Perspective Magazine

Diamond Resorts Corporation Announcing its Results for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2012

Steve Luba — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:05:16 +0000

Diamond Resorts Corporation, together with Diamond Resorts Parent, LLC and its subsidiaries (“Diamond” or the “Corporation”) have announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012. “We are pleased with the continued year-over-year improvement in our operating performance and continue to remain focused on the growth of our core management and member services business and our sales and marketing platform,” said David F. Palmer, President and Chief Financial Officer.

Quarter Ended March 31, 2012 Financial Results
Adjusted EBITDA for Diamond Resorts Parent, LLC and restricted subsidiaries1 increased $4.4 million, or 24.3%, to $22.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 from $18.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011. EBITDA for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 includes the benefit of a one-time insurance settlement of $5.1 million. This growth is attributable to increased profitability associated with both Vacation Interest sales and the management of our members and resorts.

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Hans S. Weger Joins Outrigger Enterprises Group as Chief Financial Officer

Steve Luba — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:51:31 +0000

David Carey, president and CEO of Hawaii-based Outrigger Enterprises Group, one of the largest and fastest growing privately-held leisure lodging and hospitality companies in the Asia Pacific and Oceania regions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Hans S. Weger to the position of chief financial officer (CFO). Weger replaces former CFO Melvyn Wilinsky, who retired in December 2011 after 19 years with Outrigger.

As CFO, Weger is responsible for oversight of the company’s capital structure, providing the financial guidance and strategic financial vision needed to efficiently manage the financial affairs of Outrigger Enterprises Group.

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Marriott Vacations Worldwide Owner Services Recognized for Excellence in Customer Service

Steve Luba — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:21:58 +0000

Marriott Vacations Worldwide’s (NYSE: VAC) Owner Services was recently recognized with the inaugural American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Circle of Excellence “ACE” Award for Excellence in Customer Service at the annual ARDA Awards Gala at the 2012 Convention & Exposition held in Las Vegas, Nev.

“Receiving the first-ever Excellence in Customer Service ‘ACE’ Award is a testament to our dedicated associates’ commitment to and focus on our Owners,” said Ron Essig, vice president of Owner Services for Marriott Vacations Worldwide. “It is this dedication that has enabled us to reach high levels of success operationally and to consistently increase our customer satisfaction scores.”

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Interval International To Host Shared Ownership Investment Conferences In South Africa

Susan Knox — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:35:03 +0000

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), will host Shared Ownership Investment Conferences on 26 June in Cape Town and 28 June in Sandton. Interval created the conferences in 1998 to educate prospective entrants, lenders, and government officials about resort development opportunities around the globe. Investment conferences were held previously in South Africa in 2010.

“We are proud that past events have drawn thousands of attendees interested in shared ownership. Our investment conferences are now regarded among the most prestigious in the business,” said Darren Ettridge, Interval’s senior vice president of resort sales and business development for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia. “We are looking forward to providing attendees at the forthcoming events a fresh look at shared ownership opportunities in this thriving destination.”

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VacationOwnership.com CEO Jason Tremblay To Speak At Canadian Timeshare Conference

Steve Luba — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:39:43 +0000

Jason Tremblay, founder and CEO of VacationOwnership.com, is among the industry experts and innovators speaking this week at the 2012 Canadian Resort Development Association Annual Timeshare Conference (CRDA). Scheduled for the Intercontinental Toronto Centre, this year’s event will attract international participation from leaders in timeshare, fractionals, vacation clubs, and other vacation ownership products.

Paul Nursey of the Canadian Tourism Commission will launch the conference by presenting the Opening Address, followed by Keynote Speaker, Howard Nusbaum, President/CEO of the American Resort Development Association, ARDA.

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Cynthia B. Taylor named Grand Incentives’ VP of Business Administration

Steve Luba — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:50:11 +0000

Cynthia B. Taylor, formerly of Stewart Vacation Ownership, has accepted the newly-created position of VP of Business Administration at Grand Incentives, Inc. The need for the position stems directly from the company’s rapid and expansive growth. Cynthia was the ideal choice because of her extensive industry background.

As VP of Business Administration, Cynthia will be the liaison between the company’s Sarasota Corporate Office and its travel club locations in the U.S. and Caribbean. Her responsibilities will include monitoring performance and production, and improving efficiencies to positively impact the overall company’s profitability and ensure a first class customer experience. In this capacity, Cynthia will work closely with CEO Jose Martinez and COO Larry Biondi to support various business development initiatives.

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Inspirato Raises More Than $1 Million for Charitable Causes

Steve Luba — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:20:19 +0000

Leading luxury vacation club Inspirato announced today it has helped raise more than $1 million for charitable causes since launching the club in January 2011. To date, Inspirato has provided more than 250 vacations for charitable events, helping to raise funds for nonprofit organizations such as the Global Down Syndrome Foundation and March of Dimes while giving donors an opportunity to experience a five-star vacation at one of the club’s private, multimillion-dollar properties.

Inspirato’s commitment to philanthropy is evidenced by its recent creation of a new corporate division – Inspired Giving – dedicated to working with important causes and finding collaborative ways to raise awareness and dollars. The idea for Inspired Giving grew from Inspirato’s founder and CEO Brent Handler’s 10 years in the luxury vacation industry.

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U.S. Travel and Tourism Strategy Announced

Steve Luba — Tue, 15 May 2012 00:55:23 +0000

Delivering on President Obama’s recent call for a national approach to promote travel and tourism throughout the United States, Secretary of Commerce John Bryson and Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar has announced the Administration’s National Travel and Tourism Strategy. The plan reflects input from local government and business leaders, including the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board (TTAB), which is chaired by Oregon Tourism Commission (dba Travel Oregon) CEO Todd Davidson.

The National Travel and Tourism Strategy’s overarching goal is to increase American jobs and spur economic growth by attracting and welcoming 100 million international visitors estimated to spend $250 billion annually by the end of 2021.

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Fairmont Strengthens Its Position as an International Employer of Choice

Steve Luba — Mon, 14 May 2012 22:53:52 +0000

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts today announced the official launch of its new-look Careers Website, a compelling gateway for today’s top talent to connect with the brand. Building on Fairmont’s reputation as an exceptional employer and supporting the luxury hotel brand’s global expansion plans, the site debuts a wide range of upgrades that provide a window to rewarding career opportunities and engaging experiences in hotels around the world.

