Last week, Sell My Timeshare NOW released the HOT 100 List for timeshare resales and timeshare rentals. Let’s take a closer look at some of the trends the report reveals, especially about the HOTTEST 10 timeshare resorts – those popular ten at the very top of the list.

For the second consecutive year, WorldMark by Wyndham timeshares rank number 1 in the number of offers received to buy or rent. These timeshares are multi-destination ownership, meaning that your WorldMark by Wyndham timeshare gives you a choice of nearly 60 luxurious timeshare resorts in the US (including Hawaii), Mexico, Canada, and Fiji.

Marriott timeshare (Marriott Vacation Club International) claimed four spots on the HOTTEST 10 list. Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club in Palm Beach, Aruba was number 2; Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas, Newport Coast, California was number 3; Marriott’s Grande Vista, Orlando, Florida was number 8; and Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, Maui, Hawaii was number 9.

One of the few changes in the HOT 100 List, this year over last year, is that Marriott’s Grande Vista in Orlando is new to the HOTTEST 10, while Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club in Oahu, Hawaii, was number 10 on last year’s list but slipped to number 11 on this year’s list.

By geographic destination, Orlando timeshare dominated, including the Marriott property already mentioned, and two other popular Orlando timeshare resorts: Orange Lake’s West Village, which ranked number 6, and Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld International Centerdo, new to the list at number 10.

Rounding out the HOTTEST 10 timeshare resales are: the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas in Maui, Hawaii, number 4 on the list, the Harborside Resort at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas, number 5 on the list, and the always popular Manhattan Club, in New York City, moving up from last year’s number 9, to be number 7 on this year’s list.

For the ten resorts making the HOTTEST 10 List, Sell My Timeshare NOW received 23,317 offers to buy or rent in 2008.

Click here to view the entire HOT 100 List for Sell My Timeshare NOW timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.

And if you are interested in comparisons, this link will take you to information about last year’s HOT 100 List: Sell My Timeshare NOW Releases HOT 100 List for 2008.

Sell My Timeshare NOW has released its annual HOT 100 List, which shows the top 100 timeshare resales and timeshare rentals advertised on www.sellmytimesharenow.com. The list is based on the number of inbound offers to buy or rent timeshare.

This year’s HOT 100 List reveals some interesting trends, most notably a 56 percent increase in the number of offers to buy or rent timeshare on the HOT 100 List, compared to the previous year. The total number of offers for the HOT 100 List was 70,700.

The report also shows remarkable consistency from last year to this year in the timeshare resale and timeshare rental resort properties that make the top of the HOT 100 List — those on the Top 10. The timeshare resorts that made the Top 10 received 23,317 offers to buy or rent.

Here’s the HOTTEST Timeshares of the HOT 100, the Top 10:

• WorldMark by Wyndham, Multi-Destination Resorts (Number 1 for the second year in a row.)
• Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club, Palm Beach, Aruba
• Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas, Newport Coast, California
• Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Maui, Hawaii
• Harborside Resort at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
• Orange Lake’s West Village, Orlando, Florida
• Manhattan Club, New York, New York.
• Marriott’s Grande Vista, Orlando, Florida
• Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club, Maui, Hawaii
• Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld International Center, Orlando, Florida

The full report on all 100 HOT timeshare resales and timeshare rentals is available here: Sell MyTimeshare NOW HOT 100 List, and our official press release is available here: Timeshare Resales Offers up 56 Percent on HOT 100 List as Americans Seek Vacation Savings

As the countdown on the Sell My Timeshare NOW HOT 100 list continues, we look at three HOT timeshares, each distinctively different from the other. HOT 100 List timeshare number 20 is the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas North. Hot List timeshare number 19 is the Grand Pacific Palisades in Carlsbad, California. And Hot List timeshare number 16 is the Wyndham Grand Desert in Las Vegas. Three ways to vacation; three timeshare resorts to enjoy.

A Lush Hawaiian Isle Westin Timeshare Resort

Designed with luxury in mind, the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas North is one of two Westin resorts on Ka’anapali Beach. Enjoying a primo location on North Ka’anapali, (a beach that has been recognized as one of America’s Best Beaches) timeshare owners and timeshare renters at this Hawaii timeshare resort can choose verdant island views or stunning ocean vistas from their private balcony or patio. At the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort, studio and one or two-bedroom timeshare villas offer an equipped kitchen, a whirlpool tub, and a relaxing living and dining area.

Located in Lahaina, on the island of Maui, if you watched the season finale of the CBS reality show, The Amazing Race, (this past Sunday night,) you saw enough beautiful views of Maui to make you long for a Hawaii timeshare.

