According to Vacation Timeshare Owners Report, 2009 Edition by the ARDA International Foundation (AIF), recent timeshare purchasers are younger, wealthier and happy with their vacation product. Overall, more than six in ten timeshare owners are age 45 or older, with Baby Boomers ranked as the largest generation of timeshare owners (45 percent). However, recent purchasers are younger than timeshare owners in general, with 58 percent under the age of 45.

About half of recent purchasers rented a timeshare prior to buying (48 percent), and four out of five purchased from a developer or resort. The average household income for all owners is $92,405, and recent purchasers have an average household income of $94,933. Motivators for purchasing were the quality of accommodations, saving on future costs, and the credibility of the timeshare company. Over half say they purchased a timeshare to save money on future vacations.

“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,” said Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO.

Other results from the study include:
• Timeshare owners spent an average of 8.18 days on timeshare vacations in 2008.
• On average, the total number of guests on a timeshare vacation was 3.71, including the owner.
• Eighty-six percent of all timeshare owners responded that owning a timeshare was an excellent, very good, or good experience.
• Sixty-nine percent of all owners would recommend their own resort or vacation club.
• On average, timeshare owners have owned their intervals for 8.26 years.
• Timeshare owners say that beaches (52 percent), attractions/entertainment (48 percent), and shopping (39 percent) are the most appealing resort characteristics.
• Eighty-one percent of all owners say that their timeshare offers a vacation home away from home.
For more information visit www.ARDA.org or download an executive summary of Vacation Timeshare Owners Report, 2009 Edition.

The recently opened Disney Doorway to Dreams offers Roosevelt Field shoppers and New York-area residents a convenient and interactive way to discover the excitement of Disney Vacation Club, an innovative timeshare vacation-ownership program that allows families to enjoy flexibility and savings on decades of future vacations.

Disney Doorway to Dreams showcases the spacious, family-friendly accommodations featured at Disney Vacation Club resorts. Through Disney Vacation Club, families can relax and spend quality time together, either at Disney destinations worldwide or at more than 500 other popular vacation locations around the world. Disney Doorway to Dreams’ convenient mall location gives visitors a chance to explore the many vacation choices they have through Disney Vacation Club, including magical stays at the Walt Disney World Resort, relaxing cruises aboard Disney Cruise Line and family-friendly, interactive Adventures by Disney trips where families can choose to travel to one of six different continents.

“Disney Doorway to Dreams gives us a chance to reach one of the top markets for our rapidly growing membership base and help Roosevelt Field visitors discover the many benefits of becoming a Disney Vacation Club member family,” said Disney Vacation Club President Jim Lewis. “We aim to duplicate the popularity of our original Disney Doorway to Dreams location in Chicago with our new location on Long Island, sharing the vacation-ownership experience with a whole new group of people.”

To help families envision the ways Disney Vacation Club Membership can enhance the way they vacation, Disney Doorway to Dreams features a full-scale, two-bedroom model of a vacation villa at Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Central Florida, one of Disney Vacation Club’s newest resorts.

Located on the second floor near Nordstrom, Disney Doorway to Dreams presents a variety of interactive features, including a wall lined with doors that open to display videos, photos and even touch-screen activities. There’s even a kid-sized door that allows children to look through a portal into the kid’s clubhouse, where they will discover a dry-erase mural they can color.

Once visitors have spent time in the interactive entryway, they will have the opportunity to view a brief video about Disney Vacation Club in a twelve-seat theater. Guests then have the opportunity to meet with a vacation guide to learn about the options available to Disney Vacation Club members.

“Disney Vacation Club has always been both a leader and an innovator in the timeshare industry,” said Howard C. Nusbaum, president and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). “Offering full-scale model vacation villas in a mall setting is uniquely Disney and this new Disney Doorway to Dreams location makes it fun and exciting for families to learn about new and memorable ways to vacation.”

About Roosevelt Field
Celebrating more than 50 years of offering more choices, Roosevelt Field is located at the intersection of Old Country Road and the Meadowbrook Parkway in Garden City and is managed by Simon Property Group, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The mall offers unparalleled customer service with amenities including Simon Giftcards, good everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted; Ticketmaster at Simon Guest Services; valet parking; complimentary wheelchairs; strollers; and a post office. It is anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s, JC Penney, Bloomingdale’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods and has more than 270 specialty stores. For more information, please go to www.simon.com.

The site explains the Club Paradiso concept and how it works and provides an overview of all the resorts in the portfolio.

In order to showcase its industry-leading range of high-end holiday products, Resort Properties, www.resortproperties-group.com has released its latest website.

The site has been designed to reflect the opulence of the Club Paradiso locations that make up this exclusive network of boutique resorts.

With residences in Tenerife, Malta, Dubai, Florida, Tuscany and Jamaica, Club Paradiso offers a broad choice of experiences to its members and the new website offers a taste of that diversity.

There is an easy navigation bar at the top of each page with links to a further suite of websites for more information about the individual resorts.

Mark Cushway, European managing director of Resort Properties, explained the rationale behind the new website: “Club Paradiso is a high cost, high quality product and we wanted the website to mirror those values. Our members enjoy incredible holidays with Club Paradiso every year and we wanted them to be able to show their friends and families what an amazing product they own”.

The site explains the Club Paradiso concept and how it works and provides an overview of all the resorts in the portfolio as well as the amazing Platinum membership level.

Find out more about the Club Paradiso range of resorts please visit www.clubparadiso.net

With qualifying close to finishing, the 2010 World Cup in South Africa is drawing closer and there will be a sharp rise in tourists heading to the country next year.

Timeshare owners can look to book their trip for the football feast, with one option being to stay at the Langebaan Country Club on the RCI network of resorts.

It is located between the waters and beaches of Langebaan Lagoon and is close to Langebaan Nature Reserve.

Sean Tipton, spokesperson for ABTA – The Travel Association, said that it is not just because of the soccer that many will visit the country, although this will make a significant impact.

Many will be visiting friends or family while others will simply be enjoying a holiday in South Africa, he explained, asserting that around 650,000 British tourists visit the country every year.

He stated that the southern hemisphere will be popular for long-haul holidays this winter, adding that New Zealand and South Africa have their summer during this time of year leading to more travellers making their way over.

A 20-year-old man was found dead in a hot tub at the Prospector Condominiums late Wednesday morning, Aspen police said.

The victim's name was not available as of press time. Police were attempting to notify family victims before releasing the name.

The man had been in Aspen with a Denver firm that specializes in the installment of high-end blinds, said Aspen police detective Chris Womack, the lead investigator in the case.

Womack said, “It doesn't appear that there was anybody else involved in his death.”

A coroner's report is pending.

“We don't know if he drowned or not,” Womack said.

Police said they received a 911 call about the individual, who was reportedly unconscious and not breathing, at 11:29 a.m. Attempts to revive him with cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and automatic external defibrillation were not successful, police said.

The Aspen Police Department, Aspen Ambulance, Aspen Fire Department emergency medical personnel and the county sheriff's office all responded to the scene, at 301 E. Hyman Ave. The Prospector is a timeshare condo complex.

The FORUM Conference, 9-10 December 2009 to be hosted by Generator Systems and Perspective Magazine at the luxurious Sofitel London Heathrow Hotel has maintained an air of mystery around its format and choice of speakers but today is giving the industry a first glimpse of its schedule as they launch the event website at www.perspectivemagazine.com/forum and www.generator-systems.com/events

The FORUM is predominantly based around panel sessions that will allow delegates to address the current hard times. Panellists will share their experiences, both good and bad in order to provide information that will help developers, marketers and suppliers operate more efficiently and profitably as we get ready to enter a new era.

Next week, just 200 delegates will be given the opportunity to confirm their attendance for what will certainly be a new style of conference, arranged with the expertise of, and hosted by two of the industry’s most innovative companies.

Delegates from around the globe will to attend, covering all aspects of timeshare and fractional ownership from development, design, sales, marketing, legal, financial and related products and services. Delegate rates are just £395 (+VAT where applicable) which includes access to all sessions, coffee breaks , lunch for two days, invitation to the Gala Dinner and the legendary Generator Party!