Coinciding with the site’s launch and as testament to its venerable status as a top place to work, Fairmont is also proud to herald its latest mark of distinction, having recently been named one of just 27 worldwide recipients of the coveted 2012 Gallup Great Workplace Award. Recognizing employers whose work force score within the top percentile for productivity and engagement, Fairmont was chosen from a database comprised of millions of work teams in more than 100 countries.

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Top Academics Confirmed As Speakers At RDO3

Steve Luba — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:29:44 +0000

RDO, the trade association for the shared ownership industry in Europe, has announced that Mr Carlos Vogeler, Regional Representative for the Americas, World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Professor Dimitrios Buhalis Deputy Director,International Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Research, Director, John Kent Institute in Tourism Director eTourism Research Lab have been confirmed to speak at this years conference – RDO3.

Mr Vogeler and Mr Buhalis will be speaking to delegates on Tourism trends – what is going on in Tourism in general, new customers – how do we as an industry “re-fill” the machine and eTourism developments.

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Portico by Exclusive Resorts Appoints CEO, Launches Website, Introduces New Destinations

Steve Luba — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:47:34 +0000

Confirming its status as the fastest growing new entrant in the luxury hospitality space, Portico by Exclusive Resorts ( www.porticoclub.com ) today announced the appointment of former HomeAway executive Justin Halloran as Chief Executive Officer, a new website with direct booking capability, and the introduction of more than 10 new destinations in the past two weeks alone. These latest milestones cap an exceptionally strong pre-launch phase during which Portico welcomed more than 1,600 members, assembled a growing collection of more than 150 luxury vacation homes targeted across 50 of the world’s best destinations, and entered into a $16.5 million equity financing to accelerate its rapid expansion.

Mr. Halloran was formerly Vice President for Global Initiatives at vacation home giant HomeAway, where he launched HomeAway’s flagship global template website across 12 countries. He also served as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development at WhaleShark Media, and spent six years at eBay, where he spearheaded the expansion and growth of eBay’s $4 billion vehicles and parts business outside of North America.

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Talal Jassim Al-Bahar Honoured with Leadership Award at the 2012 Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

Steve Luba — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:24:38 +0000

Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Vice Chairman and CEO of IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR), was honoured last week with one of the region’s most prestigious industry awards – the 2012 Arabian Hotel Investment Conference Leadership Award.

Talal Jassim Al-Bahar

Each year, the award is decided upon by the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) Advisory Board. Previous winners include Gerald Lawless, Executive Chairman of Jumeirah Group, HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan of the Abu Dhabi ruling family and His Excellency, Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World and H.E Mohamad Al-Abbar-Chairman of Emar Real Estate. A key factor in the Board’s decision to select Mr. Al-Bahar for this award was his strategic engineering of IFA HR’s growth.

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Bluegreen Corporation Reports 2012 First Quarter Financial Results

Steve Luba — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:34:54 +0000

Bluegreen Corporation (NYSE: BXG), a leading timeshare sales, marketing and resort management company, today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

John M. Maloney Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer of Bluegreen, commented, “We are very pleased with our performance during the first quarter of 2012. We experienced strong growth in system-wide sales and our fee-based service business. We also generated positive free cash flow and reduced outstanding debt.”

Additional Q1 2012 operating highlights included:

In connection with its fee-based services business, Resorts sold $19.7 million of third-party VOIs in Q1 2012, generating sales and marketing commissions of approximately $12.8 million. This compares to sales of $16.9 million of third-party VOIs in Q1 2011, which generated sales and marketing commissions of $10.8 million.
Total revenues from fee-based services rose 13% to $31.6 million in Q1 2012 from $28.0 million in Q1 2011. Fee-based services contributed an estimated $11.5 million to Resorts operating profit in Q1 2012, compared to an estimated $9.5 million in Q1 2011. As of March 31, 2012, Bluegreen managed 45 timeshare resort properties and hotels compared to 42 as of March 31, 2011.

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Muskoka Communities Inc. Set to Launch Affordable Vacation Cottages in Muskoka

Steve Luba — Fri, 11 May 2012 23:16:50 +0000

Muskoka Communities Inc. is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of its newest vacation cottages, Shamrock Bay Resort. The resort—scheduled to open at the end of this month—is located in Severn Bridge, a picturesque community just 12 minutes from Gravenhurst, Ontario.

Situated on the shores of the pristine Trent-Severn Waterway, Shamrock Bay Resort offers something truly unique: “three-season” vacation cottages in Muskoka. This 53-acre, water-front resort features 286 maintenance-free cottages, each with a private deck and access to the water. The resort represents community-style living with an array of amenities to include an in-land marina large enough for 113 boats, an outdoor heated, saltwater pool, gazebos, playgrounds, bike trails, laundry facilities, barbecue dining facilities, a splash pad, and a new Discovery Center. Future additions to the resort will include an additional 37 boat slips.

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Interval Leisure Group Reports First Quarter 2012 Results

Steve Luba — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:58:38 +0000

Interval Leisure Group(“ILG”) has announced results for the three months ended March 31, 2012.

FIRST QUARTER 2012 HIGHLIGHTS

– Earnings per share of $0.27 vs. $0.23 in the prior year.

– ILG consolidated revenue increased by 8.3% year over year. — Membership and Exchange segment revenue increased 4.6%

– Management and Rental segment revenue is up 25.7%. Excluding pass-through revenue, Management and Rental segment revenue is up 39.3%.

– Total active Interval Network members increased by 1.5%.

– Average revenue per member increased by 4.4%.

– Adjusted EBITDA increased by 7.8%.

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CalCon Mutual Announces Hiring Of Dustin Carfield As Director Of Resort Markets

Steve Luba — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:50:40 +0000

CalCon Mutual (“CalCon”) announces the hiring of Dustin Carfield to manage its resort markets. Mr. Carfield comes to CalCon from NextStar Funding, a company he co-founded in 2002. With over ten years of experience in mortgage lending ranging from traditional lending to more specialized areas like fractional and condotels, Mr. Carfield brings a wealth of knowledge and insight needed in the resort lending world. Under Mr. Carfield’s leadership, NextStar serviced nearly ninety planned and existing resort properties across the country over the past decade.

