RCI, the world’s largest timeshare exchange company and a part of Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), has signed its first affiliation agreements in Serbia, adding two new resorts to its portfolio of over 4,000 affiliated resorts worldwide: Club Satelit and Kraljevi Konaci resort.

In welcoming the two new Serbian resorts to the RCI exchange network, Jonathan Back, managing director, Group RCI EMEAI, said: “We want our nearly four million members worldwide to have the opportunity to vacation in Serbia and are pleased to have two first-class resorts as our first affiliates in this fabulous new destination. The country is accessed by three international airports making it easily accessible for international tourists. This, together with its close proximity to many highly-promoted European holiday destinations, makes us confident Serbia is poised to see rapid growth in its inbound and outbound visitor levels making it a good place to be for timeshare.”

The two resorts are both located in the Zlatibor mountain region in western Serbia, at the crossroads of Central Europe. Zlatibor is renowned for its clear mountain air, spas, excellent skiing, and a myriad of outdoor pursuits including trekking, cycling and fishing among lakes, rivers, lush pastures and pine forests. The region is said to have proven restorative qualities and has established itself as a popular health and wellbeing holiday destination. The country’s rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage is also an irresistible tourist attraction, together with the city sights of Belgrade and Novi Sad.

Club Satelit, Serbia

RCI members can now choose from two attractive resorts in this diverse and vibrant country. Club Satelit offers the intimacy of a smaller development comprising 12 one-bedroom units and eight studio apartments, together with a restaurant, indoor pool and fitness centre. The apartments are light, airy and fitted with every home comfort which characterises timeshare accommodation. The names behind this resort are Canadian national, Gilles Durand, developer of RCI-affiliated Club Villas Jazmin in the Caribbean, and Srdan Vasic, who also owns Closer Marketing Club based in Belgrade. Vasic said: “Club Satelit has an air of exclusivity that’s right for this area which attracts upscale visitors to its excellent ski slopes and spas. We plan to extend the property on neighbouring land and are considering a five-star offering.”

Kraljevi Konaci Resort, Serbia

On the central Zlatibor plateau in a lakeside location sits Kraljevi Konaci resort or ‘the King’s shelters’ as the name translates. This property is designed to blend with the line of the surrounding pine forests and offers exceptionally spacious accommodation in the form of 110-square metre two-storey villas with garage and garden. This property was the vision of Ratko Jeremic, who travelled the world working on resort construction projects which inspired him to bring the best of all he’d seen back to his homeland in his own resort. This resort has been 17 years in building and the completed phase one comprises 107 villas and a restaurant. The second phase will add a hotel, more villas, a spa centre, and a 600-seat conference and commercial centre, all coming in at a total cost of approximately €50 million. Jeremic said: “We find high demand among Serbians and the British. Serbia’s economy has now stabilised and is growing. We have been operating for several years without an exchange network but now affiliating to RCI is important for us to allow our prosperous Serbian owners the opportunity to start experiencing holidays in other countries. Timeshare is new to Serbia and it’s very exciting to be able to introduce a new quality product to this market.”

Thailand is no stranger to luxury, being home to a wealth of resorts and five-star hotels that have long attracted global jetsetters. But much like the rest of Asia, fractional ownership has been slow to take off in the country. LaTour is set to change that by introducing his well-known La Tour Signature Group brand, through partnerships with several boutique luxury projects.
Negotiations are still under discussion, however company executives have confirmed LaTour Signature Group is looking at several small, five-star resort properties.

Tom LaTour, former CEO and Chairman of the Kimpton Group, is a top player in North America’s hospitality industry and is even referred to as ‘The Hotel Guru’. Since partnering with Bill Kimpton in 1983, LaTour helped make Kimpton an industry leader in boutique hotels and chef-driven restaurant concepts, building one relationship at a time with a tireless desire to entertain people. He recently continued his passion for the hospitality business by launching his own company, LaTour Signature Group, in 2006. This year he earned a Platinum Circle lifetime achievement award from Hospitality Design Magazine - recognizing LaTour’s lustrous 20-year career with the hotel giant.

Much like he did with boutique properties around the U.S. and Canada, LaTour wants to revolutionize the burgeoning vacation home ownership industry in Thailand by serving up an exceptional five-star vacation resort “lifestyle” experience to the developers and owners of new and existing properties in popular and emerging golf, oceanfront and urban locations.

