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Travel and Timeshare Update on New Zealand

Jason Tremblay — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 13:00:39 +0000

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.

Experts Say Australia Timeshare Industry Shrugging Off Negative Perceptions

Jason Tremblay — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 13:00:48 +0000

In Sunday’s The Timeshare Authority blog, (see: Timeshare Sales Up 55 Percent in Australia Timeshare Holiday Ownership) we looked at the positive growth seen in the Australia timeshare market in 2009. And while the Australia timeshare market looks good now, it has faced many of the same economic challenges that have impacted US timeshare over the past two years. So how did they manage to flourish, given the global economic climate?

The CEO’s of three of the top Australia timeshare companies say the economy has forced them to take some actions that, at the time, felt very aggressive. Action they might not have taken had the tight economy not pushed them in that direction.

Craig Wood, CEO of Accor Vacation Club explains, “At the start of the crisis it was necessary to restructure our business. A combination of a high quality product, world-class service and a fantastic and engaged work-force allowed us not just to weather the initial impact of the crisis but produce a significant increase in profitability due to the austerity measures we implemented during the last year. Two of our key performance indicators, member satisfaction and resort occupancy increased during this year demonstrating the resilience of our business, even in the toughest of economic times.”

Ramy Filo, CEO of Classic Group points to the fact that Australia timeshare survived and by some standards, thrived, over the past two years, as “… an indication of the resilience of the industry … consumer confidence and significant growth in incremental sales.” Classic Group timeshare has more than 45,000 members. The company’s Gold Coast timeshare resorts are operating at greater than 95 percent capacity and regionally, they are at 80 percent (the kind of numbers the hotel industry would love to see). As Filo explains, the Classic Group timeshare product is a great fit with the traditional accommodation industry thereby adding stimulus to their business and expands delivery options to its members.

Barry Robinson CEO and Managing Director of Wyndham Vacation Resorts, is another industry leader who sees the economic downturn as having provided timeshare companies with the opportunity to showcase the benefit of vacation ownership. “Wyndham’s vacation ownership resorts enjoyed average occupancies above 80 percent for the 2009 year, with many Owners commenting that their ownership provided them with a holiday they would not otherwise have been able to take during that time. Having to streamline our operations in the early stages of the GFC has made us focus on becoming more efficient and innovative. Since that time we have experienced a significant increase in our profit margins.”

More than a year ago, here on our timeshare blog we wrote about the then-unfolding economic crisis as a potential challenge for the timeshare industry. Congratulations to these companies and their leaders for rising to meet the challenge. As Craig Wood points out, “John F Kennedy once noted that when written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.”

Follow these links to learn more about the opportunities waiting for you in Australia timeshare resales and rentals: Accord Premier Destination Club timeshare resales; Classic Holiday Club timeshare resales and rentals; and Wyndham timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.

Source: Travel Daily News International

Timeshare Sales Up 55 Percent in Australia Timeshare Holiday Ownership

Jason Tremblay — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 13:00:21 +0000

ATHOC is the Australian timeshare (or as they say down under, ‘holiday ownership’) regulatory body. These days, ATHOC is abuzz over the positive timeshare trends revealed by recent industry reports. Latest findings show Australia timeshare is in a time of robust growth as Australians embrace the concept of vacation ownership.

ATHOC, which stands for Australian Timeshare Holiday Ownership Council, says that despite global economic challenges, Australia timeshare sales for 2009 were up 55 percent to $205.4 million. Based on this research, which was commissioned by ATHOC and conducted by AEC Group Limiteds, and in which 78 timeshare properties participated, there are now 152,000 timeshare owner families in Australia, marking an increase of 20 percent over 2005.

As Australia celebrates this positive news about the timeshare industry, no one is overlooking the greater impact this story has. In 2009, timeshare owner families spent an average of $2,027 per travel party, per trip, (up from $916 in 2005) making a vital contribution to local economies. Now pair that boon with the indirect economic benefit the timeshare industry contributes to the Australian economy, an amount Australians estimate to be more than a billion dollars for 2009, and you see why Australian timeshare is making everybody smile.

The News Keeps Getting Bigger on the TATOC Timeshare Conference

Jason Tremblay — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:00:16 +0000

Adding to all the excitement about this coming week’s TATOC (The Timeshare Association) Conference in Nottingham Belfry, England, is this week’s release that Ramy Filo the President of the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council, will be attending and speaking at the conference.

Filo is the CEO of Classic Group, which includes Classic Holidays; a timeshare resort management and timeshare sales company in Australia and Dial an Exchange, which is the third largest timeshare exchange company in the world.

