No, the seasonal holidays that typically give us all pause for reflection are not upon us quite yet, but they are close enough for me to begin looking at 2009, evaluating what an interesting year it has been. In the United States, 2009 brought a new President and new administration, a new economy that most of us hope resolves itself quickly and never returns, and a lot of new experiences for this country and the world at large. If challenge and adversity makes us stronger, then sadly, far too many people have had too many ‘character building’ experiences over the last 12 to 18 months.

Timeshare Sales and Timeshare Resales Improving their Services

Sell My Timeshare NOW has experienced a great number of changes. We’ve expanded our services, grown our business, and improved our business plans. I don’t mind telling you, none of it has been easy; change never is. As a timeshare resale and timeshare rental advertising company, we have been part of a timeshare industry in flux in a business climate undergoing major climatic change.

At the same time, many timeshare owners are finding their lives in flux as well. For some, the decision to buy timeshare, sell timeshare, rent timeshare, or use property as a timeshare rental is far more complicated than it would have been a few years ago. And these very issues are what motive us at Sell My Timeshare NOW to continually reevaluate our products and our services, striving to deliver real-world, workable solutions for both timeshare owners and the timeshare industry. The secondary market of timeshare resales should not be a challenge or a problem, but should be and CAN BE, an opportunity for families to enjoy and experience vacation ownership.

The Timeshare Industry and Timeshare Owners on the Bounce Back

As we all move forward toward a new year, I want to share with you some thoughts from a man who is both a legendary collegiate sports coach and a great motivator, John Calipari, currently the head coach of men’s basketball at the University of Kentucky.

In his recently released book, Bounce Back, Overcoming Setbacks to Succeed in Business and in Life, Calipari shares with readers the mindset that has helped him bounce back from crushing career lows lived out in the public eye to becoming the sports and motivational leader he is today. As he challenges readers to claim their “Second Life,” which he points out can be better than the first, he says, “Don’t allow your dreams to become daydreams.”

There are very few of us who don’t dream about spending more vacations with our friends and families; savoring more relaxing down time, and recharging our batteries with travel and new experiences. As time passes, people too often look back and wish they had spent more time with children, parents and siblings, and precious friends.

America is going to Bounce Back. Today’s hard times really can be the precursor of a second life, so pay close attention and don’t let your most meaningful dreams ebb away into only daydreams.

If you want to learn more about John Calipari’s life wisdom, you might want to sign up to follow his Twitter account, http://twitter.com/ukCoachCalipari. He’s admirers include nearly 1 Million Twitter followers on an account he opened late last April.

We’d also appreciate it if you join a much smaller crowd and follow Sell My Timeshare NOW on Twitter at:

• http://twitter.com/JasonTremblay_ (that’s @JasonTremblay_) and
• http://twitter.com/VacationHotDeal (that’s @VacationHotDeal)

Dubai constructions update
by Imre Solt (www.imresolt.blogspot.com)

The elegant Royal Club at Bonnington Tower in Dubai, a prestigious residential, commercial, and timeshare community, has joined the Interval International collection of timeshare exchange resorts. Now, this highly sought resort/residential destination joins Royal Club at Palm-Jumeirah and Royal Club at Downtown Dubai as Dermarr Real Estate’s (owner of the Royal Club properties) third timeshare resort affiliated with Interval International. Both Royal Club at Palm-Jumeirah and Royal Club at Downtown Dubai are fully sold out properties.

More Dubai Timeshare Luxury

The showpiece Bonnington Tower is 40 stories of five-star luxury, featuring 30 spacious and elegantly furnished one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and timeshare condos, six onsite restaurants and bars, 24/7 concierge service, and a host of amenities including hairdressers, the Leisure Deck with infinity pool, and a state-of-the-art gym exercise center. Located in the heart of Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Royal Club timeshare is near the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates, which features an indoor ski resort. The resort is also conveniently near the airport.