California Timeshare Close to the Beach

Grand Pacific Palisades California timeshare offers you a totally different perspective of the Pacific Ocean than the one you’ll get in Lahaina, Maui, but equally as spectacular. North of San Diego (about 40 miles), and south of Anaheim (approximately 60 miles), Carlsbad has Southern California desert appeal in a location so perfect for family fun it is even located across the street from LEGOLAND®!

During the spring, you can enjoy Carlsbad’s famous Flower Fields® where more than 50-acres of vibrant flowers bloom on a hillside overlooking the ocean. Year-round, Grand Pacific Palisades timeshare tempts you with an ideal location for enjoying golf, the beach, or any of the nearby attractions.

Timeshare units at this beautiful California timeshare resort include one and two bedroom units as well as two bedroom lockouts.

This Las Vegas Timeshare is No Gamble, It’s Always a Winner

The Wyndham Grand Desert in Las Vegas is located only a quarter mile from the glittering Las Vegas Strip, but features a Mediterranean-style ambience. Timeshare owners at the Wyndham Grand Desert enjoy the resort, not only for its style and amenities, but because it makes it easy to balance your vacation between the casinos and nightlife of the Las Vegas Strip with a relaxing resort that offers plenty of entertainment for the whole family.

Considered a flagship property of Wyndham Resorts, Wyndham Grand Desert timeshare units are available in one, two, and three-bedroom units, as well as timeshare lockouts.

Like so many other great Las Vegas timeshare properties, the Wyndham Grand Desert makes it easy to explore both the natural wonders of the Nevada landscape and then take in the shows, dining, and unmatched glitz of Las Vegas after dark.

To learn more about opportunities in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals at these great HOT 100 destinations and many more exciting vacation spots, talk to the timeshare resales specialists at Sell My Timeshare NOW.

Too much timeshare news! The past twelve months have been an active time for the timeshare and vacation ownership industries. There has been a lot that has happened in areas from timeshare development, new timeshare publications, and then the news that is not so upbeat, such as lay-offs at timeshare companies, cutbacks, and other challenges of the economic environment.

Even with all this activity, there is no excuse for the situation we find ourselves in at The Timeshare Authority. We realized that in covering the HOT 100 List for 2008 for timeshare resales and timeshare rentals at Sell My Timeshare NOW, even though it is almost time to release the new list, we have been remiss in our quest to tell you about all 100 timeshare resorts on the current list. Most notably, we have yet to cover the top 30 timeshare resorts on the list! So with our apologies we are jumping back into it with a deluxe edition of today’s blog.

HOT 100 Timeshares at Sell My Timeshare NOW

Let’s look at the timeshare resorts that ranked 26 through 30 …

• Villa del Palmar timeshare resort in Cabo San Lucas, HOT 100 resort timeshare number 30.
• Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Hilton Hawaii Village, HOT 100 timeshare resort number 29.
• Hacienda Del Mar Resort timeshare in Cabo San Lucas, HOT 100 timeshare resort number 28.
• Marriott’s Grand Chateau timeshare resort (Las Vegas) HOT 100 timeshare resort number 27.
• Palace Resorts at Moon Palace Golf and Spa timeshare resort, (Cancun, Mexico) HOT 100 timeshare resort number 26.

Three Hot Mexico Timeshare Resorts

Starting with the three Mexico timeshare HOT properties first; two are Cabo San Lucas timeshare resorts and one is on the Mexican Riviera in Cancun.

Villa del Palmar timeshare resort in Cabo San Lucas is a Cabo San Lucas timeshare designed to give almost unlimited ways to relax and relax and relax …

Located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, near both San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, this beautiful timeshare resort is designed to help you recapture your serenity or build your passion—and hopefully do both! Pamper yourself in Villa del Palmar’s European Day Spa, relax at the timeshare resort’s swimming pools, stroll Medano beach, or soak in a two-person jetted bathtub. This seaside timeshare resort is the right backdrop whether you are there for the golf, sport fishing, or your own romantic wedding.

At Villa del Palmar Cabo San Lucas timeshare, you can choose a studio unit, one-bedroom timeshare, two-bedroom timeshare, two-bedroom deluxe, or three-bedroom, three-bath timeshare unit. All offer additional queen-size sofa beds, and both the two-bedroom deluxe and the three-bedroom timeshare unit feature the private in-room Jacuzzi tubs.

