We are excited to share with you our company’s new ad, which appeared for the first time in the February 2012 issue of Developments Magazine from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

As the ad explains, we offer:

“Timeshare Resales You Can Say YES To.”

Because we’ve taken care of the “no’s”

No upfront fees.

No strings attached.

No kidding.

We deliver proven resort resale and rental solutions, customized to meet your needs and your high standard of customer care.

Your business. Your way. From a company you can trust.

We are proud of the ad, proud of what we accomplished since our founding in 2003–very proud of the customers we’ve served and the relationships we’ve built.

We wanted to take this opportunity to share this message with you, to invite you to watch for this advertisement and others we’ve produced that will be appearing this year in timeshare and vacation ownership industry publications.

And most of all, we want to invite you to do just what the ad suggests: Contact us at 317-213-2553 and find out more about how we help timeshare buyers, renters, sellers, developers, HOAs, resellers, and others who have inventory and seek to buy, rent, or sell timeshare.

…no kidding.

Read this month’s issue of Developments here: http://www.nxtbook.com/ygsreprints/ygs/g24005arda_dev_feb12/

Author Christopher Elliott had a blog post recently, titled: 12 Things You Shouldn’t Do in 2012. Everything he recommends is a well-placed word to the wise. You might think, here on The Timeshare Authority blog, we wouldn’t be quoting Elliott, who as a consumer advocate has been known to warn his readers about timeshare sales.

But frankly, we agree with many of the points Elliott raises in general and also in his new book, Scammed: How to Save Your Money and Find Better Service in a World of Schemes, Swindles, and Shady Deals. To his credit, he doesn’t echo the often-said, never-correct message that all timeshares are bad, or that consumers are less than smart for buying them. Instead, he tells consumers not to buy timeshares (or anything else) under pressure. He goes so far as to say that in his opinion, buying timeshare can lead to regrets, but he points out there are reasons for these regrets:

• Timeshares come with fees. If you understand before you buy that your timeshare will be subject to an annual fee that will increase over time, and that other, additional fees can be placed on your timeshare over the years you own it, then you are going into your purchase as an educated buyer.
• Timeshares depreciate. You should understand this before you buy your timeshare. Depreciation doesn’t stop you from buying automobiles, electronics, or jewelry, but you won’t be happy if you buy timeshare expecting it to increase in value.
• Timeshares have rules. While Elliott calls these unreasonable rules, these rules probably fall more into the category of many other “unreasonable rules” such as those issued by airlines, hotels, restaurants, and other service industries. The rules are in place to enhance the way the product works for the greatest number of people using it. They won’t always work for everyone. There may be rules you don’t like or rules that don’t work for you. And if you buy timeshare expecting there to be no rules at all, you will be disappointed.

It’s this simple: when you buy a product that you haven’t researched, that you buy under pressure, and without fully understanding what you are buying, you can wind up with regrets. And this is true whether you are purchasing a timeshare, a television, or a toaster; it’s just that in most cases, your expenditure for the timeshare is much greater than it is for a TV and unlike a toaster, if you are truly dissatisfied, you can’t just walk to the trash and throw away your timeshare.

There is no one size fits all. It doesn’t exist in clothing, real estate, or consumer services and it certainly doesn’t apply when it comes to vacations and vacation ownership. When it comes to the truth about timeshares, don’t believe sales hype that isn’t logical and don’t believe negative criticisms that are the result of critics piling on a topic they don’t understand.

As Groucho Marx said, “Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?” … Do your own research before you buy timeshare. Understand the rules, investigate the fees, ask current and past owners, and take a timeshare rental vacation at the property where you are considering becoming an owner.

Over 80 percent of timeshare owners say they are satisfied with their purchase; many are so happy with one timeshare that they go on to purchase two, three, or more timeshares or timeshare resales. When it comes to timeshares, there really aren’t 12 things you shouldn’t do; there is only one. Don’t be an uneducated, impulsive buyer.

