Perspective Magazine, the timeshare and fractional ownership industry’s most read independent trade publication, has recently announced an expansion project for 2010 that will begin to split the publication into regional titles. The award-winning global publication has been working hard to convert their extensive online readers to print subscribers for the upcoming release of the first standalone North American edition.

The timeshare industry publication will be shifting their focus from online to print for their first regional publication that will be release in February of 2010. The first edition will be focusing on the business issues of the timeshare and fractional ownership industry happening in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean area.

“USA, Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean regions make up nearly 50% or our readerships,” said Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Perspective International, which is the parent company of Perspective Magazine. He is really excited about the new North American edition and continued to say, “There has been encouragement from our readership to create an American version for over a year now so this will be one of our next additions to our portfolio and will provide advertisers from these regions with even more targeted approach to Business Development and promotions of products and services within the shared ownership industry. We already have an American editor and account management team in place and substantial funds will be invested to make the publication even more widely available over the next twelve month.”

The new North American edition will include articles and comments from the most knowledge professional in the timeshare and fractional ownership industry. The editor of the magazine will be Matthew McDaniel, which is based in Orlando, Florida. He has over 20 years of experience in publishing and was the Vacation Industry review editor-in-chief for Interval International for 8 years. He has also produced work for other well-know publications including the American Resort Development Association, Disney Press, and Toronto’s National Post.

Perspective Magazine expects to have 7,000 subscribers for their first publication, as well as be the biggest monthly timeshare and fractional ownership industry publication in the United States. The North American edition will be reaching approximately 12,000 print and online subscribers.

The first publication of Perspective Magazine North America Edition will be distributed at the ARDA Convention and Expo in Las Vegas and will be available free of charge of qualifying shared ownership industry professionals.

PH Towers Westgate will open on January 29, marking a new era in the timeshare industry. The facility will be the largest single timeshare building in the world, and it will be amidst the busy market of Las Vegas. It will also be the first timeshare to be integrated to a major resort and casino.

The building is 52 stories high and is comprised of 1,200 top class villas, each furnished with kitchens, jet tubs, and other state-of-the-art amenities. Most of the timeshare villas also include a 10-foot-wide High Definition movie theater. Timeshare owners will also have access to an exotic pool with a sandy beach strip and 40 private cabanas.

“I am especially proud that our development is located at the most significant location on the Las Vegas Strip and directly across from CityCenter,” commented David Siegel, who established Westgate Resorts in 1980.

The company started in Orlando with 16 villas. Come January 29, the brand will be among the brightest and biggest in Las Vegas.

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts has recently announced the name of their newest resort development in Hawaii- Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai’i. In addition to naming their Hawaii timeshare, Disney has also released a new website, www.DisneyAulani.com, to offer an inside peek to their highly anticipated first stand-alone family destination resort that is currently under construction on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu.

Disney wanted the name of the resort to capture the essences of the rich history and traditions of the Hawaiian Islands. “We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it. The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling – and its roots are here in this land,” said Joe Rohde, Senior Vice President, Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re so grateful to the local Hawaiians who led us to the discovery of this name, and our goal is to live up to its meaning.”

Joe Rohde also shared that the meaning of the word Aulani translated from the Hawaiian language to English means, “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “the place that speaks with deep messages.”

The new Disney timeshare will be situated on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & marina development. The resort is planning on having 360 guest rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivlant Disney timeshare villas.

Just like other Disney timeshares, this resort will offer incredible amenities for the whole family, from incredible restaurants to unique activities for the kids. The resort will include pools and hot tubs that will face the sunset, a lagoon to snorkel, and a river suitable for a tube floating that will run through a specially creating volcano outcropping, as well as a variety of kid’s club programs.

The Disney timeshare resort also plans to have an 18,000 square-foot luxurious spa, two restaurants, a 14,545 square-foot conference center, and a 48,685 square-foot for outdoor venues, which will be perfect for weddings.

“We are looking forward to welcoming guests to Aulani to share the fun, immersive family vacation experiences Disney is known for combined with the beauty and culture of Hawai‘i,” said Djuan Rivers, Vice President, Disney Vacation Club and Resort, Hawai‘i.“We are turning to the Hawaiian culture for inspiration in everything we are doing at Aulani, and we hope our guests will not only enjoy the Disney experience, but will also embrace the unique culture of Hawai‘i and its diverse people.”

