Jennie Thompson, a long time advocate of timeshares, is a Board Member of the Timeshare Association (TATOC, Timeshare Owners and Committees) is the managing director of Malaga-based, Leisure Solutions, has recently been appointed vice president of the BCCS’s Regional Committee of Andalucía.

Jennie’s appointment positions her in a key role in the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, a position from which she will be platforming the message of timeshare’s benefits and campaigning to improve the image of timesharing and the timeshare industry within the business community in Britain and Spain. As vice president of the BCC’s Regional Committee of Andalucía, Jennie will have two years during which she will be interacting with the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), international embassies, consulates, and other key business connections.

“I’m determined to educate my BCCS colleagues and foster an understanding that timeshare is a respectable industry and encourage not only more people to consider doing business with us, but more businesses to enter the industry,” says Jennie.

Here at The Timeshare Authority and Sell My Timeshare NOW, we can’t think of a better spokesperson for this message. Jennie Thompson has been an instrumental part of the timeshare industry for a long time, with an excellent understanding of what the industry needs and the timeshare and timeshare resales consumer desires and deserves. As Jennie explains, “The timeshare industry has a reputation that has been founded on selling practices, not the actual product – we need to change that.”

We couldn’t agree with you more!

Congratulations, Jennie Thompson, the timeshare industry is fortunate to have you in this role.

Last week, Marriott Vacation Club timeshare announced its new timeshare points program called, Marriott Vacation Club Destinations.

Lee Cunningham, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Marriott Vacation Club, North America, explains, “… we have successfully evolved our product offering based on Owner feedback, and the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations program reflects a tradition of Owner involvement and was designed specifically for both current and future Owners.”

The news of this new program, long rumored to be coming, has brought on a great deal of discussion, speculation, and questioning by the timeshare community, specifically Marriott timeshare owners and all those who are considering buying Marriott timeshare and timeshare resales.

In profiling the new Marriott program. Sara Clarke, writer for the Orlando Sentinel, wrote:

The Timeshare Authority blog promised you information as we confirm more about the program. Here is some general information and some updates:

• Marriott Vacation Club Destinations is designed to offer expanded opportunity and flexibility to new Marriott timeshare owners.
• Current Marriott timeshare owners will have the option to choose to participate in the program or to stay in their current plan, without losing ownership privileges.
• Each year, Marriott Vacation Club Destinations members will receive timeshare points that they can use, bank, borrow against, or add to by purchasing more.
• Marriott Vacation Club Destinations focuses on four Vacation Collections: the Marriott Vacation Club Collection; Marriott Collection; Explorer Collection; and the World Traveler Collection.
• Membership in the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations entitles you to access the services of a personal Vacation Ownership Advisor. Your personal Advisor can assist in travel arrangements within the four Collections.
• Those who enroll now receive bonus points at the time of enrollment.
• Marriott Vacation Club Destinations members have the option to check in on any day of the week or season of the year.
• The annual membership fee in Marriott Vacation Club Destinations is $165 (in most cases) and provides members the flexibility to change reservations, change their length of stay, and to select the accommodation size that best fits their needs.

As with any timeshare or vacation club, one size never fits all. Marriott Vacation Club Destinations will be more valued by some Marriott timeshare owners than by others, and at the moment, has some Marriott timeshare owners questioning whether the program will help or hurt them. As it stands now, Marriott timeshare owners who bought their timeshare as a Marriott timeshare resale are eligible to be part of Marriott Vacation Club Destinations, however, timeshare resale buyers going forward will not be. Although Marriott Vacation Club Destinations membership is not transferable when you sell timeshare, this is an annual membership program in which you can opt out of membership at any time.

Because so many timeshare owners are abuzz about this topic, you can probably expect both more clarification coming from Marriott Vacation Club and perhaps even some adjustments to guidelines and policies over the upcoming months. The Timeshare Authority blog will do its best to keep you up-to-date.

More on Marriott timeshare points:

• Timeshare Points at Marriott Vacation Club are Changing – Timeshare Owners Still Have Questions

Effective last week, the Walt Disney World Resort (Orlando) began accepting reservations for a new luxury pet resort scheduled to open this summer. The 50,000 square-foot facility is called Best Friends Pet Resort and is described by Disney as a “best of breed” pet resort, with air-conditioned, VIP suites and private outdoor play yards for your pet.