“I have known Dustin for a number of years and have respected his work ethic and accomplishments,” said Joshua Erskine, CEO of CalCon. “We are fortunate to bring him on board to join the leadership team at CalCon. The past couple of years, we have witnessed dramatic changes in residential lending, and the resort lending world has been acutely impacted. At CalCon, we remain committed to this space and see it as one with great opportunity. We are confident that Dustin is the perfect match for moving our resort lending group forward, already making immediate impacts in his short time with CalCon.”

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Marriott Vacations Worldwide Celebrates 15 Years of Caring for Central Florida Children

Steve Luba — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:17:35 +0000

On Friday, April 20, Marriott Vacations Worldwidehosted its 15th Annual Caring Classic corporate charity golf tournament, raising a net donation of nearly $180,000 for Greater Orlando Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals – exceeding last year’s record breaking donation. This represents a cumulative total of nearly $1.6 million in funds raised since the tournament’s inception that directly benefit the young patients of Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies and Shands Hospital for Children at the University of Florida.

“One of our company’s core values is giving back to the communities we live and work in,” said Stephen P. Weisz, president and chief executive officer of Marriott Vacations Worldwide. “For over 28 years, we have been passionate supporters of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Thanks to the commitment of our associates and valued partners we are able help make a critical difference in the lives of children right here in Central Florida.”

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Centerbridge Partners, L.P. Affiliate Adds Park City, Utah Property to Its Timeshare Portfolio

Steve Luba — Fri, 11 May 2012 21:01:24 +0000

Lantern Asset Management (“Lantern”) announced that it assisted an affiliate of Centerbridge Capital Partners, L.P. (“Centerbridge”) with the acquisition of Sunrise at Escala, a completed, but unsold condominium development located within the Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah.

Lantern will provide asset management services for the property, which will be converted from a condominium project to a branded timeshare resort later this summer.

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Bluegreen Corporation Completes Sale of Bluegreen Communities

Steve Luba — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:55:47 +0000

Bluegreen Corporation (“Bluegreen” or “Company”), a leading timeshare sales, marketing and resort management company, announced that on May 4, 2012 it completed the sale of its Bluegreen Communities business to Southstar Development Partners, Inc. for a purchase price of $29.0 million in cash and certain other contingent consideration. In connection with the sale, Bluegreen satisfied Communities’ debt obligations, primarily its H4BG Communities Facility, which had an outstanding balance of approximately $20.2 million. Bluegreen satisfied this obligation in full, along with accrued interest and a $2.0 million deferred fee.

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TrackResults Software has Deployed Version 6.1.0

Susan Knox — Fri, 11 May 2012 18:40:01 +0000

TrackResults performance – V6.1.0.x releases upgrades under the hood.

TrackResults is always investing in better infrastructure and performance for our clients. It is not always about features, it’s also about portability, mobility and connectivity.

What has changed isn’t readily visible, however, under the hood; a lot of performance tuning has been applied. Here is a partial list of what has changed:

Data security can now be customized on an install-by-install basis.

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Interval International Offers Members Another Valuable Service

Susan Knox — Fri, 11 May 2012 09:06:26 +0000

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services, and GLOBAL Emergency Travel Services (GLOBAL ETS), a worldwide emergency air-transport service supplier, announced a new relationship that offers significantly discounted enrollment in GLOBAL ETS available exclusively to Interval members. It provides medical evacuation services, as well as other vital emergency travel benefits, including assistance with lost luggage or travel documents, translation services, and arrangements for travel companions.

“We’re delighted to offer our members a well-established emergency travel services program, so that they can travel with confidence, whether they’re on an Interval exchange vacation or Getaway, or travelling for business,” said Sharon Freed, Interval’s senior vice president of consumer marketing.

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Festiva donates $50,000 to WNC Nature Center

Susan Knox — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:16:05 +0000

Festiva Hospitality Group has donated $50,000 to the Western North Carolina Nature Center (WNCNC), Asheville’s Wildlife Park. Festiva’s commitment will support the center’s 2020 Vision, a long-term improvement and expansion project already underway at the Nature Center that will help transform this diamond in the rough into one of Asheville’s favorite treasures for locals and visitors alike.

The donation is coordinated by Friends of the WNCNC, a nonprofit committed to supporting the WNC Nature Center’s mission of connecting people with animals & plants of the Southern Appalachian Mountains by inspiring appreciation, nurturing understanding, & advancing conservation of the region’s rich biodiversity.

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Bliss Beach Ball Raises More than 860,000 Baht for Phuket Charity

Susan Knox — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:12:39 +0000

Last Friday night, the rain blissfully held off for a gathering in Bang Tao of 200 party goers at the Bliss Beach Ball, who collectively raised more than 860,000 baht for The Phuket has Been Good to Us Foundation. The money was raised through donations, raffle ticket sales and a spectacular silent auction with a wide array of items donated by local merchants.

“We were proud to be the title sponsors for this event,” said Pepe Viva, General Manager at Bliss Beach Club. “It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the club while supporting such a worthy cause. It was one of those rare evenings where a community of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds comes together towards a common goal. As I overheard one guest say… it’s all for the kids.”

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TrackResults and others give back – Send Me On Vacation (SMOV) Charity

Susan Knox — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:09:02 +0000

TrackResults and SFX Resorts in conjunction with ”SEND ME ON VACATION” (SMOV) at the C.A.R.E. conference in St Petersburg, FL, helped present 10 CD players and headphone sets to the “A Music Therapy CD Library” at the : Susan Sheppard McGillicuddy Breast Cancer Center St. Anthony’s Hospital.

