Lifestyle Asset Group, the most enlightened second-home ownership model in the world, today introduced AtlanticOne LLC and PacificOne LLC, portfolios offering equity interest in each of six luxury vacation homes in highly sought-after destinations on the East and West Coast, respectively. Designed specifically for ready accessibility by car or short flight, these portfolios present a unique option for those looking to buy second homes or alternative products, offering unrestricted use of luxury homes in multiple locations at a per-night cost similar to staying in a single hotel room.

Limited to 50 equity ownership positions, each portfolio comprises six stunning luxury vacation homes that afford couples and families entrée to incredible experiences in high-demand destinations up and down the East and West Coast. AtlanticOne will feature extraordinary properties in New York; Miami; Outer Banks, N.C.; Kiawah Island, S.C.; St. John; and Turks & Caicos. Meanwhile, PacificOne will have four breathtaking locations in California – San Diego, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe and Carmel – as well as Hawaii and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. With an average market value of $1.2 million and 1,800 to 2,000 square feet, the specific homes in each market are being identified by Lifestyle Asset Group’s real estate partner Christie’s International Real Estate. Each equity owner will have the privilege of reciprocity with the other portfolio, allowing for effortless bicoastal travel.

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Fills Key Niche For Members and Developers

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), reports that its most prestigious membership level, Interval PlatinumSM, is exceeding expectations on all fronts. Launched one year ago to cater to discerning vacation owners who desire upscale travel experiences, the program is receiving an overwhelmingly positive response from consumer members and resort developer clients.

Interval Platinum surpassed first-year estimates in its first few months and now has more than 55,000 members. In Latin America and several European markets, more members have upgraded than anticipated, reinforcing its global appeal.

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For 46 per cent of Brits, their biggest consideration when booking their annual leave is matching their time off with that of their partner’s or the family’s. This is followed by the cost of a holiday (34 per cent) and the ‘implications’ their holiday may have on their employer (20 per cent). With many British workers set to take their main 2012 holiday over July and August** switching off will be near impossible for 13 per cent who still end up checking emails and taking work phone calls while poolside or sightseeing.

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Send Me On Vacation aims to provide a much needed vacation to celebrate life for women with breast cancer who have completed their treatments and need a place to rejuvenate and heal their body, mind and spirit.

Dody’s Story
Dody Brady is a 5 year metastic breast cancer survivor currently receiving ongoing weekly treatments which leave her extremely tired and debilitated but she still manages to be a most amazing single mother of 8-year old Pyper. They make a wonderful team! Pyper is Dody’s primary care giver and her biggest supporter and cheerleader. Their enthusiasm is contagious as they face cancer head on – with every intent of beating it.

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Forty percent of Americans report the economic downturn over the past few years did not impact their personal/leisure travel. They “travel as usual,” particularly those between 35 and 44 years of age (46%). A percentage of young men (13%) and women (14%) aged 18 -34 are taking more trips these days, perhaps because a down economy prompts travel destinations to sweeten deals.

“This study, combined with our own data, tells us a lot about how Americans are traveling in today’s economy. Our data shows that even though Americans are taking fewer flights, they are booking more hotel nights. We believe that Americans are proving to be resilient in a down economy, by driving instead of flying and taking more frequent, shorter trips,” said Joe Megibow, vice president and general manager, Expedia.com. “The study also showed how important friends and family were to the travel experience. Friends and family were the most important resource when choosing a hotel. Social networks are enabling new reach when seeking advice on travel, and we are thrilled to be able to help share that knowledge.”

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]]> http://perspectivemagazine.com/blog/2012/03/02/expedia-study-outlines-economic-impact-on-travel-in-america/feed/ 0 http://perspectivemagazine.com/blog/2012/03/01/the-13th-annual-shared-ownership-investment-conference/ http://perspectivemagazine.com/blog/2012/03/01/the-13th-annual-shared-ownership-investment-conference/#comments Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:33:08 +0000 Susan Knox http://perspectivemagazine.com/?p=14350 Timeshare industry leaders speak candidly

By Sharon Scott

Howard Nusbaum, president and ceo of ARDA, doesn’t sugarcoat his remarks to an audience of 400+ attending the annual Shared Ownership Investment Conference in Orlando: With 1,548 resorts in the United States (there are over 5,000 worldwide), the timeshare industry on the home front has had a rocky road. After the fall of Lehman Brothers on September 15, 2008, which effectively killed  consumer end-loan financing overnight, annual sales volume of new product in America dropped from $10.6 billion in 2008 to $6.4 billion in 2009. Nusbaum admits it’s been a rough ride despite the fact that research of timeshare owners shows an 84 percent rate of satisfaction with the product. Seventy-eight percent of surveyed respondents say their timeshare is their home away from home, while 75 percent mention the value of time spent with loved ones. And overall, we’re still feeling the love.

“Vacations are the memory books of our lives,” Nusbaum intones somewhat lyrically. “And in today’s vacation-deprived society, owning a timeshare makes owners feel more positive about taking some time away from their jobs. It’s a prepaid vacation, so they feel justified in using it, whereas non-owners have a lot more to overcome. As a result, even when hotel occupancy is down, ours averages 79 percent.”

Nusbaum quotes the recent ARDA International Foundation (AIF) study that shows mortgage loan portfolios are performing consistently at 90 percent. Something’s still working. In fact, rentals were an area of growth. He points out another burgeoning interest in the vacation ownership world – the number of hotel and whole ownership condominium developers interested in hiring sales and marketing expertise from timeshare pros on a fee-forservice basis to assist in conversions.

Fractionals
Bringing the topic of fractional ownership development into the conversation, Richard Ragatz sees that while times have been even more challenging for this sector of the vacation ownership business, there are a few glimmers of hope. As president and founder of Richard Ragatz Associates, he has overseen the research and preparation of an annual survey of fractional developers in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico for eleven years. Results from his most recent study show that out of the 292 fractional resorts in North America, 104 are in active sales. Sadly, the figures are not pretty: After his first study performed in 2000 until 2005, sales blossomed to reach $1.5 billion and by the third quarter of 2008 there were the ‘the glory days’ of $2.3 billion. Sure enough, by the close of the following year, sales had dropped to $530 million. Whole ownership condominiums and second home sales were likely to have been in even worse shape. For many, fractional vacation property was a good option; a better alternative.

Like their companions in the timeshare industry, fractional developers became more resourceful. They dropped the typical quarter-share to 1/12 or 1/8 shares to lessen the price. They turned to rentals and exchanges from entities like Interval International’s Preferred Residences to fill units. Many reduced non-essential amenities such as free valet and ski cleaning (however do these poor owners function, one wonders). Several others relied on mixed use from whole ownership, hotel, timeshare or home sites.

