The Walt Disney Company and Shanghai Shendi Group have broken ground on the first Disney resort to be built in mainland China.

The Disney Resort in Shanghai, will, according to spokespeople for the Walt Disney Company, “be both authentically Disney and distinctly Chinese.” Look for Shanghai Disneyland as a themed park in the style of the Magic Kingdom, with several themed lands and a Disney castle in the heart of the park.

“We’re incredibly excited to build a Disney resort in Shanghai, one of the world’s most vibrant cities,” says Thomas O. Staggs, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We are hard at work designing Shanghai Disneyland, which when complete will be a special place where guests of all ages will discover a world of imagination, creativity, adventure and thrills.”

With construction estimated to take 5 years, upon opening Shanghai Disney will include approximately 960 acres, with room to grow in the future. Look for two themed hotels, a dining, entertainment and retail center, a lake and recreational area and an 11-acre green space at the park’s center. The green space, unique to this Disney park, will be designated for cultural celebrations and family events.

At this point, there are no reported plans to add a Shanghai Disney timeshare resort to join the other Disney Vacation Club properties.

Permits for Shanghai Disney were announced in 2009. A joint venture management company is being formed by Disney, in which Disney will hold a 70 percent stake and the Shanghai Shendi Group will hold 30 percent. The estimated investment in the construction of the park is roughly 0.7 billion US dollars, shared between Disney and the Shanghai Shendi Group.

With the 2011 ARDA Convention behind us, the timeshare industry moves ahead to future conferences including CRDA’s annual conference April 27-29, and the upcoming CARE Semi-Annual and GNEX 2011 Conferences in May,

These events provide the timeshare industry a time to both reconnect and refocus on the business ahead—that of making the process of buying, selling, renting, and owning timeshares more relevant, affordable and accessible to today’s consumer.

Here’s a great video put together by Freda Stemick of The Timeshare Girls Blog and Resort Connections, giving you an overview of many of the names and faces who were part of the 2011 ARDA Convention in Orlando, Florida

Orlando Sentinel writer, Sara Clarke, presented a very realistic and grounded look at the issue of timeshare resales in an April 5 article titled, “‘Free’ time shares: Owners cut losses by dumping them in online giveaways.”

While the media is sometimes quick to inaccurately brand all timeshares as impossible to sell on the secondary or resales market, this article considers more candidly, viable options for what people do with timeshare they no longer wish to own.

Clarke looked first at literally giving your timeshare away, an idea used by some timeshare owners. As Alan Cole, who recently gave away his Orlando timeshare said, “We got our value out of it while we owned it.” In Cole’s case, he had purchased the timeshare as a resale, meaning he likely paid a great price for it. When he no longer wanted to own it, he was satisfied to connect with a timeshare buyer who was willing to pay the closing costs, resort transfer fee and the current year’s maintenance fees in the timeshare transfer.

In addition to interviewing us here at Sell My Timeshare NOW, the writer talks with Howard Nusbaum, president of the American Resort Development Association; a sales executive at King’s Creek Plantation luxury timeshare in Williamsburg, Va.; and Jan Anderson, director of Hilton Grand Vacations Club timeshare’s resale division.

Timeshare Resale Market Reality

As I pointed out in the Orlando Sentinel article, “The Internet is bringing transparency and increasing access to the secondary market, which is clearly disrupting the primary market.”

The reality is, this is good disruption. It’s paving the way for change, growth and a more customer-centric industry. Very simply, people still buy timeshare, but they approach it differently than they once did.

Follow this link to read this informative article on timeshare sales and timeshare resales:

Part of the excitement of last week’s ARDA conference (American Resort Development Association) in Orlando was the 2011 Awards Gala. As Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO of ARDA explains, “It’s about recognizing the ‘best of the best’ in the vacation ownership industry. We shine the spotlight on those individuals whose peers have nominated them for the impact and perseverance they have shown in their professional lives.”

The awards event, which was sponsored by Holiday Systems International (HSI), recognized outstanding accomplishments by companies, teams, resorts, and individuals. Here’s a rundown of the 2011 Circle of Excellence (ACE) winners:

The 2011 ACE Women on their Way Award Kimberly Johnston-Tramontana of Breckenridge Grand Vacations. This award recognizes the outstanding achievements of women who continue to excel and advance in the timeshare and vacation ownership industry.