SMOV is an organization dedicated to providing women fighting breast cancer who have undergone treatments a vacation to “rejuvenate their body, mind and spirit.” For more information on Send Me On Vacation including how to donate or volunteer contact Cathy Backus cbackus@sendmeonvacation.org

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New General Manager appointed at Bushman’s Nek

Susan Knox — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:00:42 +0000

First Resorts Management has announced the appointment of Bradley Wyllie as General Manager of Bushman’s Nek Berg and Trout Resort. Wyllie brings to the resort diverse experience and a fresh approach. He was previously assistant Lodge Manager at Kalahari Anib Lodge situated in Namibia

Wyllie had this to say on his passion for what he does “I discovered my love for the industry in a North Yorkshire Hotel called Rudding Park; here I realized that my strengths lay in the hospitality industry. The opportunity opened up different doors and I moved to the Maldives where I worked as a Bar Supervisor in the very exclusive Reethi Rah.”

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Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa Of St. Lucia Joins RCI Network Of Affiliated Resorts

Susan Knox — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:44:32 +0000

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange, announced today that it has added Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa of St. Lucia to its global network of affiliated resorts.

“We are thrilled to add Smugglers Cove to the many RCI® exchange options for our members,” said Gordon Gurnik, president, RCI. “This stunning, all-inclusive resort offers guests of all ages incredible vacation experiences on the unique island of St. Lucia.”

Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa gives guests the opportunity to explore the Caribbean island in style from the comfort of their well-appointed private suites. The impressive views from Smugglers Cove include lush tropical gardens, panoramic vistas of the Caribbean Sea and lovely hillside views. The resort offers a full range of activities from sporting events and fitness classes to water skiing and sailing. Guests will also enjoy the seven pools, waterslide and spa on site.

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Club Melia Captures ARDA Awards For Administrative Manager And Resort Department Manager, Plus Five Other Industry Nominations

Susan Knox — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:31:26 +0000

Club Meliá by Meliá Hotels International, a leading international vacation membership club with locations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Europe, received a total of seven award nominations at the 2012 American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Annual Convention and Awards Reception in Las Vegas in the categories of Administrative Manager, Global Human Resources Team, Resort Department Manager, Website, Resort Architecture, Amenities: Water Features and Refurbishment: Interior Design. Bringing the gold home for Club Meliá this year were David Aparicio, Administrative Manager from the Cancun, Cozumel, and Playa del Carmen, Mexico Region and Gladys Bautista, Resort Department Manager from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

“I am truly excited about the award winning performance of our employees and member resorts,” said Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President, Club Meliá. “They are all our ‘all stars’ who deliver our exclusive Club Meliá experience to our members each and every day.”

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Confused About Timeshare the Timeshare Resale Specialist Launch A New Internet You Tube Promotional Campaign

Susan Knox — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:40:06 +0000

Confused About Timeshare are constantly striving to allow consumers who are interested in timeshare resale’s to find out about the great buying, selling and renting timeshare solutions that they have on offer through as many media platforms as possible.

The new video can be viewed here: http://www.confusedabouttimeshare.co.uk/timeshare-news/Confused-About-Timeshare-Launch-Internet-TV-Promo-Video-To-Assist-With-Timeshare-Resales/22

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Perspective Magazine To Be A Media Sponsor Of The South American Shared Ownership Investment Conference

Steve Luba — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:35:31 +0000

Perspective Magazine, the leading independent multi-media information provider for the timeshare and fractional ownership industry, announces its media sponsorship for the 2012 South American Shared Ownership Investment Conference (SASOIC) in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“With the participation of more than 300 businessmen in past editions, and within the framework of an ever-growing business offering great opportunities, we believe that SASOIC 2012 will stand as a must-go event in South America’s Shared Ownership industry,” said Arturo García Rosa, President HVS South America.

This third annual SASOIC conference is scheduled for May 21 – 22, 2012 at Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt in Buenos Aires. The meeting will be hosted by RCI, the world leader in timeshare exchange, and HVS Buenos Aires, the region’s leading consulting firm in the hotel, tourism and leisure industry. Led by Keynote speaker Don Harrill, president and CEO, Orange Lake Resorts, the event will include an international mix of presenters such as Steve Holmes, Chairman & CEO, Wyndham Worldwide, Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI, and Ricardo Montaudon, president and Executive Director Latin America, RCI.

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Development of the Year Award to be Presented at the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit

Steve Luba — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:36:01 +0000

The host of the Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) will present the prestigious Development of the Year Award at the conference, which will be held May 7-8, 2012, at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami hotel in Miami, Florida, USA. CHRIS is hosted by Burba Hotel Network (BHN).

Finalists for the CHRIS Development of the Year Award include:

Buccament Bay Resort – Opened in April 2011, Buccament Bay Resort is located in the Southern Caribbean, on the Windward Island chain of St. Vincent & The Grenadines, and is operated by Harlequin Hotels & Resorts. The all-inclusive resort features approximately 120 villa-type accommodations, ranging from 700 SF to 1,670 SF, in addition to large four-bedroom Plantation Villas featuring 2,500 SF.

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Marriott Vacations Worldwide Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results

Steve Luba — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:41:56 +0000

Today, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC), the leading global pure-play vacation ownership company, reported first quarter 2012 financial results and reaffirmed the company’s full-year outlook for 2012 based upon positive trends in important North America metrics to date.

First Quarter 2012 highlights include:

North America segment gross contract sales increased 18 percent to $130 million.
Volume per guest (VPG) in the North America segment increased 18 percent year-over-year to $2,942.
Total gross contract sales increased 6 percent to $154 million.
Total revenues were $372 million, including $146 million from rentals, resort management and other services and financing.
Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization), as adjusted for organizational and separation related costs totaled $29 million.
Real estate inventory balance declined by $27 million in the first quarter.
Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) in the first quarter was $0.27.

First quarter 2012 reported net income totaled $9 million, or $0.24 a share, compared to reported net income of $19 million in the first quarter of 2011. First quarter 2012 adjusted net income totaled $10 million, flat to adjusted net income on a pro forma basis for the first quarter of 2011. Adjustments are shown on schedule A-1 and described in further detail on schedule A-11. First quarter 2012 adjusted results exclude $2 million of pre-tax organizational and separation related costs. First quarter 2011 adjusted results include $17 million of pre-tax pro forma adjustments to reflect the company’s position as if it were a standalone, public company since the beginning of 2011 rather than from the actual spin-off date in November 2011, as well as $2 million of legal related charges and severance costs.