The Marriott Vacation Club recently held its grand opening of their newest timeshare property in Rivera Beach on January 15th of 2010. The 19-story Marriott Oceana Palms resort is Marriott’s 50th timeshare resort and it’s located on Singer Island, just steps away from the ocean on Florida’s gold coast.

The Marriott Oceana Palms timeshare resort is the second timeshare property on Singer Island and the 12th timeshare resort in Florida. Marriott is expecting to open another Florida timeshare, The Marriott’s Lakeshore Reverse, in Orlando sometime during this year.

The opening of this new Marriott timeshare could provide a tourist boost in Rivera Beach and to the county of Palm Beach. The president and chief executive of the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jorge Pesquera, said, “This is a renaissance of Singer Island. It adds another option to the Rivera Beach/Singer Island corridor, which used to be very significant for tourism.”

The first phase of the timeshare resort is called the Palm Beaches and features a 19-story tower with 91 villas, 75 of which are now available. The timeshare villas offer over 1,100 square feet of space with a fully-equipped kitchen and all the luxuries of home, as well as spectacular ocean views.

The Marriott Oceana Palms resort amenities include a full-service restaurant, a fitness center, a spa, and even a climbing wall for the kids. The resort also offers a zero-entry pool with a waterslide and a children’s Splash Zone that will keep the kids entertained for hours.

Marriott is currently planning the second phase, which will be another 19-story tower that will bring the total number of units to 169.

Even though timeshare sales are struggling, Marriott is very hopeful. “We felt the demand was there, and this beachfront location was a great opportunity,” said James Woelbern, director of public relations for Marriott Vacation Club, which is based in Orlando.

Woelbern won’t disclosure any numbers, however he said that the interest in this new timeshare resort is already strong and said its “exceeding our expectations.” He also said that the other Marriott timeshare resort on Singer Island, Ocean Pointe, timeshare units “have been sold out” for several years.

The Marriott Oceana Palms had more than 55% of their rooms booked for the grand opening and the resort is expecting to have over 80% capacity in just one week after opening their doors.

In the wake of the disastrous events on Haiti, Travel & Leisure Group, Europe's oldest and largest timeshare resale company, has contributed towards the relief being provided for the islanders.

Through a donation via the Rotary Club of Sudbury, the company has purchased "Aqua Boxes" to provide clean safe drinking water.

Aquabox.org report -

"We are pleased to be able to report that the first 200 Aquaboxes, including 40 Aqua30's, will be leaving our depot tomorrow on route to Haiti. They should be in Haiti within a couple of days. They are in support of the three medical teams from Humanity First (one Canadian, one American and a British team). The Aquaboxes will be distributed within their chosen target settlement area outside of the city of Port au Prince, where Humanity First intend be have a presence for a at least a couple of months.

We greatly appreciate your support since every little bit will help us to replenish our stocks. And so enable us to continue to send our Aquaboxes out to those in need on your behalf for many months to come.

We have been given access to an additional warehouse module by our landlord so that we can get ahead and order Gold Aquabox contents ahead without overloading our existing space. The third Aquabox Gold packing team will be up and running this week.

Incidentally we have just shipped out 180 boxes this morning on route to the flood disaster victims in Albania through the Blythswood Care Trust."

If you would like to contribute for the cause, please contact the Sudbury Rotary Club via http://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/homepage.asp?clubid=503

More information on Aqua Boxes can be found at http://www.aquabox.org

It has been brought to our attention via the RDO website that various resale companies, In particular in Singapore, Asia, and the Caribbean are using the RDO logo and/or implying to timeshare owners and consumers in general that they are representatives of the RDO, authorised to act on their behalf and therefore following the Association Code of Ethics. It has also been brought to Travel & Leisure Groups attention that in some instances the same applies to our company, and there are organisations claiming to be associated with us or working under our licence.

Please refer to RDO website for their full disclaimer on such companies activities.

With regard to Travel & Leisure Group, we have no agencies or licensees other than the ones shown on our website and must therefore deny any responsibility for claims by others to the fact that they are acting on our behalf or are part of our Group.

