Europe & Middle East Articles

	Hots and Nots – 7 Trends for Boutique Design May 18, 2011 While boutique is a buzz word in the hospitality industry, delivering a truly unique and sensitive atmosphere is not easily obtained – or common. Through the years, we have seentrends move from “tone on tone” to “sea foam” to “black and more black” as a national phenomenon.

The Oasis at Golden Sands May 18, 2011 Located on 83,000 square meters of land in one of the most beautiful parts of the Northern side of the Island of Malta, The Oasis at Golden Sands is one of the most ambitious and creative developments to come to the market in recent years. The Oasis is set to become Malta’s main landmark and one of the most prestigious addresses within the Mediterranean region.

	Global Expansion Continues For Karma Royal Group May 16, 2011 The Karma Royal Group, led by its entrepreneurial chairman, John Spence, has purchased the Alpen Club from its previous owner, Diamond Resorts, and has acquired Royal Himalayan Club at Shimla, India.

	Cloud-based Computing – Changing the Game in Vacation Ownership Software May 16, 2011 The cloud finally makes cutting edge technology affordable, accessible and easy to use for all resorts whatever their size. Merlin Software for Vacation Ownership, leaders in the development of cloud computing software, is the only resort software you will ever need.

	The Hideaways Club – Investment and Lifestyle Uniquely Combined May 16, 2011 The Hideaways Club comprise two leading international property investment funds which offer members the opportunity to invest in and exclusively enjoy world-class accommodation across the globe.

Interest in Purchasing Vacation Homes Back to Pre-Crisis Levels May 16, 2011 The American Affluence Research Center is releasing its latest data in conjunction with the Global Networking Expo (GNEX) 2011. The data unveiled at the Bahamas event is the latest in a continuing series of twice-yearly surveys that focus on the 11.4 million households that represent the wealthiest 10% of all U.S. households.

	The Baglioni Marrakech April 13, 2011 When the doors to Marrakech’s best new address open next spring, Baglioni Hotels will showcase their signature five-star style in Morocco for the very first time. Behind the doors, luxury awaits.

	Emotion Vs Logic April 13, 2011 As sales professionals we like to think that we understand the role of emotion in sales. After all, isn’t one of our most basic tenets that clients need to be in an emotional state of mind to make a buying decision? Every sales manager we ever had taught us that…

	Dougie’s Teide Walk For Ingane Yami April 12, 2011 I can just about walk again after my gruelling charity walk/climb to the very top of the majestic Mount Teide. The conditions were appalling with temperatures dropping to around minus 14 on the day we climbed to the summit!

	Rosen through the ranks! April 12, 2011 From sales rep to recently appointed Project Director (PD), Paul Rosen is a perfect example of working the career ladder at Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels.

	Dial An Exchange On….. Being Direct April 12, 2011 Established in Australia in 1997, Dial An Exchange has been in business in the European market since 1999 as a relatively new addition to the exchange space globally.

An inspiring charity adventure: Join Michael from Italy to India… April 11, 2011 Michael Hobbs of Italian fractional developer Appassionata is a busy man. His demanding schedule consists of the running and maintenance of his luxury and boutique company Appassionata in Le Marche, Italy, with the help of his wife, interior designer Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs as well as their daughter India and her fiancé Charlie.

	New Year, New Directive, Good News April 11, 2011 As the brand new EU Timeshare Directive comes into force across 27 countries, Fiona Klonarides looks at the positive implications for both the timeshare and fractional industries, and why the new rules promise to be a breath of fresh air for consumers.

	Citadel Trustees Limited April 11, 2011 Protecting assets and creating opportunities, Citadel Trustees Ltd has been in business for a quarter of a century. As the leisure and property industries turn to the fractional model as the way forward, expertise in fractional structuring is more in demand than ever before.

	Tiger Woods. A study of excellence. February 23, 2011 All of us can think of somebody worthy of the description ‘excellent,’ somebody whose performance is so far above that of their peers it takes our breath away.

	Resort TV – An Effective New Outreach Channel February 22, 2011 Resort TV provides guests with an information portal where they can get everything they need to plan their day, their stay and perhaps even make the decision to buy that interval before heading down the sales office.

Blurring Lines Between Technology Sparks The Launch Of Perspective TV February 21, 2011 Perspective TV, as the platform will be known, will include a number of channels which are to be launched periodically over the next 24 months starting with a currently unnamed channel aimed at consumers and available via the Owners Perspective Magazine website which is on schedule to be launched as a Beta version by the end of Q1 and fully operational by end of Q2.

	The Future of Resales February 18, 2011 Resales has been a hotly debated topic for nearly as long as the existence of the timeshare industry itself. Whether it’s the need for a healthy resale industry, the process itself or the need to strengthen consumer protection, resales continues to be a lightning rod for the shared ownership industry.