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Fairmont Heritage Place Announces New Luxury Residences at El Corazon de Santa Fe, New Mexico

Steve Luba — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:23:26 +0000

Fairmont Heritage Place, the private residence club offering from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, today announced that it has assumed management of The Residence Club at El Corazon de Santa Fe, Santa Fe’s only downtown fractional ownership property.

Fairmont Heritage Place, El Corazon de Santa Fe features 22 two-bedroom vacation residences and 50 whole-ownership homes designed in the classic Pueblo Revival style that provide the ultimate in comfort and luxury. Located two blocks from the city’s historic Plaza, the property includes two residence options; the single floor “Terra” residences and the split-level “Montanas” residence. Both feature full kitchens with designer appliances, flat screen HD televisions in the living room and master bedroom, dining area, luxury bathroom amenities and products, kiva fireplaces and a private balcony or patio. The elegant vigas, clay plaster walls, art and iron work throughout the units display a warm sense of place. Recently, the property expanded its clubhouse and reception area, added a new owners’ fitness area and private owners’ park and refreshed various furnishings throughout the resort. In addition to these amenities, owners and guests will enjoy concierge services, discounts on fine dining, spas and golf in and around Santa Fe, and amenities such as pre-arrival grocery shopping.

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Timeshare Receivables: Aspen Using Advanced Skip Tracing

Susan Knox — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:46:16 +0000

Timeshare resort collection experts Buzz Waloch and David Combs from Aspen National Collections discuss the latest skip tracing techniques.

Buzz Waloch and David Combs of the timeshare industry’s premier collection agency, Aspen National Collections, recently discussed how to find missing debtors. Addressing a body of timeshare board members, Combs described the collection agency’s research practices, known in the business as skip tracing.

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Bluegreen Selected As A Winner In 33rd Annual Telly Awards

Steve Luba — Wed, 02 May 2012 16:45:32 +0000

Bluegreen Vacations, a leading provider of vacation experiences, today announced its Shenandoah Crossing Resort Story video has won the 2012 Bronze Telly® Award in the Film/Video Category.

Bluegreen’s Shenandoah Crossing Resort is located in Gordonsville, VA, and is one of the vacation club’s premier properties. The narrated video showcases the resort property and tells the story of the Shenandoah experience, highlighting the resort’s available activities, amenities and accommodations.

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Top Industry Executives Confirmed as Keynote Speakers at RDO3

Steve Luba — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:54:01 +0000

The Resort Development Organisation (RDO), the timeshare trade association for Europe, has announced the keynote speakers for its 2012 annual industry convention. Craig M. Nash – Chairman, President, and CEO – Interval Leisure Group, and Geoffrey A. Ballotti – Chief Executive Officer – RCI have been confirmed as Keynote Speakers at the RDO3 2012 Conference. Mr. Nash and Mr. Ballotti will give their take on what it really means to them to “Go The Distance”.

For more information on Mr. Nash and Mr. Ballotti, visit the Moderator & Speakers section of the dedicated conference website – www.rdoconference.org.

This year’s conference, “Going The Distance”, will be held at the Pestana Chelsea Bridge Hotel & Spa, London on 23-25 September 2012. All pre-event information about this year’s conference can be found on the conference website – www.rdoconference.org, including an overview of the conference schedule, a gateway for booking, updates and archives for the conference and a useful networking tool to cement business relationships.

Four-Generation Disney Family Featured as May “Timeshare Fan of the Month”

Steve Luba — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:13:22 +0000

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) is featuring a Disney Vacation Club owner during the month of May as part of the industry’s effort to share the amenities, experiences, and heartfelt memories of timeshare vacations.

Four generations of the Sayers family have enjoyed their 15 years of ownership at Disney’s Old Key West Resort in Orlando, Florida and they say it’s provided some of the best memories and experiences they have had—and they look forward to making more. From celebrating Dad’s 74th birthday, to watching the kids’ eyes light up at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, to holding hands in sheer anticipation of their vacation, this family has never looked back.

“We started a family tradition that’s encompassed four generations by becoming Disney Vacation Club Members,” said Donald Sayers of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. “It’s worked out exactly the way we hoped it would.”

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Sea to Ski Vacations Announces New Travel Rebate Program For Vacation Club Members

Steve Luba — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:09:33 +0000

Sea to Ski Vacations, a leader in the vacation club industry, is making travel not only easier for their members, but has added a new Travel Rebate Program designed to guarantee the best travel pricing available anywhere on the open market.

Offering over 7,000 world-class resort properties and thousands of cruises around the globe to choose from, Sea to Ski Vacations’ members now have a cash back option in addition to their already discounted pricing. Combining this new rebate program, along with their personalized concierge service, an industry first, makes Sea to Ski the leading choice for both serious and casual travelers. But in spite of the many travel programs already offered by Sea to Ski, company president Stephen Andrews says they are constantly searching for new ways to improve the products and services offered to their members, and the Travel Rebate Program is another ground-breaking addition.

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New Zealand Timeshare Conference Receives Support from Perspective Magazine

Steve Luba — Wed, 02 May 2012 08:19:25 +0000

Perspective Magazine, the timeshare and fractional ownership industry’s leading independent information provider, announces its support of New Zealand’s top vacation ownership conference with its media sponsorship of the New Zealand Holiday Ownership Council (NZHOC) event later this month.

“It’s great to have the sponsorship of Perspective Magazine again this year for our conference– it means a lot to a small country such as NZ. Our timeshare industry is in good shape but as always there are industry matters that need to be addressed and our annual conference provides a great opportunity to do this and this year will be no exception – delegates can look forward to hearing about a wide range of industry matters from our overseas and local speakers,” said Martyn Rix, Chairman, New Zealand Holiday Ownership Council.

The conference is scheduled for May 13-14, 2012 at the Millennium Hotel and Resort Manuels Taupo in Taupo, New Zealand under the theme “Changing Times”.