The group is already making a name for itself in North America by creating personalized vacation experiences for owners and attending to every detail of property development and operations. In fact, there are ‘Five Key Pillars’ that must be present in each LaTour Resort for a property to qualify for the brand. These are: culinary, which means operations are personally overseen by LaTour, who has created more than 20 popular and highly-rated restaurants in the United States and Canada; wine, which has long been a LaTour hallmark (LaTour himself produces a highly-regarded Chardonnay and Syrah on a 25-acre vineyard in Napa Valley); wellness/health, with programs that connect with guests on the most personal level; entertaining, which demands an array of skills that are LaTour strong points; and concierge, as the group pays particular attention to this area of service, which can favourably or unfavourably colour a guest’s perception of everything.

Although fractional ownership is a somewhat new concept in Asia, available at a few luxury properties in Thailand, it has been a popular option for luxury investors in the US and Europe for quite some time thanks to such well-known brands as The Ritz-Carlton Club, Interval International and Starwood Vacation Ownership and IFA Hotels and Resorts.

Unlike the well-known time share concept, fractional ownership is a legal entity through which any number of investors becomes co-owners (shareholders) of a property. The property is held by a private company created by the developer, which sells shares to investors, who receive share certificates. This allows shareholders a predefined period of holiday weeks per annum depending on the fractional share being offered by the development. These weeks are allocated to the owners of the shares on an equitable basis and rotate on an annual basis to ensure that more popular dates are accessible to all the owners. Unlike timeshares or vacation clubs (where people buy memberships and pay dues), shared ownership comes with an underlying structure making it a true asset that will appreciate at current market rates.

La Tour will be joining forces with Leisure Solutions, a boutique real estate consultancy based in Bangkok that specializes in luxury properties and the fractional ownership industry. With a network of local and international partners and clients, Leisure Solutions works with developers, investors, hotel operators and agents looking to develop operations and profit from the real estate and hospitality sectors, including fractional ownership.

“We’re delighted to team up with such a prestigious and dedicated global hospitality leader. Tom LaTour is renowned for his commitment to excellence and providing investors with properties that go beyond the realm of luxury,” says Darron Guy, General Manager of Leisure Solutions, adding that developers interested in learning more about the LaTour Signature Group should contact their firm.

Leisure Solutions announced it will be launching fractional ownership projects for Hua Hin’s ‘The Falls’ and Infinity Samui in mid-December, further proof the industry is growing in popularity in Thailand.

With LaTour’s dedication to finery and Leisure Solutions’ expertise in the Thai market, the pair is expected to lead the way as the luxury fractional vacation ownership industry grows in Thailand.

“We intend to become the ultimate brand for smaller fractional properties,” says LaTour, who has the proven experience and burning passion to lead the explosive growth in this niche market.

About Leisure Solutions

Leisure Solutions, a boutique real estate consultancy based in Bangkok that specializes in luxury properties and the fractional ownership industry. For more information, please contact:

Darron Guy, General Manager

Leisure Solutions

Address: Elite Serviced Offices 2 Ploenchit Center, G Floor,
Sukhumvit Rd, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110 Thailand

Tel: +66 81655 1940

Email: info@leisure-solutions.net

Web: http://www.leisure-solutions.net

http://www.fractionalownershipmagazine.com/luxury-fractional-ownership-guru-sets-his-sights-on-thailand/

Fairmont Heritage Place, the private residence club offering from Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, today announced that it has assumed management of two North American-based private residence clubs formerly operated by Storied Places®, an Intrawest company. Joining Fairmont Heritage Place’s exclusive collection are the Fairmont Heritage Place at Nature’s Door, Whistler and Fairmont Heritage Place Inspiration, Miramar Beach in Sandestin, Florida. These additions enhance and extend the Fairmont Heritage Place portfolio, which now consists of five locations, over 200 luxury homes and more than 2,000 homeowners worldwide.

