What do golfers and golf lovers want? They want the opportunity to see the legends of the game along with its rising stars playing competitively and to perhaps, play the same courses golf’s great players get to play. And it may surprise you that the key to fulfilling both of these wishes lies in a Marriott timeshare.

Marriott Golf is hosting three professional Tour events in 2011, and each one of them combines a championship golf course (or courses) and a Marriott or Ritz Carlton (Marriott affiliated) owned or managed timeshare or vacation ownership resort.

Over the next few days here on The Timeshare Authority blog, we will look at each of these resorts and the opportunities for you to stay there, play there, to perhaps be there to see the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour players compete, and to become a Marriott timeshare or Ritz Carlton Club owner or renter.

Great Golf, Great Timeshare Resorts

If you missed the excitement last week at the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships – Accenture Match Play Championship, you also missed the spectacular views of the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Dove Mountain in Marana, Arizona and its 27-hole course designed to blend subtlety into the foothills of the Tortolita Mountains.

The 2011 Accenture Match Play Championship was a surprising tournament that saw many of the biggest names of the game checking out early, with Thomas Bjorn defeating Tiger Woods in the first round and Rickie Fowler beating Phil Mickelson in the second round…but as golfers understand better than anyone else—that’s match play and that’s golf!

But there are still two more exciting professional events coming up quickly at Marriott timeshare venues: the World Golf Championships – Cadillac Championship, to be held March 10-13 at Doral Golf Resort & Spa in Miami, Florida, and the LPGA’s RR Donnelley Founders Cup, taking place March 16-21 at Wildfire Golf Club at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.

Marriott Golf and Marriott Timeshare

Marriott Golf manages 59 golf courses at 43 locations in 12 countries. Marriott timeshare (Marriott Vacation Club) offers 53 timeshare resorts worldwide, and the Ritz Carlton Club offers 10 primary Ritz Carlton Destination Club locations in the United States and the Caribbean. Look for great opportunities in Marriott timeshare resales, Marriott timeshare rentals, and Ritz Carlton Club resales. And follow The Timeshare Authority blog this week as we take a closer look at each of the three tour stops that are also Marriott or Ritz Carlton resort very desirable destinations.

If you weren’t already daydreaming about the smell of spring in the air and the fresh face of flowers in bloom, this week’s Festiva Resorts Blog – Festiva Hospitality Group post on cycling Cape Cod would have gotten you started.

Festiva’s blog is a favorite of ours because they regularly profile the activities and attractions in the areas of Festiva timeshare resorts and they don’t just give you the typical travelogue; they always fill you in on the off-the-beaten path experiences you really want to see. For example, in “Cycling Cape Cod” they didn’t focus on Cape Cod’s obvious asset—the beach. Instead, the Festiva Resort Blog looked at the wonderful opportunities to explore Cape Cod by bike.

Here is some of the important information they share, sure to help you in planning your Cape Cod timeshare vacation:

Cape Cod offers a variety of biking trails and venues, with opportunities suitable for both avid cyclists and family vacationers. There are 80 miles of trails, 55 miles of which are paved.

There are plenty of bike rental shops in the Cape Cod area.

Trails to explore include The Shining Sea Bikeway and the Nauset Marsh Trail, both perfect for beginners or casual cyclists; the Cape Cod Rail Trail, offering 22 miles through towns and countryside; off-road biking at the Otis Atwood Conservation Area in Barnstable; and the challenging Trail of Tears at the West Barnstable Conservation Area.

To learn more about the possibilities of biking Cape Cod be sure to read the full article on the Festiva Blog and also check out the Cape Cod Bike Guide. And follow this link for opportunities on Southcape Resort & Club Festiva timeshare resales.

Goldfarb Branham LLP, is investigating the possibility that the Board of Directors of Silverleaf Resorts, Inc (Silverleaf timeshares) violated shareholder protection laws in connection with the timeshare company’s buyout offer by SL Resort Holdings.

Noting that the buyout price called for $2.50 per share, securities lawyer Hamilton Lindley has said, “Silverleaf’s book value was $5.47 for the most recent quarter and at least one analyst set a price target of $5.00 per share. Our potential class action lawsuit seeks to ensure that the Silverleaf Board of Directors maximizes value for investors in this buyout.”

Goldfarb Branham is encouraging Silverleaf timeshare stockholders to contact the law firm directly at: 877-583-2855.