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Colebrook Hosts Lenders’ Timeshare Finance Education Event

Susan Knox — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:33:32 +0000

Colebrook Financial Company holding seminar to introduce timeshare resort receivables financing information to banking professionals

Colebrook Financial Company, providing timeshare receivables financing for single-site and multi-site timeshare resort developers, announced they will present their annual “Timeshare Lender Education Seminar” on June 7, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Cromwell, Connecticut, from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. before a group of by-invitation-only lenders and professionals. Colebrook works in concert with a number of financial institutions to provide financing for the resort industry.

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Vacation Ownership Sales Rise 4% According To Vacation Ownership WORLD

Susan Knox — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:16:15 +0000

More developers show increase in sales says only company-specific research available.

Vacation Ownership WORLD’s 2011 Sales Leader Survey – the only research that provides company-specific annual sales data of the leading timeshare and fractional developers, has just been released.

Among the highlights of this year’s Survey:

In 2011, overall vacation ownership sales rose 4% as compared to 2010. Timeshare sales increased 3.3%. Fractional sales grew 8.3%.

Top Ten Sales Leader companies now compose 87.5% of the market, as measured by market share. This is up sharply over pre-crisis levels of around 70%.

More developers reported an increase in sales than a decrease in sales. This compares to the situation just two years ago, when 75% of developers experienced a loss.

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Interval International Names Gonzalo Maqueda Executive Director Of Resort Sales And Service For Mexico

Susan Knox — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:41:23 +0000

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq:IILG), announced the appointment of Gonzalo Maqueda to executive director of resort sales and service for Mexico. He reports to Marcos Agostini, vice president of resort sales and service for Latin America, and is based in the Mexico City office.

“We are extremely pleased that Gonzalo has joined our resort sales and service team. His more than 20 years of experience in shared ownership and hospitality will be very valuable to our company and resort clients as we work together to grow our business in the Mexican market,” Agostini noted.

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Loving Your Loyal Members Boosts Profits

Susan Knox — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:52:31 +0000

By Georgi Bohrod, RRP

According to Fred Reichheld, the business strategist who developed the Net Promoter Score (NPS), a concept which measures customer loyalty and advocacy, “As a customer’s relationship with the company lengthens, profits rise. And not just by a little. Companies can boost profits by almost 100% by retaining just 5% more of their customers.”

Leisure Logistics, a California based company with a customer loyalty product called Leisure Points, provides shared ownership companies tools to do just that: drive and reward owners/members behavior to encourage customer engagement, and therefore loyalty.

Big brands such as Hilton, Marriott and Starwood have understood the rewards of loyalty. Until now it has been daunting for mid-size and smaller companies to think about implementing a program which can do anything from incentivize timely payment of maintenance fees, increase spa bookings, boost owner referrals and drive new business. A loyalty program can do all that. And in the end, you reward your owners and members; and they reward you!

The Leisure Logistics’ proprietary loyalty program has been developed by a team of vacation ownership veterans, specifically for the timeshare/hospitality industry. The team’s broad range of experience includes timeshare and hotel development, vacation ownership sales and marketing, finance, website design and marketing and SaaS web platform development.

Catherine O’Leary, President is a well-known vacation ownership sales and marketing expert. Over the last decade her marketing and sales teams have sold nearly $200 million in timeshare intervals. She knows all too well the challenge of generating quality leads and then establishing a value proposition for the timeshare purchaser. “We recognize that relationships are cultivated over time. Establishing a relationship with a customer is no different than building one with a friend. It’s not just about points, discounts, miles and rewards. It’s also about providing support and a high level of service that continues to build that relationship. Our independent loyalty program does that. The program can be personalized (“white labeled”) for the individual resort/hotel to make it totally your own. We provide every aspect needed to conduct a rewarding loyalty program. We’ll design it, implement it and also provide training on guiding your customers’ utilization.”

Her partner in the company is Ken Molinaro who has nearly 20 years of experience in resort and hotel development. As a developer and property manager Mr. Molinaro says “We constantly strive to enhance the guest experience. We used a developer’s perspective to create the programs and it rewards guests for their purchases while staying at the resort as well as their purchases when they are back home. Leisure Logistics’ programs are also easy to get up and running. Molinaro noted that because they developed a multi-lingual platform the company is implementing Leisure Points on a global basis. The Costa Sur Resort & Spa in Puerto Vallarta was one of our first clients to embrace the distribution and redemption of our points,” he said. “We are also in serious discussions with resorts in Florida and Australia.”

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Interior Designs for Resort Renovations: From Inspiration to Installation

Susan Knox — Tue, 01 May 2012 09:52:29 +0000

Lubner Group Delivers Award-Winning Remodeling for Timeshare Resorts

By Marge Lennon

Creating a beautiful original interior design for a shared-use property can have a dramatic impact on its sales success. But guiding the interior renovation of that same property many years later is a totally different task with daunting challenges. Successfully completing such a renovation requires extensive planning, wise purchasing and the expertise of a professional design firm, not just a board member who likes to “tinker” with interiors.

During many renovations, for example, rooms and even floors are frequently closed while the rest of the resort is occupied. This means that work must be conducted without disturbing the guests, often during an extremely short timeframe. Equally challenging, there may be no blueprints or plans available for older properties, necessitating expensive measuring procedures.

As resorts age, appliances have to be upgraded and lighting must be adapted to meet sustainable “green” needs. Outdated cabinets and counter tops should be replaced for a more contemporary appearance. Upholstered goods fade from extensive use and need to be redone. Older properties may decide to add a full kitchen where previously there was only a studio. So how does a board decide what to do first?

“While installing all new furnishings, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) at the same time is the ideal situation, frankly, this seldom happens,” says Dan Lubner, President of the Lubner Group of Fort Myers, Florida. “Today’s timeshare renovations are generally done in phases, determined by reserve accounts.” But what if your budget only allows for replacement of half of the case goods? How do you ensure that the same fabric will be available when you complete the second or third phase or that other items you add now will blend with those added in the future?

A professional interior design firm can resolve these challenges and more, working within your timeframe and budget, pleasing your board and home owners association while transforming your special spaces into the optimum setting for your owners.