The 2011 ACE Spirit of Hospitality Award (formerly known as the Employee Award) went to Janeth Olachea of Park Plaza Resort. This award recognizes an outstanding employee within the industry who demonstrates commitment, loyalty, superior performance and willingness to go above and beyond.

The 2011 ACE Community Service Award was made to Winter Park Construction (WPC) for their Home At Last Project, designed to provide combat-wounded US veterans of military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan with custom-built, mortgage-free homes.

The 2011 ACE Philanthropic Award recognizes the outstanding philanthropic effort for a humanitarian cause by an individual or company. This year’s award was a tie between Orange Lake Resorts/Holiday Inn Club Vacations (HCV) and Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI). Orange Lake Resorts’ flagship Orlando timeshare, for over 25 years, has worked to build and maintain lasting relationships with several worldwide organizations that serve others in need, as well as with local community partners. Marriott timeshare has raised more than $71 million dollars for Children’s Miracle Network over the last 25+ years.

The 2011 ACE Innovator Award went to RCI, for its Weeks Enhancement program, a plan designed for enhancing RCI’s Exchange membership programs and online customer experience. The ACE Innovator Award recognizes those within the timeshare business who have successfully implemented a groundbreaking product, service or concept.

The 2011 ACE Volunteer Award was presented this year to Tom Bell as a member of ARDA who consistently gives his/her time, energy, creativity, and talents to further ARDA’s goals and objectives. Tom has been actively involved in the timeshare industry for nearly 30 years as powerful advocate for strong and balanced timeshare legislation around the country and the world.

The 2011 ACE Employer of the Year Award went to timeshare exchange company, Interval International. The award honors an employer within the timeshare industry that demonstrates exceptional commitment to its employees. Interval International has shown 35 years of providing growth opportunities for its employees, encouraging employee involvement in activities that promote the growth of the shared ownership industry and playing active roles in timeshare related trade associations.

The Ace Project of Excellence is given to a successful project that represents months and years of cooperation between all parties involved and is considered a success not only by investors but by the owners and the local community. This year’s winner, Starwood Vacation Ownership, took home the prize for their successful timeshare project, The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, which symbolizes the first introduction of the Westin brand and a deluxe vacation ownership product to the North Shore of Kaua’i in Hawaii.

Finally we get to one of the most special awards, The 2011 ACE Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s winner of the ACE Lifetime Achievement Award is Bill Ingersoll, one of the early organizers of the American Land Development Association (ALDA), which eventually became ARDA. Bill was also ARDA’s General Counsel and demonstrated leadership, professionalism, creativity, reliability and quality standards and ethics within an outstanding body of work.

Congratulations to all the winners. The timeshare and vacation ownership industry includes many talented people who commit their skills and their hearts to making timeshare a stronger more meaningful product. Thank you ARDA for honoring these recipients.

Besides the ACE Awards, ARDA awarded ARDY’s to finalists in sales and marketing; management and administration; advertising and promotion; and resort design categories. For a complete list of winners and finalists, go to www.ARDA.org/awards.

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Love cars? Personally, I can’t imagine not being fascinated by automobiles, from luxury models to the eccentric and quirky. And for car lovers everywhere, this is a perfect time to be in Orlando, whether you are already there on an Orlando timeshare vacation or you rework your schedule to take in a car show that ranks as one of the 5 Best Exotic Car Shows in the world.

This week, April 7-10, more than 250 unique cars will be on display along the waterfront in Celebration, Florida, just outside of Disney World and the city of Orlando. The show is free to the public and will showcase North America’s largest collection of exotic cars, racecars, and iconic cars from Hollywood movies.

Movie buffs will get to see Landspeeder from the original “Star Wars;” the General Lee Dodge Charger from “The Dukes of Hazzard; KITT, the Pontiac Trans-Am from “Knight Rider; Herbie the Volkswagen Beetle from the Disney films and the Rolls Royce from the Dudley Moore version of “Arthur.” Also, look for the Coutach Lamborghini driven by Adrienne Barbeau in “The Cannonball Run,” and the Diablo Lamborghini from the movie “Dumb and Dumber” as well as the 1958 Plymouth Fury from the horror movie “Christine.”