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available – for details email paul@perspectiveinternational.com or cheryl.stevens@generator-systems.com

For up to the minute details on the event, including venue, speakers, sponsors, and schedule we recommend you regularly visit www.perspectivemagazine.com/forum and www.generator-systems.com/events

Global Timeshare leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, RCI, has announced the launch of the first ever ‘RCI Going Green Award’ for its affiliated resorts in the Pacific.

Developed in conjunction with Gold Coast’s Griffith University, RCI’s exclusive award was modelled after some of the top green certifications currently in circulation within the tourism industry.

With a specific focus on timeshare resort operations, RCI will present Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to the top three ‘green’ resorts.

Eligible resorts will be evaluated in both a self assessment phase and on-site inspection phase.

Professor of Tourism Research at Griffith University David Weaver was instrumental in developing the award and has agreed to adjudicate both phases.

“I am absolutely delighted to be working on this initiative with RCI,” Weaver says.

“I expect an award program such as this will really raise awareness of and participation in environmentally-friendly best practices within the sector,” he says.

Winners of the inaugural Gold, Silver and Bronze RCI Going Green Awards will be announced at the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council annual conference in Christchurch in September 2010.

Since the economy turned sour last year, consumers have been more diligent with the ways in which they spend their money and timeshare owners at The Point at Po‘ipu say they are displeased with fees rising more than 50 percent in two years.

“The idea of paying an annual maintenance fee equal to what we currently pay at Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Villas in Lihu‘e doesn’t go down very well,” said John Palshaw, who has owned a timeshare for 11 years at The Point at Po‘ipu. “The differences in services available, in pool quality and in beach availability represent a huge disparity ... making it very hard to justify a $1,400 annual fee at The Point.”

Fees doubled from $695 in 2001 to more than $1,400 per week in 2009. Owners have been outspoken about their concerns regarding the elevated prices and feeling powerless when it comes to maintenance and management fees, as the majority of Vacation Owners Association and Association of Apartment Owners board members are employees of Diamond Resorts International.

Elizabeth Brennan, executive vice president and general counsel for the management company, DRI, sent a letter via e-mail on Oct. 6 to Janas Consulting Management Consultant Mike Givens threatening a lawsuit for making “defamatory, false and tortuously interfering” statements in an Oct. 4 article in The Garden Island.

Janas Consulting responded with a cease and desist letter sent via registered mail on Oct. 13 from Richard Pumilia of Pumilia Patel & Adamec LLP.

“I assume that you have found it profitable in the past to attempt to silence criticism of your organization by threats, harassment and intimidation,” the letter states. “With respect to Janas, these tactics may have the opposite effect from the one you seek.”

Janas Consulting “has not been retained with respect to The Point at Po‘ipu development,” even though the letter sent by Brennan claimed that they had, but would accept “an engagement ... should the opportunity arise,” the letter says.

Attempts to contact Brennan to clarify what statements or information was inaccurate in the Oct. 4 article were unanswered. In a phone interview on Oct. 9, she said the article was “completely false” but was “not in the position to provide” more information.

About 250 concerned deeded owners of some 10,000 at the South Shore resort have plunged forward in their efforts to take back control of their properties. Timeshare owner Rich Batchelder said the number would be higher if DRI would release the contact information of other owners.

“Since February we have been attempting to get a list of deeded owners,” he said Thursday, adding that he has been told by DRI employees that it is a “strict policy not to release the list.”

Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Chapter 514A states, “The resident manager or managing agent or board of directors shall keep an accurate and current list of members of the association of apartment owners and their current addresses ... The list shall be maintained at a place designated by the board of directors and a copy shall be available, at cost, to any member of the association as provided in the declaration or bylaws or rules and regulations ...”

“The questions is, ‘Is Diamond Resorts going to abide by Hawaiian statutes?’” Batchelder said.

Chapter 514A also states, “A director shall not cast any proxy vote at any board meeting, nor shall a director vote at any board meeting on any issue in which the director has a conflict of interest.”

In addition, “the number of persons constituting the board ... shall have an elected board of not less than nine members” and that no single apartment should have more than one representative.

With the economy improving, albeit slowly, consumers are continuing to look for ways to stretch their vacation dollars. For budget-minded families, timeshare remains one of the best vacation values.

Four new high-quality videos released by Holiday Resales, one of the nation’s oldest and largest timeshare resellers, illustrate the real world convenience and value of timesharing, as well as the advantages of vacation ownership versus traditional hotel-based vacations. The "Timeshare vs. Hotels" videos average about 3 minutes in length and can be viewed at http://timeshare.holidaygroup.com/2009/timeshare-vs-hotels.

"We invited timeshare owners to talk to us about what they liked about their timeshares," said Geoff Klein, Holiday’s Marketing Director. "In the videos, which were unscripted, the owners were quite enthusiastic about their experiences, and especially about the price point that timeshare resales provides."

As over 4 million Americans already know, one of the most wallet-friendly vacation options is timesharing. But the vacation industry’s best-kept secret, timeshare resales, remains relatively unknown to most travelers. Timeshare resales typically sell for 60% to 80% below retail prices and require no high-pressure presentations to purchase. In fact, most resale timeshares can be purchased by consumers via the Internet.

Klein noted that, "Many of the buyers we interviewed stated that if it hadn’t been for the low resale prices and extra amenities that timeshare provides, such as kitchens and a larger living space, they wouldn’t have been able to vacation as much as a family."

Studies conducted by the American Resort Development Association ( http://www.arda.com ) show that nearly 85% of the 4.3 million US timeshare owners are satisfied with their purchase. It is also clear that, as with other leisure lifestyle products, the more information consumers have before purchasing a timeshare, the more satisfied they are afterwards.

"Holiday has always placed a high value on educating buyers about the timeshare product," Klein said. "We’ve sold more than 32,000 timeshares over the last 16 years, not just because of our low prices, but also because of our strong consumer approach, which is reflected in the fact that 25 percent of our business comes from repeat buyers."

In a recessionary economy where cash is said to be king, purchases of fractional and timeshare vacation homes are gaining traction. However, the two should not be confused with each other.

Through August, timeshare and fractional ownership transactions in Routt County had totaled $11.28 million, a little more than 5 percent of the total of $200 million in dollar volume through the first eight months of the year.

Consumers may regard the term fractional as a euphemism for timeshare. However, Dave Irish, of Steamboat Ski & Resort Realty, said the two products are distinctly different. Timeshare sales are based on vacation periods and the flexibility they offer for owners to vacation at many destinations within the company’s network. They often involve purchasing points that can be spent throughout a network of resorts, Irish said.

“Fractional is an ownership product for people who want the security and comfort of real estate that doesn’t require the same amount of capital investment” as whole ownership.

Often, fractional owners have the ability to swap their unit with another owner in another destination. But the system doesn’t offer the same flexibility as a timeshare.

“In ski resorts like Steamboat, fractional buyers typically have formed a strong connection to the area and desire to return repeatedly,” Irish said.

One timeshare project, the Steamboat Villas in the Morningside Tower at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort, was dominating dollar and transaction volume with 185 sales totaling $7.3 million.

The condominiums there enjoy some of the most direct ski-in, ski-out access in Steamboat, immediately adjacent to the Steamboat Gondola. They have been extensively remodeled in the past two years and represent the height of luxury finishes in a timeshare resort here.

A company spokesman for Starwood Vacation Ownership declined to discuss details of the resort’s performance here but acknowledged that 2009 has been a successful year thus far.

A Sheraton Steamboat spokesperson said in December 2008 that the ability to remodel Morningside Tower and convert it to timeshares was a key factor in Starwood’s decision to buy the hotel and its affiliated golf course for $57 million in 2007.

Starwood began refurbishing the condos in April 2008 and completed the first 21 two- and three-bedroom units of the eventual 45 within seven months. They began hosting vacationers last ski season.

One way to describe them is to compare the Steamboat Villas to some of Steamboat’s best ski-in/ski-out condominiums with all of the luxuries of a full-service hotel, including room service and concierge service.