Ramy Filo is also President of the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) representing the timeshare industry in Australia, and is Chairman of the Global Alliance for Timeshare Excellence (GATE), an alliance created by leaders of trade associations in Canada, the United States, Latin America, Europe, Argentina, the Middle East, South Africa, and Australia.

Harry Taylor, CEO of TATOC, says, “The response for the conference has been overwhelming and we are delighted that Ramy had seen able to find the time to come and be able to inform the delegates about the industry in Australia”.

To learn more about The Timeshare Association (TATOC) contact: harry.taylor@timeshareassociation.org or telephone: 00 44 (0)161 237 3611

Other recent The Timeshare Authority news on the TATOC Conference:

TATOC Announces Guest Speaker for Timeshare Conference

Timeshare – You Bought What?

Jason Tremblay — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:00:26 +0000

Dr. Peter J. Shield, a longtime veteran of the timeshare industry and internationally acclaimed award-winning photojournalist, has written a book titled, “Timeshare- You Bought …..WHAT?”

This downloadable ebook offers a no-frills look at buying timeshare, selling timeshare, and timeshare exchange. Dr. Shield has written the book to help timeshare owners maximize the benefits of their timeshares and understand what they own and how to truly get the most of their timeshare.

Here’s an excerpt from this unique timeshare book that is certain to capture your interest, as Dr. Shield talks about his first timeshare:

“The property was a farm, converted into what I would best describe from looking back, as a ‘dude’ ranch with cabins, stables and a ‘ranch’ house. Quite frankly at the time I thought it was great. If memory serves me, they proposed to sell a week of ownership for six or seven thousand Australian dollars.

This would allow the ‘timeshare’ owner to spend a week with their family, vacationing ‘on the ranch’ every year for 30 years. I was one of the first to sign up.

For about three years my wife, my children and I enjoyed the visits immensely.

I must, however, share the end to this story with you. Sometime during our third year of ownership my wife decided that she needed to travel independently – sitting down! In case my humor didn’t reach you, this meant a second car! At the time my finances wouldn’t allow for the initial outlay. Wives, however being what they are, spotted an advertisement by a Sydney car dealer which said, and I quote, “Need a Car? – WE trade ANYTHING!”

Well “Honest John – Car Dealership” on the Parramatta Road in Sydney now owns a timeshare and my wife drove her new car away. By the way we received $600 more than we paid for it. This was to be the first of 9 timeshares that I and my subsequent wives (I’m up to number 7) would enjoy.”

Follow this link to learn more about the book at http://picturethedifference.com/.

And to learn more about how to sell, rent, or buy timeshare, visit the timeshare resale and timeshare rental specialists at Sell My Timeshare NOW.

Who is Buying Timeshare and Who Wants to Buy Timeshare Soon? Survey Results.

Jason Tremblay — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:13:29 +0000

Perspective Magazine released an interesting study of the readership of Owners Perspective Magazine in the publication’s November edition. Their justifiable point is that Owners Perspective Magazine offers an effective venue for advertisers who want to get their message to timeshare buyers, timeshare owners, vacationers who consider buying timeshare in the future and even travelers who rent timeshare.

But in the process of making this point, the publication also offers all of the timeshare industry, as well as individuals who want to sell timeshare, a reliable profile of who is interested in buying timeshare or who may want to buy timeshare soon.

Profile of Timeshare Owners and Prospective Timeshare Buyers

The timeshare survey shows that the most popular countries for timeshares owned are:

Europe timeshare (including UK timeshare) at 57 percent.

US timeshare (which includes always-popular Hawaii timeshare) and Canada timeshare at 31 percent.

Asia timeshare and Australia timeshare at 7 percent.

Caribbean timeshare and Mexico timeshare at 3 percent.

Middle East timeshare and Africa timeshare at 2 percent.

The average age of timeshare owners and owners of vacation property is between 56 and 62 but the average age of those who are interested in buying timeshare is between 42 and 48. They are 54 percent males and 46 percent females, and include 42 percent that are currently non-owners of timeshare but who want to buy timeshare in the future. Another 36 percent are current timeshare owners; 16 percent own fractionals; and 6 percent who are overseas property owners.

The Perspective Magazine article describes its readership as, “… more highly educated on average … technologically hip and like to compare prices. … they have an understanding of the pros and cons of vacation ownership and they’re aware of (timeshare) scams. They demonstrate an aversion to OPCs and scratch cards, they don’t trust telemarketers, and they are generally suspicious of sales techniques.”

