As 2011 nears its end and 2012 awaits, we thought we’d look back at the top 5 timeshare resales and rentals for the year.

These popular vacation resorts all earned their ranking in the top 5 based on the overall number of offers to buy or rent made through Timeshare Broker Services and SellMyTimeshareNOW.com listings and ads.

Four of the five top timeshares are coastal or island destinations although their beaches vary from the Caribbean to the Pacific. All five represent top names in vacation ownership, but it’s important to remember that there are thousands of other fabulous resorts that didn’t happen to make this year’s Top 5, but are just as ideal for your next vacation or getaway.

You are invited to view the Top 5 List revealed in the slides below and then to visit us at www.timesharebrokerservices.com or www.sellmytimesharenow.com to learn more about these 5 resorts as well as to peruse all the great vacation opportunities we offer.

Vacations matter. They clear our minds, restore our bodies, enhance our relationships and create lifelong memories to cherish. Along with your intent to lose weight, exercise more, save money, and clean the garage, how about adding a very positive intent to your 2012 Resolutions?

How about making this your year you finally start taking the vacation time you need, deserve and have so rightfully earned?

Let’s face it. Sometimes Christmas shopping can become a chore. There are the crowds, the lines, and the parking lot … oh my, that parking lot!

But suppose this year you took another approach to holiday shopping? How about combining a great shopping venue with a timeshare rental getaway? That could put a new spin on Ho! Ho! Ho! and make your season a whole lot merrier.

And with plenty of last-minute, discount getaways available, many that you can elect to rent for only a few night’s stay, you could soon be trading holiday frazzled for holiday refreshed.

Here are 5 top choices for timeshare resort destinations where you can balance marathon shopping with resort relaxation.

1. New York City timeshare. From the flagship location of FAO Schwartz on 5th Avenue, to the Shops at Columbus Circle in the heart of Manhattan, there’s no place for Christmas shopping quite like New York City. Add in time to take the two-mile walking tour of the most amazing Christmas-themed window displays in the world, perhaps an afternoon showing of the New York City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, and you will have a classic Christmas shopping experience.

2. Las Vegas timeshare. Shop where it’s sunny and warm when you vacation in a Las Vegas timeshare and take your holiday shopping list to the Fashion Show mall in Las Vegas. The 250-store center features 7 flagship department stores and is famous for its live runway fashion shows.

3. Pennsylvania timeshare. Pennsylvania may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of timeshare vacations or of legacy shopping destinations. But in fact, the 3 million square feet of retail space at the King of Prussia Mall, paired  with all the many great Poconos timeshare getaway locations, earns Pennsylvania timeshare a spot on this list. With more than 400 stores, the King of Prussia Mall is the largest shopping complex on the East Coast.

4. San Francisco timeshare. San Francisco’s Union Square includes major department stores along with boutiques, restaurants and theaters. With a roughly two and a half mile plaza area, shoppers can explore one of the premier shopping districts in the world. And when the shopping is done, you can head to any number of fabulous San Francisco timeshare resorts to unwind and pamper yourself.

5. Last minute timeshare rental deals anywhere in the US. And for everyone who just can’t be inspired to fight the crowds, you could do all of your Christmas shopping online while you relax on the beach in Maui timeshare, linger by the pool in a Key West timeshare or perhaps toast your toes by the fireside at your favorite ski resort timeshare destination.

…’tis the season to be jolly. Why not let the great deals in timeshare rentals—many available for around $80 a night—make your Christmas season a little brighter and a lot more fun?

You may be preparing to eat your Thanksgiving turkey around your dining table this year and then take in a few hours of sports on your big screen TV. Sounds pretty good, but what if you were spending Thanksgiving somewhere warm and sunny, and the sports you were watching were courtside?

Many people will be doing exactly this, enjoying early season collegiate tournaments in NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball while soaking up some sun at a relaxing timeshare resort destination.

For example, fans of Chaminade, Duke, Georgetown, Kansas, Memphis, Michigan, Tennessee, or UCLA can be taking in the fun of Hawaii timeshare and enjoying the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Fans who root for Arizona State, Dayton, DePaul, Fairfield, Indian State, Minnesota, Texas Tech or Wake Forest can enjoy the Old Spice Classic at Disney’s Wide World of Sports as well as all the amenities of Orlando timeshares, perhaps choosing Disney Vacation Club timeshares to be close to the sports action as well as the theme part fun.

UConn, Harvard, UMass, Charleston, UCF, FSU, UNC Ashville and Utah fans have the option to enjoy basketball at Harborside Resort during the Battle 4 Atlantis College Basketball Tournament, held for the second year at the amazing Atlantis Resort in Nassau, Bahamas.

Although the Maui Invitational has been a staple of college basketball’s Thanksgiving tournaments for more than 20 years, it’s only been in recent years that Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and other popular resort destinations have begun hosting collegiate tournaments. But based on the success of these events so far, maybe it’s time to start thinking about which fabulous timeshare resort you’d like to be roasting your turkey at next year.

Earlier this fall we published our lists of the most in-demand timeshare resales and the most in-demand timeshare rentals.