Sales at the Villas have been

steady throughout the fall – on Oct. 8, the project closed four transactions including a pair at $55,900, another at $29,900 and one at $19,900, for an aggregate value of $161,600.

Also tracking consistent transactions this autumn are timeshare sales at the Village at Steamboat managed by Wyndham Vacation Ownership.

The Village, with brand-new product and lower price points, saw days in September when 14 unrelated buyers bought a large number of vacation periods in 38 condominiums with a combined value of $1.13 million. On another day, there were seven sales, again tying up a substantial number of vacation periods with transactions ranging from $42,500 to $176,000.

Company spokeswoman Liz Hutchinson said her company offers a point-based product that allows buyers to vacation at resorts throughout its portfolio. Wyndham resorts span Australia, the South Pacific, Hawaii (seven to choose from), California, Arizona and destinations on the East Coast. Steamboat is the company’s most significant ski destination.

Wyndham/The Village at Steamboat had been quiet during August. The biggest expense of timeshare companies is their sales and marketing effort, and Hutchinson said her company spent part of the summer refocusing those efforts to fit the economy.

“We purposely retracted our revenue goals from $2 billion to $1.2 billion, and we looked at our marketing program and decided to target better customers. At the same time, we limited the development pipeline.”

The result of the two strategies in concert was a 40 percent reduction in sales, but that was expected.

“We’re very much on target to reach the $1.2 billion by Dec. 31,” she said.

One quarter-share at a time

Irish said there are 50 to 100 fractional units on the market in Steamboat this month, spread among the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel, Christie Club and the Porches of Steamboat.

Intrawest owns Steamboat Ski & Resort Realty, the Steamboat Grand and Steamboat Ski Area.

The Steamboat Grand had seen 22 transactions valued at $1.55 million through August, and Irish said he played a role in all of them. There have been just two transactions in the past six weeks with a typical sale of $120,000 for a quarter-share.

Fractional purchases are made on the basis of frequency of use,” Irish said. “With the high cost of whole ownership, people often look at how often they plan to use a condominium. Many people can’t justify the capital outlay. If they only expect to use it two or three times a year, fractionals look very attractive. You get very high quality and great locations for an amount that makes sense.”

Irish has been involved in the Steamboat Grand since before it was built in 2000, and he saw it finally sell out in 2006. And although there were unexpected twists along the way, “it’s turned out exactly as we originally intended,” he said.

A burst of fractional sales can be expected late this year or early in 2010, when the portion of the condominiums at One Steamboat Place that offer fractional ownership begin to close.

timeshare.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/image_key_article/beach_0.jpg" width="200" height="300" align="left" class="storyimage" />Timeshare resorts are continuing to show resilience throughout the worldwide economic difficulties, one industry body has highlighted.

Because of its pre-paid nature, the timeshare industry is better equipped to stand against the downturn, explains Howard Nusbaum, president and chief executive officer of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

The industry will survive the recession, he continued, as succeeding generations remain eager to purchase a piece of flexible timeshare resorts.

Disney Vacation Club president James M Lewis added that his company also has confidence in timeshare ownership and is opening new timeshare resorts in California and Hawaii.

It was announced earlier this month that club members will be invited to take part in a volunteering campaign to complement the company's community projects.

Timeshare owners who give their time to help others will receive free one-day admission to Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort theme parks.

Ryanair has responded to a Panorama show by releasing 1.1 million free tickets.

Timeshare owners looking for cheap trips away can look to Ryanair which has just released 1.1 million free seats after BBC Panorama screened that the airline called "a hatchet job" on the company.

Ryanair has opened up 100,000 free seats for each of the 11 false claims the airline said Panorama had made against it.

The company said that Panorama had covered one weekend in August when there were issues with problems at Stansted, without mentioning the other 32 weekends since web check-in was launched that Ryanair has had no problems with.

Panorama also reported that Ryanair charges £5 to all passengers for web check-in, but did not note that over half of the airline's passengers avoid this fee by booking Ryanair's promotional fares, the company asserted.

Earlier this month, the airline announced that its September passenger traffic had increased 17 per cent when compared to the same month last year.

Two of the timeshare and lodging industry’s most respected senior level operating executives have collaborated to launch a new business management organization, created to aide companies in need of highly specialized operational expertise and management services.

Utilizing their four decades of combined operations management expertise, Managing Partners James (Jimmy) Danz RRP and William (Bill) Tsao, founded Trident Business Management, an implementation-based business solutions group, based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Trident Business Management was created to provide management services for companies in need of corporate, financial, or operational improvement. This includes short-term crisis management, longer-term stabilization, repositioning and growth management.

Explains Bill Tsao, “We recognize that the timeshare industry is in the midst of an evolutionary phase. The sudden vanishing of capital can be both destructive and cathartic. After hundreds of hours of discussions with top developers, lenders, strategists, lawyers, and respected industry-operating executives, we have identified a huge void in terms of a solid solution to the crisis. We formed Trident Business Management to help bring positive change to our industry at this critical time. Our past experiences, our contacts and strategic resources have positioned us well to participate in some much-needed change to the outdated and under-performing 30-year-old business model of timeshare.”

How will this be accomplished? “Instead of just focusing on cost containment and expense renegotiation,” adds Jimmy Danz, “we provide the operational experience and intimate understanding of a business that is critical in knowing how to open new revenue channels from existing assets that have not been properly leveraged. For some consulting companies or global rescue firms, it’s all about business plans. For us, it’s all about execution and differentiation from past practices. We back this philosophy by scaling our compensation toward performance and execution … without the cost of global overhead. While many companies espouse theory, at Trident, we believe in the principal of performance, not plans and stake the majority of our compensation on a success model with performance-based success fees instead of guaranteed fees with no guarantee of success.”

Trident Business Management is an operationally centric “all-inclusive” business solution company that has assembled a best-in-class group of professionals (the Trident Advisory Partners) who are widely respected authorities in their areas of expertise within the lodging and timeshare sectors of the leisure industry. Since every client has a unique set of challenges, these Advisory Partners will work with Trident leadership as a collaborative team to customize solutions, matching the right experts and specific talent to each client’s needs.

The two managing partners have spent their careers as senior operating executives, not as consultants, and have a solid reputation for integrity, ethics and sound business practices. In their previous executive positions as senior strategists and tacticians, the programming and implementation guidance provided by Danz and Tsao were key drivers in the procurement of nearly $1.5 billion dollars in net sales volume for some of the country’s largest vacation ownership companies.

Danz is internationally recognized as an expert in partnering corporate alliances with enterprise strategies, initiatives and objectives. His professional experience has also included equity partnerships, senior-level executive and consultancy roles for Diamond Resorts International®, Princeton Resorts Group, Starwood Hotels, Conrad Hilton International, Vistana Resorts, ACCOR Vacation Club and Success Marketing. The five-time Gold ARDY winner has held Board of Director seats for the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and is the current Chairman of the ARDA Meetings Council and the ARDA Sales and Marketing Forum. He also sits on the Board of the American Tele-Services Association (ATA) and is the current Chairman of the ATA Political Action Committee.

Bill Tsao is a results-driven executive with a broad range of senior-level experience encompassing both domestic and international business operations. His background features a successful track record in driving revenue growth and winning market share, primarily in turnaround, start-up and high growth situations. His 18-year industry experience includes equity partnerships, senior-level executive and consultancy roles for Casablanca Express, Sunterra Resorts, Pacific Resorts International Inc., International Cruise & Excursions, Vacation Marketing Systems Inc., Raintree Resorts International and Diamond Resorts International®. Tsao has a proven career track record in driving multi-national and multi-site projects. He has been a frequent guest speaker at the ARDA National Convention and is a past board member for the Arizona Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Annual Golf Tournament, which was the largest MDA Golf Tournament in the nation.

Timeshare owners can head to Sri Lanka for their holidays - a destination that is proving popular among the UK population.

For those timeshare owners looking for somewhere away from Europe and more typical holiday destinations, it seems as though Sri Lanka's popularity has soared among those in the UK.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau, the country has seen a 16.9 per cent rise in August of this year in comparison to the same period in 2008.

Sri Lanka saw the highest number of British tourists in 2009 flock to the country this August, with an increase of more than 1,000 visitors when compared to the same month last year.