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Not only is the industry being impacted by changing buying trends, changing credit requirements and other sales challenges, but current owner satisfaction is also an issue with which to contend. Timeshare owners are failing to pay maintenance fees, falling victim to  “timeshare relief” scams, or simply walking away from their vacation ownership altogether. Why? The bad economy, folks being scared into believing that their children will be saddled by an eternity of maintenance fees, the advent of aggressive travel club sales and more. But what about the exchange proposition? Are consumers frustrated because they are not enjoying one of the biggest benefits they expected when they purchased a timeshare in the first place? Is not one of the most critical value propositions in vacation ownership the ability to exchange your week for destinations worldwide? Are there not enough exchange options for timeshare owners today?

As the dust settles within the timeshare industry and around the globe, business models of all varieties in the new economy are  changing how their products are sold, serviced and delivered. Since its formation in 1997, Dial An Exchange (DAE) has been ahead of this power curve and seems to be quietly evolving the way exchanges have been offered in the timeshare industry, stressing a major emphasis on direct to consumer exchange value and superior, personalized customer service.

Today, DAE is the largest privately owned exchange company worldwide. In 14 years, the company has grown from a single office in Australia to eight service centers in Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, China, India, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Phoenix, Arizona servicing over 350,000 members. In directly speaking to hundreds of timeshare owners, Fermin Cruz, VP Americas Region, believes that today’s timeshare buyer is looking for more value, greater freedom and more choice in using the product while expecting higher levels of personalized service.

Widespread Industry Exchange Misconception
Cruz recounts, “I have attended several owner meetings. In these meetings I often ask a question. ‘How many of you know you have options when it comes to exchange companies?’ Invariably, 80% of the room doesn’t know they can use anyone other than the resort’s affiliated exchange service. Consumers simply do not know, or are not educated enough by their resorts, HOAs or management companies to understand that there are choices out there for them!”

This is a widespread industry misconception and a mistaken belief that DAE would like to change. Ron S. owner at Vail based Sandstone Creek Club recently commented, “DAE came to our HOA meeting in November (attended by about 80 owners) and much to our surprise, very few of our owners even knew they had a choice in exchange companies! They were very receptive to the DAE message and we received many follow-up inquiries as to the depth of their services.” Explains Fermin, “Unless the consumer has purchased into a proprietary points system, an internal exchange system or other closed exchange network, they can use any exchange company they choose to trade their week. After numerous discussions with our customers, we know that many have simply never been advised of their freedom to use different exchange companies. We believe it would benefit everyone in the industry to help spread this important piece of information. Resorts, HOAs, and management companies should be aware of this and can help the entire industry by communicating the information to the consumer. This will provide not only greater exchange options, but also help increase the value of timeshare ownership.

Happy owners who thoroughly understand their use and exchange options will continue to pay maintenance fees and send referrals. Besides, competition makes products better and increases service levels across the board, industry wide!”

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By Steve Tassler, Principal, Xeputu

No single marketing tactic will sell a product 100% of the time. The most successful campaigns typically integrate multiple tactics, but what really makes them work is clear understanding of ROI for each – and the ability to make adjustments based on what’s performing best.

Studies show that you have to reach a consumer three to five times before they make contact with you. Because we are reaching prospects through various online and traditional media, tracking every touch point is virtually impossible. So where do we turn to get the best idea of how our marketing expenditures are performing?

Your Website Is Your Command Center
In the Resort Real Estate market, it is a virtual certainty that before a prospect calls or visits they have viewed the property’s website. One of the most powerful aspects of the internet is that it allows consumers to self-educate before they contact a salesperson. This is true whether they are buying sneakers, a new TV, or a vacation home. They can compare features, benefits, and price before they ever speak to someone who they know is paid to convince them to buy. This phenomenon can be your best friend – or your worst enemy.

Because all marketing roads eventually lead to a website, it can be the best place to compare how various tactics measure up. With a print ad, you can’t tell how long someone looked at it, how many times they looked at it, or whether or not they shared it with a friend. We, however, can tell all of these things in regard to their behavior on a website.

Plan In Advance, Involve the Experts Early
The single biggest mistake we see clients make is failing to include website analytics in the campaign planning process. They commonly assume that any data that will be required to determine performance will magically appear after the campaign has run its course. This is analogous to assuming that your car will tell you that there is ice on the road after you crash. While online technology evolves at an amazing rate it will probably never be able to see the future or tell you something it didn’t know you cared about after the fact.

When planning any campaign, online or offline, a competent marketing team covers off on objectives, messaging, creative, timing, budget, and the definition of success for that campaign. Unfortunately, often the website programming team is not contacted until after all of the important decisions have been made and the creative has been finalized. And by this late in the process, accommodations for tracking and analytics will create delays – and possibly increase costs.

If you truly want to be able to calculate the ROI of a campaign, you need to involve at least one person with a strong understanding of website analytics from the initial planning through final reporting. If the person who manages your website does not understand the marketing team’s definition of success, there is a very strong chance that when the campaign ends, you will not have all of the tracking information you need or want.

Differentiate Traffic from All Sources
These best practices apply beyond interactive marketing. Offline lead generation tactics like Direct Mail, Print and Broadcast Advertising, Signage, and even offsite merchandising all drive traffic to your website.

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“Renée has made an immediate contribution with her great ideas. As a result of her background and experience in web development and marketing including previous work with non-profits, she will contribute a critical aspect necessary for promoting our cause” according to Lisa Wanzenried, Send Me On Vacation  Co-President.

Wagner adds “I’m extremely honored to lend my experience and expertise to such a wonderful mission. It’s truly an honor to work with such a dedicated group of volunteers that recognize the importance of providing hope and serenity to women in need of a much deserved escape.”Prior to joining Travel To Go, Wagner worked with S.A.Y. San Diego (Social Advocates for Youth) and was the Capital Campaign Communication Consultant for the San Diego Girl Scouts.  Her work with SMOV allows her to continue to contribute to philanthropic efforts.

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Martin Kandel’s expertise in business development, strategic planning and management processes makes him a natural fit to develop innovative products in the travel industry. He has held top level executive positions with International Cruise and Excursions (ICE), Shell Vacations, Diamond Resorts International, Accor Premiere Vacation Club, and Accumen Sales & Marketing Group. He is a former Maryland Assistant Attorney General and member of the ARDA Board of Directors. Martin Kandel is currently a member of ARDA’s Travel Club Task Force.