	The Conference that “exceeded all expectations” – RDO1 “The Road Ahead” February 18, 2011 The first annual conference under RDO’s new name turned out to be a first for a number of reasons. Fractional ownership and social media were high on the agenda for the first time ever and the “new” setting was the five-star Don Carlos Resort in Marbella.

	Generational Marketing January 27, 2011 Today, four generations populate the workplace and the marketplace: Matures (born before 1946), Baby Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964), Generation X (born between 1965 and 1979), and Millennials (born between 1980 and 2000).

	King Sturge and Interval International Bolster Shared Ownership Awareness January 27, 2011 The one day event in London brought together international delegates, developers, suppliers and marketers – with financing, branding and consumer understanding among the hot topics on a full fractional-focused agenda

	Teide Walk Organised To Raise Funds For Ingane Yami January 26, 2011 The Teide Walk is in aid of Ingane Yami, a charity close to Dougie’s heart; that exists to rescue orphaned and abandoned children trapped in vulnerable circumstances and raise them in a loving family environment in order to restore their life.

	Natural Retreats January 26, 2011 While the UK is lapping up one of its best years ever for tourist numbers, one company that has found the sweet spot on the British and Irish holiday front is Natural Retreats. Fiona Klonarides meets founder Matthew Spence, the man behind a brand that is going places – from “best of British” to global in the not too distant future.

	Any Place, Any Time, Any Year… The Need for Diverse Resorts January 25, 2011 Destination resorts have come a long way since the first purpose-built complexes of the ‘60s. In those days, timeshares were about “same place, same time, next year”.

	Russian Summit 2010 Preview November 9, 2010 On 11 – 12 November, the Russian Summit will take place at Moscow’s World Trade Centre. The Russian Summit is the only conference and exhibition dedicated to helping international property developers and real estate agents do business in Russia.

	Talking Transparency October 20, 2010 Tackling one of shared ownership’s hottest buttons, Perspective Magazine’s Matt McDaniel talks with Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket Managing Director Phil Watson about why some companies resist being more transparent and how such a move may ultimately doom an operation.

	A List: Dimitris Manikis, Vice President Business Development Europe, RCI October 19, 2010 RCI’s Dimitris Manikis, Vice President Business Development, Europe, and one of the best-known faces in the business, shares his views on the future focus for the shared vacation ownership industry – as well as his experience as a happy timeshare owner.

	Spotlight: Citadel Trustees Limited October 19, 2010 Founded in 2007 to provide specific, bespoke trustee services to the fractional and shared ownership industries, Citadel Trustees Limited (Citadel) now has a team working worldwide, as far afield as Spain, India, Thailand and China.

	First National Trustee Company October 18, 2010 Lisa Migani, Director of Business Development at FNTC talks to Perspective Magazine about the company’s latest projects and shares her views on the untapped potential, the challenges and the shifting axis of global shared ownership.

	20:20 Vision October 18, 2010 So here we sit at the end of another decade – the first decade of the twenty first century, the first decade of the new millennium. What futuristic forecasts came to fruition, which prophesies fell by the wayside, and what happened that was completely foreseen?

	LEADING LIGHTS: A Spotlight On Suppliers Servicing Today’s Europe & Middle Eastern Regions October 18, 2010 We shine the spotlight on these leaders and ask them what trends they think we’ll be seeing over the next five to ten years…

	New Joint Venture For Club Puerto Atlantico October 17, 2010 Club Puerto Atlantico in Arguineguin is delighted to announce its joint venture with Atlantic Sands – a brand new luxury vacation ownership resort in Tauro.

	Business-Making in the Bahamas September 24, 2010 But the recently announced 1st Annual GNEX 2011 & Perspective Magazine Awards Gala is definitely their largest and most ambitious project to date.

	Marriott Switches to Points August 13, 2010 In 1984, Marriott became the first branded hospitality company by nearly a decade to enter the timeshare industry with the acquisition of American Resorts and its premier Marriott’s Monarch at Sea Pines resort on Hilton Head Island. And on June 21, 2010, Marriott Vacation Club made perhaps the company’s biggest announcement ever

	The Luxurious Key To Selling Property Internationally August 12, 2010 For luxury property providers and developers, targeting investors from overseas is vital. In the past twelve months, 45% of £2 million and above property purchases in the UK have been going to non-UK buyers and 60% in London.

	Karma Royal Group Sales Success August 12, 2010 Amongst a very hectic schedule, a rare opportunity arose recently for me to attend the Karma Royal Group (KRG) Annual Gala Awards and Party held in Goa, India, celebrating the success of its Indian timeshare operation.

