California Timeshare

You already know Welk Resorts timeshare for its popular, family-friendly vacation resorts in California; Branson, Missouri; and Cabo San Lucas. Now Welk Resorts timeshare owners and guests have a new option in Welk vacationing.

Welk Resorts timeshare has purchased the Northstar Lodge, in Truckee, California. This  Hyatt Residence Club property, is a ski-in/ski-out private vacation ownership club with a pulse-driven gondola and is located at the base of Northstar Mountain in the Lake Tahoe area. The resort was built in 2008, and the first phase of this LEED Silver Certified luxury property development included 34 two- and three-bedroom vacation ownership residences. Other features of the property include, in each ownership unit, a private deck with outdoor fireplace, hickory flooring, Wolf brand ranges and Sub Zero refrigerators in the upgraded kitchens.

On-property, owners can enjoy a private owners lounge, media theater, ski and boot valet (winter) and bike valet (summer). And of course, the location within the Village puts owners only a few steps away from Highlands Gondola and Village Swim and Fitness Center, there at Northstar California, which is considered to be one of the premiere ski resort areas in North America. This year-round destination provides summer vacationers a relaxing place to hike, picnic, or gear it up and experience more than 100 miles of trails in what is the most extensive lift served mountain bike terrain in the western United States. For winter sports, you’ll find 3,170 skiable acres, 7 terrain parks, 97 trails, 20 lifts and 2,280 feet of vertical drop as well as the recently constructed 22’ half pipe designed by Winter Olympics gold medalist, Shaun White.

But for owners and future owners at the fabulous destination, perhaps the best news is that the acquisition by Welk Resorts includes the 23 remaining unsold whole ownership and fractional residential units, in addition to two entitled development parcels for future phases of the project. Jon Fredricks, President of Welk Resorts, explains:

“We are excited to add this one-of-a-kind ski-in/ski-out resort property to our vacation club as we develop additional phases at the Northstar Lodge. This will be our first Western U.S. alpine resort with strong year-round demand due to the quality of the Northstar mountain and the proximity of Lake Tahoe. Our 44,000 vacation owners will be excited to know this will be part of our points-based club system once we receive the requisite approvals.“

Along with his wonderful new addition to the Welk Resorts family of properties, the company also owns real estate that is being held for future resort development in Breckenridge, Colorado and a newly acquired Poipu, Kauai property.

Earlier this week we blogged about how timeshare resort management group, Grand Pacific Resort Management, is expanding (see: Grand Pacific Resort Management Adds 3 Timeshare Properties). Now let’s take a closer look as the new properties added, which include another California timeshare for the GPRM managed family of  resort properties, along with a Hawaii timeshare resort, and a Canadian timeshare property.

More on the 3 New GPRM Managed Resorts:

• Channel Island Shores in Oxnard is a California timeshare resort, located in Ventura County, and is widely recognized as a surfing hot-spot with its unique, south-facing waterfront and surf breaks. Only a short, one-block walk to the beach, this resort makes it easy to enjoy water sports but many Channel Island Shores owners and guests also love it because it is  so conveniently located for exploring nearby Santa Barbara, Magic Mountain, Los Angeles, and  Channel Island National Park.
• Hawaii timeshare, Hanalei Bay Resort in Princeville, Hawaii, provides an island paradise for timeshare owners and guests there. Whether you are enjoying the surf and sand of Hanalei Bay Beach, golfing at Prince Golf Course, or savoring the traditional foods and festivities of the islands, this resort is a true vacation getaway.
• Canadian timeshare, Banff Gate Mountain Resort in Alberta, Canada is the second GPRM managed resort in Canada; the first Canadian timeshare managed by the company being  Panorama Vacation Retreat at Horsethief Lodge, near Calgary. Banff Gate Mountain Resort is a Canadian timeshare tucked away in the tall pines of Pigeon Mountain and located at the Lougheed and Windtower Mountains. Offering 46 chalets, Banff Gate Mountain Resort is a year-round vacation destination offering winter sports and the outdoor activities of Lake Louise and Banff National Park.

As David Brown, Co-President of Grand Pacific Resorts, says, “The location and the quality of these resort destinations are all quite special in their own right. These vacation spots are now available to our owners and provides them the opportunity to visit other terrific locations that make up our growing timeshare family,”

Nigel Lobo, COO of GPRM, adds, “We are proud to be managing an eclectic and accessible group of timeshares, from oceanfront resorts to the mountains, with many options in between. Working with Homeowner Associations (HOAs) who need our expertise, we are able to provide strong owner engagement, excellent rental results and many opportunities to use their timeshare including helping them maximize exchange options to our 60,000 owner families throughout our family of managed resorts. With our award-winning service levels and passion for innovation, GPRM brings scores of new benefits to the owners of these properties. We are looking forward to making a difference in their vacations as well as bringing outstanding value to their ownership.”

Declaring that as a timeshare and vacation ownership resort management company it is no longer the “best kept secret” in timeshare management, Grand Pacific Resort Management announces  the addition of 3 new resort properties. The new resorts include Canada, California and Hawaii timeshare.

The company, based in Carlsbad, California, is now responsible for the management of:

• The Hawaii timeshare, Hanalei Bay Resort in Princeville, Hawaii
• The Canadian timeshare, Banff Gate Mountain Resort in Alberta, Canada
• and another great California timeshare resort, Channel Island Shores in Oxnard, California.

Grand Pacific Resort Management is one of the oldest and largest vacation ownership companies based in California. The addition of Canada, California, and Hawaii timeshare resorts were a direct response to the timeshare owners and exchangers who have recommended Grand Pacific Resort Management to their HOA Boards.

Nigel Lobo, Chief Operating Officer of GPRM, explains, “Our new management contracts have come to us primarily from referrals. Since we consistently provide memorable vacations to all of our Owners, Exchangers and Guests, we are getting to be highly regarded as an excellent provider of resort management services. Those who experience our unique Service Culture, what we call our ‘secret sauce,’ find themselves suggesting our services to timeshare HOAs at resorts where they also own.”

Lobo adds, “We are honored by their confidence in us, and we will continue to perform with the highest standards in all areas of resort operations.”

Grand Pacific Resort Management  services more than 60,000 timeshare owner-families each year and manages 18 resorts and over 1,300 units in the United States (including Hawaii timeshare) and Canada.

Since 2004, Travel To Go has been actively participating in ARDA. This year, you will find Travel To Go at the ARDA World timeshare and vacation ownership conference as an exhibitor.

At the ARDA World 2013 conference, Travel To Go will be launching its newly redesigned Membership Kit. Having invested many hours into research and planning, the new Travel To Go Membership Kit better conveys the value of its product and reinforces the consumer’s purchase decision. Additionally, the kit is easy to customize for distributors,can be produced in a timely manner and can be offered at a competitive price.

Ready to learn more about Travel To Go’s new Membership Kit? You’ll find more insights in the ARDA Convention Preview issue of Developments due out later this month and Travel To Go representatives will also be available to answer questions at booth #1023 during the ARDA World 2013 timeshare and vacation ownership conference.

Travel To Go: Timeshare, Vacation Ownership, and the Travel Club Industry

Travel To Go is committed to working through ARDA to help raise the level of the travel club industry to the professional standards set by ARDA and contributes to the vacation industry’s future expansion.

Last October, Travel To Go’s Executive Vice President, Tommy Middaugh, introduced panel discussions sponsored by Travel To Go at the ARDA West Regional meeting held in San Diego. Jeanette Bunn, President, participates on ARDA’s Travel Club Task Force. Both Jeanette and Tommy have successfully completed the Supplier Certification Seminar to become ARDA Supplier Certified, while Travel To Go Marketing Manager, Renée Wagner, has successfully completed the AIF Qualification Test with honors. 

With 23 years in the vacation and travel industry, Travel To Go serves it customer base of more than 50,000 members with pride in its 5-Star service standards and the achievement of its mission to “Making Dreams Come True.”

Other recent Travel To Go news from The Timeshare Authority blog:

• Travel To Go Nominated for 4 Perspective Magazine Timeshare Awards
• Travel Club Update: Destination Request Services has Contracted with TrackResults Software
• Travel To Go And TrackResults Providing Enhanced Business Intelligence