There will also be Formula One cars and other high performance vehicles. And the festivities are not limited to simply enjoying the cars. There is an opening night party planned for Friday, April 8, at the American Experience pavilion at Disney’s Epcot, including dinner and a fireworks show and the Jetport Food & Wine Party on Saturday night, when a Kissimmee airplane hangar will be transformed into a nightclub, hosting an air show, silent auction and fashion show. (Both of these events require ticket purchase.) Then on Sunday, April 10, the Exotic Car Rally departs Celebration at 9:30 AM.

This is the festival’s eighth year and all of the net proceeds are donated to charity after each event. Since 2004, the event has donated more than $600,000 to Make-a-Wish and Special Olympics.

To learn more call 407-566-4007 or go online at celebrationexoticcars.com. Click here to check for an Orlando timeshare rental.

Some stories are just too much fun to pass up.

Bluegreen timeshare has announced its annual Christmas Mountain Village Rock Star Competition at Bluegreen’s Wisconsin Dells timeshare resort.

Music wanna-bes can compete most Saturday nights at Bluegreen’s on-site restaurant and sports bar, Mulligans. Perform in this event and raise the clap-o-meter high enough and you could find yourself in the Christmas Mountain Village Rock Star Showdown on August 20, 2011. But for the showdown, it won’t be karaoke time; instead you’ll be backed up by a live band and have the benefit of a professional sound system.

Lisha Eckelberg, Hospitality Specialist and Marketing Manager at Christmas Mountain Village timeshare, says the event was first added two years ago. She explains, “The Rock Star program has been a tremendous success. It is a culmination of a year’s worth of Karaoke every Saturday night at Mulligan’s. Audience participation is the key to being the next CMV Rock Star as we have a clap-o-meter so the contestant that receives the most cheers wins. This is a great thing to participate in during your stay, with the chance to launch your singing career and win a grand prize for first place.”

The winner of the August showdown receives a round-trip airfare and a one-week vacation (a $2,500 value) to any Bluegreen resort in the continental United States (based on availability).

It just may be time for you to sing for your next timeshare vacation!

RCI has unrolled a new level of membership for its timeshare exchange members. Launching RCI Points Platinum, RCI is now offering a premium tier in timeshare enjoyment opportunities with exclusive privileges and lifestyle benefits.

Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI says, “Timeshare owners are always looking for more value from their exchange provider and RCI Weeks Platinum will provide just that — new opportunities for priority access and special member discounts. After the successful debut of the RCI Points Platinum(SM) membership tier last year, we are excited to expand this terrific program to our RCI Weeks members as well. The RCI Weeks Platinum membership tier will offer tremendous lifestyle benefits that our RCI Weeks members can use and enjoy in so many different ways.”

Some of the perks and pluses of RCI Platinum membership will include:

• Opportunities for room upgrades
• Exclusive “first look” access to specially acquired vacation inventory
• Rebates for various RCI transactions
• Access to preferred rates at premier ski destinations
• Discounted green fees at numerous golf courses across North America
• Valuable restaurant discounts
• Advance purchase and front-of-the-line privileges for select theatre and city destination attractions

“As the inventor of vacation exchange, RCI is always looking to develop new products and ideas that will give our members the best experiences and exceed the expectations of our resort affiliates,” says Ballotti. Clearly, with benefits like these for their timeshare owner/members, RCI is doing just that.

Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, had good timing this week breaking the news of a $400 million securitization deal during the ARDA timeshare convention. The securitization involves roughly $400 million in investment-grade, asset-backed notes.

“We continue to see enthusiastic investor support for our ABS offerings, evidenced by the highest advance rate in our history and very attractive interest rates,” said Tom Conforti, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Wyndham Worldwide. “This transaction builds on the continued strong performance of our Vacation Ownership business and its receivables portfolio.”

Subsidiary Sierra Timeshare 2011-1 Receivables Funding LLC (an indirect subsidiary of Wyndham Vacation Ownership) issued:

$296 million of “A” rated notes

$80 million of “BBB-rated” notes

$24 million of “BB” rated bonds

The notes were backed by timeshare ownership loans and the coupons had an overall weighted average of 3.70 percent.

Follow this link to read the Wyndham Worldwide media release.

The Strength of Wyndham Worldwide and Wyndham Timeshare

Wyndham Exchange & Rentals includes 3.8 million members, and offers access to approximately 97,000 vacation properties in roughly 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership timeshare includes a network of 160 plus vacation ownership resorts and nearly 815,000 timeshare owner – members.

Excellent opportunities are also available in Wyndham timeshare resales and Wyndham timeshare rentals.