Hacienda Del Mar Resort timeshare is another great Cabo San Lucas timeshare resort. The resort describes itself as being, “between the shadows of the mountains and the endless expanse of a sapphire sea in beautiful Cabo San Lucas.” It’s hard to capture Hacienda Del Mar timeshare any better than that.

The resort includes 234 low-rise timeshare villas all designed in the style of old-world Mexican haciendas. With choices of ocean, golf, and garden views, every villa includes a patio or balcony. The Hacienda Del Mar timeshare villas are classified as: Junior, Luxury, Master, Executive, Presidential, and Penthouse and offer fine Cabo San Lucas timeshare accommodations ranging from studio to spacious three-bedrooms.

Heading from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, you find a distinctively different but equally beautiful coastline for Mexico timeshares in Cancun on the Mexican Riviera. Discover the amazing Palace Resorts at Moon Palace Golf and Spa timeshare resort.

The Palace Resorts at Moon Palace Golf and Spa timeshare welcomes you to an all-inclusive timeshare resort. With elegant accommodations, outstanding dining, complimentary transportation, and full service concierge staff, you can feel like you are really getting your money’s worth, all for one pre-paid flat price.

Mexico timeshares are among the few timeshare destinations to offer all-inclusive timeshares and for many vacationers, one-price dining and entertainment makes a lot of sense.

Moon Palace Golf and Spa Resort timeshare is located only a convenient 5 miles from the airport in Cancun, yet its peaceful south shore setting makes you feel like you are miles away from it all. Situated between 120-plus acres of lush tropical foliage and a secluded white sand beach, you can’t do a better job in your search for relaxation than Moon Palace Golf and Spa.

The timeshare resort offers 2,103 units, all with either ocean or garden views. And while this may seem like the perfect Mexico timeshare for your romantic getaway, with a kid’s club and lots of onsite activities, it makes just as much sense for your favorite family vacation.

Heading for a Favorite Hawaii Timeshare

Honolulu’s Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Hilton Hawaii Village is HOT 100 timeshare resort number 29.

Grab your ukulele, this Hilton timeshare resort means classic Hawaii vacation fun. Located on Waikiki Beach, the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at Hilton Hawaii Village is an all suite resort on 20 acres of prime Honolulu real estate with one of the best beach areas around. The expansive resort offers you a place to scuba, snorkel, or tour undersea on the Atlantis submarines.

With four swimming pools, including a super pool with a lazy river, a salt-water lagoon, the fabulous Mandara Spa and Holistica Hawaii Health Center, and a children’s program, you and your family can experience a vacation of a lifetime, that you have the opportunity to experience year after year.

Viva Las Vegas Timeshare

Marriott’s Grand Chateau timeshare resort in Las Vegas takes us to an inland destination at a primo location on the vibrant Las Vegas strip.

The Grand Chateau timeshare offers master timeshare villas with fully equipped kitchens, separate living and dining area, and a washer and dryer. All units include a 42-inch flat-screen TV, DVD player, and they range from Deluxe Guest suites to one, two, and three-bedroom timeshare villas, with the three-bedroom units designed to accommodate up to ten of your best buddies or family members.

Favorite nearby locations to Marriott’s Grand Chateau timeshare include all the gaming, dining, and shows of the Strip, Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas, and the Cirque de Soleil. And while Las Vegas timeshare was once seen primarily as a grown up vacation spot, with all of the fun of places like the Secret Garden at the Mirage, the Lion Habitat at MGM Grand, and Mandalay Bay’s Shark Reef, it has clearly become a vacation favorite for ‘children’ of every age.

Okay, that’s a whirlwind tour of five HOT timeshare resort destinations for timeshare resales and timeshare rentals and great evidence that timeshares are as diverse as the people who enjoy them. In view of all the opportunities in today’s resale market, you can find a timeshare that not only fits your vacation dreams, but fits your vacation budget as well.

Good news about strong timeshare sales at the New Grand Lodge on Peak 7 timeshare resort.

The owners of Grand Timber Lodge timeshare and Gold Point timeshare, two popular Breckenridge timeshare resorts, are building a new timeshare resort – Grand Lodge on Peak 7.

Sales of timeshare units at Grand Lodge on Peak 7, are reportedly up about 10 percent over sales last year, and not because of discount pricing – sales prices are up around 20 percent. According to Rob Millisor, co-owner of the timeshare resort and a town Councilman in Breckenridge, February 2009 has been their best February yet.