“The addition of these leading resort destinations, combined with recently announced private residence projects in places like the Kingdom of Sheba development on the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, Zimbali in South Africa and Vail, Colorado, supports our residential growth strategy of adding developments that are of the highest quality, situated in the world’s most spectacular locations, and offer a unique mix of lifestyle and leisure offerings,” said Thomas W. Storey, President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “New homeowners will have the opportunity to enjoy the exclusive benefits and privileges of Fairmont Heritage Place, such as club-to-hotel exchanges, and we look forward to providing them with the personalized and thoughtful service that has made Fairmont famous throughout the world.”

Providing ski-in, ski-out access next to the Dave Murray Downhill Olympic Ski run, Fairmont Heritage Place at Nature’s Door, Whistler features 22 well-appointed and fully furnished vacation homes. Reflecting the rustic charm of the Pacific Northwest, these luxury homes range in size from three to four-bedrooms and offer mountain inspired amenities like private outdoor hot tubs, customary wood-burning fireplaces, and wrap-around decks providing unparalleled views of Whistler Blackcomb. Original artwork by local British Columbian artisans adorn each home and all feature private media centers equipped with large flat panel televisions and DVD players.

Overlooking the protected wetlands of Choctawhatchee Bay and nestled amongst the lush fairways and manicured greens of the award-winning Burnt Pine Golf Club rests the 20 luxury homes of Fairmont Heritage Place Inspiration, Miramar Beach. Here homeowners enjoy the comfort of three-bedroom residences that showcase vaulted ceilings, wrought-iron canopy beds, and kitchenettes featuring White Carrera Bianco marble and stainless steel countertops. Within the resort development itself, homeowners also have convenient access to the new Village of Baytowne Wharf, four-championship golf courses, the Sandestin Golf Academy, a 98 slip-marina, 15 tennis courts, and 17 restaurants including waterfront dining.

“These exquisite private residence clubs are extremely successful and consistently receive some of the highest guest satisfaction ratings in the lodging industry,” said Brian Collins, President at Intrawest ULC. “There is tremendous compatibility with our Storied Places fractional ownership concept and Fairmont’s private residence club. This new ownership model will introduce the Fairmont brand to Sandestin and deepen their brand presence at Whistler Blackcomb which will maximize the benefits for owners. As we look toward the future, Intrawest will continue to seek opportunities to partner with Fairmont to design, build, manage and operate new and innovative real estate projects.”

Fairmont Heritage Place is a leading operator of private residence clubs throughout the world. Featuring luxury home developments in world-class destinations like San Francisco, Telluride and Acapulco, Fairmont Heritage Place combines the impressive amenities and attentive service of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts with the luxurious comforts of an elegant private retreat. Fairmont Heritage Place owners, as well as being able to enjoy their own homes, can utilize their allotted time at other Fairmont Heritage Place locations around the world. They also have the unique opportunity to enjoy exchange privileges at Fairmont’s collection of distinctive hotels and resorts, including landmark properties like the century-old Savoy hotel in London and The Fairmont Banff Springs in the Canadian Rockies.

About Fairmont Heritage Place
Fairmont Heritage Place is an exclusive private residence club collection offering vacation home ownership in some of the world’s most sought after locations. Fairmont Heritage Place Acapulco, its first residence club, opened in September 2004 and is now sold out. Fairmont Heritage Place also manages the Fairmont Heritage Place Franz Klammer Lodge in Telluride, Colorado and San Francisco’s Fairmont Heritage Place, Ghirardelli Square, which officially opened in August 2008. Sales are currently underway for Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba, on the Crescent of The Palm Jumeirah island in Dubai, and Fairmont Heritage Place, Zimbali, South Africa. Future development is being planned at select Fairmont resort locations including Vail, Colorado; Rock Ki, Dominican Republic; Oman; and Palm Desert, California. For additional information, please visit: www.fairmontheritageplace.com.

About Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
A leader in the global hospitality industry, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is an extraordinary collection of luxury hotels, which includes iconic landmarks like Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City, Fairmont The Norfolk, Nairobi and London’s The Savoy, reopening in 2009. Fairmont hotels are one-of-a-kind properties where sophisticated travelers can discover culturally rich experiences that are authentic to the destination. Situated in some of the most exclusive and pristine areas in the world, Fairmont is committed to responsible tourism and is an industry leader in sustainable hotel management with its award-winning Green Partnership program. Fairmont’s portfolio includes 56 distinctive hotels, with plans to develop over 25 new properties in the coming years in destinations as diverse as Shanghai, Morocco and Anguilla.