Additionally, Bull & Lifshitz, LLP has announced its investigation into these possible breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with the proposed acquisition of Silverleaf Resorts, Inc.

The contact number for Bull & Lifshitz is: 212-213-6222.

In cases of this type of class action lawsuit, it is not uncommon for more than one legal firm to investigate the situation and if further action is taken, there will likely be a consolidation of efforts by the law firms involved.

Other recent news about Silverleaf timeshare from The Timeshare Authority blog:

Silverleaf Timeshare Loses Buildings to Fire in Lee, MA

In the wake of the devastating 6.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand this past week it is still difficult to gather precise information about the situation at New Zealand timeshares and hotels. Here is a summary of what we believe to be an accurate, although not comprehensive, report:

At the time this post on The Timeshare Authority blog is being written, the historic Hotel grand Chancellor, one of Christchurch’s tallest buildings, has not yet collapsed but undoubtedly will, unless it is not deliberately brought down by safety officials first. Officials have evacuated a two-block radius around this perilous property.

Leigh Stock, a general manager of the Edgewater Resort- Wanaka timeshare was in Christchurch for a board meeting at the time of the earthquake. Although he escaped to safety, he witnessed the façade of a building as it collapsed, flattening a car with a passenger inside, along with other devastation. Stock told the Otago Daily News, after hearing the initial destruction and going outside to check on things he attempted to return to building he had been in to collect his cell phone. He explained, “From the outside, the building looked relatively unscathed. It was just a war zone in there. The ceiling had collapsed internally and a big ceiling fan was on the table where we had been sitting.”

The three Accor hotels in Christchurch were evacuated, and no guests or staff were injured. Two of these hotels are in the Cathedral Square, which is in lock-down under a State of Emergency.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) has evacuated three of its hotels, the Crowne Plaza Christchurch, Holiday Inn City Centre Christchurch and Holiday Inn on Avon Christchurch after identifying structural damage. The three hotels are reportedly closed until further notice.

Peppers Clearwater Resort in Christchurch is open, with the following statement on its website, “Preliminary inspections show no major structural damage to the property. The kitchen is fully operational with the use of generators and drinking water has been supplied to all guests. Water is available for toilet usage and there is no damage to the property’s sewerage system.”

The Heritage Christchurch has posted a notice on its website that it has been evacuated and no entry to the property is permitted.

International travelers scheduled to visit New Zealand are advised that all regions outside of the Canterbury area remain operational. As a precaution, travelers are urged to check with their airline and confirm that their flight is still scheduled. International travelers already in Christchurch and who need assistance should call 0800 779 997.

This is the second in a two-part series, looking at the St. Maarten timeshare, formerly called Pelican Resort Club and now known as Simpson Bay Timeshare. If you have not read Part I of this series, you will want to, as it includes some very relevant background information on the situation at this timeshare resort.

Following labor disputes that resulted from management changes as Pelican Resort Club timeshare changed to become Simpson Bay Resort, the resort has been closed. Timeshare owners who arrived this past weekend were assisted in finding other nearby accommodations, at their own expense. Effective February 19, Simpson Bay Resort (the timeshare portion) officially stopped permitting timeshare owner or timeshare guest occupancy claiming “unspecified issues” that needed resolution.

The local tourism and timeshare community rallied to help timeshare owners whose vacations and holidays were about to be disrupted by lack of access to their resort. Many hotels and resorts offered special discounted rates to anyone who was relocating from the Simpson Bay Resort or who arrived in St. Maarten expecting to vacation at the timeshare.

On Sunday February 20, 2011, the website for the St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) posted the following:

“Just came from a visit to the resort. All timeshare owners and guests have now checked out. The staff who are still on property, reported that all went smoothly, if not a bit sadly, and that everyone has been successfully placed in alternate accommodations. Our government has both the resort and the union in mediation this weekend and talks are proceeding in an effort to reach an agreement to get the resort re-opened.”

Previously, on February 19, the same website had published this:

“Not exactly good news but… About 12 check-ins of the original 350 that were originally expected at the Simpson Bay resort today showed up on the property not having heard of the closure. All were assisted in finding other accommodations and things went smoothly all considered. This means our Island was successful in coming together to make sure all Pelican people were taken care of that still travelled to St. Maarten.”