David Clifton, managing director for Interval International timeshare exchange says, “Interval International has worked with Royal Club in Dubai and its marketing partner for many years, and we’ve developed a relationship based on shared respect for quality product and service excellence. We have no doubt that the Royal Club at Bonnington Tower will be as valuable an addition to our network as the two other Royal Club resorts—Royal Club at Downtown Dubai and Royal Club at Palm, Jumeirah—have been.”

Interval International has been a recognized leader in timeshare exchange for more than thirty years. Today, the company includes a network of more than 2500 timeshare resorts in over 75 countries. Some 2 million member families enjoy timeshare exchange and timeshare services through Interval International.

For anyone who wants a Florida timeshare with year-round golfing conditions, and a PGA Tour tournament quality golf course, there is no better choice than Doral timeshares at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida.

Golfers already know that the famed Blue Monster at Doral, home of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship, has hosted PGA TOUR events for more than 45 years. But many fans of the game don’t realize that Doral offers four other courses that are equally as exciting to play.

Golf Vacations at Marriott’s Villas Doral Timeshare

This week, Doral Golf Resort officially unveils the new “Jim McLean Signature Golf Course” (formerly known as the Silver). The course, redesigned under the watchful eye of renowned golf guru Jim McLean, features some of the most challenging holes on any golf course in Florida.

7100 yards long, the par 70 course starts you off with 3 very exciting holes, each a nearly 500-yard, par 4. On the back nine, holes 13, 14, and 15 are formidably known as the “Bermuda Triangle”.

Even if your schedule won’t permit you to be a part of the November 13-15 launch of The Jim McLean Signature Course, a Doral timeshare resale or Doral timeshare rental will make it easy for you to regularly test your skills at this amazing golf and timeshare resort.

With Marriott’s Villas at Doral timeshares you can choose which course to play, lessons at the on-property Jim McLean Golf School, a relaxing day at the world famous Doral Spa, and then top it off with the glittering nightlife of Miami Beach.

As events last week reminded us, even when our military men and women are serving here at home, their lives are never totally without risk.

So instead of my usual blog on timeshare news and timeshare resale updates, I want to share with you information about a way to give back to our men and women in service. Sell My Timeshare NOW has no affiliation with this organization; I am simply sharing information with you about a nonprofit agency that I personally believe is doing something special and offers you an easy but meaningful way to get involved.

Books for Soldiers

During the first Gulf War, Storm Williams decided to begin sending paperback books to people he knew who were stationed abroad. The idea, like good ideas usually do, spread quickly, and soon friends and family were also mailing books overseas. The books were so appreciated that BooksForSoldiers.com was soon established as a Not-For-Profit corporation registered in North Carolina. Books for Soldiers is owned and operated by a non-denominational, interfaith outreach ministry and is a 501(c)(3) charity recognized by the IRS. All donations are tax deductible. (Please follow the links and check them out for yourself.)

The concept is simple:

Books For Soldiers is a self-service site. Once you are approved as an Official BFS Volunteer, go to their message board (you can get there by going to http://booksforsoldiers.com and clicking on the VOLUNTEER FORUM link at the top of the page). Look at the posted requests. You will see all five military branches listed; click on the name of a branch, such as ‘ARMY,’ and you will then see a long list of requests. Click on a request and the address will come up along with information about what the troop has requested.

Decide which books you are going to donate, (they don’t have to be new, just in good usable shape) and then pack them in a small box, roughly shoebox size. Many volunteers choose to fill in the extra space in the box with candy, moist towelettes, sunscreen, or other small items a service man or woman will appreciate.

And shipping is the easiest part of all. Books for Soldiers recommends the use of FLAT RATE BOXES available free from the US Postal Service. On the BFS website, they say, “It is a very good deal — you can cram as much as you can in the box and shipping is a flat $8.10”.

When your box of books (CDs or DVDs are also accepted) is packed, mail it directly to the military person or unit that has requested it.

As Books for Soldiers reminds us, “Regardless of why the military is deployed, the men and women of our armed services are there for us. They deserve our support…“