Remember that these facts are not based on timeshare owners across the board but specifically on timeshare owners who also read Owners Perspective Magazine. However, one can’t help but assume that this look offers a reliable overview of timeshare ownership and timeshare interest.

And the takeaway? Don’t let the naysayers fool you. Timeshare owners are not frustrated and dissatisfied with their timeshares and vacation ownership; even in a declining economy, occupancy rates are around 80 percent and reported satisfaction rates even higher at 86 percent, according to a recent study from Smith Travel Research.

Neither are timeshare owners a group who were duped into making a purchase they did not understand. Timeshare and timeshare resales are a strong industry that has served millions and millions of timeshare buyers and timeshare renters well, and that continues to make improvements to all aspects of its products and services.

Here’s a link to some of the Frequently Asked Questions by timeshare buyers and those who are looking to buy timeshare in the future: http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/timeshares/index/content/buyerfaq/

Worldwide Timeshare Vacations – Worldwide Christmas Traditions

Jason Tremblay — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 14:00:46 +0000

White Christmas? Snow and mistletoe? Well it all depends on where you are celebrating the holiday this year. Timeshare owners often target the seasonal holidays as some of their favorite weeks for enjoying timeshare vacations and the benefits of timeshare exchange.

Holiday in Your Australian Timeshare

Australian timeshare let you spend Christmas “Down Under”. While Australians enjoy many of the same traditions of European and US Christmas holidays, Australia is a global community with residents from around the world, giving an Australian timeshare holiday an international feel. Some Australians even suggest that Santa gets some special help in Australia from a grungy (but welcomed) fellow called the Swag Man.

Reportedly, Swag Man lives under the Uluru (a famous rock formation in Central Australia), appearing only around Christmas time to lend Santa a hand. In true Outback style, he takes to a four-wheel drive vechicle with his merry dingoes, delivering presents to all.

Your Quebec Timeshare for a Canada Timeshare Christmas

How about celebrating Christmas in Quebec in your Canada timeshare? In the French-speaking communities of Quebec, Christmas celebrations often include Christmas dinner called “Reveillon” which means “waking up”. This is an appropriate name, since the festive meal is typically served at two o’clock in morning after people return from Christmas Midnight Mass. When you plan to holiday in a Quebec timeshare, you are almost guaranteed a white Christmas.

Christmas Comes Early in Your Spain Timeshare

You can begin your Christmas celebration early in your Spain timeshare where the Christmas season officially begins on December 8 with the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Each year, in a ceremony called “los Seises” or the “dance of six,” ten elaborately costumed boys dance in a traditional performance that goes back to the 16th century.

The List of Timeshare Vacation Destinations Goes On and On

Over and over, timeshare owners report that the opportunities of timeshare exchange play an important role in their decision to buy timeshare. While you may be celebrating the holidays this year close to home, it is never too soon to start planning an Adventure Christmas for next year.

With timeshares, timeshare resales, and timeshare rentals available in exciting destinations around the world, your holidays next year could easily become your family’s memory makers of a lifetime.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at Sell My Timeshare NOW and The Timeshare Authority.

Resort Condominium International (RCI) Timeshare Exchange Launches Green Award

Jason Tremblay — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:36:33 +0000

RCI Timeshare Exchange has announced the launch of the “RCI Going Green Award” for its affiliate resorts in the Pacific.

Focusing on timeshare resort operations, the RCI Green awards will include recognition at the Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels for the top three ‘green’ timeshare resorts.

Working in conjunction with Griffith University, RCI Timeshare Exchange’s Going Green Award will include a two-phase assessment. First, timeshare resorts will be asked to assess the green or environmentally conscious practices they have in place, supporting these efforts with documentation when possible. The second phase will be an on-site inspection. Timeshare resorts that scored well in the phase one self-assessment will be visited by an expert in sustainable tourism and evaluated on their ‘green’ efforts.

Griffith University’s Dr. David Weaver, a professor of Tourism Research, will be participating with RCI Timeshare Exchange in both phases of the evaluation and award assessment.

Dr. Weaver was quoted by Hotel Interactive as saying, “I am absolutely delighted to be working on this initiative with RCI. I expect an award program such as this will really raise awareness of and participation in environmentally-friendly best practices within the sector.”

RCI Timeshare Exchange, Recognizing the Efforts of Timeshare Resorts

RCI Timeshare Exchange plans to announce the winners of the first-ever Gold, Silver and Bronze RCI Going Green Awards at the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council annual conference in Christchurch in September 2010.