Adds Nancy Woodhouse, IDS, VP of Design & Product Development for Lubner Group, “Our professional design team accomplishes this through a series of proven practices which include planning, purchasing, reviewing and implementing. We do this by initially posing many questions to clarify the resort’s needs and budgetary constraints. Working with different resources we provide floor plans and color renderings to help the resort envision new possibilities. In this way, the actual furniture choices and space planning can be clearly understood and shown to the board.” She continues, “The real difference between just buying furniture for the resort is that we start with the floorplan, factor in built-ins, appliances, lighting, wallcoverings, and fabrics. We focus on identifying existing items to determine what works, what might not be functioning properly and what may need to be added, such as storage space or a desk. Sometimes the inspiration starts with a simple a sketch on a napkin and develops into renderings showing the end result of a planned renovation and ultimately a beautiful award-winning design.”

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Bluegreen’s The Fountains Wins TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award

Steve Luba — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:12:36 +0000

Bluegreen Vacations, a leading provider of vacation experiences, is proud that its Orlando resort, The Fountains, recently received a Travelers’ Choice® Award, hosted by TripAdvisor®.

The annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honor the world’s best hotels, earning their distinction from those who know them best – real travelers. Unlike any other hotel honors, TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winners are based on millions of valuable reviews and opinions from travelers around the world.

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Atlantico Hotel Advisors Launches Vacation Ownership & Mixed-Use Service Lines

Steve Luba — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:09:49 +0000

Atlantico Hotel Advisors (formerly ZRS Consulting) today announced the formal launch of new service lines in vacation ownership and hospitality mixed-use projects. The service lines, which are served out of the company’s Dublin and Amsterdam offices, seek to create value for clients at a corporate or project-level through advising on creative use of hospitality real estate components to maximise value. (http://www.zrsconsulting.com)

“Our network and in-house skill sets have allowed us to serve clients in this area for the last year, so the formal launch of the service lines is a natural progression for us,” said Zachary Schwartz, Principal of Atlantico. This is a fascinating space that also includes the traditional timeshare, fractional ownership, residence/destination club, sale & leaseback and condo hotel models. “Atlantico has a deep understanding of the economic, investment, legal and usage framework surrounding all of these businesses,” continued Mr. Schwartz.

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Technology and Exchange

Susan Knox — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:50:32 +0000

How Exchange Companies Are Using Apps and Online Offerings to Serve Consumers; Perspective Magazine talks to Dial-An-Exchange, Interval International, RCI and SFX Preferred Resorts

By Matt McDaniel

It seems like only yesterday that the majority of shared-ownership executives considered the Internet a passing fad, and the few companies that were actually online used the medium simply as brochureware.

My, how things have changed.

“We’re definitely within five to 10 years of a developer figuring out how to sell the product to the point largely online, which is going to dramatically lower marketing costs,” says Phil Brojan, RCI’s senior vice president of marketing, who heads up the company’s interactive and social marketing efforts. And yet, continues Brojan, “there’s a lot to be done across the industry to embrace today’s online environment well.”

Technology and timesharing have long been odd bedfellows. Despite the ubiquity of the smartphone and the Web’s usurping of the dominance traditional media channels, shared ownership is still lagging. “The whole industry is in some ways very advanced, but in a lot of ways really far behind as well,” notes Stan Wong, IT director for SFX Preferred Resorts.

Much of the technology currently in place has been driven by consumer demand. Timeshare owners want to be able to do transactions on the Web and want smartphone apps to enhance the entire vacation experience. The two largest exchange companies, for example, currently offer smartphone apps. “Through our analytics, we see that members are accessing the website via their smartphones. So it’s an effort to make it better and easier to use,” explains Madeline Berges, Interval’s assistant vice president, online marketing and communications. “And we certainly want to be available on whatever platform our members are using.” Both Dial An Exchange and SFX are looking to launch apps in the near future.

Not that these smaller companies aren’t using smartphone technology to their advantage already, though. DAE Vice President of North American Business Fermin Cruz says that his company is now successfully using smartphones to notify customers of exchange matches rather than using the previous method of calling people and leaving voice mails. He says oftentimes these messages were left on the home phones of people who were at work, and a 24-hour hold was necessary. Cruz says that the smartphone notification system means inventory is not tied up for nearly as long, which benefits all of DAE’s users.

Cruz brings up another point to consider before making comparisons between the smaller and larger exchange companies: “A key separator between us and an RCI or Interval International is that we’re not a membership company. We’re a transaction-based company. So one of the things that we’re really caught up in, as part of the culture of our company, is the efficiency of the transaction,” he says. “Over the past few years we’ve concentrated all of our technology efforts in increasing the efficiency of an individual transaction. Our membership revenue pales in comparison to our transaction revenue, so what we’re trying to do is keep as small a footprint as we can.”

Cruz relates an example of that fact, noting that in DAE’s most recent month, 53% of the company’s revenue was generated online. “We didn’t have to pick up a phone to generate it — and when over half of my business is now being generated through technology, that’s good news,” he continues. Cruz acknowledges, though, that the goal is not to have a solely online operation. “No matter what technology is employed, at the end of the day, the consumer has to have somebody to call and talk to,” he explains.

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Say Hello to GoodBuy

Susan Knox — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:47:07 +0000

GoodBuy Timeshare is family owned and operated by husband and wife team; Brendan and Tara Hawkins. Brendan and Tara each have over two decades of experience in the timeshare industry. Both have held key positions with the industry’s largest and leading companies, with positions including Area Vice President, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Director of Sales, and Regional Director of Training. Their vast experience, knowledge, and integrity have allowed GBT to experience triple digit growth over the last four quarters, and a reputation that you can count on. GBT is headquartered in Williamsburg, VA; with satellite offices in Michigan, North Carolina, and South Carolina and California.

GoodBuy Vacations, LLC is a subsidiary of GoodBuy timeshare, LLC.

GoodBuy Vacations allows resorts and associations to fill empty rooms and generate new owners and income. Due to high default rates and unsold inventory the occupancy rate is around 79% (ARDA). GBV offers multi-channel advertising and internet marketing. All properties have access to pedestrian, internet and direct marketing consumers. Working with Facebook, Twitter and other social media is very effective. We are able to blog about a resort and post weekly and daily specials. We offer email driven campaigns that let us send marketing pieces to specific audiences. GBV offers a real and viable assistance to sales organizations to generate new owners and maintain existing clients and help reduce delinquency rates.