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According to Carr, “It is a great honor to welcome ARDA as a new member of our organization during my tenure as C.A.R.E.’s president. C.A.R.E. appreciates the participation of Howard Nusbaum and Jason Gamel at our conferences this past year, and C.A.R.E. has benefited from the knowledge and insight in our industry that they were generous enough to share with us. Because C.A.R.E.’s values are directly in line with ARDA’s, C.A.R.E. has always been a strong supporter of ARDA and has been directly responsible for many C.A.R.E. member companies becoming and maintaining memberships with ARDA. Reciprocally, ARDA has been extremely supportive of C.A.R.E. and our efforts to deliver outstanding vacation services to owners and members. We are very excited that ARDA is now a member of C.A.R.E. and we look forward to their continued support and dedication.”

“ARDA looks forward to sharing valuable industry information with C.A.R.E. members through increased opportunities,” said ARDA president and CEO, Howard Nusbaum. “While we’ve participated in C.A.R.E. events in the past, becoming an Associate Member will enable ARDA to educate a broader audience about the policies that impact owners and efforts the industry is taking to protect the integrity of the product and the value of vacation ownership.”

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While the timeshare industry has long advocated the healthful benefits of regular time away to rejuvenate and relax, resort developers continue to expand their vacation products with more options and access to healthful programs and activities.

“Health and wellness amenities are growing in popularity among timeshare owners and resorts are now using these programs to attract new timeshare consumers unfamiliar that such vacation products exist,” says Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA.

Many timeshare resorts have expanded their offerings to include health and wellness components such as fitness programs, enhanced spa services, cuisine packages, weight-loss regimens and concierge services to customize a specific healthy vacation experience.

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Divi Resorts, the largest brand presence on Aruba – including five properties, 1170 units, casino, shopping bazaar, golf course and the most beachfront footage of any operator in Aruba, made improvements to entice an even greater share of the island’s annual 1.5 million tourists. The casino and retail complex is in the last stage of a dramatic modernization and expansion, and now includes a 4000 square foot ballroom aimed at the meetings and conventions sector. The company also set its sights on locals. “We’ve designed our casino and shopping mall to be a premium and repeat destination for residents and visitors alike,” says Schanfarber.

The Alhambra Casino is expanding with more than 100 additional slot machines and 30 percent more floor area to become the largest casino in the Druif Beach area. The adjoining Shops at Alhambra will likewise be the area’s biggest shopping draw when it opens in February. Ninety percent of the tenants are new, selected to provide more varied diversions, from souvenirs and high fashion apparel to a cigar and wine jazz bar and multiple dining establishments. One hundred fifty new parking spaces are ready for the expected increase in visitors.

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A select number of RCI affiliated resorts meet RCI’s requirements for recognition and have earned the RCI Gold Crown Resort award. These resorts have attained high levels of excellence in resort accommodations, hospitality and member experience as measured by RCI.

“We are proud to be recognized by RCI for our accomplishments in resort facilities and services,” explains Jay Lloyd, General Manager of The Suites at Hershey. “As part of the Bluegreen Resorts community, we strive to provide our guests with excellent service, outstanding accommodations and many opportunities to enjoy time with friends, family and loved ones during their stay.”

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Attendees hailing from the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico heard from Interval executives, including Craig M. Nash chairman, president, and CEO of Interval Leisure Group, who discussed the company’s initiatives to assist them in achieving operational excellence, as well as sales and marketing advantages suited for today’s economic climate. Special guests Darla Zanini, executive vice president of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) International Foundation, presented findings from the 2011 State of the U.S. Vacation Timeshare Industry and John F. Mulrey of AdviCoach Business shared insights on today’s changing population demographics and what this means for the future of the hospitality industry.

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Sears Vacations, which will provide unique leisure vacation experiences, primarily through an online platform, will provide customers the opportunity to opt-in to receive exclusive offers and extraordinary values on travel and vacation packages.  Sears Vacations is designed to appeal to a broad demographic of family-centric, value oriented customers.

ICE, a global leader in travel based membership and loyalty rewards programs, partnered with TravelBlox LLC., a Chicago based company specializing in customized online vacation solutions, to introduce the Sears Vacations concept.  ICE will utilize its proprietary technology to design, implement and manage the web-based platform for Sears Vacations, while also providing travel fulfillment and customer support through its world class client services center located in Scottsdale, Arizona and its supporting global offices.

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Who makes up this growing segment within the leisure travel market and what are they looking for?  Those were the questions examined in a comprehensive study of the leisure traveler by Preferred Hotel Group, a global leader in the hospitality industry, representing independent luxury hotels and resorts worldwide.

“Because of their numbers, frequency of travel, and use of traditional travel agents, the multigenerational traveler presents a powerful opportunity for the international travel market,” said Lindsey Ueberroth, President of Preferred Hotel Group. “To take advantage, the leisure travel industry must create tailored product and marketing offers.”

Preferred Hotel Group analyzed more than 400 variables, including the travel-related attitudes, behaviors, preferences, social values, lifestyles, and media habits of leisure travelers who have identified themselves as multigenerational travelers. Among the findings:

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More details on the 2011 Vacation Deprivation study can be found here: www.expedia.com/vacationdeprivation.

“At Expedia, we believe travel experiences on vacation are an essential part of living a balanced, meaningful life,” said Scott Durchslag, President of Expedia Worldwide. “But perspectives on this differ around the world. Americans can often live to work, viewing vacations as a guilty privilege to be downplayed around the workplace — especially if they are worried about their jobs. Europeans work to live, feeling vacation is a right rather than a privilege. Asians take the fewest days of vacation and spend them secretly checking emails. I am convinced this is a false choice because vacations allow employees to rejuvenate, sharpen the saw, connect with new cultures, and renew their relationships. It is no coincidence that the happiest, well-balanced employees are the most innovative and productive.”

Expedia’s Vacation Deprivation study surveyed 7,803 employed adults across 20 countries. It asked employed individuals to share the number of vacation days (as distinct from mandated holidays) they take each year, what obstacles they face, where they prefer to holiday and how they behave on arrival. Among the findings:

• Europeans lead the world in vacationing. On the whole, European workers enjoy considerably more vacation time, as measured by days given and days taken, than their peers elsewhere. The average employed European earns 25-30 vacation days in a given year, and, with some exceptions, tends to use them all. Brazilians treat vacation as the Europeans do — as a vital part of being employed, rather than a luxury. The study showed that Brazilian workers receive 30 vacation days and enjoy every one of them.
• Americans treat vacation as a luxury rather than a fact of life. Americans receive roughly half the Europeans’ allotment of vacation time. In 2011, employed Americans earned 14 vacation days and took 12, a decrease from 2010. The median number of vacation days US workers earned in 2010 was 15 days; the number taken was 12. In comparison, the French earned 30 vacation days, and took all 30 in 2011. In 2010, the average French worker used all but one of their vacation days.
• American vacation habits are more like Asians’ than Europeans’. Asia represents the most vacation-deprived region in the 2011 Vacation Deprivation study. Japanese workers trailed the field, taking a mere five vacation days out of 11 available, while South Korean respondents enjoyed seven out of a possible ten days of vacation. Last year, Japanese workers left six vacation days on the table, trailing only the Italians. Italian respondents reported that they left seven vacation days unused in the past year, more than any other nation, though Italians are not precisely vacation-deprived, having 28 days at their disposal.
• Money and planning are the most commonly-cited reasons for not taking vacation. Overall, 22% of respondents said they believed they could not afford it, and 20% said “lack of planning.” The US leads the world in money worries: 1 out of 3 Americans say that they can’t afford vacation. However, almost 50% of US workers describe their financial situation as “solid” or “good,” which reinforces the notion that Americans view vacation as a luxury. Brazilian respondents, on the other hand, were least likely to see money as a vacation impediment (6%). Brazilians chose “lack of planning” as their top reason.
• The world’s least supportive bosses work in Italy and South Korea. Most workers reported that their bosses are largely supportive of vacation — Americans find that 73% of their bosses are supportive. The reverse was true in Italy (56% boss disapproval) and South Korea (52%), where respondents were most likely to believe management frowns on employee vacations or were unsure. Work/life balance seems to be most prevalent in northern Europe, with Norway and Sweden boasting the highest boss-approval percentages (88% and 82%, respectively.)
• Most vacationers find it difficult to disconnect from work. The Danish find it easiest — only one in seven respondents from Denmark report that they check email and voicemail regularly while on break, with more than 50% refusing to check in even once. Americans, too, prefer to disconnect when on vacation, with only 25% checking in regularly, and 75% checking in sometimes or never. More than 50% of French, Japanese, Indian and Italian workers remain tightly connected to the office while on vacation.
• Most people prefer beaches over romance. Globally, beach vacations are king. Twice as many respondents cited beach vacations as their preference, versus “romantic holidays with spouse” — except in South Korea, which overwhelmingly chose “romantic holidays” (45% versus 27% favoring the beach). Romance was the preferred option for the Japanese as well, unlike Argentineans and Mexicans, who were four or five times as likely to select the beach as they were to choose a romantic holiday, a city getaway or an outdoor adventure. The Dutch were the outdoorsiest vacationers, while Singaporeans prefer the city.

Being able to show current and prospective owners that their timeshare purchase will give them the ability to vacation in multiple places every year for many years to come isn’t always enough to convert anymore. These days, buyers want enduring value and affordability from their purchase and will often actively look elsewhere if there isn’t real depth to what is on offer. One company that understands this better than most is Dial An Exchange (DAE).

“Our financial model is structured around lowcost exchange and always has been,” says Co-founder and CEO, Francis Taylor. “We began doing business this way because we perceived a real gap in the marketplace and, now more than ever, our different approach to timeshare exchange is certainly paying off.”

“We are definitely more economical for people who are already struggling. Aside from free membership and multiple low-cost options, the fact that members can bank and save their weeks for three years is a definite plus. “If the financial crunch means they can’t afford vacations this year, they won’t lose their entitlement or be penalised for deferring. Any timeshare owner is going to find that very attractive” he concluded.

The hidden cost of exclusive affiliations.
Francis Taylor has made no secret of the fact that he is frustrated by that fact many developers and resorts continue to sign exclusive contracts with exchange providers that offer a much more limited service than they do.

As he says, “In today’s world, where costs are escalating out of control and owners still have to pay fees and levies on their original purchase, it simply doesn’t make sense to affiliate yourself with a company that will cost your owners when it doesn’t have to.

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Renée Wagner, Marketing Manager, Travel To Go

Travel To Go, a privately owned company specializing in affordable luxury vacation memberships, has launched a Facebook page as an added member benefit.

In an effort to continuously offer new member benefits, the Facebook page was launched in August 2011.  According to Renée Wagner, Marketing Manager, the page was implemented to “establish a connection with members that was convenient for them and to provide more information.  Most importantly, the page allows members to interact with the Travel To Go staff and enhance the dialogue between the two.”  An added benefit is that members can interact not only with staff, but can share travel tips with fellow members.

Travel To Go members that access Facebook find even more promotions and deals. Wagner also noted that since the page was launched, all promotions are posted on Facebook first, including the extremely popular “Hot Weeks” which book quickly.  Frequently, when last minute cancellations or “flash” deals come in, the deals are gone before an e-blast or website update can be completed.  Travel To Go’s Facebook page allows deals to be viewed instantly by members.  In addition, Facebook- only promotion codes are occasionally posted.

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C.A.R.E. Gives Back began in the spring of 2010 with a group of 20 vacation industry professionals volunteering their services at a New Orleans food bank. Concerned about “what she had gotten herself into” volunteer Linda Stockwell of Preferred Access later commented that “the day turned out to be fun while getting to know C.A.R.E. members better” and that “I felt good about being able to help so many people”.  C.A.R.E. Gives Back continued to grow and during the fall 2010 conference volunteers prepared and served over 1,000 meals to the Phoenix, AZ area homeless and needy. The experience humbled volunteer Tina Stafford of Accommodations Unlimited who “had never witnessed such tremendous need.  The expressions of appreciation from those served by the C.A.R.E. volunteers were overwhelming”.  

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These findings are from Interval International’s 2011 U.S. Membership Profile, which was developed from a sample of U.S.-resident vacation owners maintaining an active membership with Interval. The online study was undertaken to provide insights for use in the development of services and benefits to be offered to Interval members and may also be useful to resort developers and prospective industry entrants in designing their products and developing their marketing strategies.

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“Vacations are often the highlight of the year, so naturally people want to share their great experiences with others,” said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “We created the ‘Share Your Vacation’ application as an outlet not only for RCI members, but for all travelers across the globe. We know that hearing about other users’ vacations will inspire and excite those planning their next break, and the recommendations and tips they receive from peers will help ensure they don’t miss a beat once they get there.”

With this application, users can enter their past and future vacations by either searching by any destination around the world or by specific RCI affiliated resort name. These places are marked on a map of the world with virtual push-pins. Once users choose a destination or resort, they can add other details such as travel dates, tag other travelers and add recommendations from their personal experiences at the destination. They can also upload their favorite photos and videos from their trips by pulling from existing Facebook albums or uploading them from their computers or mobile devices.

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With the tourism industry on the rebound in many parts of North America, consumers returning to their shelved vacation plans are creating a new dynamic to the way they prepare their post-recession holidays. Shorter lead times for bookings, combined with adverse publicity for some international destinations and the effect of higher gas prices, have placed additional challenges on travel clubs and online rental outlets to move inventory and fulfill vacation requests.

This changing travel landscape has placed a greater emphasis on personal networking and the need for developing strategic alliances among businesses within the vacation ownership industry, resulting in a very successful spring conference for the Cooperative Association of Resorts Exchangers (CARE) in Deerfield Beach, FL, over May 14-17, 2011, at the Embassy Suites Resort.