What the Timeshare Owners Knew Up Front

Over the years, owners at the former Pelican Resort Club, now Simpson Bay Resort timeshare, have reportedly received communications from the resort that might not have prepared them for the situation, with some communications upbeat and others more negative in tone. Back in the 1990’s, the Pelican Resort Club suffered damage from multiple hurricanes, enough damage that the resort reportedly levied a $2000 special assessment (above annual maintenance fees) on its owners.

And this is the second time over the years that Pelican Resort Club has shut down operations because of financial troubles. According to the resort, “These troubles stem from a major flaw that has plagued the resort for well over a decade – high operational expenses, low employee productivity and inadequate revenue to sustain it. It should be further noted that employment salaries and benefits constitute a disproportionate expense of approximately 50 percent of the resort’s operational fees.”

But it is important to remember that while ownership at this resort may have included a few twists and turns, over the years, thousands of families have enjoyed memorable vacations there.

Where Things Stand Now for Pelican Resort Club Timeshare Owners

On February 15, 2011, both the Simpson Bay Resort and the Pelican Resort Club posted lengthy letters to their member-owners on their websites. www.simpsonbayresort.com and www.pelicanresort.com are both functional.

The letter attempts to explain how and why events at Simpson Bay Resort have gotten to this point. Here are some of the most important takeaways from this letter, based on the timeshare resort management’s own answers:

1. Why is the resort closing now? “…issues that are critical to the long-term viability of the operation of the resort.”
2. When will the resort reopen? “… as fast as prudent and economically viable…The long-term protection of the resort – and the timeshare usage rights – is being prioritized over short-term fixes that will ultimately come at a very high price…”
3. What happens to my rights as a timeshare owner? “… Your timeshare usage rights are protected and are not at risk. The new owner has conveyed their recognition of your right to your villa and interval. You remain in good standing by simply paying the Annual Maintenance Fee.”
4. What if the resort is closed during my usage interval? “If you are unable to use your timeshare interval due to the resort being closed and have paid your Annual Maintenance Fee, you will receive an Occupancy Adjustment allowing you to use an alternate interval in a comparable unit without any added cost.”
5. When can I schedule my Occupancy Adjustment? “… after the resort reopens…”

Additionally, the letter states that the resort is not responsible for any losses, such as airline tickets already purchased or activities already booked.

While the resort is not working to help its owners find alternative accommodations, the St. Maarten Timeshare Association, mentioned earlier in this blog post, is. These accommodations, although they may be discounted by the resort itself, must be paid for by the person booking them; the Simpson Bay Resort is not covering these costs. Timeshare renters who rented timeshare directly from the resort, seem to be in good shape. The resort’s open letter explains, “If you rented from the resort’s reservation center you are entitled to receive a full refund. At your sole discretion, you may also inquire about alternate vacation destinations and alternate dates. The rental center may be contacted toll-free from the USA and Canada at 888-721-4407 and elsewhere at 954-736-5807. If you rented from any other party you should contact them directly to discuss the matter.”

Timeshare owners also should note that if they book accommodations at another resort, and Simpson Bay Resort reopens in time for the owner’s planned holiday in St. Maarten, the resort booked as “back up” may charge a cancellation fee. Cancellation fees are determined on a resort-by-resort basis and each traveler should check this out for himself, with the backup resort where he books. Owners should also remember that if they are financing their timeshare, the current lack of access does not relieve them from their legal obligation to pay their monthly mortgage payment.

Following Up on the Timeshare Problems at Simpson Bay Resort Timeshare

In a move that should prove reassuring for timeshare owners at the Simpson Bay Resort, St. Maarten’s Honorable Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams has announced that a public-private sector plan of approach has been formulated during a Monday meeting at the Government Administration Building. (Read more here: Travel Daily News) The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) and the St. Maarten Timeshare Association (SMTA) have commended the Prime Minister for calling together a “crisis team” to assess and mitigate the impending closure of the resort.

And as we always promise you, as more information becomes available, look for it here, on The Timeshare Authority blog.

This is the first in a two-part series, looking at the St. Maarten timeshare, formerly called Pelican Resort Club and now known as Simpson Bay Timeshare. Information regarding the events at Pelican Resort has come primarily from newspapers and their websites. Efforts to gain information directly from the resort either have been unsuccessful or have yielded little new insight.

In December of 2010, the St. Maarten timeshare resort known as Pelican Resort Club and the adjacent property, the Pelican Marina Residences, were sold and renamed, Simpson Bay Resort & Marina and the Villas at Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, respectively. The transaction was said to have closed on or about January 26, 2011.