Sanjika Perera, UK director of tourism, said that it was great to see people have renewed faith in the safety of the country and the value for money it offers.

Figures from the Pacific Asia Travel Association recently showed increased travel demand to Sri Lanka, rising by 28 per cent when compared to last year.

Holidaymakers looking for somewhere to stay in the UK can head to Bournemouth, which has been named as the top British holiday resort.

Research from Virgin Money Travel Insurance evaluated 66 of the top holiday destinations in the UK, with the criteria covering a variety of areas such as weather, price and quality of local attractions.

The town beat off some stiff competition from destinations such as Brighton, Portsmouth and London.

According to Peter Hampton, director of the British Resorts and Destinations Association, there is a lot going on in Bournemouth, with plenty of shows, theatres and entertainment to be enjoyed by timeshare owners.

He also pointed to the seven miles of beach in Bournemouth as well as its strength in variety.

Loch Ness was ranked bottom of the Virgin Money Travel Insurance study, which also noted that overseas trips by Britons fell by 12 per cent over the year to July.

Timeshare owners can head to Sri Lanka for their holidays - a destination that is proving popular among the UK population.

For those timeshare owners looking for somewhere away from Europe and more typical holiday destinations, it seems as though Sri Lanka's popularity has soared among those in the UK.

According to the Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau, the country has seen a 16.9 per cent rise in August of this year in comparison to the same period in 2008.

Sri Lanka saw the highest number of British tourists in 2009 flock to the country this August, with an increase of more than 1,000 visitors when compared to the same month last year.

Sanjika Perera, UK director of tourism, said that it was great to see people have renewed faith in the safety of the country and the value for money it offers.

Figures from the Pacific Asia Travel Association recently showed increased travel demand to Sri Lanka, rising by 28 per cent when compared to last year.

One of four Central Oregonians who sold investments in a fraudulent time-share investment scheme that raised more than $428 million from investors across the country told NewsChannel 21 Thursday, "We were as deceived as anyone."

The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services announced Thursday it has levied fines in excess of $2 million against American-, Mexican-, and Panamanian-based companies and 10 individuals for unlawfully soliciting funds from Oregon residents in a complex investment scheme that raised more than $428 million from investors nationwide.

Oregon residents, many of them elderly, alone lost more than $5 million.

The parties sold unregistered securities using numerous fraudulent misrepresentations. The securities involved the sale of time shares in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula that would be rented by related or affiliated companies, and were described as universal leases, in exchange for a supposed high yearly return.

In reality, there were few properties and almost no rental income, and funds obtained from the timeshare "purchases" were used to pay already-established investors, until the entire scheme collapsed under its own weight, according to final cease-and-desist orders issued by the department's Division of Finance and Corporate Securities.

"It's unfortunate that many elderly Oregonians lost their hard-earned retirement funds by unwittingly investing in this scheme," said David Tatman, division administrator.

Named in the orders, among others, are Yucatan Resorts, Resorts Holdings International, and World Phantasy Tours. The division also took action against the scheme's founder, Michael E. Kelly of Indiana, as well as Ruttenberg and Associates Financial Marketing, based in Illinois, the firm that spearheaded the unlawful sales efforts in the Pacific Northwest. Each were assessed a $300,000 fine.

The Oregon-based independent salespersons, who reaped lucrative commissions from their sales activities, include Stephen Monroe, Portland; Dale Lauder, Wilsonville; Roger Stewart, Douglas Laird, and Bill Boedeker (aka Billy Lynn Boedeker), North Bend; Lawrence Beard and Joel Whaley, Prineville; Kenneth Christensen, Bend; Royal Edwards, Redmond; and James Theeler, Salem.

In total, salespersons were assessed fines in the amount of $738,525. The division's orders strictly prohibit them from raising capital, formally or informally, from other individuals for use or investment on their behalf.

Because eight of the salespersons were insurance agents, the department's Insurance Division is also investigating.

Oregon is not the only government entity to take action against some of those involved: at least 10 state securities regulators have filed or concluded civil action; the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has a pending civil case, and the U.S. Department of Justice has a pending criminal case.

"We were very small players in this whole thing," Royal Edwards of Redmond told NewsChannel 21. "We checked it out as thoroughly as we could," but didn't check with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"It's our fault we didn't think of that," Edwards said.

Kevin Anselm of the state Department of Consumer and Business Services said none of the Oregon salespeople face federal charges, but payment plans were worked out with those 10 individuals.

"It's more complicated with the companies," due to their location, she told NewsChannel 21 and KTVZ.COM. "Some are in bankruptcy, so some are not collectible, but we have it (the orders) out there, if it ever becomes collectible."

Anselm said the companies held national-level training sessions between 1999 and 2004.

"Unfortunately, local agents got involved," she said, and it all began to unravel when "people stopped getting payments" that they expected.

"Just like any other Ponzi scheme, the money ran out," and complaints arose, Anselm said, so states began comparing notes with federal regulators.

Anselm said the local salespersons "didn't necessarily know" what they were selling was shady, "but they weren't licensed to sell local securities. They didn't know much about the securities at issue."

"But that's part of what goes into the training of licensed securities agents," she said. "I'm not saying there aren't licensed security agents who do the wrong thing - we have a lot of that, too. But you need to check to see if they are licensed to really sell what they are selling."

"These kinds of things are happening to people who consider themselves savvy investors - and are savvy investors," Anselm added. "They just need to check out what they are buying."

And selling, in the case of folks like Edwards.

"They sent us down to Mexico ... We saw all the assets and everything," he said. "There were probably 25 people when we went."

The Redmond man called it "a little bit annoying" that the state had announced the conclusion of the case by news release and "tarnished" the reputation of long-time residents.

"The unfortunate part is, we were deceived the same way," Edwards said. "They held out money we never got paid for. Money was taken and not returned. We never got paid commission, so we were victims, too."

"It's one of those things you regret," he said. "We've done everything to get returns for these people (investors), but it's in the hands of a conservator."

Edwards said "I honestly don't remember" the total sum of his settlement with the state and would have to look it up, but added, "Most of the fine was deferred. It was a ‘cease and desist' kind of thing."

Tatman encouraged investors to contact the division before making any type of investment to determine if the salesperson is licensed.

"While the subject of the fraudulent investments can be diverse - from timeshares to technology to commodities like silver and gold - the one characteristic they share is that they are sold by agents who are not licensed to sell securities," Tatman said. "State licenses are not 'one-size-fits-all.' For example, an insurance agent is by no means automatically authorized to sell investments."

Investors should look for "red flags" such as the lack of meaningful information on a potential investment opportunity. "In this case, investors received almost no information about the company involved, especially their capitalization and operating histories," Tatman said.

DFCS advises consumers to do their homework before doing business with any financial professional. To check an individual's credentials and licensing history, call DFCS toll-free in Oregon at 1-866-814-9710, 503-378-4140, or go to www.dfcs.oregon.gov.

Residents continued voicing opposition to a timeshare development in Diamond Point this week, even after developers said changes to the project were being made to accommodate concerns.

The town’s Planning Board kept the public hearing open after project leaders promised to come back with new maps and designs for Lake Shore Lodges, which proposes building 45 timeshare units along Route 9N at what is now the Family Suites Motel and a single-family home across the street.

Meanwhile, those who would be neighbors of the development are still opposed.

"It’s a lot of people right by the lake," neighbor Christine McKenna said, "but it’s what the town wants."

McKenna said her long strip of land neighbors 13 other properties, and all of those residents are also opposed.

However, only four residents spoke at Tuesday’s public hearing.

"I think its terribly important that this project meet code," Melissa Vito said. "We can wait till a project comes along that meets code. There’s no reason we have to approve this project."

Vito said the board should protect the lake, and implied that approving this project does not do so.

Neighbor Mike Seguljic told the board to carefully assess the project’s density, and echoed Vito’s concerns about the lake’s water quality.

"If we don’t start getting a handle on the quality of Lake George’s water," he said, "it might be changed forever."

Tom Wessling, who owns the Blue Lagoon Resort, north of the proposed development, urged the board to issue restrictions to construction during tourist season.

