Over 100 new resorts in 2009 were welcomed by RCI, the world’s largest vacation exchange company. Demonstrating that vacation exchange remains a bright spot in the travel industry, RCI, considered the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, announced that it added more than 100 new resorts in 2009 alone, including 10 properties under development.
Timeshare occupancy is strong despite a weak economy. According to the AIF State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study, 2010 Edition, prepared by Ernst and Young, the timeshare industry reported an average of 79.7% occupancy rate in 2009, compared with the 54.7% occupancy rate at the hotel industry. Around 54% of resorts are at least 80-percent occupied, and 34% have occupancy of at least 90%. Only 12% of resorts are less than 60-percent occupied.
TSBO Hispanic Expo Booth
The Hispanic Business and Consumer Expo arrived in Orlando April 15th-18th. With Orlando holding the title as the timeshare capital of the world due to its numerous tourist attractions, bustling city life, and beautiful Florida sunshine, it seemed fitting for TSBO to set up a booth. It proved to be beneficial as hundreds of visitors and local Orlando residents passed through the Expo doors and approached the TSBO booth. Overall, the Expo was a fun and successful event with many of the visitors mentioning their interest in timeshares!
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