Disney has offered pet boarding for many years but this announcement indicates that their services are being taken to a new level. Their boarding service includes up to two meals per day and two scheduled daily walks. You can choose to add other services such as an extra walk ($5 add on charge), cuddle time ($5 add on charge), or an ice cream break ($4 add on charge). Other options include playgroups for dogs or special one-on-one play times, also available at à la carte pricing.

Discounted Rates for Timeshare Owners with Disney Vacation Club

Overnight rates for dogs start at $20 per night for pets of Disney Vacation Club members and go to $21 for dogs belonging to Disney resort guests and $23 for those of park visitors. For cats and other small animals, the Disney Vacation Club member price is $13 per night and ranges up to $18 for the pets of park guests.

Disney Vacation Club currently does not offer pet-friendly timeshares, which makes the pet resort an especially important feature for pet owners planning a Disney timeshare vacation.

Here are two timeshare resorts in the Disney area that you might be interested in for timeshare resale and timeshare rentals that ARE pet friendly:

• Celebration World Resort – Kissimmee, Florida
• Summerfield Condo Resort – Kissimmee, Florida

And for some really good tips on traveling with your pet, click here to see this article from Smarter Travel.

When Forbes Magazine published its most recent list of America’s top tourist attractions, we couldn’t help but notice that there are great opportunities in timeshare resorts at or near all of these destinations. That means if you own timeshare in these popular areas, you also have a natural market for timeshare rental should there be times you can’t use your timeshare yourself or don’t choose to use it as timeshare exchange.

Here’s a look at only a very few of your timeshare resort options for these favorite tourist destinations:

#3. National Mall and Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C., with 25 million visitors

• Wyndham Old Town (Alexandria, Virginia)
• Wyndham Resorts National Harbor (Ft. Washington, Maryland)

#2. Las Vegas Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada, with 29.1 million visitors

• Las Vegas Timeshare Resales and Las Vegas Timeshare Rentals
• Hilton Grand Vacations Club On The Las Vegas Strip Timeshare
• Marriott’s Grand Chateau Timeshare

#1. Times Square, New York, N.Y. with 37.6 million visitors

• New York City Timeshare Resales and New York City Timeshare Rentals
• Manhattan Club Timeshare
• Hilton Club New York

People are often surprised to learn that timeshares are not just limited to the beach and ski resorts. There are locations available to enjoy urban timeshare worldwide, offering you the convenience and savings that go with owning timeshare.

When the US economy began to visibly dip, and then for many industries plummet, timeshare sales companies, timeshare developers, and some timeshare resales companies were forced to lay off employees. Yet despite the layoffs, many companies in the timeshare industry are repeatedly recognized as outstanding employers. They may have in the past had to cut back staffing, but clearly, these timeshare companies are not cutting back on their respect and concern for employees.

The Timeshare Authority Blog frequently reports on the recognition timeshare companies receive as top employers for which to work. (Recent post: RCI Timeshare Exchange Makes Best Places to Work List)

Two timeshare companies gaining notoriety as great places to work include:

• Shell Management Hawaii, Inc. which has been recognized as the “Number 1 Best Place to Work in Hawaii for 2010,” and
• Wyndham Exchange & Rentals New Jersey, honored among 2010, “Best Places to Work in New Jersey”

Shell Management Hawaii, Inc. (Shell Vacations Club) was honored this spring at an awards dinner at the Sheraton Waikki, Hawaii, as recognized by Pro Service Hawaii and published in Hawaii Business Magazine. Shell Management took the honors in the category for large employers (150 employees or more) and beat out other timeshare companies including Wyndham Vacation Ownership and Starwood Hotels & Resorts, both nominated in the same category.

Linda Anthony, Regional vice president of Shell Management Hawaii said, “Shell Management Hawaii’s recognition as the number one best place to work in Hawaii resulted from a magical blend of amazing employee-centric programs and policies carried out by a deeply committed team of managers.”