John Lemery, attorney and spokesman for the project, said developers are moving the proposed pool and restaurant away from the lakeside parcel after some 10 residents spoke at last month’s public hearing. Moving the pool to the other side of the street means construction crews won’t have to blast near the lake.

Developers need full approval from the Planning Board before they can move forward with the project.

Lemery reiterated plans for a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant and said some neighbors, including McKenna, will hook up to the development’s water pipes and sewer system. He also spoke of a shuttle that would move tourists back and forth between buildings to avoid them having to cross busy Route 9N.

"As a result of our moving the pool and the restaurant, the height of the lakeside building will come down considerably," he said.

Developers still did not disclose the total proposed square footage of the buildings, since they said they are still working that out.

But residents were left with questions about wetlands on the property.

Zoning Enforcement Officer Robert Hickey said the Adirondack Park Agency only found wetlands on the south side of the upland parcel.

APA spokesman Keith McKeever confirmed that, and said wetlands were found in May 2008.

When engineer Tom Suozzo was about to pull out a map, Lemery whispered something inaudible into the engineer’s ear, rousing a collective groan from the crowd.

At first, Suozzo said he was not sure how much of the land is considered wetlands, but after being pushed by the board, he estimated 0.8 acres.

Kathleen Bozony of the Lake George Waterkeeper said the proposed changes are headed in the right direction, but she is hesitant to form an opinion until she sees the plans on paper.

"Until I see them down as changes, it’s hard to comment," she said.

Aloft, the highly anticipated new brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc, recently reported plans to open hotels in several capital cities, including Beijing, Sydney and Bangkok.

Aloft Bangkok will feature 308 rooms when it opens in 2010. The hotel will offer conference rooms, a restaurant and bar, indoor pools and fitness facilities. Additionally the hotel will be located nearby the shopping and entertainment districts.

Aloft Beijing will offer a mixed-us facility including offices and residences along with the Four Points hotel. The 200-room aloft Beijing will be built in the Haidan district, formerly a technology hotspot in Beijing. Conference rooms, swimming pools, a fitness room and three restaurants will be the features attractions on the aloft Beijing.

Aloft Sydney Airport will be built less than a one-mile from the Sydney International Airport. The hotel will offer 161 rooms, conference areas, and a self-serve pantry with healthy and convenient foods and drinks.

The president of Starwood Luxury Brands Group and aloft hotels, Ross Klein said, "Bangkok is one of Asia's most important economic and lifestyle centers, with it many modern cafes, markets and entertainment options. Our mission with aloft is to offer a stylish lodging alternative to travelers around the world. With the addition of aloft Bangkok, now there's a fun new way to play and stay in the 'Venice of the East'"

The President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific, Miguel Ko reported, "Aloft has the distinction of being the most successful global brand launch in the industry with over 50 contracts signed in the first year of its introduction. We have worked closely with key developers and guest across Asia Pacific to customize our prototype and signature features specifically for this market, to create an efficient product that guest will love. We are excited to be introducing aloft to Asia Pacific and are looking forward to introducing more aloft hotels to other cities in the near future."

Aloft, as a Vision of W Hotels, is stirring things up in the hospitality industry with a modern city-sophisticate design, accessible technology, and a friendly environment. Initially launched in the latter part of 2006 in Hong Kong and in 2007 at Mumbai, aloft provides a complete sensory experience, with spacious lofts and brightly airy atmosphere. The bed and bath contains comfortable oversized beds and showers. Wireless Internet and networking solutions for various devices, including laptops, cell phones and PDAs is available in every room along with a state-of-the-art widescreen HDTV.

The aloft brand continues in the true sense the W Hotels commitment to bringing people together. Every aloft resort is design with several social areas that encourage people to come together and mingle. The 24-hour food and drink bar is a perfect way for guests to grab a bite on the go. To learn more, visit www.alofthotels.com

Aloft is the newest destination resort from the W Hotel family offering a loft-based design, accessible technology and a hip urban feel. The first aloft hotel is expected to open in 2008, with 500 locations expected by 2012.

With the recession at hand, timeshare owners will be more cautious about spending for their holidays.

That’s why bargain destinations have a premium these days. According to thetravelmagazine.net, vacationers are more likely to take shorter breaks to cut spending.

According to the online magazine’s editor—Sharron Livingston—the failures of airlines and travel agencies shows the modification of traveler behavior, prompting the need to be more cautious in expenditures.

Livingston says that people who are opting for shorter stays are getting better bargains.

According to research from Accenture, two out of three Brits believe the price is the most important factor upon deciding whether or not to go on vacation. The research also indicated that most Brits intend to continue their vacation plans within the next year, despite the recession.

Despite tighter credit markets and high unemployment rates, the U.S. timeshare industry continues to demonstrate its resilience.

Although overall sales continue to reflect the national trend of lower consumer spending, timeshare owners continue to enjoy their pre-paid timeshare vacations, with an 80 percent occupancy rate and an 86 percent product approval rate. This compares with a 60.4 percent hotel occupancy rate, according to Smith Travel Research.

"The downturn in our economy has hit the tourism industry particularly hard; the timeshare segment, however, due in part to its pre-paid nature, is better equipped than most to weather a downturn," said Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). "The good news is that timeshare owners are still vacationing, and occupancy remains strong. Coupled with our industry's emphasis on new efficiencies and improvements to our business model, we will come through the current downturn and be ready to meet the expectations of customers."

Preliminary 2009 second quarter research indicates that nine out of 10 owners were current on monthly payments, a .2 percent increase over the preceding quarter. Sales efficiencies have improved, as measured by Volume Per Guest (VPG) of $2,043 that was up by two percent from the previous quarter level.

In addition, use of exchange options that offer timeshare owners the ability to trade resort destinations other than those of their "home resort" location are also strong, demonstrating that owners continue to enjoy their timeshares.

Several leading timeshare developers agree with Nusbaum's outlook. "We've had the best summer on record, and sales continue to be robust. Just because the economy has slowed doesn't mean we have stopped doing what we do—we've taken a closer look at how we can refine our processes and products to deliver memorable vacations that families want to come back to year after year," said Don Harrill, president and CEO of Holiday Inn Club Vacations.

"At Disney, we have confidence in vacation ownership. In fact, we're enlarging our footprint outside of the Orlando area by the opening of our newest resort in California and developing one in Hawaii," added James M. Lewis, president of Disney Vacation Club.

Sergio Rivera, CEO for Starwood Vacation Ownership said, "Closing rates have held up better than expected given the discretionary nature of the product. This supports our belief that consumer dynamics will be strong over the long run."

This comes as no surprise to David Palmer, CFO of Diamond Resorts International. "Our closing rates this year are identical to those last year, and our collections remain strong. Additionally, our diversified cash flow business model has allowed us to substantially decrease our reliance on the capital markets."

Most developers report that decreased sales, in part, are a result of purposely slowed sales to maintain a healthy cash flow during the tightened credit market environment. In addition, the industry expects to limit new construction until inventory levels are reduced.

"An increase in volume aided by improving consumer sentiment and recovering capital markets will accelerate absorption," said Nusbaum. "Most of all, demographics are on our side, with baby boomers and succeeding generations eager to purchase a piece of flexible vacation real estate, allowing them the better vacationing and the undeniable value proposition that timeshare offers. Our industry is primed to fulfill the increased consumer demand for quality vacation experiences."

EasyJet is adding some new flights to Dusseldorf.

Airline easyJet has announced it is expanding its services to Dusseldorf with a new daily flight from London Gatwick starting on February 2nd 2010.

The UK's largest airline is also opening up a new daily service from Rome Fuminchino, which will commence from February 1st next year.

Timeshare owners will be able to get their hands on the tickets from £29.99 one way and easyJet expects these routes to be particularly popular with business passengers.

However, the airline pointed out that Dusseldorf is a modern city offering timeshare owners a vibrant cultural scene and healthy nightlife.

The destination is the capital of the North-Rhine Westphalia and has 17 million inhabitants, noted easyJet, which is planning to introduce 29 new routes this winter.