Timeshare owners wising to sell should be careful and contact an RDO resale member direct if at all possible. We are bound by a strict Code of Ethics and do not charge for upfront registration of timeshares for resale.

If our company is recommended to any member of the public do take care not to enter into any agreement before you make sure you are happy with the contract you are entering into and read carefully all the relevant clauses.

Timeshare memberships are not easy to resell, so do not expect a quick sale because those are the exception. It is like selling a house, some go quickly but the majority take longer.

Travel & Leisure Group are independent international resale brokers who act as intermediary between two private individuals, the existing timeshare owner who wants to sell and the new buyer. We have a long established reputation and our website is available in nine languages.

As members of the RDO, listed on their website, we receive sellers enquiries from all over the world and are recommended by many resorts and vacation clubs. Travel & Leisure Group only takes on Timeshare ownerships with a recognized legal structure, or well established in the industry and Vacation Clubs with a trustee structure bonified by the RDO.

This month Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, among the world’s leaders in the timeshare ownership business, was ranked in the top 100 greenest companies in the U.S. by Newsweek magazine. According to the magazine, the Green Rankings are based on the environmental footprint, policies and practice of America’s 500 largest publicly traded companies. For its use of alternative energy resources, management of environmental issues and compliance with climate change policies, Wyndham Worldwide ranked at number 81 on the list.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts demonstrated its enthusiasm for environmentally friendly operations by developing uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles. According to Perspective Magazine, each uniform requires 66 percent less energy and 90 percent less water to produce than a common uniform. The timeshare operators additionally began a ClearAir initiative, offering rooms with improved air quality, and are implementing the EarthSmart linen reuse program to save resources and operational costs. "We are honored to be recognized by Newsweek as a national leader in sustainability," Wyndham Worldwide CEO Stephen Holmes told the news source. "We are committed to conserving our natural resources, preserving our habitats and preventing pollution. We can make a tremendous impact in our communities around the globe."

Far from an anomaly in the timeshare industry, Wyndham’s environmental efforts have been complemented by RCI, a prominent player in vacation exchanges. Employing simple practices like the use of energy efficient light fixtures and a weaning off of direct mail correspondence in favor of e-mail, the company was able to save 1.3 million kilowatts and an estimated 435 trees during the past year. RCI has also announced that it will give the first annual RCI Going Green Award to endorse resort programs that consider energy and resource efficiency a part of their operations.

Marriott Vacation Club, the timeshare division of the hotel giant, on Wednesday celebrated the opening of its newest timeshare resort, the 19-story Oceana Palms on Singer Island. The resort, at 3200 N. Ocean Drive, marks the second vacation club property on Singer Island. Marriott already operates the Marriott Ocean Pointe in nearby Palm Beach Shores.

The Oceana's opening, coming as it does during the lingering recession, could provide a tourism boost to the county, as well as to Riviera Beach.

"This is a renaissance of Singer Island," said Jorge Pesquera, president and chief executive of the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It adds another option to the Riviera Beach/Singer Island corridor, which used to be very significant for tourism."

The Oceana's opening is an important Marriott milestone: The property marks the company's 50th timeshare resort.

Oceana, built on the site of the former Crowne Plaza Hotel, features 91 villas, 75 of which are currently available. Each villa measures more than 1,100 square feet. The villas also come with plenty of creature comforts, including fully equipped kitchens and flat-panel televisions. Oceana's resort amenities include a full-service restaurant, pool, spas, fitness center and a climbing wall for kids.

"We felt the demand was there, and this beachfront location was a great opportunity," said James Woelbern, director of public relations for Marriott Vacation Club, based in Orlando. Although he wouldn't disclose numbers, Woelbern said sales interest in Oceana already is strong, "exceeding our expectations." And timeshare units at Ocean Pointe "have been sold out" for a number of years, he said.

Woelbern wouldn't give specific prices for the Oceana timeshares but he said Marriott timeshares typically cost $30,000 for one week, and slightly more for beachfront properties. Oceana also functions as a hotel, in which guests can rent rooms for a nightly fee.

Despite the down economy, the rental side of the business has been strong, too. Woelbern said Marriott timeshares have maintained average occupancy rates "in the mid-90 percent."