As part of the transition of the timeshare resort ownership, the new owners of the resort requested a ten-year tax holiday and wavier of the transfer tax as a new business operating in St., Maarten (according to Theophilus Thompson, president of the Workers Institute of Organised Labour and as quoted by The Daily Herald). The dismissal of the transfer tax, which Thompson said was equivalent to roughly US $1.8 million, was not reportedly a problem for the Union, which saw it as a new business concession to “ensure that they get some leeway in their operations.”

Problems arose, however, because an investor in the company reportedly was obligated to provide employment to workers who are not locals and not residents of St. Maarten. Doing this, according to Union President Thompson, is against St. Maarten’s labour regulations and against International Labour Organisation ILO conventions.

The timeshare resort attempted to dismiss 182 employees, and stopped paying them as of January 26.

And here’s where events become even more complicated…

Although Pelican Resorts was sold via auction this past December, the actual control over the timeshare property has always remained in the hands of Quantum Investment Trust Ltd. (QIT) and Royal Resorts Management Company Ltd.

The Daily Herald has reported:

“… the Court said it saw the whole restructuring of the resort as nothing but a means of getting rid of the homeowners association (Tenants Association Pelican Resort Club (TAPRC)) and the employees.

“The newly established companies engage in exactly the same activities as the ‘old ones’: the running of Pelican Resort in the same building for the same timeshare owners,” presiding Judge Diederik Thierry wrote in his verdict. He sees this as an abuse of a legal technicality by QIT and Royal Resorts.

The judge further pointed out that Article 32 in one CLA and Article 34 in another agreed between the previous resort management company, Pelican Resort Club, the Management Company N.V. (PRCMC) and WIFOL clearly stipulated that the labour agreements were binding on the successor of PRCMC, in this case SBRMC.

The judge therefore ruled that SBRMC had to continue paying the salaries to the workers.”

This ruling means that Simpson Bay Resort Management Company (SBRMC), (the new management of Pelican Resort,) has ordered by the courts to continue paying the salaries of the 182 employees it has attempted to fire and to adhere to regulations stipulated in the collective labour agreements (CLA) with Windward Island Federation of Labour (WIFOL) and bear all legal fees.

Simpson Bay Resort/ Pelican Resort Club is one of the largest resorts on St. Maarten, the island often called the Caribbean’s ‘Friendly Island’ in the Netherlands Antilles. It goes without saying that such changes as this timeshare is undergoing dramatically impact timeshare owners who have property there… but just how dramatically it has affected them may surprise you.

Be sure you read tomorrow’s The Timeshare Authority blog Part II on Thursday and learn about the situation for timeshare owners at this Caribbean timeshare resort.

The Resort Trades recently featured an article written by The Timeshare Authority blog’s author, Jason Tremblay. Here is a portion of that article, republished with permission of The Resort Trades.

• Focus your green initiatives on timeshare owners. Continue to tell them how many gallons of water or trees in the forest an action is saving, but don’t forget to translate that to personal terms: the planned increase on their annual fee that is reduced by this saving on the resort’s utility bill or cost of supplies. Share information with HOAs so that they understand how resort savings translate to owner benefits and they share it with their member-owners.
• Educate your staff and employees. Employees who interact with consumers need to be able to speak knowledgably about efforts your company is making. (Follow this link to read more: The Green Challenge for Timeshare, 5 Strategies that Will Work)

The Customer is Always Right, which means the Timeshare Owner is Always Right

We hope you will read this article in entirety on The Resort Trades website. You’ll find all five strategies for making the timeshare industry greener interesting and relevant.

Consumers may not be willing to pay more for green lodging and other green services, but they will be a lot more eager to embrace environmentally conscious actions when you should them how money is saved… and how that savings translates to them too. While environmental awareness becomes more and more critical in business today, and the rules of how to accomplish it are ever changing, other rules of business seem written in stone.

The axiom that reminds us, “The customer is always right,” holds steadfast. No one can tell the vacation ownership industry how to please timeshare buyers, timeshare sellers, and timeshare renters, better than does the timeshare consumer himself.

 

Topics: Timeshare Blog, Timeshare News, Timeshare Owners

Festiva Hospitality Group, a favorite timeshare company, has announced that it is receiving an approximately 90 percent satisfactory rating in GUESTScope™ surveys provided by UniFocus. The surveys have included over 13,000 timeshare owners and guests, and cover a 12-month period.