Pre-Construction Timeshare Sales

Grand Lodge on Peak 7 timeshare resort is a three-phase property with a scheduled completion date of December 2010. Phase One timeshare units will be ready for vacationing in May of this year and are currently approaching sell-out. Phase Two, scheduled for completion this December, is about 35 percent sold. The third phase is expected to be ready for timeshare vacations by December 2010 with additional construction planned between 2011 and 2013.

At completion, the Grand Lodge on Peak 7 timeshare will feature 114 two-bedroom timeshare lock offs and four one-bedroom timeshare units. Phase One has 69 timeshare units.

Looking at What’s Driving these Timeshare Sales

According to an article in the Summit Daily News, Millisor attributes the timeshare company’s success to customer service. “We work long and hard and spend a lot of money creating great customer service – so I think that’s probably the number-one reason we’re successful.” Millisor describes timeshare sales as a way to, “own your vacations rather than to rent them.”

The company says that approximately 40 percent of timeshare sales come from owners either who refer their friends to buy timeshare or who buy additional time for themselves.

Between October 2008 and February 2009, the timeshare company saw over $19 million in timeshare sales. I’d say that is pretty good business during the throes of an economic recession.

Timeshare Sales and the Local Economy

Timeshare sales themselves are good for the local economy in the long run by increasing the tax revenue base and by bringing in a predictably steady stream of vacationers who spend their dollars at restaurants, retailers, and local attractions as well as on the ski slopes. But strong timeshare sales stimulate the local economy even during the pre-construction phase.

The number of two-night mini vacations that people are taking as part of their Grand Lodge on Peak 7 timeshare sales tour have increased, up 10 percent as well. More than 10,000 mini vacation timeshare tours were given out in 2008 as part of timeshare sales for Grand Lodge on Peak 7. Each prospective buyer also receives $100 in discount premiums to use with local merchants.

Limited New Timeshare Sales in Breckenridge, but Timeshare Resales are Available

Although Grand Lodge is fully sold out, you can find good deals on timeshare resales there. The Gold Point timeshare resort, another Breckenridge vacation favorite, is also a part of this timeshare collection. Since 1998, the company has logged more than $300 million in timeshare sales.

While Grand Lodge on Peak 7 is the only Breckenridge timeshare resort available for new timeshare sales, there are plenty of opportunities for excellent values in Breckenridge timeshare resales. In addition to the Grand Lodge family of timeshares, you will find timeshare resales at Hilton Grand Vacations Club – Valdoro Mountain Lodge Timeshare and Marriott’s Mountain Valley Lodge Timeshare.

The Sell My Timeshare NOW HOT 100 timeshare list includes two Las Vegas timeshares, back to back. HOT 100 list timeshare number 43 is the Hilton Grand Vacations Club timeshare resort at the Flamingo Resort, while number 42 is the Hilton Grand Vacation Club timeshare on the Las Vegas Strip.

Both of these Hilton timeshare resorts put you in the heart of Las Vegas glitz and glitter, surrounded by the clubs, gaming, entertainment, dining, and excitement that make a Vegas vacation so much fun. And in different ways, each of these two Hilton timeshares offers you a way to be convenient to the Strip, but to also enjoy a restful retreat.

The Hilton Grand Vacation Club timeshare at the Flamingo is located on the grounds of the famous Flamingo Hotel, at the famous intersection where Bally’s, Paris, Caesars, and the Bellagio meet. The resort grounds are spacious and include rushing waterfalls, lush tropical gardens, and a sparkling swimming complex.

The Hilton Grand Vacation Club timeshare on the Strip is located at the north end of the strip providing timeshare owners and timeshare renters with 10 tranquil acres of resort property, perfect for enjoying the resort’s fitness center, interactive fountains, heated swimming pools, and whirlpool spas. Both properties offer spacious 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom timeshare units, complete with a kitchen, whirlpool tubs, TVs and DVDs, and a washer and dryer. Comfortable, spacious, and the Hilton timeshare name you trust when it comes to ensuring memorable vacation destinations with excellent accommodations.

Buy Timeshare — Especially When Money is Tight

Right now, people are sitting on their dollars, trying to make sure they spend wisely in this unpredictable economy. But sooner or later, you will feel the desire or experience the need to travel again. Your cabin fever will get dangerously high, and you will know that it does not make sense on any level to deprive yourself of the rest and restorative experience of vacation time.

When this happens, you could shop for bargains at hotels, hoping to find discounts, knowing that even if you do, you will have to go through the same tedious process all over again the next time you want to travel. Or, you could make one really smart move. Buy timeshare resales – especially now, when the deals may be the best ever. Enjoy the convenience and affordability of owning a timeshare with excellent exchange opportunities that you bought at an outstanding timeshare resale price.