Vacation Villas at Fantasy World in Kissimmee, (Orlando) is already a popular Florida timeshare resort. But they are sure to become even more of a vacation favorite with the recent $6 million addition to their resort amenity area, a construction project that was handled by Winter Park Construction (WPC) also of Florida.

The new project includes a 14,000 square-foot activity building, with an owner’s lounge, business center, family activities center, workout facility with sauna and steam room, and a  game room. Spacious new banquet facilities will make it possible for the resort to host large groups and events.

But these amenities are only part of the fun at this Florida timeshare. The new design and construction also includes:

• A zero-entry pool with two 35-foot waterslides
• A 750-foot lazy river with a bridge
• An interactive kiddy splash pad
• Renovation and enlarging of the pool bar paired with two spas
• An outdoor double-sided fireplace
• 10 cabanas
• An indoor golf simulator
• And a spectacular fountain designed to add to an ambiance of total relaxation

Jeff Forrest, president of WPC, says, “With over three decades of construction and general contracting services, our experience has enabled us to build just about anything imaginable. Creating innovative amenities has provided added value to our clients and is a nice compliment to our extensive experience in the resort industry.”

These fun and engaging new features at the resort are a perfect addition to Fantasy Surf at the Vacation Villas at Fantasy World Resort, which was constructed for the resort by Winter Park Construction in 2010. Fantasy Surf is a unique surfing experience that makes it possible for timeshare guests to “surf” the pipeline of Hawaii or “hang ten” as they feel the rush of riding and surfing waves.

The Orlando Business Journal has ranked Winter Park Construction one of Central Florida’s largest local construction/general contractor companies. With revenues exceeding $200 million, Winter Park Construction has completed over one billion square feet of construction work.

Related news from The Timeshare Authority blog:

Your Timeshare Was Getting a Make Over While You Were on Staycation

Wyndham's WorldMark Resort Denarau Island Timeshare

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, (Wyndham timeshare) has announced the start of construction on Stage 3 of WorldMark Resort Denarau Island. When completed, this Fiji timeshare resort is expected to be one of the largest tourism developments in the Fijian islands.

The renovation plans include construction of 63 amazing timeshare villas, both one and two-bedroom units, as well as 3 and 4-bedroom presidential villas that will feature private dip pools overlooking the ocean. (Are you beginning to envision yourself vacationing there?)

Architect Guymer Bailey along with the Fijian firm, Architects Pacific, will handle the new design with much of the support work for construction, furnishings and fixtures to be provided by local Fijian consultants, subcontractors and suppliers. Michael Fairfax, Managing Director of PBS, noted that their company is very excited to get started on the project, which will likely be the largest building construction job in Fiji and will employ hundreds of workers and subcontractors in a variety of trades over the course of the next 18 months.

Wyndham Timeshare

Current Wyndham timeshare owners and guests will be pleased to know that the construction on the expansion will be localized to the new project area, with minimal impact on the serenity of upcoming Wyndham Fiji timeshare vacations at WorldMark Resort Denarau Island.

In keeping with Wyndham Green, Wyndham Worldwide’s global sustainability initiative, environmentally sustainable features will be incorporated into the redevelopment. Such initiatives include the use of local timbers, natural lighting when possible along with energy saving lighting, water saving devices, and cross-flow ventilation plus energy efficient cooling systems.

Frankly, much of the messaging about where the timeshare industry stands and where it’s going is confusing. And because it is often difficult for those who are part of the industry to discern, it can be truly a puzzle to consumers.