Once again, Hawaii timeshares dominated both lists. As you will see in the slides below, part of the reason Hawaii timeshares are so popular as timeshare resales and timeshare rentals is because of the beauty and wonder of Hawaii itself.

But just as importantly is the fact that resorts in Hawaii are vacation destinations within themselves offering you beautiful beaches, mountain vistas, amazing serenity, and yes, even a chance to hula.

Of all the great vacation destinations and all the fantastic resorts in the world, three of the top ten most in-demand timeshare rentals are Hawaii timeshares while three of the top ten most in-demand timeshare resales are also Hawaii timeshares.

Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club in Oahu ranked as the number 2 most in-demand timeshare rental and the number 9 most in-demand timeshare resale. The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas in Maui took the number 3 spot in rentals and the number 5 spot in resales while Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club was number 6 in popularity for timeshare rentals and number 3 among the top timeshare resales.

To obtain the complete Hot 100 Timeshare Resales report, go to: here: www.sellmytimesharenow.com/media/pdf/HOT-TIMESHARE-RESALES-2011.pdf

For the complete Hot 100 Timeshare Rentals, go to: here: www.sellmytimesharenow.com/media/pdf/HOT-TIMESHARE-RENTALS-2011.pdf

Much that is positive, exciting, and invigorating for the timeshare industry has been discussed these last two days at the VOIC Shared Ownership Investment Conference in Orlando, Florida, which is hosted by Interval International. And frank talk has gone on about all the challenges of the industry, the economy, and the ways (both good and bad) that the industry has engaged with consumers in the past.

But some of the most interesting insights about timeshare and fractionals comes from a simple look at the numbers. Very often in business, the numbers speak louder than the words.

Here is a look at some recent research about Interval International member/owners:

• US resident members of II own approximately 1.9 weeks of shared ownership vacation time or its equivalent and travel an estimated 22 nights per year solely for leisure purposes.
• They report household income of approximately $121,175 per year.
• Twenty percent expect to buy additional vacation time in the future.
• Timeshare owners are attracted to warm-weather locations (Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, South Carolina timeshares and Caribbean timeshares) and family-style accommodations.
• Most are interested in, or have a preference for, two-bedroom timeshare units. Just under ten percent prefer three-bedroom timeshares.

And this may be the most industry-relevant factor of all: 83 percent of Interval International’s US members say they are satisfied with their timeshare ownership.

As David Gilbert, Interval International, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing, says, “Even in challenging economic times, it is very encouraging to see that the appeal of vacation ownership remains strong among our members.”

The American Resort Development Association of Hawaii (ARDA-Hawaii) has launched if first annual Timeshare with Aloha Awards.

Seeking to find the most outstanding Hawaii timeshare and resort industry employee from each of the islands of Hawaii, Kauai, Maui and Oahu, ARDA-Hawaii is accepting nominees now through October 31, 2011.

The goal of this contest is to find those Hawaii timeshare employees who exemplify service and excellence as part of the thriving Hawaii timeshare industry. Candidates will be judged on their dedication in the workplace, relationship with coworkers, extraordinary customer service, and community volunteerism.

ARDA-Hawaii Chair Daniel Dinell, Regional Vice President of Sales & Marketing Programs at Hilton Grand Vacations, explains, “We want to recognize those who make Hawaii such a special place to visit, beyond what we have to offer in terms of sand, sun and surf. By truly embodying and living the aloha spirit in what they do each day, contenders for the Timeshare with Aloha Award create an unforgettable experience for visitors to our islands.”

There is no application fee to nominate a Hawaii timeshare  industry employee and nominations may be made either by companies or by individuals. A narrative of fewer than 250 words should accompany each nomination application, explaining why this nominee should be considered.

Nomination forms are available at http://www.arda.org/alohaawards or by contacting timeshare@brightlightmarketing.com.

Each of the winners will receive a two-night stay at a Hawaii timeshare resort and $1,000 in cash.

ARDA-Hawaii

Wyndham Vacation Ownership timeshare has now completed renovations on the Wyndham Vacation Resorts Royal Garden at Waikiki, making it the Wyndham Resort’s 15^th Hawaii property.

Franz Hanning, president and chief executive officer, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, states that the addition of this timeshare resort solidifies Wyndham timeshare’s position in the industry as Hawaii’s, “largest and most successful timeshare developer.”

Hanning adds, “We are very proud to provide yet another world-class property in this highly desirable destination for our more than 800,000 owners and guests.”

Opportunities in Wyndham Timeshare Exchange

Wyndham Vacation Ownership (Wyndham timeshare) acquired the Wyndham Vacation Resorts Royal Garden at Waikiki, formerly called The Royal Garden Hotel and Spa, in 2007. The resort has remained operational during the renovation period, with rentals being offered through Extra Holidays by Wyndham, a subsidiary of WVO specializing in resort condominium rentals.

Soon this Hawaii timeshare will welcome Wyndham’s timeshare owners and will also begin timeshare sales there. Wyndham Vacation Resorts Royal Garden at Waikiki will be part of  CLUB WYNDHAM^® Plus, the company’s points-based timeshare exchange program. With this, owners will have access to exchange at more than 70 timeshare resorts as well as other vacation exchange opportunities including cruises and tour vacations.

You can also learn more about Wyndham’s Extra Holidays at www.extraholidays.com.

Earlier this month, the timeshare industry lost a great man and a part of its history.

Robert “Bob” Burns, Chairman and CEO of Vacation Internationale, died peacefully at his home in Sun Valley, Idaho on September 3, 2011, at the age of 87. He is missed by his wife of 33 years; his 7 children; his 24 grandchildren; and all who knew him or had the pleasure of working with him.

A passionate outdoorsman and skier, Burns was still skiing Mt. Baldy into his eighties.

A Pioneer in Timeshare and Vacation Ownership

In the early 1905s, Burns, along with five other families, jointly purchased and maintained a ski cabin condo in Washington. The property slept 25. Together the families restored the condo and enjoyed shared ownership, which they described as creating deep friendships and special memories.

Drawing on this experience, Burns, with business partner, Bob Ringenburg, developed the first non-hotel timeshare project in the US, selling beachfront leasehold condos at the Kaua’i Kailani on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

In 1974, Burns and Riggenburg founded Vacation Internationale in Seattle, Washington, a company credited with founding the original timeshare points system. Vacation Internationale expanded from Burn’s first condo venture to include the acquisition of a 72-unit motel which it converted to a 40-year right to use timeshare. Later the company added properties on four of the Hawaiian islands.

Bob Burns was the inspiration and initial backer of Les Saisons Resort, Sun Valley’s first fractional ownership project. His son Michael is the founder of Private Residence Resorts of Sun Valley.

Source: Resort Trades; Inside the Gate and others.

If only you had been at your Waikiki Beach timeshare last week, you could have joined the Hawaii Five-O season premier party on Sunset Beach. You would already know what is going on with Wo Fat killing the Governor and framing McGarrett for it. Instead, you will have to wait until this Monday night, and watch CBS for the season premier episode along with the rest of the show’s fans.

But this winter, instead of watching McGarrett, Danno, and Kono in the warm Hawaiian sunshine while you shiver in your sweatshirt and the snow piles up outside, why not get in on some of that fun with your own Hawaii timeshare vacation? Go, enjoy the sun and the sand as well as all that Waikiki is known for, like the surfing at Diamond Head, the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium. Take in the sights at nearby Pearl Harbor and the Iolani Palace.

Although once considered the recreational playground for Hawaiian royalty, today Waikiki is the most popular hotel, timeshare and resort area on the island of Ohau. And you could be vacationing there instead of just watching it on TV.

Here are only a few of the choices you have for a Waikiki Hawaii timeshare resale or rental vacation. Why not explore them now, pick the one that appeals to you most and then tell the timeshare resale and rental specialists at Sell My Timeshare NOW to: “Book ‘em Danno!”

• Sweetwater at Waikiki timeshare
• Waikiki Marina Resort at the Ilikai Shell
• The Wyland Waikiki timeshare
• Wyndham at Waikiki Beach Walk timeshare
• Wyndham Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach
• Wyndham Royal Garden at Waikiki timeshare
• Ohana Islander Waikiki timeshare
• Outrigger Luana Waikiki timeshare
• Hawaiian Sun Holidays at the Waikiki Banyan timeshare
• Hilton Grand Waikikian
• Legacy Vacation Club Waikiki
• Royal Aloha Waikiki Aloha Sky Towers

Happy Labor Day Weekend! The Timeshare Authority blog hopes you are enjoying a “labor-free” Labor Day holiday.

Writing today’s blog post was a bit like writing a back-to-school essay titled, “What I Did on My Summer Vacation,” except, we’d have to call this, “What Everyone Did on Their Vacation.”

Last week we published the new Hot 100 Timeshare Resales report and the Hot 100 Timeshare Rentals report.

These reports list for you the top 100 timeshare resales and the top 100 timeshare rentals to receive offers to buy or rent at Sell My Timeshare NOW and Timeshare Broker Services. The lists provide you a true overview of how consumers are allocating their vacation accommodations dollars.

Download these two free reports and study them for yourself. Among the trends and vacations patterns you will observe is this information about the top 20 most in-demand timeshare rentals:

1. Included in the top 20 timeshare rentals are 8 Marriott Vacation Club International resorts: Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club; Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club; Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas; Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club; Marriott’s OceanWatch Villas at Grande Dunes; Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club; Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club; and Marriott’s Grande Vista
2. In addition to the three Marriott Hawaii timeshares listed above, two other Hawaii timeshares ranked among the top 20 rental destinations: Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas and Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas North
3. Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake’s West Village; Disney’s Beach Club Villas and Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort are the three Orlando timeshares on the hot properties rental list.
4. Three Mexico timeshares made the list of most in-demand timeshare rentals: Grand Mayan Nuevo Vallarta; Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach and Palace Resorts at Moon Palace Golf and Spa
5. The remaining four timeshare resorts among the top 20 are the Manhattan Club; the Ocean Beach Club – Virginia Beach and Harborside Resort at Atlantis along Harborside Resort at Atlantis II

Find out more 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