GoodBuy Timeshare, LLC offers a trade in program that assists sales organizations. Our 100% satisfaction program allows sales team to generate new sales, profits and overcome objections while maintaining the integrity of our industry as a whole. Our program enables resorts and or developers to recover delinquent inventory and generate otherwise lost maintenance fees without going through the foreclosure process.

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“Does Your Resort or PRC Qualify?”

Susan Knox — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:47:01 +0000

Here it is. The supposed new-kid-on-theblock in the realm of home exchange, but in two short years of rapid growth, 3RD HOME is fast becoming the exchange partner of choice for luxury resorts and private residence clubs.

With around 950 wholly or fractionally owned properties in 58 countries worth over $2 million each on average, 3RD HOME positions itself as a club first and foremost built on the simple premise of reciprocity – ‘you get out what you put in’.

Conceived at the start of the downturn, luxury resort real estate impresario, Wade Shealy noticed an opportunity. During his 30+ years in the industry, Wade found that the main question potential buyers ask themselves before purchasing a second home is – ‘If I spend/invest a lot of my money here, am I sure that I am going to want to come back year after year’. Couple this with the fact that the new economic circumstances forced these home owners to question whether they were getting the most value possible out of their second homes and with these two notions in mind, 3RD HOME was born.

Initially focused on wholly owned individual second homes, 3RD HOME has quickly expanded its membership into the luxury resort and private residence club sector. Let’s face it, who would not want to trade some downtime in their own home for a week in one of the residences overlooking Central Park at the Trump International Hotel and Tower in New York, or for a personal paradise tucked into a private canyon in the Upper Napa Valley (Calistoga Ranch), or even a mountainside penthouse with all of the services and amenities that come with the Ritz-Carlton brand in Vail? We could go on.

By partnering up with 3RD HOME, these resorts and private residence clubs have recognized that by adding a 3RD HOME membership to the purchase of a residence is a true added-value benefit. In an environment where food and beverage credits at the bar or free golf/massages have become commoditized, the ability to be able to use your own second home to travel the world is an excellent ancillary benefit.

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GNEX 2013 Announces Merlin Software Continues Support As Exhibitor

Steve Luba — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 07:54:31 +0000

Perspective Magazine announces that resort software company Merlin Software will be participating as an event exhibitor during the Third Annual Global Networking Expo, GNEX 2013 – The Global Meeting of Minds in Beverly Hills, California.

“We are delighted to be able to support GNEX again as we believe it to be one of the most productive conferences on the calendar. Merlin Software has attended the previous two conferences, and if they are anything to go by, GNEX 2013 will be another great opportunity to meet key decision makers. I am sure the event’s first foray into the U.S. will be a great success,” said Mike Pnematicatos, CEO, Merlin Software.

Merlin Software has been leading the way in cloud computing for over ten years with 100% web-based software. Cloud computing provides resorts with the latest, most advanced and mobile technology today – and at a fraction of the cost of traditional software solutions. Merlin is the leading provider of Software as a Service for the vacation ownership industry and provides a range of integrated, secure, online software applications for all types of vacation ownership business. Marketing, sales, front office, accounting and property management are all included.

February 4-6, 2013 are the dates for GNEX 2013 and the Perspective Magazine Awards Gala Dinner, to be held at the world renowned Beverly Wilshire – A Four Seasons Hotel.

This outstanding new concept for an industry conference places a heavy emphasis on networking and business meetings, while the interactive panel sessions are geared for healthy debate in order to foster solutions to the challenges facing the vacation ownership industry. The expo will also feature a networking lounge with extended breaks in the program so business can be conducted, while the Speed Networking will allow every attendee to meet each other in a fun, energetic atmosphere. The event also includes a Welcome Reception, nightly social events and the presentation of the Perspective Magazine Awards, sponsored by Holiday Systems International, where attendees will gather for an elite Black-tie Gala Dinner as nominees vie for recognition of excellence in over 40 categories.

“Merlin Software representatives attended the first two GNEX events and have closed deals at both of our previous conferences, so they obviously see the benefits of the event and we are delighted that they have decided to exhibit again at GNEX 2013,” said Paul Mattimoe, president and CEO, Perspective International.

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Luxury Comes Standard: The Registry Collection Program Celebrates a Decade of Success

Susan Knox — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:46:54 +0000

Ten years ago, RCI recognized an opportunity to bring exchange services to the luxury fractional real estate market and to give fractional owners all of the flexibility and choice that RCI members had come to expect from the brand. The fractional real estate industry was quickly developing, and the baby boomer generation, a group with more disposable income than the generations that came before them, were looking for fresh, life-enriching experiences. They hungered for adventure, and were willing to invest in luxury vacation options to find it.

And so in 2002, RCI decided to take a chance by creating the first ever luxury leisure real-estate exchange program called A&K Registry, now known as The Registry Collection. The risk paid off: after the first member signed up in July of that year, the program quickly gained momentum, expanding and finding success through high-quality, luxury affiliations as well as services that appealed to its affluent member base.

Today, The Registry Collection program is the world’s largest luxury exchange program with more than 180 affiliated properties on six continents. More than 35,000 members now belong to The Registry Collection program, which allows them to exchange for memorable vacations at beautiful properties year after year.

“The Registry Collection program appeals to a growing group of vacationers who want to experience new and exotic destinations while maintaining a high level of quality and luxury in all of their accommodations,” said Gregg Anderson, global vice president of The Registry Collection program. “With this anniversary, we now have 10 years of success under our belts and a portfolio of impressive affiliates that continues to grow each year. We have literally opened up a world of luxury vacation opportunities for our members.”

Thanks to its portfolio of beautiful affiliated resorts, The Registry Collection program has been able to send its members on tens of thousands of vacations around the world. Many of them report back with stories of their adventures, including glowing reviews of the exchange program and its affiliated resorts. “Our fall tour of Vermont and first experience with The Registry Collection was beyond even our grandest expectations,” said The Registry Collection member Robert O. “The experience was only the first of several with The Registry Collection and we have never been disappointed. Our membership in The Registry Collection has been one of the best vacation [decisions] we have ever made and is only confirmed each time we visit another place in the world.”

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