The Ritz-Carlton Highlands at Lake Tahoe is scheduled to open on December 9 of this year, meaning that you could plan now and be skiing in Tahoe this winter at your own Ritz Carlton Club vacation ownership timeshare. One of the reasons this new vacation ownership property is so exciting is because it is the first new-build resort to be constructed in the Lake Tahoe area in decades. And one of the reasons vacation ownership is always so exciting is because once you “own” your vacation, you are not likely to bypass it, no matter what the economy looks like.

Here’s how the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) explains it, in a recent article by Howard Nusbaum, which appeared on Hospitality Net:

“No matter what the state of the economy may be, if you own your vacation, you will take it—pure and simple. The prepaid nature of our vacation product is very much a part of its magic, as it provides a disciplined means of guaranteed use. The consistent quality and assurance that your vacation will be what it was intended to be adds to that magic factor. Because of this, timeshare owners have become the “Cheshire Cats” of the Monday morning office water-cooler chats, as they tell coworkers of their travels and adventures from the previous week. Quite simply, they bought and paid for their vacations at a set rate, so now they are recession-insulated when it comes to taking annual holidays.”

Lake Tahoe Luxury at the New Ritz-Carlton Highlands Timeshare

Sitting slopeside between Lake Tahoe and Truckee, the resort will include 170 regular guest rooms, 23 private Ritz-Carlton Residences, and 25 Ritz-Carlton Destination Club fractional ownership residences. With a 17,000 square feet spa, yoga and spin studios, fitness center, and ski-in, ski-out access at Northstar-at-Tahoe, this luxurious timeshare resort is an ideal year-round vacation destination.

…And who among us wouldn’t like to be a “recession-insulated Cheshire Cat” enjoying a Lake Tahoe vacation?

Additional opportunities for Ritz-Carton Club vacation ownership at timeshare resale prices:

• Ritz-Carlton Club timeshare and residences in San Francisco.
• Ritz-Carlton Club Bachelor Gulch timeshare and residences in Avon, Colorado.
• Ritz-Carlton Club St. Thomas timeshare and residences in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (U.S.).
• Ritz-Carlton Club, Aspen Highlands timeshare and residences in Aspen, Colorado.
• Ritz-Carlton Golf Club & Spa, Jupiter, Florida.

Are we appreciating our vacations more, now that times are tougher? Or are hoteliers and timeshare resorts stepping up their game, becoming better listeners and doing a better job of serving their guests and timeshare owners? Perhaps the answer is: both.

According to the J. D. Power and Associates 2009 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study, guest satisfaction at four of six types of accommodations within the hotel industry improved for this year, compared with 2008, when guest opinion remained stable across all six types. Only extended stay properties (and these are extended stay hotels, not timeshare resorts or vacation ownership) saw a decrease. The six areas or types of hotel properties evaluated by the study were: (1) luxury, (2) upscale, (3) mid-scale full service, (4) mid-scale limited service, (5) economy/budget, and (6) extended stay hotels.

Satisfied Timeshare Owners

The timeshare industry uses various types of studies to measure timeshare guest or timeshare owner satisfaction. The State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study 2009 prepared primarily from data provided by timeshare resorts, timeshare developers, and management companies, (through a survey commissioned by the ARDA International Foundation (AIF) and conducted by Ernst & Young LLP) showed demonstrated owner satisfaction with timeshares. One fact cited by the study pointed out that forty-one percent of timeshare sales are from timeshare buyers who already own a timeshare with that developer. The AIF report also showed that timeshare resorts were able to add timeshare units and that timeshare occupancy rates have actually increased, with approximately 67 percent of resorts being at least eighty percent occupied, and 40 percent having occupancy of at least ninety percent, according to the Ernst & Young LLP study for the ARDA International Foundation.

Hoteliers and Timeshare Companies Rising to the Challenge

Michael Drago, director of the global hospitality and travel practice at J.D. Power and Associates, says, “Many hotel brands have successfully focused on guest satisfaction, despite steep rate discounts, staff declines, reductions in in-room amenities and a halt on renovations.” He points out that the hoteliers know that “… providing extraordinary guest service in a consistent manner, in both good times and bad, is a recipe for continued success.”

The hospitality industry has long been a vital part of the US economy. When hotel guest and timeshare owner satisfaction climbs it is evidence that hotels and timeshares are building stronger client relationships despites these tough times, working, as Drago says, “to provide extraordinary guest service.”

Follow this link to read our July 2009 Business Synopsis, which shows an increase of 15 percent year-to-date in offers to buy or rent timeshares advertised with Sell My Timeshare NOW.

The Palm Desert, California timeshare, Marriott’s Shadow Ridge resort, has completed phase 7 of a 14-phase development plan. Phase 7 construction at the timeshare resort included 2 buildings and 73 two-bedroom Marriott timeshare villas. At this time, 19 buildings have been completed, housing 523 timeshare villas, of the planned 972 timeshare villas.

Phase I development on this California timeshare property began in 1999, when a timeshare sales office and maintenance facility were started. Today the property includes the clubhouse, restaurant, spa, registration center, 2000 square foot pool with bar, grill and children’s beach, along with the timeshare units. The additional golf amenities are particularly outstanding including a golf pro shop with swing studio, lockers, club fitting, and golf admin center, adding to the pleasure of play and practice at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Golf Club and the Faldo Golf Institute by Marriott, both part of the overall resort.

Construction on Phase 8 at the 300-acre resort is not scheduled to begin until 2010, at which time R. D. Olson Construction will resume their work to complete the rest of the planned development at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Timeshare Resort.

“This project allowed us to use our inventiveness and skills to build a desert resort with one-of-a-kind design elements that create intrigue and entertainment,” said Robert Olson, CEO/president, R.D. Olson Construction.

Click here to read the Olson media release about the work at Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Timeshare: http://www.prweb.com/releases/construction/resorts/prweb2675244.htm

And follow these links to learn more about vacation ownership opportunities at this beautiful desert oasis, just perfect for golfers or spa and poolside relaxation in a California timeshare:

• Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Timeshare Resales
• Marriott’s Shadow Ridge Timeshare Rentals

Here’s some timeshare industry good news as Sell My Timeshare NOW releases its July 2009 Year-to-Date Statistical Synopsis, showing continued growth and expansion by our timeshare resale and timeshare rental advertising company.

We’ve increased our staff, opened a new timeshare advertising sales call center in Orlando, Florida, and we are continuing to expand our services. Despite the challenging economy, we have received nearly $240 million in offers to buy or rent timeshare, year-to-date. This accounts for a 15 percent increase over figures through last June (2008) for timeshare resale and timeshare rental offers.

Offers to rent timeshare have been outstanding in 2009, showing a 140 percent increase over year-to-date timeshare rental offers from 2008, and a 79 percent increase in the amount of these offers. As I said in our company’s media release, Timeshare Resale Advertising Leader Sell My Timeshare NOW Releases Business Synopsis Demonstrating Growth and Expansion:

“A tough economy brings an excellent challenge to business to step up your game, deliver more, and work smarter. We think our growth and continued strength verify that what we do works for the timeshare owner and the timeshare industry.”

We are proud of our growth, expansion, and service. We are working hard to fill important needs for people who want to buy, rent, or sell timeshare, as well as, very specific needs within the timeshare industry. And as the economy, the timeshare industry, and the vacation needs of consumers change, we’ll keep adapting our products and services.

Click this link to download a copy of the Sell My Timeshare NOW July 2009 Year-to-Date Statistical Synopsis.

And click here to view our latest media release: Timeshare Resale Advertising Leader Sell My Timeshare NOW