The Windswept Villa Club has added fractional ownership.

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

Boasting forested mountains, azure seas and sandy white beaches, St. Kitts is the quintessential Caribbean escape. Christophe Harbour Development Company has just released a collection of nine villas of which each is available for 1/10th fractional ownership. The Windswept Villa Club is conveniently located alongside the harbor and overlooking the sea and each villa is a short walk away from the Pavilion Beach Club, which boasts stunning pools, a beachside cabana bar and waterfall showers. The properties also come with concierge services, maintenance, housekeeping and property management. The four-bedroom Windswept villas feature one-story and two-story options, with the one-story villas starting at $411,000 per fractional interest.

The Desert Club Resort Villas has been awarded the Resort Design Refurbishment Award for Interior Design

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

at the recent ARDA Awards ceremonies. Located in Las Vegas and a Holiday Inn Club Vacation resort since the Spring of 2012 after it was purchased from Summer Bay Resorts, the Desert Club has been refurbished and features a new clubhouse, as well as multiple pools and hot tubs. There’s a putting green, fitness center, game room and activity center, as well as a new poolside bar and grill.

The Grand Pacific Palisade Resort has won the Platinum RCI Green Award for its substantial environmental efforts

Sunday, May 26th, 2013

, which is a step up from last year when the resort won the Gold RCI Green Award. From employee green trainings and weekly beach clean ups, to offering public transportation and using environmentally friendly green supplies, Grand Pacific Resorts tries to exemplify green practices. The resort staff’s green achievements include the reduction of gas usage per occupied room and recycling of over 200 tons of materials last year alone. The Grand Pacific Palisade is located in Carlsbad, California, very close to San Diego and next to Legoland, and is known for offering spectacular views of the Carlsbad Flower Fields and the Pacific Ocean.

The Westgate Park City Resort & Spa is the winner of the 2013 “Best of State” Award

Friday, May 24th, 2013

for both the Top “Ski Resort” and Top “Destination Spa” in Utah. The “Best of State” Awards recognize outstanding businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the state of Utah with the criteria that they excel in their endeavors, use innovative approaches or methods, and contribute to a better quality of life in Utah. Over 100 expert judges from the state of Utah sat on the selection panel, scoring nominees in categories that totaled up to 100 possible points. The resort Park received two “Best of State” medals along with the privilege of displaying the “Best of State” logo on business correspondence, websites and other promotional materials.

Welk Resorts has purchased the Northstar Lodge in Truckee, California.

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Always a Hyatt Residence Club property, the resort is a ski-in/ski-out private vacation ownership club with a pulse-driven gondola and is located at the base of Northstar Mountain in the Lake Tahoe area. The resort was built in 2008 and includes two and three-bedroom vacation ownership residences. Other features of the property include private decks with outdoor fireplaces, hickory flooring, Wolf brand ranges and Sub Zero refrigerators in the kitchens, a private owners lounge, media theater, ski and boot valet (winter) and bike valet (summer). The Welk Resorts also owns real estate that is being held for future resort development in Breckenridge, Colorado and a newly acquired Poipu, Kauai property.

The Miami Beach Resort and Spa has been sold.

Monday, May 20th, 2013

One of Miami Beach’s iconic hotels is poised to make a comeback with new owners. The Blackstone equity group has sold the Miami Beach Resort and Spa for $117 million to the Chetrit group, a top Manhattan real estate investment company Complete renovations for the 1963 hotel are to include 424 guests rooms, public areas and meeting rooms, according to The Miami Herald. Formerly known as the Doral hotel, it is located on the 4800 block of Collins Avenue. It was once a popular location for stars vacationing in Miami and a movie scene location for the 1972 hit film The Heartbreak Kid.

The Wyndham Palm-Aire has won the ARDA Award for Resort Design Refurbishment for common area and public space.

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

The award was presented by a select committee and is sponsored by ARDA (American Resort Development Association); the Washington D.C. based professional association representing vacation ownership and resort development industries. The awards honor those that are committed to providing the best in categories that include overall professional excellence, outstanding sales and marketing accomplishments, product design, advertising and staff. The Wyndham Palm-Aire has been known for its many amenities including four swimming pools, three golf courses, day spa and salon, miniature golf, and unit features.

All ten of the Occidental Vacation Club

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

resort properties have recently been designated as “gold crown,” the highest standard within the RCI exchange network. Of the ten Madrid, Spain based company’s resorts, seven are in Mexico, two are in the Caribbean and one is in Central America. The resorts are: Occidental Grand Flamenco Punta Cana, Occidental Allegro Playacar, Occidental Allegro Cozumel, Occidental Grand Cozumel, Occidental Grand Flamenco Xcaret, Occidental Grand Nuevo Vallarta, Occidental Grand Aruba, Occidental Grand Papagayo, Occidental First Club Allegro Playacar, and Occidental First Club Allegro Cozumel.

A fire has caused severe damage to the Bluegreen Shenandoah Resort in Gordonsville, Virginia.

Sunday, April 28th, 2013

The Gordonsville fire chief believes the fire started in the kitchen of the timeshare resort. Several timeshare owners and timeshare guests were displaced by the fire that broke out in the building known as “The Lodge.” All were immediately relocated to other units and cabins at the resort. The involved portion of the Bluegreen timeshare resort property did sustain serious damage and is considered to be a total loss. Because the damage is located in the center of the building, the entire building will be out of service until further notice, affecting 48 of the resort’s total 398 accommodations, including cabins and yurts.

Fairmont Heritage Place has added new luxury residences

Friday, April 26th, 2013

at Mayakoba in Mexico’s Riviera Maya. Located in the most exclusive resort complex of the Mexican Caribbean, in the heart of the Mayan Riviera, Fairmont Heritage Place Mayakoba features 30 exclusive residences sold in 1/12 fractions available in three-bedroom and four-bedroom units with spacious private terraces, plunge pools and roof top garden access. All feature large en-suite bathrooms, full kitchens and open concept dining and living areas. Located within the award-winning Mayakoba resort development and renowned for its ecosystem of dunes, jungle, mangrove forests and freshwater lagoons, the residences are set away from the beach to protect the integrity of the coastal mangroves. Owners also have access to world-class golf on Mayakoba’s 18-hole Greg Norman designed El Camaleon championship course and the Jim McLean Golf School.