An optimistic outlook for the industry spread among the estimated 120 delegates in attendance, but upbeat camaraderie is nothing new for the group according to CARE president Alain Carr of American Resorts International.

“We’re lucky that we really have a great group of people that are open and it’s a family here, open to share ideas with each other and we’re not afraid to discuss our business plans with each other to help foster quality throughout the industry,” said Carr.

That exchange of ideas and emphasis on building business relationships is what draws companies like SellMyTimeshareNow.com to these events. “A very big part of our business is dealing with consumer timeshare rentals,” said Jason Tremblay, CEO, SellMyTimeshareNow. com. “We’re here largely to network and get contacts for inventory and I’ve met a number of people here at this conference where they have incredible inventory and we have all this demand, so it’s a match made in heaven.”

Jeanette Bunn, president, Travel to Go, has been in the travel club business for over 20 years and says “I consider many of the people at this conference as my second family … everybody here is a very close knit group. We build relationships and we’ve been doing business with each other for so many years that you just become really good friends.” Bunn has seen the impact of the difficult publicity surrounding some destinations and how the current economic realities have altered consumer requests for destinations. “I would say it is definitely more of a domestic (U.S.) request that is going through our system. Members are wanting to stay more local … and they are preferring drive-to (destinations) to save on the airfare,” said Bunn.

The conference began with a welcome dinner which included a live and silent auction of donated items from the membership that raised over $13,500 to offset conference costs. Day one saw keynote speaker Bill Repp from Selling Smart facilitate workshops geared toward developing better relationship-building skills which are essential towards maintaining high satisfaction levels among consumers. Repp explained that with the growth of technology has come a need to be more proactive with interpersonal relationships. “It’s almost a correlation between the growth of emails and texting and voicemails and messaging (and) to the extent we do that we don’t connect with people. The more the electronic stuff is used, the more we need to (make) contact with people, be kind to them and be positive with them,” Repp said.

The evening of day one focused on an awards dinner and the presentation of the group’s most prestigious individual honors. The Pinnacle Award recognizes excellent service and achievement within the vacation industry, with nominees required to have worked in the vacation industry a minimum of 15 years. The 2011 winner was Linda Mayhugh, Chief Operating Officer of Advantage Travel / Accommodations Unlimited. The Richard Gallardo Award spotlights a CARE volunteer who has consistently given their time, above and beyond, to the CARE organization and the 2011 recipient was Tina Stafford, Exchange and Wholesale Coordinator with Advantage Travel /Accommodations Unlimited.

The highlight of day two was a presentation by Howard Nusbaum, president, American Resort Development Association, who gave an update on the state of the vacation ownership industry and ARDA’s role in building alliances with groups such as CARE. “The people at CARE are kind of the glue. They’re the ones that really deliver on the dream by making this work and I believe that there are so many things that ARDA and CARE can do together in terms of education, in terms of making sure that the consumer gets what they pay for, working together on our Travel Club Task Force, working with the AIF on the research area,” said Nusbaum. “At the end of the day, it’s about the consumer. It’s about better vacationing and timeshare is going through a new evolution, a new iteration and there’s going to be more term product out there and I have huge respect for what the members of CARE do and I want them to see ARDA as a resource.”

“I think developers can learn a lot from CARE because in the old days it was all about lead generation and hook tours. Today, robust rentals are a way to introduce a new generation of potential timeshare owners in a softer, more retail way. And I think that robust rental programs are the future, and understanding how to package that right, and I think CARE is ahead of ARDA on that,” Nusbaum added.

The Travel Advantage Network’s Spring Break Bash 2011 brought day two to a
rousing conclusion and included an off-site dinner and dancing event with live reggae music in Ft. Lauderdale. The conference finished the next day with the CARE Gives Back event as about 25 members visited the NE Focal Point Senior Center in Deerfield Beach. They spent the morning volunteering in the various day care facilities  which cater to special needs adults, child care and care for people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Some volunteers  participated in crafts, sing-alongs and reading sessions while others worked in the thrift shop and on the grounds doing landscaping and painting jobs.

“I think CARE is a great place to keep some good, grounded values that we have to have; that we take care of our clients. It’s not a situation where we want to sell something and send someone down the road with something that they can’t use, can’t afford or are unhappy with. This group of people is a major contributing factor as to why people are satisfied in the industry,” Carr said. [/member]

“Our travel partners are critical to our success and it’s important for us to show how much we appreciate their hard work and dedication. We’re thrilled to see Interval achieve the President’s Club status,” said Lenny Martinez, Norwegian Cruise Line’s business development manager. “In 2010, we took Freestyle Cruising to the next level with the introduction of the Norwegian Epic. Interval embraced our new ship, as well as the many cruise options that we offer.”

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Travel To Go sponsored the ninth hole of golf in honor of Kate Seidell, a seven year survivor of breast cancer. Kate, the mother of Steve Olinger of Travel To Go notes “I’m very happy that Steve works for a company that cares about the world, and I’m honored that Travel To Go thought of me.” Kate also added that everyone should have a mammogram. At the time her cancer was detected, she felt great and she was physically active. She actually thought about skipping her mammogram that year because she felt so well, but it was during that appointment that her cancer was detected.

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“By blending authentic historical and cultural architecture with modern interior furnishings and luxury amenities, ShareLuxe has established itself in a new travel niche in two very appealing international vacation destinations,” said Joe Hickman, Interval International’s executive director for Asia Pacific. “Kyoto is Japan’s former imperial capital and still houses about one-fifth of its national treasures in its museums and more than 2,000 Buddhist and Shinto temples. And Bali holds great appeal with its idyllic beaches and lush terraced mountains, where it has managed to retain an almost mystical spirituality.”

ShareLuxe Kyoto Kizashi-Kamishichiken is a fully renovated century-old Japanese townhouse located in a historic area near the edge of central Kyoto. Tucked into a street lined with machiyas and Japanese tea-houses, the townhouse combines traditional Japanese style with contemporary luxury. Two bedrooms outfitted with western-style twin beds can accommodate four people. Three more people can sleep in a large room on tatami mats. The unit has been retrofitted with a modern full-sized kitchen and amenities that include LCD TVs and studio-quality audio equipment.

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The Palms Private Residence Club has just signed a sponsorship agreement with the international second home exchange firm, 3RD HOME.  This partnership will enable The Palms owners to exchange their properties with other second homeowners throughout the world from Costa Rica, Palm Beach, St. Barts to Paris and Thailand.  This spectacular offer to The Palms owners will enable them to travel to various luxury vacation destinations around the world in over 60 countries.