Fairmont is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a leading global hotel company with 91 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissotel brands. The company also manages Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties. For more information or reservations, please call 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.fairmont.com.

About Intrawest
Intrawest is a world leader in experiential destination resorts. The company has interests in ten resorts at North America’s most popular mountain destinations including Whistler Blackcomb, a host venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Intrawest network also includes Canadian Mountain Holidays, the largest heli-skiing operation in the world, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Florida and Club Intrawest-a private resort club with locations throughout North America. In addition, Intrawest develops, markets and sells real estate at its resorts and at other locations across North America and in Europe. Intrawest is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more information, visit www.intrawest.com.

http://www.fractionalownershipmagazine.com/fairmont-heritage-place-increases-portfolio-with-new-sun-and-ski-destinations/

Well, you start by reading Owners Perspective Magazine, the leading independent magazine for the shared ownership industry, available completely free online or in high quality print (paid subscription).

But if the back issues of this magazine do not serve the purpose, then the links to other reputable sites, companies, services and associations in the members’ area will.

For all you need to know about buying, renting and selling timeshare weeks or points memberships, start at http://www.ownersperpective.com

Holiday Inn Club Vacations will launch in December 2008 with Orange Lake’s flagship 2,412 villa property in Orlando, Florida. This marks IHG’s first move into the timeshare market, one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. holiday and vacation industry.  [Source: American Resort Development Association (ARDA)]

The conversion of the remaining Orange Lake resorts in Ascutney, Vermont (60 villas), Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (68 villas) and Panama City, Florida (18 villas) are scheduled to follow shortly after.

This alliance is unique in that it allows IHG to enter the timeshare industry, purely through an exclusive licensing and marketing agreement.  Orange Lake will continue to own, operate and develop these timeshare resorts as a privately held company.

 “This deal reinforces the strength of the Holiday Inn brand as we are able to move into the timeshare market with a good partner who knows the business well,” said Andy Cosslett, chief executive officer, IHG.   “We believe that timeshare is a natural progression for Holiday Inn due to our scale and customer base in North America. This comes at a time when the $1 billion global relaunch of Holiday Inn is progressing well.  This agreement fits well with our business model as we are able to introduce the Holiday Inn brand to a new set of customers without the need for capital investment. With both companies focused on growth the alliance brings with it the opportunity to expand into major North American destinations.”

Orange Lake is situated on over 1,400 acres with 2,412 villas, adjacently located to the new north entrance of Walt Disney World® Resort.  The flagship resort has over 25 years of proven success in Orlando, the number one leisure destination for U.S. travelers.  It offers a host of amenities including:

4 championship golf courses
7 swimming pools including a 12-acre outdoor entertainment complex
80 acre lake for water sports
Five restaurants
Retail and pro shops
 

“This is a great opportunity for our two companies because we share the same heritage and founder, Kemmons Wilson,” said Don Harrill, president and chief executive officer for The Family of Orange Lake Resorts.  “It was Kemmons’ vision that changed the landscape for family vacations through his creation of the Holiday Inn hotel brand in 1952. With the re-launch of Holiday Inn and the continued growth of our company, we are prepared to reach new heights for our customers—and together write the next exciting chapter in our history.  We believe this alliance will set the new standard by re-defining ‘quality time’ for families and for the timeshare industry today.”

The marketing and licensing agreement also includes: 

The construction of a flagship Holiday Inn Resort hotel on the Orange Lake site in Orlando
The marketing and rental of available timeshare villas through IHG’s extensive reservation system and distribution channels, including Priority Club® Rewards, the world’s largest hotel loyalty program with over 39 million members. Participation in the Priority Club Rewards program including earning of Priority Club points on rentals with qualified rates and redemption for room nights
The formation of the Holiday Inn Club™ exchange program which will allow members of Holiday Inn Club Vacations to exchange timeshare weeks for hotel nights at over 4,000 hotels in the IHG family of brands.  
About The Family of Orange Lake Resorts

The Family of Orange Lake Resorts has evolved from a “best-kept secret” as the world’s largest single-site timeshare resort to a multi-site network of over 2,400 villas in its portfolio. New resort additions in Wisconsin, Vermont and Florida have added vacation flexibility for a great number of owners who want to experience shorter getaways to nearby destinations. Orange Lake’s flagship property, located next to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, was established in 1982 by Holiday Inn® Founder, Kemmons Wilson. The company plans to continue the expansion of their flagship resort to 4,500 villas.  The Family of Orange Lake Resorts continues to be the “home-away-from-home” to more than 120,000 owners from all 50 U.S. states and more than 120 countries. 

