues to decrease. Chief Executive Frits van Paasschen has stated that the company has begun streamlining and reducing costs.

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

Bookmark To:

The Westgate Park City Resort & Spa has opened the doors to a highly anticipated expansion that includes the all-new Bison Lodge and Moose Lodge.

Completion of this project brings the number of units at Westgate Park City Resort & Spa to 488, making the resort the largest in the Park City area. The new lodges include a variety of spacious 1, 2, and 4-bedroom floor plans. The luxury units feature granite countertops, high-end leather furnishings, jetted spas, granite steam showers, stone fireplaces and private balconies. The new lodge buildings also add over 6,000 square feet of conference space, 12,000 square feet of retail space, an outdoor pool and spa, and an indoor relaxation pool and spa area complete with steam and sauna rooms. The new amenities complement the existing 20,000 square foot destination spa, an Olympic-sized indoor/outdoor pool, and the Westgate Grill, hailed as one of the premier restaurants in the Park City area. Westgate Park City Resort and Spa has also been previously recognized by Expedia users as one of the top 10 resorts in the country for customer service.

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

Bookmark To: