The highly respected European timeshare association TATOC, has announced that its Sharetime magazine is now available to all timeshare owners on the website sharetimemagazine.com

The quarterly publication is transitioning to a digital-only format available in ‘flip page’ technology. Colin Collins, Sharetime editor, will have the next issue out in September, packed with more industry information always of interest to timeshare owners, renters, and anyone interested in the possibilities of vacation ownership.

By going to a digital-only format, replacing the print edition of the publication, TATOC demonstrates environmental responsibility. Just as importantly, online distribution means that the broadest possible audience will have access to the features, articles and ads found in Sharetime.

TATOC is the only elected consumer association representing the interests of timeshare owners in Europe and represents more than 80 European timeshare resorts. Through its outreach, TATOC provides access to over a quarter million timeshare owners and families.

Other recent news from TATOC:

• TATOC Timeshare Association Says Keep the Impetus Going
• Today’s Timeshare Interview with TATOC Timeshare CEO, Harry Taylor
• Europe Timeshare and Spain Timeshare Has New Ally at the BCCS

Did you tune in this week to hear Dave Thackeray of Today’s Timeshare interviewing Harry Taylor, CEO of TATOC, The Timeshare Association? It was a timely discussion as the United Kingdom Department for Business (BIS) has just announced its upcoming consultation on “how the EU Timeshare Directive will be transpositioned into UK law.”

Harry Taylor talks about ways the timeshare industry can work together creating positive change, and why doing this is so important. As he points out, most people who own timeshare, like timeshare. What they don’t like is not knowing how to sell timeshare they no longer want to own; they want to be a timeshare owner, enjoying the benefits of timeshare, without being responsible for that timeshare product “in perpetuity”.

With a call for the timeshare industry to re-think its products and services, Harry offers great insight and enthusiasm. He also talks about how TATOC is already involved with the UK Department for Business and more ways it will be getting involved in the near future, regarding the EU Timeshare Directive.

If you are interested in the future of timeshares and vacation ownership, you will definitely want to listen to this broadcast. Follow this link to play the podcast now: Play in new window

Did you see the news about Jennie Thompson, who is a board member of the timeshare owner-run association TATOC and the Managing Director of the Malaga-based Leisure Solutions SL? (Timeshare Association (TATOC) Board Member Jennie Thompson Spreads the Real Timeshare Message)

Appointed as the Vice President of the British Chamber of Commerce’s Regional Committee of Andalucía, Jennie plans to use her new position to create positive exposure for the timeshare industry. She explains that she is hoping to “…raise the profile of the timeshare industry within the BCC, which is a network of global and international commercial chambers with links to a variety of other major bodies.”

Last month, at the BCCS’s London Summer Season Garden Party held at the Hotel Tamisa, Jennie addressed her plans for the BCCS in the Andalucía area, saying, “I’d like to see membership double within the next twelve months; and have a stronger input in places like Malaga and Seville.” She adds, “We have lots of blue chip companies with us, but here in Andalucía, where there are perhaps more sole traders and small companies, the value of networking and expert business support is somewhat greater.”

Founded in Barcelona in 1908, the BCCS works both with Spanish companies seeking to liaise with companies in the UK, and to provide networking and information services for English companies currently doing business, or seeking to do business in Spain.

In all the interactions Jennie will undertake as the new VP, you can expect the future of the timeshare industry to be part of her vision. European timeshare and Spain timeshare have a true ally at the BCCS.

Jennie Thompson, a long time advocate of timeshares, is a Board Member of the Timeshare Association (TATOC, Timeshare Owners and Committees) is the managing director of Malaga-based, Leisure Solutions, has recently been appointed vice president of the BCCS’s Regional Committee of Andalucía.

Jennie’s appointment positions her in a key role in the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain, a position from which she will be platforming the message of timeshare’s benefits and campaigning to improve the image of timesharing and the timeshare industry within the business community in Britain and Spain. As vice president of the BCC’s Regional Committee of Andalucía, Jennie will have two years during which she will be interacting with the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), international embassies, consulates, and other key business connections.

“I’m determined to educate my BCCS colleagues and foster an understanding that timeshare is a respectable industry and encourage not only more people to consider doing business with us, but more businesses to enter the industry,” says Jennie.

Here at The Timeshare Authority and Sell My Timeshare NOW, we can’t think of a better spokesperson for this message. Jennie Thompson has been an instrumental part of the timeshare industry for a long time, with an excellent understanding of what the industry needs and the timeshare and timeshare resales consumer desires and deserves. As Jennie explains, “The timeshare industry has a reputation that has been founded on selling practices, not the actual product – we need to change that.”

We couldn’t agree with you more!

Congratulations, Jennie Thompson, the timeshare industry is fortunate to have you in this role.

We love the news we receive from TATOC Timeshare Association. Here’s what they said in their last news release. It is just so intriguing we want to share it with you in exactly their own words:

“Wednesday 26th May 2010 was an important day for the timeshare industry. There was no scandal, no new legislation nor a consumer television programme about to reveal all. But in a hotel in Manchester (England) there were representatives from every facet of the industry meeting for the first time to discuss the challenges and problems of the industry and more importantly to discuss action to overcome them.”

TATOC (Timeshare Association Timeshare Owners and Committees) is known as the only elected consumers association to represent the interests of timeshare owners in Europe. The topics of their watershed meeting sounded very much in harmony with the issues brought up last week, here in the US at the ARDA New England Regional Meeting. TATOC members addressed, with concern, the fact that the media perception and consequently much of the consumer perception about timeshares is not healthy for the industry. One spTimeshare resales, timeshare news, timeshare blog, timeshare owners, timeshare exchange, RCI timeshare, Interval International, European timeshareecific prevailing topic that the industry is working hard to resolve is that of how to best respond to timeshare owners who wish to resell timeshare.

Harry Taylor, the CEO of TATOC, explains, “Following our very successful Annual conference in March and as an Association who represents the consumer, we felt, that we should keep the impetus going and use this opportunity to move forward as a cohesive body. It is a TATOC initiative and we have been very encouraged as to the companies and interest taken by the industry and also the commitment to address these issues.”

Executives from Worldwide Timeshare, Club la Costa, Diamond Resorts International©, FNTC, RCI, Resort Developers Association, Resort Properties, Resort Solutions, Interval International, and Dial an Exchange participated.

Learn more about TATOC:
www.timeshareassociation.org
Or contact Harry Taylor CEO on +44 (0)845 230 2430

Do you know that there is no maximum speed limit for driving in Germany, but there is a minimum speed of 61 kph (roughly 38 miles per hour)? Are you aware that you are required by law to carry a reflective jacket and a red triangle in your car when driving in France? Or that in Bloomfield, Connecticut, it is illegal to eat while driving? The point is, motor vehicle regulations and driving laws vary worldwide, and a ticket or even worse, an automobile accident, is a fast way to take the fun out of your summer holiday or timeshare vacation.

Why British Travel Concerns are Elevated

Breaking Travel News reports that this year especially, Brits may be setting themselves up for traffic accidents and police tickets as they plan their summer travels. With the global economy still challenging and both unpredictable volcanic ash and workers strikes at British Airlines impacting air travel, many more British vacationers and timeshare owners than usual will be driving rather than flying for their summer holiday.

Research from AXA Insurance shows that an estimated 1.1 million Brits will take to the highways this summer as part of vacation travel. Craig Staniland, AXA Insurance director for motor explains, “…there are some very serious misunderstandings that could lead to breaking the law or a serious accident …we would advise any Brits taking their car abroad to spend some time making sure they understand any local regulations and checking they have adequate insurance in place should the worst happen.”

And the Brits are not alone in facing the perils of driving in unfamiliar territory. The World Health Organization cites over 300 traffic-accident related deaths annually to US citizens driving internationally along with thousands of injuries.

Here are 5 helpful tips for any vacationer behind the wheel:

• US citizens should check the website for the US embassy or consulate in every country in which they plan to drive.
• Recognize that many countries have zero tolerance for drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol with severe criminal penalties.
• Laws that regulate cell phone use while driving vary from country to country, state to state, and city to city.
• Most US auto insurance does not cover you when driving internationally and the policies sold as part of car rental in many countries offer only minimal coverage. Consider buying additional insurance.
• Some countries recognize a US driver license as valid for driving, but over 150 countries accept an International Driving Permit (IDP) which can be obtained from either the AAA (American Automobile Association) or the National Auto Club

No matter where you are in the world, don’t let your drive-to timeshare vacation, or your fly-and-then drive-to timeshare vacation be spoiled because you didn’t take a little extra time to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road.

Additional Vacation and Timeshare Resources:

• Europe timeshare resales and Europe timeshare rental
• United Kingdom timeshare resales and United Kingdom timeshare rental
• United States timeshare resales and United States timeshare rental
• Canada timeshare resales and Canada timeshare rental
• Mexico timeshare resales and Mexico timeshare rental

Orlando, Florida-based Sol Meliá Vacation Club offers beautiful timeshare resorts in popular vacation destinations including Mexico timeshare, Puerto Rico timeshares, Central America, the Canary Islands and Spain timeshare. Sol Meliá Vacation Club is part of the fifty-year old hospitality leader, Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, which is headquartered in Spain.

In what the timeshare and hotel company predicted last year would an “insipid” recovery, the company released its first quarter 2010 financials last week, with Sol Meliá showed a profit of one million Euros. This marks a 124 percent increase over the same period in 2009. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) for the company also increased for the first time since the presentation of the annual results in 2007.

The company is hinging part of its optimism about future earnings on the economic recovery in the US, saying, “The economic recovery in the United States, our most important feeder market for Latin America and the Caribbean makes Sol Meliá confident, nevertheless, that results will improve overall for 2010 in the region; and in particular the reactivation of hotel occupancy from the US (60% of our total guests in the region) also points towards a recovery in Sol Meliá Vacation Club.”

Unpredictable Challenges for Mexico Timeshare, Dominican Republic Timeshares, Venezuela Timeshares, and Spain Timeshares

The company also acknowledges the impact of events additional to the poor economy on its business. These events include the effect the Influenza A virus in Mexico; of earthquakes in Haiti on bookings in neighboring Dominican Republic timeshares; the devaluation of the Bolivar in Venezuela; and the impact of volcanic ash fallout on Spain timeshare and other resorts in Europe.

Sol Meliá currently employs more than 33,000 people worldwide and was one of a select number of RCI timeshare exchange affiliates to meet RCI’s standards of recognition as a top-performing partner. Sol Meliá Vacation Club received the award based on the company’s volume of business.

Want to know which way the timeshare industry is going? Strategies and visions for the future? Interesting info about timeshare trends?

You don’t have to be an industrial spy to obtain this information; it’s available for you on ARDA’s website (American Resort Developers Association). Following this year’s ARDA Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas, where the timeshare industry comes together to plan, share, and network, ARDA has posted handouts from many of its educational sessions.

The Timeshare Authority blog will be bringing you some of the highlights from ARDA’s educational handouts, but this wealth of data that is available for anyone to download, if you want to check it out for yourself.

For example, here’s a profile on European timeshares and European timeshare owners that is available in the reports.

European Timeshare, (all data based on 2007 findings)

Source: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY of “The European Timeshare Industry 2008″; Market Characteristics & Economic Impacts. Authors: The Christel DeHaan Tourism and Travel Research Institute, University of Nottingham, UK

1. 1.5 million European households own timeshare, with the UK and Ireland having the largest base of timeshare owners.
2. Most timeshare resorts are in Spain, with 26.3 percent of all resorts, 14.94 percent in Italy, and 11.05 percent in the UK and Ireland. The total number of European timeshares is 1,312.
3. European timeshare generates € 3.2 billion of expenditure.
4. European timeshare owners spent € 1.6 billion during their timeshare vacations.
5. European timeshare owners spent € 957 million to buy timeshare.
6. The average expenditure in 2007 per timeshare vacation was € 1,588.
7. 69,836 jobs are directly sustained by the European timeshare industry.
8. 86.6 percent of the European timeshare owners reported satisfaction with their timeshare holiday, while 55.6 percent say they were very satisfied!

Yes, Disney Vacation Club Timeshare will give you a ‘home away from home’ at the Happiest Place on Earth, along with some 500 other popular resorts in the network of Disney timeshare exchange, but there’s more to know before you buy a Disney Vacation Club timeshare of your own.

Here’s a rundown of some of the most frequently asked questions about Disney timeshare. Please remember that this information can change so always check for updates before you make a buying decision or schedule a timeshare vacation.

1. Where will I find Disney timeshare resorts? (Click the links to learn more about opportunities in Disney timeshare resales and Disney timeshare rentals)

• Bay Lake Towers at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas
• Disney’s Beach Club Villas
• Disney’s Boardwalk Villas 
• Disney’s Hilton Head Island Resort
• Disney’s Old Key West Resort
• Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
• Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
• The Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• The Villas at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
• Soon to be added: the Ko Olina resort in Hawaii
• Tree House Villas
• You can also exchange Disney timeshare for a vacation on Disney Cruise Lines; other resorts at the Disney theme parks (Orlando, Anaheim, Paris, Hong Kong, and Tokyo); Club Intrawest Resorts; Club Cordial, and other timeshare exchanges through RCI.
• Also, a new Disney timeshare resort at Myrtle Beach remains a persistent rumor…

2. When I buy Disney timeshare, can I own it forever?
No. Disney timeshare is not deeded timeshare. Instead, the Disney Vacation Club sells points that you may use at your home resort, or exchange for vacations at other Disney timeshare resorts, as well as worldwide destinations. The right to use your points expires at a future date.

• Bay Lake Towers timeshare expires January 31, 2060.
• Animal Kingdom timeshare expires January 31, 2057.
• Saratoga Springs timeshare expires January 31, 2054.
• Boardwalk Villas, Beach Club Villas, Old Key West, Villas at Wilderness Lodge, Vero Beach Resort, and Hilton Head Resort timeshare expires January 31, 2042.

3. Do I pay annual dues on my Disney timeshare?
Yes. Your dues are based upon the number of points you own. For a current chart on what the percentages are, click here: Disney Timeshare Points

4. Is it true I can borrow on my Disney Vacation Club timeshare points?
Yes! Most timeshare exchange programs let you bank timeshare points for use in the future, but Disney Vacation Club also lets you borrow against next year’s points.

5. How far in advance can I book my Disney Vacation Club timeshare holiday?
You can reserve your timeshare stay up to 11 months in advance when you are vacationing at your home resort timeshare, and up to 7 months in advance at other Disney timeshares and resorts.

From last week’s ARDA Conference in Las Vegas to this week’s TATOC Conference at the Nottingham Belfry in Nottingham, England, the timeshare industry is coming together in a big way sharing, planning, networking, and looking toward a bright future for timeshare owners worldwide. Today’s events at the TATOC Conference (The Timeshare Association) include registration, a reception, and dinner. Tomorrow the TATOC Conference really gets rolling with speakers and sessions until 5 PM, followed by the evening’s reception, dinner, and speaker. By Sunday afternoon, activities will begin to wrap, with the TATOC AGM session as the last scheduled event before lunch.

Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Resorts International® is the keynote speaker for the TATOC Conference. Diamond Resorts International® is one of the largest timeshare and vacation ownership companies in the world and has resorts in 26 countries worldwide.

Other Guest Speakers include Ramy Filo, President of ATHOC, who will be talking about timeshare sales and the timeshare market in Australia. “The response for the conference has been overwhelming and we are delighted that Ramy has been able to find the time to come and inform the delegates about the industry in Australia,” says Harry Taylor, CEO of TATOC.

Other The Timeshare Authority blog posts on the 2010 TATOC Conference:

• The News Keeps Getting Bigger on the TATOC Timeshare Conference
• The Timeshare Association Conference-It’s All About Working Together
• TATOC Announces Guest Speaker for Timeshare Conference
• TATOC Announces More Info on 2010 Timeshare Conference