Marriott plans to build a second, 19-story tower for Oceana in the future, to bring the resort's total number of villas to 169. Palm Beach County tourism officials praised the project, saying it would boost the region's tourism by bringing in new visitors who will then go out and dine and shop in area stores.

Pesquera pointed out that tourists staying at this resort may often have a longer stay than other tourists. "They're going to go out, go to the theater, to the Kennel Club, go shopping," he said. "It will be just a huge ripple effect on the restaurants and entertainment and retail in Palm Beach County."

Riviera Beach officials also expressed enthusiasm for the project.

"This building is going to bring in a tremendous amount of tax dollars and tourism not only to Riviera Beach, but to Palm Beach County," said Dawn Pardo, Riviera Beach City Council Chairwoman, as she looked out at the ocean from one of the resort's balconies.

She said that the Marriott's construction put a lot of local and minority residents to work; 70 percent of the laborers were minorities, and 50 percent were from Palm Beach County, she said.

In addition, she said that the resort is looking to hire locally for the more than 50 part-time and full-time positions at the hotel.

"They've really stepped up for our community," Pardo said. "What more can you ask for?"

Oceana opens to timeshare owners and guests Friday. More than 55 percent of the rooms are booked for that day, and the resort is expecting 80 percent capacity the following Friday.

A recent timeshare industry poll sought to determine the demographics of frequent purchasers, assess owner satisfaction and ascertain recent market trends. In general, the Vacation Timeshare Owners Report, 2009 Edition, which was undertaken by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and the ARDA International Foundation (AIF), found that recent timeshare buyers are younger and wealthier than in the previous years and are satisfied with their vacation product.

While the Baby Boomers constituted the largest generation of total timeshare owners – more than 60 percent – the report found that 58 percent of recent purchasers are under the age of 45, Perspective Magazine reports. Additionally, the average household income for all owners is $92,400, compared to recent buyers who bring in about $94,930 to their households each year. The changes in buyer profile prompted ARDA president Howard Nusbaum to emphasize the appeal that timeshare vacations have to a variety of travelers. "This study underscores the flexibility and value of vacation ownership products for a broad range of consumers and lifestyles. The value of timeshare that comes from its use gives people the discipline to have a better vacation year after year."

The AIF survey furthermore revealed that about half of all recent buyers rented a timeshare before buying to assess factors such as the quality of accommodations, savings on future costs and the credibility of the timeshare company. Suggesting a satisfying experience in their timeshare rentals or purchases, Perspective Magazine reports that 86 percent of survey respondents said their timeshare vacation was either excellent, very good, or good and 81 percent of owners claimed that they consider their timeshare unit a home away from home.

While American consumers continue to think of innovative ways to make their dollars last, experts in the vacation industry have noted how the timeshare resale market provides a high value for families sticking to vacation budgets. An unknown enterprise to many travelers, timeshare resales allow buyers to save money by sharing ownership of a vacation home with other users and by granting access to a secondary market which typically features lower prices.

According to Geoff Klein, a timeshare industry marketing director, timeshare resales typically sell for 60 percent to 80 percent below retail prices. The expert also notes that in the secondary market, buyers are not exposed to the high-pressure promotions or presentations; rather, the majority of vacation intervals can be purchased online. According to Klein, "Many buyers stated that if it hadn’t been for the low resale prices and extra amenities that a timeshare provides, such as kitchens and a larger living space, they wouldn’t have been able to vacation as much as a family."

In interviews with timeshare owners, the marketing director asked consumers to expound upon their vacations and compare their timeshare accommodations with hotels. He concluded that "owners were quite enthusiastic about their experiences, and especially about the price point that timeshare resales provide." Correspondingly, studies conducted by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) demonstrated that about 85 percent of the 4.3 million U.S. timeshare owners are satisfied with their purchase. In fact, according to Klein, repeat buyers account for 25 percent of sales in the timeshare industry.

According to Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA, "The steady, impressive growth in the timeshare sector is a direct indication of strong consumer satisfaction and demand, underscoring that vacation ownership is fast becoming the preferred travel choice of today and in the future."