Debbie Shroyer, Director of Customer Experience for Festiva Hospitality Group says, “We have been utilizing GUESTScope for 24 of our vacation ownership resorts with great success. Festiva prides itself on treating every guest as if they were family, and GUESTScope helps ensure we’re delivering memorable vacations that ‘wow’ our guests as well as increase their intent of returning and recommending our properties to others.

“Festiva has partnered with UniFocus since 2005,” continues Shroyer. “I believe GUESTScope is an essential component for ensuring our timeshare resorts provide the highest quality in comfort, service and luxury. We often share information from the surveys with owners and employees, which helps us maintain standards at individual resorts as well as throughout the company.”

Festiva Timeshare Listening to Timeshare Owners

Festiva timeshare is a North Carolina-based timeshare company that manages and operates hotels and timeshare resorts across the US. Currently there are over 60,000 timeshare owner members among the 26 Festiva vacation ownership resorts and the five Festiva Cruise Club destinations. There are also more than 20,000 members of the Festiva Adventure Club.

By working with UniFocus on its GUESTScope surveys, Festiva timeshare is clearly focusing on how to improve the timeshare owner and timeshare guest experience. As Mark Heymann, President and CEO of UniFocus says, “When you can relate critical issues to your guests’ intent to return and recommend, this knowledge enables you to quantify the dollar cost to your business and turn this into dramatically enhanced revenue. “

On Wednesday, March 16, Mark Harmon will speak at the 11th Annual Ragatz Associates Fractional Interest Conference. While not the same Mark Harmon you watch on television, leading the NCIS team, event speaker Harmon is the venerated founder and Chief Executive Officer of Auberge Resort, and the industry expert who led Auberge’s growth to include resort management and branded real estate and residence clubs. Harmon’s topic, “What Is Needed to Stimulate Return to the Glory Days” is a timely and powerful message.

The Ragatz Associate Fractional Interest Conference will be held at the Fairmont San Francisco Hotel , March 14-16, 2011. This year’s conference promises several new features designed to provide expanded opportunities for business development. There will more personal networking opportunities, including a networking breakfast, prior to Fractionals 101, “Business Card Meet and Greet” session, a social/networking lounge and more significance on breakthroughs in social media applications.

Ragatz Associates specializes in research projects specifically designed for the shared-ownership industry including fractional interests, private residence clubs, destination clubs, and resort timeshare. Ragatz was founded in 1974 by Dr. Richard Ragatz and services clients from both the private and public sectors.

Follow this link to learn more about the 2011 Ragatz Associates Fractional Interest Conference.

The Timeshare Authority blog often updates you on beautiful décor and renovations at timeshare resorts thanks to the design experts at Robb & Stucky Interiors. One of this popular Florida-based furnishing and design company’s newest projects involves total renovation and installation of new furnishing for the Coconut Beach Resort, in Key West, Florida.

Robb & Stucky Senior Designer, Nancy Woodhouse IDS, is planning a tropical design that embraces an easy living lifestyle for this Key West timeshare resort — exactly what one would expect for a quaint resort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. With only 32, one and two-bedroom timeshare units, the five historic “Old Conch” styled buildings will be done in phases, starting in July of this year and completed by the end of October. Located at 1500 Alberta Street, the Coconut Beach Resort timeshare offers classic island ambiance, lush vegetation and walkways flowing onto white verandahs. On-site amenities include a private beach, pool, and Jacuzzi.

George Galvan, General Manager of Coconut Beach Resort, under the management of Spottswood Companies, says, “Our Board of Directors selected Robb & Stucky due to their sterling reputation and their track record of exceptional renovations to other resorts. We were impressed with their preferred vendor status by the Interval International vacation exchange company to its prestigious Interval Affiliate Advantage program, making their design services available to member resorts. The owners are eagerly looking forward to the total completion of this project.”

Your Key West Timeshare Vacation Rental or Resale

Key West timeshares offer some of the most relaxing opportunities in vacationing; places where you can truly relax and unwind. Lifestyle is mellow. Rent a bike, stroll along the beach, or ramp up your evenings with classic Key West experiences like Ernest Hemmingway’s favorite spot: Sloppy Joes.

Coconut Beach Resort timeshare rentals or timeshare resales provide a perfect opportunity to escape far from your daily grind, and let tropical breezes, white sand and turquoise waters transport you to an “island state of mind.” Put on your flip-flops, order a tall, cool, drink … the worries of the world will slip away when you holiday in a Key West timeshare.