It recently announced a 20 per cent reduction in its flying programme at Luton and a close of operations at its East Midlands base, moving this capacity to what it called more profitable airports.

Holidaymakers are said to be looking more to non-eurozone destinations such as Morocco now.

British timeshare owners are now looking to looking at non-eurozone destinations like Morocco and Turkey for their travels, it has been said.

Global sales director at Cheapflights.co.uk Francesca Ecsery revealed her organisation has seen a rise in non eurozone searches with people looking more at Turkey and Morroco.

Other destinations that are proving popular include those that are not too far from the typical places that travellers go to, that are easy to access and are cheap.

She said that flight comparison sites helped consumers by making it easier for them to search for the latest deals.

A report from Which? recently found that Travelsupermarket.com was easiest to use with good fare results on its deals.

It took a score of 84 per cent with its user-friendly pages and good fare results based on its deals with 39 airlines and online agents.

Skyscanner.net, meanwhile, scored 76 per cent with Flightchecker.co.uk named as the most disappointing site.

Bryan Lunt, Chairman of the Absolute World Group said: “Fractional ownership is the perfect antidote to the current financial climate and makes so much sense."

The Registry Collection®, the world’s largest luxury exchange programme and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), today announced the affiliation of Absolute Developments to its programme, adding six new resorts to its global network of luxury properties.

“We are delighted to welcome Absolute Developments to The Registry Collection,” said Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, Group RCI, parent company of The Registry Collection. “This relationship not only provides us with an opportunity to work with one of the leading developers of mixed-used resort operations in Asia, but also marks a significant achievement in securing the first properties for The Registry Collection in Asia. Thailand in particular is home to a wealth of five-star resort developments and idyllic beach locations which have succeeded in attracting international jetsetters for some years, and these six properties will help to give our members the luxury travel experience they expect from The Registry Collection.”

Analysts report that investment in Asian real estate has increased by more than 40 per cent this year with wealthy buyers returning to Asia raising levels of cross-border activity. Buyers are following global trends of looking for increased value in their spend which is a strength of the product.

“The fractional concept is relatively new to Asia and Absolute is bringing its expertise of shared-ownership, great brand strength and sales and marketing expertise to Thailand. We believe Absolute will be very successful in this fast-growing market and are thrilled to be partnered with them,” Ballotti added.

Bryan Lunt, Chairman of the Absolute World Group said: “Fractional ownership is the perfect antidote to the current financial climate and makes so much sense. Buying fractional allows you to actually purchase your dream holiday home, hassle-free, for only the time you would use it. We offer a stunning collection of properties, all exquisitely furnished with exclusive benefits such as the use of speedboats, spas, golf equipment, luxury airport transfer and the privilege of membership. Our target market is a discerning purchaser seeking high quality accommodation and excellent service.

The Registry Collection Programme provides members with access to an elite global network of the very finest vacation properties at some of the world’s premier destinations, as well as personal concierge services that are available 24-hours a day. More than 160 properties available through the programme are either accessible for exchange or under development.

“The Registry Collection complements our offering perfectly. Should our owners want a change from Thailand, through our affiliation they can choose to exchange stay periods in their owned property for stays in properties worldwide which are associated with the programme, confident that their experience and accommodation will be of the same high quality as their owned resort. Other benefits include the use of the programme’s 24/7 concierge services, and access to its Collection Partners luxury leisure and travel services. We are delighted to be working with them.”

The newly affiliated properties are located in Thailand and include two resorts from Absolute’s partnership with the world leading yoo brand, yooPhuket and yooSamui, as well as Absolute Platinum Suites, Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay Bay, Absolute Bangla Suites and Absolute Villas at Palm Grove, Jomtien. Of these properties Absolute Bangla Suites and Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay Bay are opening this year and yooPhuket is now in launch phase.

“We are very proud to add this calibre of development to The Registry Collection,” said Jonathan Back, Managing Director, Group RCI, EMEAI. “Our goal is to offer our members the finest vacation destinations in the world. Working with affiliates like Absolute Developments ensures that our members receive exactly the world-class luxury travel experience they desire. The style, feel, design and location of these properties are in essence what The Registry Collection is all about. We are very pleased to be able to announce Absolute as our first affiliate in Asia and look forward to working with them to achieve strong growth throughout the region over the next few years.”

About the properties

yooPhuket – an Absolute development in partnership with YOO. yooPhuket is a spectacular collection of stylish mixed use apartments and penthouses situated between three of Thailand’s leading Golf courses and a mere 10 minute drive to the island’s best beaches. It will offer all the services and facilities visitors would expect from a world-class development. Launching Q4 2009.

yooSamui - an Absolute development in partnership with YOO. yooSamui is an exclusive boutique beachfront mixed use development located at the southern tip of Koh Samui, Thailand's third biggest island. yooSamui sits on the water’s edge and commands some of the most relaxing views in the world. Launching Q3 2010.

Absolute Beach Resort at Nakalay - located at a private cove of Nakalay beach on the Western coast of Phuket Island. The resort offers beachfront luxury studios, one and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses with stunning panoramic views of the Andaman Sea and jungle-clad mountains. Opening Q4 2009.

Absolute Bangla Suites - the stylishly contemporary designed boutique resort hotel is situated in the heart of Phuket’s nightlife, dining, entertainment and shopping hub in Patong. It will offer a selection of 27 studios, nine junior suites, seven executive suites, and two grand suites, many with private terrace jacuzzis. Opening Q3 2009.

Absolute Signature Villas at Palm Grove, Jomtien - a boutique hotel in Na-Jomtien, only 15 minutes’ drive from Pattaya. Its Private Pool Villa Suites nestle among lush tropical gardens and furnished in the Thai contemporary style and offering a first class service. Now open.

Absolute Platinum Suites - comprised of exclusive studios, one and two-bedroom suites, Absolute Platinum Suites is located in the popular tourist resort of Jomtien, Pattaya. This stylish resort boasts a 60m swimming pool and also offers guests a first class concierge service and premium facilities. Opening Q3 2010.

About Absolute Developments

Absolute World Group of Companies is Asia's market leader in mixed-use resort development, as well as an international company offering a range of integrated services including a worldwide network of international estate agencies and a vacation club used by thousands of members. It has offices in Thailand, China, Russia, Europe and Hong Kong, and employs more than 850 staff.

Absolute Developments deals with high-end luxury resort destinations including private pool villas, boutique resorts and multi-storey condominiums. The Absolute World Group has wide-ranging experience in property development, hotel management, fractional vacation ownership and rentals.

Absolute Developments is committed to delivering heavenly resort destinations, from conception to completion and beyond, with the added value of its dedicated turnkey resort management service.

About yoo

yoo is an international branding, design and investment property company enhancing the quality and adding value to development projects in major towns and cities across the world.

The brand is represented by five core design teams – yoo inspired by Starck, Jade Jagger for yoo, wanders&yoo, Kelly Hoppen for yoo and the yoo Design Studio; all of whom increase value and sales velocity through market leading design, branded marketing and by maximizing media exposure.

Over the past 10 years yoo has been working across the world with international partners on a variety of landmark buildings and large residential projects throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America and the Middle East. yoo is involved in the development of 10,000 apartments currently under construction valued at $7 billion.

About The Registry Collection

The Registry Collection Programme is a global network comprising over 35,000 members and more than 130 affiliates on five continents. More than 160 properties available through the programme are either accessible for exchange or under development. As the world’s largest luxury exchange programme, The Registry Collection Programme provides members with access to an elite global network of the very finest vacation properties at some of the world’s premier destinations, as well as personal concierge services that are available 24-hours a day. From condo hotels and high-end fractional resorts to private residence clubs and fractional yachts, The Registry Collection Programme facilitates exchanges around the world and redefines the vacation experience for owners and developers. The Registry Collection Programme is offered by Group RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN).

Bits of Europe are already seeing snowfall, according to reports.

For those timeshare holidaymakers planning some skiing or snowboarding activity this year will be pleased to learn that snow has already begun to fall in Switzerland and the Eastern Alps.

Airline bmibaby has said these early snowfalls are great news for the upcoming ski season, offering timeshare owners flights to top destinations from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.

