Timeshare Trends Blog

Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar was presented with the City of Branson’s 2011 Green Initiative award for its eco-friendly practices. While Bluegreen Wilderness Club is decidedly focused on rustic luxury, with 18 Concierge and Presidential villas, slate and hardwood floors, flat-screen TVs, exquisite fireplaces, stainless steel appliances and soft, comfortable and inviting furniture and bedding; it is also diligent about remaining energy conscious and eco-friendly. The resort is eco-friendly in its landscaping practices to reduce use of water and fertilizer to guard against runoff into Table Rock Lake, and to recycle organic materials into the soil by composting and mulching. The resort’s recycling programs divert and transport an estimated 128.5 tons of recyclable material that would otherwise be sent to a landfill.

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Auberge Resorts is expanding into ski country. The 80/50 Mammoth located in Mammoth Lakes, California will be rebranded as the Auberge Residences at Mammoth. This newest addition to Auberge’s portfolio of exceptional resorts and residences includes 28 one, two, and three-bedroom luxury residences that will be available as both fractional ownership and rental units. Ideally situated just steps away from the Village gondola that provides direct access to skiing, the property is surrounded by majestic pines and framed by the towering Sierra Nevada mountain range, offering world-class skiing and year-round outdoor activities, eclectic shopping and dining, spa services and entertainment venues. The residences echo the beauty of their natural surroundings through the use of rustic mountain elements of flagstone, burnished wood, copper, leather, granite and slate, and expansive windows. Additional amenities include rooftop pools, fitness and treatment rooms, a private roof top clubroom, media room, and game room. .

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The Beach Republic the Residences was crowned a winner at the sixth annual 2011 Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards held during a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok. The most prestigious and sought after acknowledgement of excellence in Thailand’s property and real estate industry, the Thanachart Bank Property Awards are the benchmark for quality and showcase the best of the best. This year the public submitted for consideration over 1,300 companies and developments across 31 categories. Of these, just 80 were shortlisted and subjected to a rigorous review process. Nominated in the category of Best Shared Ownership Development for its Koh Sammui property on the northern tip of Lamai Beach. Beach Republic the Residences was named the winner for the second consecutive year.

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Employees of Timeshare Mega Media in Fort Lauderdale have pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The fraud charge can carry up to five years in prison and all are awaiting sentencing. FBI agents raided the company’s East Oakland Park Boulevard office in July 2010, and the FTC filed a lawsuit against Timeshare Mega Media a few months later. The alleged masterminds behind the company are Pasquale “Posh” Pappalardo, who according to court filings, served more than six years in federal prison in the mid 1990s on drug, firearms and counterfeit money charges, and Joseph “Joey” Crapella, who spent nearly eight years in a Florida prison after being convicted in 2000 of racketeering and grand theft in a scheme involving the sale and stocking of vending machines.

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Exclusive Resorts has added 20 new destinations for its members to enjoy around the world. These include six new residences at the ultra-chic Viceroy Anguilla as well as access to luxury villas at 13 leading resorts across Asia and more through an alliance with Banyan Tree Private Collection. The Club has also introduced membership enhancements and premium benefits, including Elite status for members with the United Airlines MileagePlus loyalty program. According to Philippe Bourguignon, CEO, “Today more than ever, the Club offers an unparalleled way to experience the very best the world has to offer. Our unique vacation offering includes hundreds of luxury residences around the globe, a new line-up of once in a lifetime members-only ‘bucket list’ travel experiences each year and VIP access at events such as the Super Bowl and New York City Fashion Week.”

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Timeshare industry salaries remain steady or slightly down, according to Executive Quest Inc., which has released the results of its annual study of salaries within the timeshare and vacation ownership, fractional, and hospitality industry. The research is based on survey data from more than 20,000 contacts. The survey covered salary, bonus, non-cash perks, commission, total annual compensation, years in the industry, resort locations, units and total annual company revenue. The survey shows that the timeshare and fractional industries continue to feel effects of the economy, but to a lesser degree than in 2010. The hardest categories were realtor, real estate developer, timeshare sales and timeshare broker. Timeshare sales representatives showed a slight increase while sales managers and directors showed a minor cut in compensation. The report finds that many executives received non-cash perks including a company automobile, health and life insurance, contributions to a 401k, housing for family/visitors. The non-cash perks were converted to a dollar amount and are included in the total compensation figures.

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The Pelican Resort Club recently shut down. Located on St. Maarten, the resort is no longer accepting reservations. According to news reports, the resort has been taken over and renamed Simpsons Bay Resort. Over the last few months, owners have been receiving conflicting emails and mixed messages regarding the status of ownership of the company, foreclosure auctions and employees at the property. Most emails and messages seemed to discuss administrative and management issues, which were unlikely to impact owners. They were not informed of the urgency and the possibility that the resort would close, placing timeshare ownership in jeopardy.

As of now, it is still unclear why the closure was necessary or how long it will last. Some reports indicate that it appears that the closure is merely a scheme to force the unions to negotiate or force union employees out. Reportedly, last December, there was an attempt to fire all union employees, which the courts squashed. When all issues have been resolved, normalcy for Pelican/Simpson owners is expected to return. In the short term, owners planning to use their units over the next few weeks or months may be cut from their reservations. Some reports indicate that owners have not been given the assurance of being able to go to the resort, even while being encouraged to make their mortgage and maintenance fee payments.

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Shell Management Hawaii, Inc. has been named one of the”Best Places to Work” in Hawaii for 2011. The annual event sponsored by ProService Hawaii and published annually by Hawaii Business Magazine honors businesses in its “Best Places To Work In Hawaii” program. Company data is gathered and analyzed by an independent research organization, the Best Companies Group, which conducts similar research in states throughout the nation. Honors will be given at an awards dinner in March.

With 292 employees, Shell Management Hawaii, Inc has been named in the large category. Shell Management Hawaii was ranked first in 2010 and fifth in 2009. Shell Vacation Resorts in Hawaii include the Holua Resort at Muana Loa, Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, Kona Coast Resort, Paniolo Greens, and the Waikiki Marina Resort.

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Shell Management Hawaii, Inc. has been named one of the”Best Places to Work” in Hawaii for 2011. The annual event sponsored by ProService Hawaii and published annually by Hawaii Business Magazine honors businesses in its “Best Places To Work In Hawaii” program. Company data is gathered and analyzed by an independent research organization, the Best Companies Group, which conducts similar research in states throughout the nation. Honors will be given at an awards dinner in March.

With 292 employees, Shell Management Hawaii, Inc has been named in the large category. Shell Management Hawaii was ranked first in 2010 and fifth in 2009. Shell Vacation Resorts in Hawaii include the Holua Resort at Muana Loa, Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, Kona Coast Resort, Paniolo Greens, and the Waikiki Marina Resort.

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The Tibisay Hotel has joined the RCI network of affiliated resorts. The Tibisay Hotel, located in the city of Merida, Venezuela, is a highly desirable destination in the Venezuelan Andes. This hotel consists of an elegant building with splendid views of the Andean mountain range with the latest technology in its rooms that are specially designed to provide the maximum comfort to guests.

Among the main attractions of the hotel, which includes a Presidential suite and 81 fully-equipped rooms, are a spa, heated pool, electronic casino and nightly entertainment center, in addition to the unique “Andean friendliness” of its staff. Visitors at the Hotel Tibisay can easily access the lagoons, cable cars, deserts, and other attractions in Merida and the surrounding area.The Tibisay Hotel has joined the RCI network of affiliated resorts.

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