“By making this exciting, exclusive, unprecedented offer available to our owners, this will create a new level of energy and interest in The Palms for both our owners and for 3RD HOME members now coming to Playa Flamingo.  In my years in the real estate business, I have never seen a more powerful offer for second homeowners than this one, ” said Peter Kempf with Peter Kempf International. Peter went on to say, “ the relationships and member properties 3RD HOME has are some of the finest in the world from the Ritz Carlton Residences, to the Auberge Private Residences at Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas, to the Auberge Resort at Palmetto Bluff in Hilton Head that was just ranked as the #1 resort in North America by Travel + Leisure magazine.”

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EllicottVillas, a unique, new fractional real estate and private residence club has been launched this month for active adults and families looking for affordable luxury in Ellicottville, a four-season recreational destination just south of Buffalo, N.Y.

Ellicottville (www.ellicottvilleny.com), which has been described by the New York Times as ‘the Aspen of the East,’ is a four-season playground that combines the charm of an historic town with an abundance of shops and restaurants, some of the best skiing in the state of New York (consistently ranked top five in the east by Ski Magazine) and numerous other outdoor pursuits ranging from golf and hiking to mountain biking and horseback riding.

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Commented Jerry Sandorf, VP of Operations of the Utah-based TimeShareWare, “We have been impressed by the sophistication and robustness of the Vacation Storebuilder (www.VacationStorebuilder.com) platform and are delighted to begin this partnership. Our technology integration with the VSB platform allows TSW clients to deploy websites that are optimized to increase conversion and provide a seamless online experience for rental guests, tour guests, members and owners to access their information and book online. The websites will help our clients improve customer satisfaction and loyalty as well as generate more rentals and prospects for their resorts.”

The integration of TimeShareWare with Vacation Storebuilder provides TSW clients a variety of branded websites to showcase resorts, service members, drive traffic online by leveraging search engine and social media marketing channels, and increase rental bookings with an integrated online booking engine. TSW clients will benefit from VSB’s turnkey eCommerce solution to quickly deploy their own robust resort and vacation club websites on a pay-per-performance pricing model. TimeShareWare’s clients using VSB-powered websites will access inventory directly from the TSW system and enable their owners/members to easily manage their accounts, pay dues and make online reservations.

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Commented Tanya Bleuel, Director of Yield Management for DAE, “We have members that often have their hearts set on a certain vacation destination, but found that there were no timeshare resorts in that location or there was limited availability. We also learned that many of our members were purchasing additional accommodations to extend their annual vacation and often paid as much as $2,000 per week for their accommodations. We created daeOptions by forming alliances with non-timeshare resorts to allow our members to rent or exchange their timeshare week for a seven-night stay and ultimately enjoy a vacation in their dream destination.”

DAE members can rent daeOptions weeks at highly discounted prices or they can exchange into any daeOptions property by depositing their timeshare week and paying an exchange fee from $350 to $450.

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TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site, conducted a recent survey which showed 83 percent of respondents are planning at least one family vacation this year, a four percent increase from 2010. While 59 percent of Americans are planning a trip this summer, up from 51 percent in 2010, according to an American Express Company Survey .  That same survey also found vacationing consumers plan to take an average of two week-long vacations, spending an average of $1,200 a person, and three weekend-getaways, spending $300.  Nearly 70 percent of those planning to travel said they’ll go with their immediate families, and girlfriend getaways and “man-cations” are growing in popularity. 

While travel plans are on the rise, most travelers are still budget conscience and make travel decisions based on cost-savings factors.  With hotel stays costing five to ten percent more this year than last year (AAA/HIS Globlal Insight 2011 Memorial Day Holiday Travel Forecsast), ARDA believes this is an opportunity to reach travelers unfamiliar with timeshare. 

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The company will be a Platinum Sponsor of RDO2, the annual conference of the Resort Development Organisation (RDO), as well as a Platinum Sponsor of the 2011 Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa (VOASA) Conference.

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Study the financial statements of any interval vacation resort developer, and what is their largest asset? Their receivables. What principal factor determines the profitability of their sales? Receivables performance. How do developers pay 45% marketing and 25% product costs, while only collecting a 20% down-payment? By financing their receivables. Where is every developer’s largest contingent liability? The recourse guarantee on financed receivables.

Yet most articles in Perspective Magazine and other industry publications focus on “sexier” aspects of our business, such as marketing and sales, new development, exciting amenities, and IPOs. Ditto for topics featured at ARDA, VOIC and other industry conferences. Except for the occasional dry report on industry receivables metrics, or indirect references to receivables servicing and collections in IT forums, receivables get little attention in the vacation resort industry.

At Whitebriar we have financed interval, fractional, vacation club and resort campground receivables for 16 years. Before starting Whitebriar, our principals worked in banking, portfolio servicing, structured finance and debt  collection, and one of our principals is also a timeshare developer. These varied experiences have taught us some hard lessons about resort receivables. You might say at this point that we have “got religion.” So here are five of our key “proverbs” for anyone financing or managing a resort receivables portfolio:

• Beware of “Cheap” Receivables Financing.
Like any commodity, money is worth what one pays for it. Low interest rates and liberal terms connote an expectation of low risk, not always an accurate assessment in our industry. Financiers who understand a developer’s business price and structure transactions with generous margins, so that they can remain profitable and keep funding receivables despite an economic downturn or tighter money supply. So developers: Choose receivables financiers who understand your business and for whom financing your receivables is profitable. Financiers: Build a sufficient risk premium into your pricing to accommodate your borrower in challenging economic times.

• Receivables Leverage Should Track Customer Satisfaction.
Customers pay best when they really value their financed vacation purchase. Both financiers and developers should minimize leverage on marginally satisfactory products, such as odd-even sales, “low” weeks or other “entry” products. Leverage can be increased on highly satisfactory products, especially upgrade sales to pre-existing owners. And resort RCI/II scores, vacation ratings and guest satisfaction levels all are important metrics in underwriting portfolio risk. Superior customer satisfaction mitigates the risk of marginal credit scores better than superior credit scores mitigate the risk of marginal customer satisfaction.

• Limit Leverage on Long-term Receivables.
When salespeople write longer-term paper with smaller monthly payments, cancellations and marketing costs decline. But after the sale, longerterm receivable amortizations reduce monthly Portfolio cash flow. Additionally, new financed buyers who require 120+ month financing may be less committed or have marginal affordability. A modest change in economic circumstances or lifestyle may render such buyers unable or unwilling to pay. Finally, developer recourse tolerances fluctuate over time, as do credit policies at most lending institutions. So developers financing long-term receivables should increase leverage only on proven payers and upgrade buyers. And financiers funding long-term receivables where the obligors are un-proven payers or firstgeneration buyers should lower advance rates and tighten their underwriting.