It noted that thrill seekers can get on a flight to Geneva and test their skills out on a glacier, with 11 to test out in Saas Fee and Zermatt in Switzerland.

The airline reported that there are 35 ski resorts within an hour of Geneva, 17 within an hour of Grenoble.

Bmibaby flies to both of these destinations from a number of facilities in the UK, including Cardiff Airport and Manchester Airport.

Earlier this month, bmibaby launched its annual fundraising appeal for BBC Children in Need 2009 which giving timeshare owners can contribute to while onboard.

When weekly maintenance fees for The Point at Po‘ipu on the South Shore grew over 50 percent in just two years, timeshare owner Myra Orta became livid.

“They’re going to bleed us dry,” she said, directing her ire to the property’s management company, Las Vegas-based Diamond Resorts International.

Not only did fees double from $695 in 2001 to over $1,400 per week in 2009, owners complain they have little to no say when it comes to maintenance and management fees, as the majority of Vacation Owners Association and Association of Apartment Owners board members are also employees of DRI.

“With that, they effectively control all economic decisions of The Point at Po‘ipu,” three-week deeded timeshare owner Richard Batchelder said Friday.

The board members were “duly elected” by owners and the election was in accordance with Hawai‘i law, said DRI Executive Vice President and General Counsel Elizabeth Brennan in a phone interview last week. There are three “developer reps” on the five-member board and the reason they unanimously voted to up maintenance fees, she said, was largely due to high operational costs and the need for the budget to cover expenses.

“The increase is because the cost of doing business in Hawai‘i has increased tremendously,” Brennan said.

Expenses include electricity, freight, employee wages and benefits, taxes and other operating costs.

Batchelder disagrees.

“The high cost of living has nothing to do with the administrative cost,” he said.

There was some $1.5 million in “pure profit” based on “management or administrative fees” in 2008 and 2009, said Batchelder, who attended the Aug. 21 board meeting in Las Vegas.

“And they’ll do the same thing in 2010,” he said.

Batchelder and Orta are part of a group of “concerned deeded owners” who “mean business” and are united in an attempt to take back control of their properties, Orta said.

Less than 10 percent of the property is actually owned by DRI, they said.

“It’s a matter of the owners taking legal steps to bring the management company to the table to get something done,” said Janas Consulting Management Consultant Mike Givens, who touts over 35 years experience in the visitor industry. “As long as the majority of owners desire to do so, they can remove management.”

With a sold-out resort and some 10,000 owners sharing over 90 percent of the property, the coup is definitely feasible, he said, acknowledging the “spitfire” group of some 230 owners that has already formed.

“We have to kick out the management company,” said Orta, secretary of the newly formed organization.

Brennan said all money is accounted for and that DRI is following all relevant laws.

“We take our customer service seriously; it is very important to us,” she said. “We want to make people happy.”

When asked to specify what maintenance fees were being used for, Brennan said employee salaries are largely the reason for the major increases.

For example, salaries and benefits in 2006 cost some $3.5 million, but in 2010 they are expected to cost approximately $5.5 million.

“We have to keep in competition with other resorts and hotels,” she said.

Prior to 2006, staffing was lower, which caused check-in time to be slower than what timeshare owners expected, she added.

“Staffing levels increased due to owner demand,” she said. “We had to accommodate check-in times.”

In addition, as the property continues to age, more maintenance staff is required which, in turn, boosts fees even higher, she said, leading to a department which costs roughly $1.8 million per year.

Brennan said over the past five years there was a 31 percent increase in utility costs, which are projected to come in at some $1.9 million in 2010. New flat screen TVs, small appliance replacements, new carpet and upgraded fire alarms are just a few other reasons she cited for growing fees.

The total operating expense are approximately $15 million a year, Batchelder said.

“We are attempting to get other management companies on Kaua‘i to give us bids, but the board will not approve this,” he said.

The bottom line, however, is the “management or administrative fee” which the owners do have a say about, Givens said.

“We’re getting a black eye from a management company that doesn’t even come from the island and lacks the ‘ohana,” he said. “It’s a growing problem. They’re raiding the piggy bank and not being fair.”

Hanalei Bay Resort, whose management company is Florida-based Celebrity Resorts, and Ka‘anapali Beach Club, managed by DRI, are enduring similar complications.

The good news, Givens said, is that it “can be nipped in the bud,” but will take progressive efforts from owners.

“We have a full customer service department here to ensure that the Po‘ipu owners concerns are met,” Brennan said.

A phone number has been set up specifically for The Point at Po‘ipu owners, according to Brennan. The number is 800-332-3120 and information can also be obtained online at www.diamondresortshoa.com.

“You hate to see this,” Givens said. “You don’t want to treat people this way.”

We are happy to announce the launch of a new website which provides impartial, free of charge help and information for Timeshare consumers.

Over the years there have been a number of questions and issues that seem to be raised time and time again. The idea of this website is to bring together a body of information that will provide answers to these questions in a clear and understandable format.
Moreover, if the consumer is unable to find the information they require from the website, we have formed a dedicated Consumer Assistance Team who will be able to answer consumer questions either via email or the telephone.

Whilst the website is still in its infancy, there is already a large amount of content dealing with the most pertinent aspects of the Timeshare and holiday industry. This information will be constantly updated and we hope it will soon become the most comprehensive source of Timeshare knowledge anywhere on the internet.

Some holidaymakers are said to be confused about various currencies outside of the eurozone.

Travellers heading on breaks outside the eurozone are getting confused by local currencies in countries such as Turkey and Egypt, it has been said.

Recent research from Thomas Cook Foreign Exchange has revealed that 28 per cent of travellers have admitted to doing little or not a significant amount of research into how much daily costs are in the countries they visit on holiday.

Over a fifth (23 per cent) of respondents, meanwhile, said they had wasted funds by paying more for some goods than they had hoped just because they were not sure about the local currency.

Stephen Heath, chief executive at FairFX.com, said that the pound has depreciated by 18 to 20 per cent since a year ago, meaning that now people are heading to areas such as Turkey and do not have as much knowledge about the currencies in those countries and the value of them.

A residence club in North Lake Tahoe named Tonopalo has sold out with 1/7th chapter fractional ownerships bought from $350,000 (£218,695) to $850,000 (£531,117).

Opened in 2003, the resort is managed by ResortCom Elite and is a 19-unit luxury private residence club.

All of the 3 and 4-bedroom homes are fully furnished and come with large living and dining areas as well as fireplaces, double master bedrooms and gourmet kitchens.

Tom LaTour, founder of LaTour Signature Group, said he was not surprised at how quickly Tonopalo sold out as it is a great opportunity for anyone who is looking to own a piece of the playground of the Pacific West.

He added that the resort offers top amenities and services to its owners in the picturesque setting of Lake Tahoe.

ResortCom International was previously known as Resort Communications and has been in business since 1985.

Besides resort management, it also provides rental and travel services.

Property timeshare purchases in the US have fallen the most this year since the industry first became popular in the 1970s as buyers desert the sector.

Sales are expected to be down 30% by the end of the year compared with 2008, according to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

Howard Nusbaum, president of the Washington based trade group said that the market will remain challenging for the next 18 months as research shows that timeshare has lost its appeal.

‘Timeshares are just very, very discretionary items. It’s the perpetual vacation. Buyers are pre-paying for the ability to take a vacation every year. Under current economic circumstances people are more reluctant to pay for that,’ said Chris Woronka, an analyst at Deutsche Bank Securities in New York.

US timeshare sales dropped 8.5% last year to $9.7 billion from a peak of $10.6 billion in 2007, excluding the luxury fractional business and private residence clubs, according to a study by Ernst & Young for ARDA.

The decline was the industry’s first since 1975 and is being driven by tighter credit, a higher personal savings rate and the loss of 6.9 million jobs since the recession started in December 2007.

Last month Marriott International, the largest US hotel chain, said it will cut prices, halt development at some residential resorts and at some luxury fractional ownership properties, and sell some undeveloped land.

‘We have enough inventory to last a few years.

Prices are not likely to turn around in the near term. Given the development risk, we plan to complete the inventory we have under way, but not develop any more,’ said Laura Paugh, senior vice president of investor relations at Marriott.