	Lloydshare – The Premier Provider of Deferred Annuities Linked to Vacation Memberships August 12, 2010 When traveling to popular beach destinations in Mexico, such as the Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta and Los Cabos, return visitors often switch their commonplace style hotel stay to a more permanent investment, such as that offered by long term vacation ownership plans

Where’s Next? July 6, 2010 Although Costa Rica has been the real estate darling of Central America for the few years, Roatán, a bay island off the coast of Honduras, could be shaping up to usurp its place. “Honduras, and Roatán in particular, should become, if not the next big thing, at a minimum one of the big things in Central America,” says Gustavo de la Serna, Resort Condominium International’s business development director for Central America.

Resounding Success at RCI’s Asia Leisure Real Estate Symposium July 5, 2010 RCI Asia Leisure Real Estate Symposium was a resounding success with a great turnout/attendance from leisure real estate owners and developers, senior executives and decision makers in the hospitality and leisure real estate industries in Asia. “The BIG Reveal” Symposium was held over two days, April 22-23, at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Singapore.

	Delivering The Dream July 5, 2010 With competition for customer loyalty at an all-time high, it takes more than a chocolate on the pillow to woo a hotel guest these days, as Fiona Klonarides reports

10th Annual Ragatz Associates Fractional Interest Conference July 5, 2010 The 10th Annual Ragatz Associates Fractional Interest Conference was held at the Fairmont San Francisco, March 29th through March 31st, 2010. The event was co-hosted by the Registry Collection. The conference covered just about every area pertinent to fractionals, including feasibility, design, financing, legal issues, marketing, sales, management, exchange and implementation.

	Enduria Offers Sales and Marketing Expertise July 5, 2010 Newly formed company under the helm of John MacDonald and Darren Davies has plenty of real-world experience, and new endeavors with both Dreamplace and Puerto Calma benefit from it.

	Shared Ownership Summit Kicks Off Arabian Hotel Investment Conference July 2, 2010 The Shared Ownership Summit uncovered significant opportunities to unlock growth in the Middle East and North Africa. The Shared Ownership Summit was offered in association with this year’s Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), held on May 1 2010 at Madinat Jumeirah, Conference Centre, Dubai.

	TATOC Conference: Working Together July 2, 2010 The 2010 TATOC Conference, with the theme “Working Together,” was held 26-28 March at the Nottingham Belfry. The theme was certainly apropos – of the more than 130 people who attended the conference, about 58% of attendees were consumers and the rest were industry professionals, which is a typical breakdown for a TATOC meeting.

A List: Francis Taylor, CEO, Dial An Exchange International July 2, 2010 Francis Taylor, CEO of Dial An Exchange International, has a diverse background in customer relations and service, corporate administration, and has also been a small business operator under an international franchise name. After gaining several years’ experience in the timeshare industry, Francis joined with Marc Chouinard to establish Dial An Exchange in Australia, and then expanded the business and opened offices in New Zealand, Europe and North America.

	LLPI Presents Market Analysis of Vacation Ownership Industry in Brazil July 2, 2010 At the South American Shared Ownership Investment Conference (SASOIC) 2010 held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from May 31 through June 1, Luxury Leisure Properties International (LLPI) presented a market analysis, sponsored by RCI Latin America, on the shared-ownership industry in Brazil.

	Green Shoots and Good News July 1, 2010 High owner satisfaction rates, longevity and product innovation are three keys to timeshare success. Despite a challenging year for the travel and holiday industries overall, the shared ownership sector has held up comparatively well. Fiona Klonarides reports on green shoots and good news…

	Timeshare Sales Transparency June 5, 2010 Should and/or could timeshare be sold more transparently by advertising the cost of week or membership at each resort (like other products)? Or should the pricing still be kept from consumers until the end of a timeshare presentation?

	Best of British May 21, 2010 Credit crisis, flu virus, “ash” crisis…so, will Britons be holidaying close to home this year? Whatever the reason, Britain is in again. Fiona Klonarides looks at how UK timeshare resorts will be showcasing the best of Britain this summer.

Oceans of Opportunity? May 20, 2010 Visitors to Belize are attracted by the country’s laid-back, informal attitude. “It’s like Cancun in the 1970s,” says Ernie Olmstead, owner/developer of Captain Morgan’s Vacation Beach Club in Ambergris Caye, Belize. “People love the barefoot atmosphere and no high-rises or crowds.” The comparison of Belize to a young Cancun would seem an inviting one to timeshare developers as the industry has enjoyed wild success on the Yucatan Peninsula. Can Belize follow in Cancun’s footsteps? Here, Perspective Magazine investigates this emerging market.