Wyndham Exchange & Rental (Wyndham Timeshare) was recognized by NJBIZ as one of New Jersey’s best employers that benefit the state’s economy, workforce and business. Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Wyndham Exchange & Rentals says, “It is because of our passionate, dedicated and incredibly enthusiastic associates that we continue to generate tremendous engagement and a caring community culture through our offices here in New Jersey and around the world.”

Ballotti also pointed out that Wyndham’s Indianapolis location was named among the top companies to work for in Indiana in 2010, for the second year in a row, as well.

Last week, Sell My Timeshare NOW released its 2010 HOT 100 List, and we want to make sure you didn’t miss it. This free, downloadable report gives you valuable insight into which timeshare resales and timeshare rentals people are genuinely interested in buying or renting.

Covering the “hottest” 100 timeshares, this report ranks from number one to number one hundred, the timeshares that are advertised and marketed on the websites for Sell My Timeshare NOW, and that receive the largest number of offers to buy or rent in 2009. When you read the report, you are no longer relying on information from a timeshare sales company or timeshare developer to help you evaluate the popularity and resale demand for a resort, you are able to assess for yourself recent consumer buying patterns in timeshares.

The Sell My Timeshare NOW HOT 100 List is import to you because:

• As a prospective timeshare buyer, you get an authentic sense of which timeshare resorts others have picked as their favorites.
• As a timeshare owner you can gage demand for your timeshare should you want to use it as a timeshare rental or timeshare resale.
• As an interested timeshare renter, you can determine whether to look for rentals at the most popular destinations, or to consider renting timeshare at a resort where demand is lower.

Click here to download for the 2010 Sell My Timeshare NOW HOT 100 List.

When you see the executive team at Sell My Timeshare NOW don chef’s aprons, you know we have to be cooking up big things. Here’s a photo from our “Ice Cream Social” this week, held at our Dover, NH headquarters following our Sell My Timeshare NOW companywide update.

Left to right, wearing “custom designer aprons” you’ll find:

Leslie Martin, Vice President Operations; Jacqueline Russ, Chief Financial Officer; Jerome Bocquet, Vice President Timeshare Broker Services; Jason Tremblay, CEO; Jay Bade, Vice President Business Development; and Chris Ownby, Chief Technology Officer.

This is a great photo; you can tell it captures the fun and smiles that are so much a part of working at Sell My Timeshare NOW. And dressed in white, it’s a good reminder that we are the ‘timeshare good guys’ even if we are wearing white aprons instead of white hats.

And in addition to ice cream sundaes, we did talk about all the things that are moving and shaking around here. After sharing with the Sell My Timeshare NOW team more information about the growth funding we received from our partner, Edison Venture Fund (Sell My Timeshare NOW Receives Growth Funding-Exciting Things on the Way) we also looked at our company’s vision for the future—both short-term and long-term.

We’ve got big plans for growth in our Orlando Sell My Timeshare NOW office, as well as other exciting areas of expansion we’ll be announcing in the future.

Marriott Vacation Club timeshare is expanding with the addition of the new timeshare points-based Marriott Vacation Club Destinations program for North America and the Caribbean. The new timeshare points program is designed to increase flexibility for timeshare owners. This announcement comes after months of speculation by timeshare owners and prospective timeshare buyers about the rumored changes or additions to the options for Marriott timeshare exchange.

Lee Cunningham, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Marriott Vacation Club, North America and the Caribbean says, “Over the years, we have successfully evolved our product offering based on Owner feedback, and the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations program reflects a tradition of Owner involvement and was designed specifically for both current and future Owners.”

Describing the program as Marriott timeshare’s, “…most significant program innovation in our history,” Cunningham goes on to point out that the new Marriott timeshare points exchange program will afford timeshare owners ease of use and expanded choices for enjoying their timeshare product.

The new Marriott Vacation Club timeshare program will be available to new Marriott timeshare owners, but current owners will also have the opportunity to enroll. Here are a few other specifics about this timeshare exchange program:

• The new Marriott timeshare points program means simplified fees. Timeshare owners will be able to pay one annual fee as a consolidation of all their bookings; eliminating a la carte fees. Inclusive in the fee will be the costs for changing your reservation, changing your length of stay, your Interval International membership fee, and possible other benefits. The fee will reported be $165 per year. Your current timeshare maintenance fee should remain the same.
• This program is available to residents of the US, including the District of Columbia, however NY residents should check to make sure they are eligible to participate.

• Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove timeshare (St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands) is excluded from the new timeshare points program.
• And, based on the information we have currently, it appears that Marriott timeshare owners who purchased their vacation ownership as a Marriott timeshare resale will be eligible to participate. Whether this will apply to timeshare resale purchases in the future is not clear at this time.

This new timeshare points program is an interesting development at Marriott Vacation Club, and as more facts are confirmed, we’ll keep sharing them here on The Timeshare Authority blog.

Do you own InnSeasons Resorts timeshare at Pollard Brook? Thinking about buying InnSeason timeshare resale at this popular White Mountain, New Hampshire location? Good things are happening there that you should know about. In addition to sprucing up the timeshare units in several buildings, a great deal of attention has focused on improving the outdoor areas.

InnSeason Resorts Timeshares Prepare for Summer Vacations

InnSeason Resorts at Pollard Brook timeshare is getting ready for your summer vacation with renovations and improvements. Get your chocolate bars, graham crackers, and marshmallows ready; a new fire pit near the tennis courts and playground is part of the backyard area renovation. Instead of the fire pit that has been there, expect to find a new stone pit area with paved walk space encircling it. The new fire pit is both more functional and more attractive than the previous one.

Good-bye to the wooden fence that once surrounded the tennis courts! The old fence is gone, replaced with a new green chain link fence that affords a view of the two courts.

In the pool area, the deck around the hot tub has been removed and replaced with a heated stamped-concrete deck to eliminate water retention and ice buildup. And perhaps best of all, is the resurfacing of the Pollard Brook pool, with all new tiles, making the pool more attractive and for summer splash down.

And despite all this, if you are uncertain what to plan during an InnSeason Resorts timeshare vacation, or want activities to take you beyond the fire pit, tennis courts, hot tub, and pool, then just call Eric.

New Hampshire native and White Mountains expert, Eric Pyra, serves as your guide and concierge for timeshare vacation activities at Pollard Brook. He can offer advice, suggestions, or help you track down tickets, tee times, and dinner reservations. He’s also your blog master for White Mountains Adventure Concierge and the Pollard Brook Timeshare Resort blog—blogs we welcome to The Timeshare Authority Blog Roll. You can reach Eric at epyra@innseason.com.

If you are surprised to learn that 38 percent of women are already taking girlfriends-only vacations, (without their husband, boyfriend, significant other, or the kids) then you may be amazed to find out that 63 percent of the women surveyed plan on taking up the practice within the next two years.

According to research released by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), the trend toward girls-only holidays and timeshare vacations is strong and growing. Women, especially those in the thirty-something to forty-something demographic, are choosing to vacation with other female friends and family members in increasing numbers.

Here are just five of the many reasons that more and more women plan girls-only vacations:

• Overworked and overstressed, women seek a break from their responsibilities as career women, wives and mothers.
• As a working woman, today’s woman has income she considers expendable and discretionary.
• Girls-only vacations afford women time for nurturing friendships.
• Girlfriend vacations are about rest and rejuvenation, not compromising holiday time doing what your children or your spouse wants to do.
• Research reinforces the message that although vacation time is important for everyone, it can play an especially critical role in women’s health and wellbeing.

Timeshare Vacations take the Stress Out of Vacation Planning

Timeshare vacations are the low-stress vacation choice. Staying in timeshares get you out of a cramped hotel room and into spacious accommodations with multiple bedrooms, a living area, and a kitchen. Timeshare exchange means that no matter where you own timeshare, you don’t have to travel cross-country to holiday. You can vacation close to home, yet enjoy the experience of feeling transported a million miles away from daily routines and responsibilities.

Timeshare resorts are typically safe places to relax. Frequented by vacationers rather than conventioneers or overnight travelers, timeshare resorts tend to be properties with limited ‘outsider’ traffic and many onsite activities and options.

As Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president and CEO says, “Making the Girlfriend Getaway special starts with selecting the right place. Timeshare provides spacious accommodations in fabulous locations and are a terrific option for these girls-only vacations.”

Click here to download ARDA’s newly released Guide to Girlfriend Getaways.

 

Topics: ARDA, Timeshare Blog, Timeshare News, Vacation