• Underwriting Resort Receivables Is Not Just About FICO and Income.
Traditional bank and consumer credit underwriting metrics such as FICO, income and DTI remain good indicators of ability to pay, but reveal nothing about the obligor’s willingness to pay or level of commitment. We know customer satisfaction impacts resort receivables performance, as does financed term. Other significant factors include: down-payment percentage, payment method, maintenance fees, and prior payment history at the resort. So developers and financiers must employ receivables underwriting and predictive modeling matrices that weigh all relevant factors: traditional bank and consumer credit metrics, plus metrics peculiar to our industry. Doing so will provide an accurate assessment of risk vs. reward, and will allow the financing of all the performing receivables in a Portfolio, albeit in several tranches.

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), extends its innovative product line-up with Club Interval GoldSM, a points-based exchange service for owners of fixed- or floating-week timeshares. The global program combines all the membership benefits of Interval International and Interval Gold® and offers a more flexible vacation exchange experience. While Club Interval Gold is purchased directly from participating Interval-affiliated resorts, new buyers and existing owners who enroll in the program will be served by dedicated advisors through Interval’s Member-Services Centers.

“Since 1994, Interval has offered members with points-based interests the ability to trade points for traditional weeks. More recently, Gold members have also been able to take advantage of ShortStay Exchange for as many vacations as their points allow,” said Jeanette Marbert, Interval’s chief operating officer. “Now, Club Interval Gold offers week-owners the flexibility to convert their vacation time into points. They can use points to access resorts in our worldwide network, or redeem them to travel as they choose, from a weekend golf getaway to a weeklong family cruise. We know that consumers will enjoy the many advantages of this exciting new program.”

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International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (ICE), a worldwide travel and leisure organization with a global network of innovative travel alliances has partnered with Westgate Resorts to launch the Westgate Cruise & Travel Collection; an exclusive membership designed to offer the ultimate in flexibility and travel options for Westgate Vacation Owners.  The new Westgate Cruise & Travel Collection Platinum offering provides expanded membership options and incentives including an array of lifestyle-oriented leisure activities such as cruise exchange, golf, ski, spa and wellness benefits.

ICE is one of the largest cruise distributors in the world and has been providing the timeshare industry innovative sales and marketing programs centered on cruise benefits for nearly fifteen years.  ICE utilizes proprietary technology to deliver vacation benefits, incentives and membership programs to business partners under private branding.  ICE and Westgate have been successfully working together on a variety of cruise and marketing programs for over ten years.

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The study reveals a new trend for Brits taking multiple single day holidays throughout the year, as opposed to the traditional two-week break their parents worked towards.

Over a quarter (27%) of Brits are planning to take at least ten single days holiday – or ‘daycations’ – this year and a further 36% will take between five and ten.  48% of those polled cited the cost of a fortnight’s holiday as the main reason for not taking two weeks off work, whereas one in 12 hard-working employees blamed the inability to switch off from the job.

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Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said the results were anticipated given the strength of the dollar in 2010 and a changing mix of visitors to the Gold Coast.

“The Gold Coast tourism industry knows from experience that a strong Australian dollar weakens international visitor spend, so when the Australian dollar jumped from 85 cents to over parity last year we were anticipating a decline in international visitor spend, that is reflected in these numbers,” he said.

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In a continuing trend, Asian markets grew substantially. Australia was up 17.5% with 10 426 arrivals and Indian visitors to SA rose by a whopping 78,7% from 3 665 to 6 549. Strong growth also came out of Canada – up 19.4%.

Says Cape Town Tourism, CEO Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, “In the post-world cup environment, South Africa’s tourism organisations have worked cohesively to capitalise on the good perception formed during the games, with targeted markets in new source markets. India is one of these and we are already seeing the fruits of this engagement.”

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RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), today announced a new affiliation with AMResorts.

Founded in 2001, AMResorts is one of the fastest growing hospitality companies in the Caribbean and Mexico with 22 luxury resorts in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Jamaica. AMResorts offers opulent oceanfront accommodations with 24-hour room service and daily refreshed mini bars, world-class spas and spa gardens, ocean-view gourmet restaurants appealing to every palate, an array of daytime activities and live, unique nighttime entertainment, which provide a wide variety of vacation experiences for every age and interest in popular coastal destinations.

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Tibisay Hotel, located in the city of Merida, Venezuela, is a highly desirable destination in the Venezuelan Andes. This hotel consists of an elegant building with splendid views of the Andean mountain range and has the latest technology with rooms that were specially designed to provide the maximum comfort to guests.
 
Among the main attractions of the hotel, which includes a Presidential suite and 81 fully-equipped rooms, are a spa, heated pool, electronic casino and nightly entertainment center, in addition to the unique “Andean friendliness” of its staff.  Visitors at the Hotel Tibisay can easily access the lagoons, cable cars, deserts, and other attractions in Merida and the surround area.

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“We are very pleased to offer our resort clients the opportunity to take advantage of Trooval’s high-tech, cost-effective tools,” said David C. Gilbert, Interval’s executive vice president of resort sales and marketing. “This proprietary software is designed to answer critical questions about potential buyers and their behavior, which is particularly important in today’s market.”

“Through this alliance, we are excited to see an even wider population of timeshare resorts use our simple yet sophisticated products to improve marketing efficiency, increase conversion rates, and raise VPG,” said Jonathan Lowenhar, chief executive officer of Trooval, Inc. “Understanding a tour’s value or an owner’s loyalty before engaging them is the single best way to dramatically and measurably increase timeshare profitability.”

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TripAdvisor estimates that 69 percent of travelers will take international trips this year, and of that group, 52 percent will travel to Europe, 13 percent will visit Asia and 12 percent will journey to South America. According to them, the top three international destinations U.S. travelers plan to visit in 2011 are Paris, London and Rome, with 75 percent planning to visit a U.S. city. Las Vegas, New York City and San Francisco are the most popular choices.

“This resurgence of travel is terrific news for the timeshare industry,” said Howard Nusbaum. “More travelers are beginning to understand the value and comfort of a timeshare vacation and with resorts in all of theses popular 2011 destinations, vacationers will find exactly what they need.”

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“Last year’s RDO Conference was a tremendous success and it is our pleasure to support this year’s event,” said Darren Ettridge, Interval’s vice president of resort sales and service for Europe, Middle East, and Africa and its representative on the RDO Board. “We look forward to playing our usual full part in the organisation of the conference and also in taking an active role during the event.”

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RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, has significantly enhanced its RCI® Weeks program to allow members to know the trading power value of their vacation interval once deposited with RCI.

For the first time in its 36-year history, RCI Weeks members are able to compare the trading power value of their deposited week to the trading power value of the timeshare interval they want to exchange into and can also for the first time combine deposited timeshare intervals allowing them to transact into higher-valued vacations.