About Holiday Inn
With nearly 1,400 hotels worldwide, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts is the most widely recognized lodging brand in the world.  In fact, Holiday Inn was one of the first international hotel brands to establish a presence in China in 1984. Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts provides the services that business travelers need, while also offering a comfortable atmosphere where all people can relax and enjoy amenities such as restaurants and room service, swimming pools, fitness centers and comfortable lounges.  The casual atmosphere and amenities such as meeting and on-site business facilities, KidSuites rooms, Kids Eat and Stay Free programs, and the ability to earn Priority Club Rewards points that can be redeemed for great merchandise, airline miles or free room nights, demonstrate the long-standing commitment of Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts to serving travelers and have helped to establish the brand as “America’s Favorite Hotel.”  For more information about Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts or to book reservations, call 1-800-HOLIDAY or visit http://www.holidayinn.com/.

The $1 billion relaunch of the Holiday Inn brand family (comprising Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and Express by Holiday Inn) will bring improved consistency and service levels, as well as a more contemporary brand image and identity, to almost 3,200 hotels worldwide. The global relaunch was announced in October 2007 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2010. To find out more about the relaunch, click here to read the news release on our corporate website, or visit the site at www.ihg.com/corporate.

About IHG
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms.  IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 4,000 hotels and more than 590,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world.  The Group owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world’s largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with over 39 million members worldwide.

IHG has more than 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline, which will create 150,000 jobs worldwide over the next few years.

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.

IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit our online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media

The group has signed a deal with the family of Orange Lake Resorts to brand its 2,400-villa resort next to Disneyland in Orlando under the Holiday Inn marque.

Read the full story at FT.com - http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/46d67618-899b-11dd-8371-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1

However, today’s reunions are going in a different direction than sleeping on Grandma’s couch or having just a few hours in a park. Families are celebrating each other and renewing relationships between generations by taking long weekends or more to stay together-and many of them are doing so at a family member’s timeshare.

Americans bought $10.6 billion worth of timeshares last year, with 4.7 million people buying into them for the first time, according to the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). The properties let people more easily share their vacation experiences with extended families and, because timeshares often include full kitchens and a number of bedrooms, they can help reunion attendees cut food and lodging costs. Whether you’re meeting at a timeshare or anywhere else, the following tips from ARDA could help your reunion be a hit:

Theme It
Creating a theme for a family reunion is a great way to get some excitement generated around your event. Themes can also make things more fun when it comes to being imaginative with food, games, activities, invitations and just about every other aspect of the reunion. Family history themes are popular, as are reunions that celebrate a very special family member’s birthday or anniversary, or the family’s cultural heritage.

Icebreakers
You don’t need to occupy everyone all the time, but planned activities and icebreakers at your family reunion will provide an easy way for people who haven’t seen each other for a while to feel more comfortable together. Some great ideas for icebreakers can be found by visiting the Web site at family-reunion.com/icebreak.htm.

Make Mealtime Fun
Turn your kitchens into a traveling dinner. Let everyone share by creating a specialty from his or her hometown. Appetizers can be hosted by the cousins, dinner by the grandparents and dessert by the children. Timeshares provide full kitchens in every unit, helping to make dinner an event in itself.

Games And Activities
Be sure to have games for all ages. From Ping-Pong to shuffleboard, many vacation ownership resorts offer countless activities for all ages-not to mention the variety of activities in your resort area.

ARDA’s free helpful hints, “Take Time For Togetherness,” provides travelers with tips including invitations, selecting a location, icebreaker games, decorations and ways to stay in touch all year. It is available by request at www.vacationbetter.org.

Owners Perspective Magazine is available free of charge online and offers a wealth of resort and destination guides; exclusive interviews, buying tips, advice and more and will also be available in print from 2009.

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