Here are a few relevant facts that should be insightful to timeshare buyers, renters, sellers, and current timeshare owners in trying to get a handle on the true popularity of timeshares and the health of the timeshare product:

• The timeshare industry registered $6.4 billion in total sales volume for 2010, which represents a 1.6 percent increase over sales in 2009. This number reflects only new sales of timeshare and does not include the multi-billion dollars in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.
• Timeshare resort occupancy rates were 79 percent in 2010; an interesting contrast to hotel occupancy rates, which rose from the previous year, but still only reached 58 percent.
• 329,200 timeshare intervals sold last year at an average price of $19,300. Again these figures reflect only at the sales of timeshare from developers, not timeshare resales that happened privately, though a timeshare broker, or through a timeshare resale advertising company.
• Beach timeshares remain the most popular and the most prevalent. Timeshare resorts at golf or theme park destinations tend to be the largest in size and island destination resorts are typically the most expensive and have the highest occupancy percentages.
• In the US, there are approximately 1,548 timeshare resorts. Differences in numbers reported for this often stem from confusion over how  resorts with many phases of construction counts their properties.
• 8.1 million timeshare intervals are owned in the US alone.

With many naysayers ready to condemn the industry, reporting of its impending death and downfall, numbers like these present quite a different (and eye-opening) story.

Before you make any decisions about timeshare, get the facts. Be an informed consumer so that if you chose to rent or buy a timeshare, you wind up with a vacation product you enjoy, fully utilize, and that comes with only good surprises.

Interval International timeshare exchange recently announced expanded and extended services for King’s Creek Plantation LLC. (Additional info here: Kings Creek Plantation Timeshare Owners Gain Customize Services with Interval International).

Kevin Jones, cofounder and president of King’s Creek Plantation LLC, says, “Maintaining our strong partnership with Interval supports our customer-first culture, while opening the door for new products with more options. We are excited about our continued relationship and the many opportunities it will bring in the near future.”

Along with news of the extended relations with King’s Creek Plantation, the announcement included important updates about the new King’s Creek points-based vacation club, known as Club Explore.

Interval International is providing reservation services and special opportunities for Club Explore members. Timeshare owner / members who enroll in Club Explore expand their vacation options by being able to convert their timeshare points into club currency. They can then utilize the currency for vacationing at King’s Creek properties or for timeshare exchange within the vast Interval International global network of resorts.

In addition to timeshare exchange, Club Explore Points mean:
·         Members can choose to upgrade timeshare locations, unit size or season
·         As part of Interval Gold®, members can use ShortStay ExchangeSM to take long weekends or mini-vacations
·         Members can opt to exchange for (or purchase) great deals on cruise, golf and spa vacations
·         Access to personal concierge service available 24/7 via phone and e-mail
·         And that members receive complimentary Hertz #1 Gold® membership, as well as special offers on hotels, retail shopping, and restaurants

The spacious timeshare units, cottages, condos, (King’s Creek Plantation cottages and townhomes) and estate homes (King’s Creek Plantation Estates) at King’s Creek Plantation, with their convenient location near the attractions of Williamsburg are great reasons to be a King’s Creek Plantation timeshare owner. Now Interval International has added even more!

$284,876,202 in qualified offers to timeshare owners in the first three quarters of 2011!

At Sell My Timeshare NOW and Timeshare Broker Services, we are excited to announce our third quarter sales results.

Between January 1, 2011 and September 30, 2011, Sell My Timeshare NOW and Timeshare Broker Services, as part of Vacation Hotdeal Companies, Inc., presented $284,876,202 in qualified offers to timeshare owners who contacted us seeking to sell or rent timeshare they currently own.

These qualified offers include:

• $225,000,000 in offers to buy a timeshare, and
• $60,000,000 in timeshare rental offers
• 3rd Q sales results were up 24 percent over the same quarter in 2010 at Sell My Timeshare NOW for timeshare sales and rentals
• 3rd Q sales results were up 88 percent over the same quarter in 2010 at Timeshare Broker Services for timeshare sales and rentals

Yes, that right… 88% increase in sales for Quarter3 2011 as compared to Quarter 3 2010!

And you never have to just take our word for our sales and rental offers … you can see them for yourself.

Go to http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/owners/index/content/buyeroffers/

Here you can view a live feed of offers to buy or rent timeshare. You will see the ad number, the resort, the date, the amount, and the type of offer.

The new Sell My Timeshare NOW and Timeshare Broker Services Partner Portal Program is attracting a lot of attention.