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And to provide even greater benefit, RCI will for the first time be providing its Weeks members with a “Deposit Credit” if the trading power value of their deposited interval is greater than the interval they have exchanged into.

“In the increasingly transparent online vacation planning world that we live in, this is something our members have been consistently asking for. It’s one of the most exciting things we’ve ever done for our members – it’s really unprecedented,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “Transparency is important because people want to have more control over how they trade their timeshare vacation for another vacation they’d like to take. From our customer service, marketing and technology teams – we’ve brought together our entire company to solve for our members’ request to give them what they want in terms of knowing the trading power value of their deposited timeshare week and what it will take to get them to where they want to vacation, allowing them access to vacations that they might not have been able to book in the past.

“At the same time we’ve been working with our affiliates who have largely embraced the change as both unique and revolutionary. Our affiliated timeshare developers realize that this is what the customer wants and they are working with us to help us deliver the promise of flexibility for their timeshare owners and our members in planning their vacations,” Ballotti added.

RCI began educating members on these new developments on RCI.com and in the October edition of its Endless Vacation magazine, explaining how trading power transparency, deposit credits and combining deposited weeks will greatly assist them in their future vacation planning and provide them with more choice, flexibility and value in their future vacation planning. RCI will provide further information to its members throughout the next few months to help ensure confidence with the new enhancements and highlight the benefits to members worldwide.

“Just in the few days since these enhancements went ‘live’ on RCI.com, an overwhelmingly positive response has been pouring in from our Weeks members. They – and all of us at RCI – are so excited about this transformation and we look forward to continuing to deliver the best innovations in the industry for our affiliates and their owners,” said Ballotti.

These significant upgrades follow RCI’s continuous work to develop new innovations for its members that make vacation planning fun and easy. Over the past two years, RCI has launched RCI TV, a revolutionary and entertaining web-based television network, which recently launched a Spanish language channel. RCI also developed Enhanced Search for Weeks, online search functionality for RCI Weeks members that provides a broad view of the exchange vacations available and the ability to search using filters RCI has also made its debut into the mobile marketing world with the launch of an RCI application for iPhone® and iPod touch® devices. Additionally, RCI has a YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/rcitimeshare) that contains dozens of quality resort videos from RCI TV that showcase affiliated
properties around the world, and is sharing the latest and greatest travel news and tips with its members via Twitter and The RCI Blog (http://blog.rci.com).

About RCI
RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the world’s largest full-service vacation rental business, providing access to more than 85,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries.

The vacation exchange business includes RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers, and The Registry Collection® program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program. The vacation rentals business includes Hoseasons, cottages4you, Novasol®, Cuendet®, Landal GreenParks®, ResortQuest®, Endless Vacation Rentals® and other renowned vacation rental brands through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange. For additional information visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com/media_center.

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“While we are pleased to be reporting the increase in demand for December, we are even more excited to see a substantial change in consumer behavior,” said Steve Reich, Senior Vice President of Sales at LeisureLink. “Conversion improved by 16 percent over December 2009 and 31 percent over November 2010. This trend indicates that consumers are shifting from shopping to buying. The combination of increased conversion and demand will result in revenue growth and guest acquisition opportunities. Regional changes have been particularly striking. Conversion in the Rockies ski regions is up, and we saw a dramatic improvement in conversion in the Gulf Coast Region with an increase of 22 percent over the prior year.”

“We have also seen substantial rebound in both demand and conversion for Hawaii. Hawaii experienced a 19 percent increase in demand and approximately at 65 percent improvement in conversion. Consumers are going beyond weekend getaways and returning to “fly-to” markets. Hawaii’s improvement is a strong indication that consumer confidence is returning and the economy is truly rebounding,” Reich stated.

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Equity Estates www.equityestatesfund.com, the country’s first and fastest growing Luxury Residence Fund™ and the only true equity based model in the second home alternative market, announced today that the fund grew by over 50 percent in 2010 for the third consecutive year—confirming their smart and fun investment model that collectively pools investment dollars to acquire a portfolio of multi-million dollar vacation homes for family friendly vacation experiences.

“Our success in 2010, a perilous year for many in this industry, is a testament to our unique model and our commitment to creating outstanding vacation experiences,” said Adam Capes, co-founder of Equity Estates. “With the fourth quarter success and pipeline of high net worth families we have built relationships with, we have great hopes for our success in 2011 both in terms of owner membership growth as well as additions to our portfolio of destinations and residences.”

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Paul Adreani

Paul Adreani has joined Vibes Interactive as its Vice President of Operations to lead essential functions including product and process development, strategic partnerships, alternate distribution channels, client relations, finance, and administration. Prior to joining Vibes, Paul served as the President of Shell Vacations Club where he was instrumental in developing the SVC Points system, member benefits, inventory management, and Club servicing standards/processes. He joins the Vacation Storebuilder team with proven leadership skills and extensive experience in inventory monetization and yield management.

“Having worked with Paul to help build and grow the SVC Points program, I have complete confidence that he will be an invaluable asset to the success of Vibes Interactive and its e-commerce platforms,” said Sunil Aluvila, President & CEO of Vibes Interactive. “He will be instrumental in ensuring efficient and scalable operations of Vacation Storebuilder as it continues to gain traction as the premier Software-as-a-Service e-commerce platform in the vacation rental and ownership industry.”

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Marge Lennon

Lennon Communications Group, Inc. has recently been engaged to guide public relations efforts for Vibes Interactive, LLC and their Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform, Vacation Storebuilder (VSB), a Chicago-based company that provides the timeshare industry and vacation rental firms with an advanced e-commerce platform for vacation rental, prospect generation, short term membership marketing, resales and an Interactive Sales System for timeshare sales.

“Having been professionally involved in the timeshare industry for close to 33 years,” commented Lennon Communications (www.LennonCommunications.com) founder Marge Lennon, “I have had a front-row seat to the industry’s steady growth. But it’s a new world out there and technology is clearly changing everything. Today’s timeshare companies are looking for ways to tap into the growing number of online shoppers to cost effectively generate rental revenue and qualified prospects. Vibes Interactive and their Vacation Storebuilder (www.VacationStorebuilder.com) platform are leading the way to provide robust solutions for the industry. I am honored by their selection of my firm and look forward to representing this highly innovative company and their team.”

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RCI will continue to be the exclusive third-party exchange provider for Disney Vacation Club’s more than 150,000 member families. Having already affiliated over 80 new resorts to date in 2010, RCI has one of the most expansive portfolios of high-end affiliated vacation resorts, as well as more choices in more countries than any other exchange network.

With the renewal of this relationship, Disney Vacation Club Members will continue to be able to enjoy vacations and different resort experiences at RCI affiliated properties around the world including all-inclusive options, nightly exchanges and a selection of luxurious, high-end fractional properties.

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