Wyndham Worldwide, the largest seller of timeshare vacation units, said it expects sales in 2009 to be down as much as 40%.

There is much debate as to whether the sector can weather the downturn sufficiently to attract investors back.

‘The main obstacle for the industry is that there will be a semi-permanent reduction in demand because developers would sell to people with relatively low credit scores,’ explained Woronka.

‘That won’t be possible anymore.

Your pool of buyers will be much smaller from now on,’ he added.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide saw timeshare sales fall 48% in the fourth quarter of 2008. It has closed nine sales centres and cut 900 jobs.

‘Our sense is that the timeshare industry is less optimistic about any near-term recovery than is the hotel industry, as the timeshare industry’s hands are tied by the availability or lack of financing,’ said Patrick Scholes, senior equity research analyst at FBR Capital Markets.

However Paugh is confident that the good times will return.

‘I don’t think timeshares are out of style. Customers really do like it,’ she said.

Timeshare owners have been urged to travel by train on their holidays to improve their carbon footprint.

Eurostar's head of environment and energy Louisa Bell has followed up the aviation industry's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2050 by reminding travellers of the benefits of high-speed rail services in Europe.

The company has already made the commitment to reduce its own per passenger journey emissions by 35 per cent by 2012, from a 2007 baseline.

Ms Bell explained that high speed rail offers a 90 per cent cut in journey emissions, with a Eurostar trip generating just ten per cent of the CO2 emissions of an equivalent flight.

She added that more than half the market in Europe prefers rail to air for journeys of up to four hours.

The market share is greater over shorter journeys, such as between Britain and timeshare properties in France, Ms Bell continued.

Eurostar recorded its 100 millionth customer journey on August 28th. The rail company is collaborating with Friends of the Earth to reduce its carbon emissions under its Tread Lightly environmental plan.

U.S. vacation timeshare sales may fall the most this year since the industry gained popularity in the 1970s as consumers forgo spending to ride out the recession.

Sales may drop 30 percent this year from 2008, said Howard Nusbaum, president and chief executive officer of the American Resort Development Association, a Washington-based trade group. The market “will be a challenge for at least the next 18 months,” Patrick Scholes, senior equity research analyst at FBR Capital Markets & Co. said this month.

“Timeshares are just very, very discretionary items,” said Chris Woronka, an analyst at Deutsche Bank Securities in New York. “It’s the perpetual vacation. I am prepaying for the ability to take a vacation every year. Under the current circumstances, people are more reluctant to pay for that.”

U.S. timeshare sales dropped 8.5 percent last year to $9.7 billion from a peak of $10.6 billion in 2007, excluding the luxury fractional business and private residence clubs, according to an Ernst & Young LLP study prepared for ARDA. The decline was the industry’s first since 1975 and is being driven by tighter credit, a higher personal savings rate and the loss of 6.9 million jobs since the recession started in December 2007.

Marriott’s Charge

Marriott International Inc., the largest U.S. hotel chain, said last week it will take a third-quarter pretax charge of $760 million in its timeshare business. The company will cut prices, halt development at some residential resorts and at some luxury fractional ownership properties, and sell some undeveloped land.

“We have enough inventory to last a few years,” Laura Paugh, senior vice president of investor relations at Marriott, said in a telephone interview. “Prices are not likely to turn around in the near term. Given the development risk, we plan to complete the inventory we have under way, but not develop any more.”

Wyndham Worldwide Corp., the largest seller of timeshare vacation units, in December said it would cut 40 percent of those sales in 2009.

Timeshares give owners the right to use a property for a set period of time each year, typically a week. Fractional ownership plans usually offer longer stays at a property and tend to include more services and amenities, according to ARDA.

For hotel companies, the businesses can build customer loyalty, Marriott’s Paugh said.

‘Buy the Hotel’

Timeshares first emerged in the 1960s, according to Group RCI, Wyndham’s vacation rental and timeshare unit. According to RCI’s Web site, a hotelier in the French Alps marketed the world’s first timeshare development with the slogan, “No need to rent the room, buy the hotel -- it’s cheaper!” The concept moved to the U.S. in the 1970s, initially in Florida, the state with the most timeshare resorts, according to RCI.

“The main obstacle for the industry is that there will be a semi-permanent reduction in demand because developers would sell to people with relatively low credit scores,” said Deutsche Bank’s Woronka. “That won’t be possible anymore. Your pool of buyers will be much smaller from now on.”

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., the third-largest U.S. lodging company, may also have to “recognize significant timeshare impairments” since it has more high-end timeshares than Marriott, David Loeb, an analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co., said in a note this month.

Demand Drops

Starwood’s fourth-quarter timeshare sales fell 48 percent, the company said in January. It closed nine sales centers and cut 900 employees from the division since the start of 2008.

K.C. Kavanagh, a Starwood spokesman, declined to comment.

“Our sense is that the timeshare industry is less optimistic about any near-term recovery than is the hotel industry, as the timeshare industry’s hands are tied by the availability -- or lack -- of financing,” Scholes said in a note this month.

On Sellatimeshare.com, a one-bedroom, one-week timeshare at the Marriott Aruba Surf Club is being offered for $25,900.

The Web site includes the testimonial of a client who sold her unit at the Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort and Casino for $5,000.

On Timeshareadventures.com, a two bedroom, two-bath one- week timeshare at Marriott’s Canyon Villas at Desert Ridge in Arizona was for sale for $25,000. The annual maintenance fees and taxes are $900. The property includes a golf course, tennis courts and spa.

Plenty of Ads

A one-week, every-other-year unit at Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club timeshare resort in Oahu, Hawaii, is advertised for $15,999. The annual maintenance and taxes on the two bedroom, two bath are $728.

Mark Massarelli, who runs Dynasty Limousine in Boston, has been trying to sell one of two timeshares in Hollywood, Florida, that he and his sister inherited from their mother. He has been advertising a one-bedroom, one-bath unit on Craigslist.org for six months. It’s at a full-service oceanfront property with access to an 18-hole golf course.

Massarelli, 46, hasn’t received any inquiries even after cutting the price twice.

“I am offering it at $3,995 but its value right now is probably around $8,000,” Massarelli said in a telephone interview. “I tried to sell it a couple of times for a higher price but nobody bit. The maintenance and taxes on the unit are getting expensive. So I cut the price to attract more buyers, but nothing so far.”

Hotel Deals

The average sales price for timeshares in the U.S. climbed to $20,152 in 2008 from $15,790 in 2004. Occupancy remained little changed from 2005 to 2008 at about 82 percent, according to Ernst & Young. Average maintenance fees increased to $646 from $471 from 2005 through 2008.

“This year in particular, timeshare sales are down because hotel deals have been so good,” said Woronka. “Owners may think ‘I could have stayed at a luxury hotel for $150 a night and I am paying much more for this timeshare.’”

The luxury timeshare segment, where units can sell from $100,000 to more than $1 million, also is being hit, according FBR’s Scholes.

Demand for such rooms “was soft in 2008 and weakened further in 2009,” Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s president and chief operating officer, said on Sept. 23.

“I don’t think timeshares are out of style,” said Marriott’s Paugh. “Customers really do like it. But the returns we currently receive on our investment are disappointing. For us it’s probably not the place we want to put our money.”

The summer has made way for autumn and timeshare owners are being encouraged to embrace the season by enjoying nature.

Skyscanner has named a number of destinations where timeshare owners can see some fine foliage and stunning landscapes during the coming autumnal months.

One of these places is Samedan in Switzerland and a trip to the hills above the town provides hikers with a choice of trails from short rambles to multiday treks, the website revealed.

New England is one of the most popular autumn foliage destinations in the US, according to Skycanner, and in Maine colours come alive during this time.

Indeed, the whole state can be the ideal place for timeshare owners to enjoy an autumn holiday, the website said, while over in the Acadia National Park they will find a mix of maritime and seasonal traditions.

Elsewhere in the US, the Maryland Office of Tourism and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources have set up a hotline so travellers can find out when and where the leaves will be at their peak and what autumn festivals are taking place in the region during the season.