RCI Timeshare Exchange is working to promote and encourage the sharing of environmental sustainability best practices and green ideas with its associates and affiliates through a Green Council, under the support of its parent company (Wyndham Worldwide and Wyndham Timeshare) which has launched the WyndhamGreen sustainability initiative.

Timeshare Down Under Rising to the Top

Jason Tremblay — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:00:49 +0000

Another reminder that timeshare sales and timeshare resales really are a global product comes with recent news that Australia timeshare, also called holiday ownership, is holding steady with strong occupancy rates. According to RCI, (Resort Condominiums International timeshare exchange) approximately 164,000 inbound international passengers conducted availability searches for Australia timeshare exchanges last year.

As Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Group RCI explains in a recent HotelsMag.com interview, “While tourism overall has seen a decline in these recent economic times, timeshare occupancy rates remain strong, with almost 95 percent occupancy at Gold Coast (Australia) timeshare resorts. This is compared to domestic hotel room occupancy levels around 74 percent. These figures demonstrate the value consumers find in owning timeshare and being part of a global timeshare exchange company like RCI, which gives them access to more than 4,500 affiliated resorts in top holiday destinations around the world.”

Strong Australia Timeshare Industry

This week marks the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) conference, with Geoff Ballotti delivering the keynote address. ATHOC general manager Laura Younger explains that despite the challenging global economy, Australia is experiencing a resurgence of holiday ownership. Timeshares are the second fastest growing tourism industry in the country, surpassed in Australia only by the rapidly growing cruise industry. Among favorite Australia timeshare destinations, the Gold Coast is a major regional hotspot. Younger says, “The economic significance of Gold Coast timeshare is a direct and indirect output of $318.3 million a year for the local economy.”

$318.3 million pumped back into an economy. These days, that is music to everyone’s ears even it is played on a didgeridoo.

So what types of Australia timeshare opportunities are available for you? Amazing ones. At SellMyTimeshareNOW.com you will find over 200 ads for Australia timeshare resales plus more for Australia timeshare rentals. These are holiday ownership properties you buy or rent on the secondary market, saving money for you while creating lasting vacation memories for your family.

Australian Timeshare May Be the Answer

Jason Tremblay — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 05:01:10 +0000

The Travel Mole recently cited a Harris poll that said, for the eleventh year in a row, Americans list Australia as the number one place they would like to visit. Yet less than a half million Americans make it to Australia each year, and there has been ostensibly, no increase in American tourism to Australia since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Tourism officials in Australia feel confident that the problem lies with time and money. When you head south to Australia, you really head south. Air travel from Los Angeles to Sydney is, at best, a fourteen-hour flight. Then there’s the cost. By the time many people shell out the money for air tickets to Australia, there is not much left over for lodging and other expenses associated with vacationing.

So here’s the twofold plan that just may get you to the land of wallabies and koalas. First, Australia is a growing destination for timeshare development and offers fabulous opportunities in Australia timeshare resales and rentals. And as the millions of satisfied timeshare owners will attest, buying timeshare lets you freeze the price of vacation accommodations for as long as you own your timeshare.

The Future of Australia Tourism

Tourism Australia (the governmental agency responsible for promoting Australian tourism) is working to entice Americans to the Land Down Under by educating US travel agents about the options and desirability in Australian vacations.

To help make air travel to Australia more affordable, Qantas airlines is offering the Aussie Air Pass, which starts at a little over one thousand dollars. Qantas is also working hard on a campaign designed to show Americans that air travel on Qantas is more comfortable than the standards most of us have come to accept from US budget airlines.

The Future of Australia Timeshare

In a statement issued in September 2005, Senator Grant Chapman, Chairman of Australia’s Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services, said, “In my view the timeshare industry has the potential to continue to make a significant contribution to the tourism industry in Australia. Timeshare is a viable product, and there are many thousands of happy timeshare participants in Australia and overseas.”

Australia is committed to helping US vacationers enjoy everything from the Great Barrier Reef to the Coober Pedy; from the Sydney Opera House to the Golden Outback. I can’t think of a better way to start planning your Australian vacation than by looking at the opportunities available in by-owner timeshare resales and rentals at Sell My Timeshare NOW.

Partial List of Sell My Timeshare NOW Australia Timeshare and Vacation Resorts:

Bright Resort

Cedar Lake Country Club

Holiday Club Pacific Australia

Port Pacific Resort

Sandy Point Beach

Seashells Beachfront Resort

Surfers Royale

Tamarind Sands

Whitecliffs Beach Resort

WVC Tinaroo Lake Resort