Liechtenstein-based fractional yacht operator SmartYacht is presenting its concept at a major boat show for the first time this month, when it exhibits at Boot 2010 in Dusseldorf.

SmartYacht offers 1/9th, 1/6th and 1/3rd shares in yachts of various types and sizes starting at about 50 feet, with or without crew. Placed in prestigious locations across the Mediterranean, co-owners can use their yachts – in contrast to traditional timeshare models – as much as they desire. The management organizes a fair allocation of usage and guarantees every co-owner the right of usage of at least six and up to 18 weeks per year (depending on the share).

Short-term as well as long-term reservations can conveniently be made online. Co-owners can also charter out their yacht on a temporary basis, allowing annual costs to be considerably reduced. “The SmartYacht concept integrated multi-yacht multi-location program offers co-owners additionally flexible access to other yachts in other locations and thus provides valuable savings in terms of fuel efficiency and maintenance outlay as well as air- and water pollution,” says the company.

Every co-owner hast the right to freely trade their share in the market, and to sell it. SmartYacht says it will seek and recommend potential buyers in this scenario.

The board of directors of owner and operator of timeshare resorts Silverleaf Resorts Inc (NasdaqCM: SVLF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating) appointed Harry J White Jr as the company's CFO with immediate effect, replacing Robert M Sinnott who resigned, the company said on Friday.

CFO of the company for a decade from 1998 White was most recently VP, treasurer. He gave up the position of chief financial officer to concentrate on other financial duties for the company.

Vacationers that are planning to visit timeshare resorts should consider the changes in the booking systems of major UK airlines.

According to Club La Costa timeshare experts, airplane passengers now have to submit advanced passenger information whenever they book flights with many carriers.

The experts also said that the flight prices can only be confirmed once the booking information is complete. This means failure to complete the information on time may result in different prices.

As of now, not all flight providers will implement this protocol. However, it will become a standard practice within a short amount of time.

Those heading off to timeshare resorts this year will face tighter security checks at airports. Prime Minister Gordon Brown revealed that the use of full-body scanners will be brought in gradually.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that the equipment is already on order following the failed bomb plot at Christmas.

"We will do everything in our power to tighten up security," Mr Brown said.

BAA, which owns several airports in the UK, added that the scanners will be introduced as soon as practical.

"It is our view that a combination of technology, intelligence and passenger profiling will help build a more robust defence against the unpredictable and changing nature of the ¬terrorist threat to aviation," a spokesman explained.

All passengers are advised to get to the airport several hours before their flight is due to depart to allow plenty of time to get through the security checks.

Restrictions on liquids in hand baggage are still in place and electrical items to be taken into the cabin must be screened separately.

Interval International has added a Mexican resort to its network

Interval International has announced that Welk Resorts Cabo - Sirena del Mar has joined its global holiday exchange network.

Timeshare owners have learned that it is the sixth Welk property to have become part of Interval's network.

The resort overlooks the Sea of Cortez, close to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, and offers timeshare owners numerous facilities, including two pools, a spa, thatched palapas as well as a fire pit.

There is also a swimmable cove beach for visitors to enjoy, while all units will feature whirlpool tubs, numerous flat screen TVs and complimentary internet access.

Craig M Nash, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Interval Leisure Group, said that the location of the resort is fantastic and that his organisation was particularly proud to add such a place to its network.

Interval recently announced that Gold Coast Aruba, featuring 270 whole-ownership villas and townhouses, had joined its network.

A timeshare should be seen as an investment in future holiday opportunities, it has been said.

Lisa Ann Schreier, founder of Timeshare Insights in Clermont, Florida, told Bankrate.com that timeshare is a vacation alternative, not a business opportunity for consumers.

Judi Kozlowski, a broker with Re/Max Properties SW in Orlando, Florida, also spoke to the website, commenting that timeshare is an investment in people's time and family and is not for financial gain.

She said that just those who want to use the timeshare should get involved in the market.

Ms Kozlowski added, however, that if an investor can find a great deal in a high-demand timeshare then it should be considered.

The website also cited the words of Howard Nusbaum, president and chief executive officer of American Resort Development Association (ARDA), who advised people to buy timeshare in places where they love to go.

ARDA is based in Washington DC and represents the holiday ownership and resort development industries in the United States.