And it should!

This no-strings-attached program provides anyone with clean timeshare resale or rental inventory an excellent venue for marketing their properties on our high-visibility websites. Yet the listings are non-exclusive, require no up-front fee to market, and can be taken down by the listing partner any time, with no questions asked.

We are very excited to be offering this industry-first service. It will work for any timeshare or real estate professional who:

• Sells or rents timeshare
• Is a resales company
• Takes timeshare trade-ins
• Is a timeshare developer
• Or a real estate or timeshare broker
• Or a management company or HOA
• Or simply has access to clean, rentable inventory

Please take 52 seconds and watch this video… We think you will understand a lot more about how simple it is to market your timeshare resales through the Partner Portal Program.

To learn more about the Partner Portal, please read today’s media release: Sell My Timeshare NOW Improving Timeshare Resale and Rental Options for Industry.

This week there is been a lot of buzz about the new Sell My Timeshare NOW Partner Portal for timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.

This new tool provides the first consolidated resource for buying, renting, and selling timeshare inventory. And while it will mean a huge boost for many in the timeshare industry, including resellers, brokers, and HOAs to name only a few, the new Partner Portal will indirectly affect consumers, too.

What the Partner Portal Means for Timeshare Owners

First, the Partner Portal provides one-stop shopping for the consumer within the timeshare industry with the most comprehensive inventory of properties for sale or rent available. Because the Partner Portal Program functions in much the same way as an MLS, prospective buyers and renters can shop online knowing they are seeing the broadest scope of the properties available on the secondary market. But the Partner Portal has value for consumers at other levels too.

The more standardization and unification of the resale industry, the more the consumer benefits.  A regulated and standardized timeshare resales and rental industry is a healthy industry.

As the high-visibility, high-traffic websites of Sell My Timeshare NOW make it easier for timeshare management companies, Home Owner Associations, and even timeshare development and sales companies to move inventory and keep timeshare resorts strong and robust, the product owned by individuals also stays strong and robust.

And to learn more about the Partner Portal program at: www.sellmytimesharenow.com/media/pdf/partner-portal.pdf or by contacting Jerome Bocquet at 877-884-9577 ext. 307 or Jay Bade at 317-213-2553.

View the Partner Portal login page www.sellmytimesharenow.com/portal.

Not only are we getting the word out to consumers that we have just released the Top 100 Timeshare Resales and Top 100 Timeshare Rentals lists, we are also getting the word out to the timeshare and vacation ownership industry.

Through our owner services program, we provide customized resort services for timeshare resort companies, developers, and HOAs that may not have their own internal programs but want to work with a reputable resales company to provide rental and resale options to their owners. Sell My Timeshare NOW, though Vacation Property Solutions, offers unique, resort-friendly services that make it easy for developers and HOAs to satisfy their need to sell timeshares, while helping them increase customer satisfaction and brand loyalty.

The new Hot 100 Timeshare Resales report and the Hot 100 Timeshare Rentals are available here:

Timeshare Resales http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/media/pdf/HOT-TIMESHARE-RESALES-2011.pdf

Timeshare Rentals http://www.sellmytimesharenow.com/media/pdf/HOT-TIMESHARE-RENTALS-2011.pdf

On these lists, you will see a diversity of timeshare resorts and destinations. While the branded hospitality providers are present, so are the smaller independent resorts. You will see that Sell My Timeshare NOW has buyers and renters making offers on traditional timeshare as well as on timeshare points and vacation clubs, and on resorts at beaches, east coast, west coast, ski destinations, and even urban properties.

As a timeshare owner who wishes to sell or rent; as a timeshare company; or as a prospective buyer or renter, when you study the Sell My Timeshare NOW Hot Resales and Rentals lists, you gain consumer generated insights; the properties on these lists are there because consumers have put them there. The Hot 100 Timeshare Resales report and the Hot 100 Timeshare Rentals show you the most in-demand, hottest timeshares and vacation ownership destinations in the world!