Visit Sell My Timeshare NOW and start picking out your new, right-priced, luxury vacation property.

The Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld International Center is a lush oasis in the heart of Orlando, Florida’s fun and attractions. The resort’s 33 landscaped acres include a lake, jogging paths, three swimming pools, two children’s wading pools, five whirlpool spas, a waterfall feature, and tennis courts. The popularity of Orlando timeshares, the convenient location of the Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld International Center, and the opportunities in value-priced timeshare resales and timeshare rentals, combine to make this Sell My Timeshare NOW’s HOT 100 List property number 47.

Comfort and Luxury at Your Hilton Grand Vacations Club Timeshare

If your family is small, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club Orlando timeshare studio unit could be just right for you. Studio timeshares offer 400 square feet of comfort, with one queen bed, (some have a sleeper sofa), a wet bar and a private screened balcony. In addition to the wet bar, these studio timeshare units include a microwave oven, refrigerator, and coffee maker.

One-bedroom timeshare units at the Hilton Grand Vacation Club at SeaWorld International Center are 878 square feet and include one king bed, a full-size sleeper sofa, living and dining areas, a complete kitchen, and a private screened balcony.

Two-bedroom timeshare units at the SeaWorld International Center let you spread out even more. They provide 1,225 square feet of accommodations with one king bed, one queen bed, a full sleeper sofa, a complete kitchen, living and dining areas, and a screened balcony.

All units at this family-friendly Orlando timeshare resort include a DVD player and free high-speed wireless Internet access. Timeshare suites include a whirlpool tub in the master bath and a washer and dryer in the unit.

On property, you will find a poolside bar and grille, a deli and gift shop, Starbucks® coffee, Pizza Hut® Express, and a fitness center that is available to timeshare owners, renters and their guests at no additional charge. The Hilton Grand Vacation Club at SeaWorld International Center also offers supervised recreation programs for adults, teens, and children, a concierge, pool tables, a wide-screen TV, a self-service business center, shuttle service to the theme parks, and meeting rooms to accommodate up to 50 people. With this many features and benefits, any question of, “What’s missing?” could only be answered by saying: “You!”

Even in Tough Times, Timeshare Resales and Timeshare Rentals Make Sense

The stressful news about the economy, and the measures being taken to restore it, isn’t likely to let up in the near future. Which is more unpleasant these days, turning on the TV news, opening the daily paper, or going to your mailbox? An escape for you and your family from the pressures of the current world has never been more important than it is right now. You need time to relax, time to laugh, and time to think about something besides jobs, the stock market, bailouts, and foreclosures.

Timeshare resales and timeshare rentals are one of the few truly good options still out there to help you and your family enjoy some much needed vacation time at a price that won’t break the bank.

… A little Killer Whale splash time with Shamu at SeaWorld Orlando from YouTube.

Starwood Hotels and Timeshare Resorts reported a 12 percent drop in profits for the third quarter, 2008. With this announcement, they joined the ranks of other hoteliers and timeshare developers, including Marriott, Hilton, and Westgate timeshare, who have all acknowledged that they are sharply feeling the credit crunch and the economic downturn.

Starwood (the parent company of Westin timeshare resorts and Sheraton timeshare resorts) reported revenue was flat at $1.5 billion, with international operations shoring up those in North America. Earnings for Starwood were $113 million or 62 cents a share, which is down from $129 million or 61 cents a share, in the third quarter 2007. Figuring all adjustments, and earnings from continuing operations, earnings should have been 71 cents per share.

According to Hotels Magazine, Starwood Chief Executive Frits van Paasschen stated that the company had begun streamlining and reducing costs earlier in the year. Yet, Starwood’s efforts don’t seem to be sufficient to quell concerns. Steve Kent of Goldman Sachs commented on Starwood specifically and the timeshare and hotel industry in general, saying, “… the industry will be hit with increasing supply at the same time demand is falling and [its] negative operating leverage and inability to cut costs quickly suggests margins are going to be under pressure for some time.”

Starwood Says Decline in Hawaii Timeshare and Florida Timeshare Sales is Major Contributor

Pacific Business News reported that Starwood specifically blames a decline in Hawaii timeshares sales and Florida timeshares sales for its revenue shortfall. Compared to 2007, revenue in timeshare sales is down 27.4 percent. Contract sales of vacation ownership intervals decreased almost 30 percent at Starwood timeshares, due both to overall decline and to Starwood’s sellout of Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort North on Maui.

Starwood timeshare says it expects operating income from its timeshare business to drop as much as $115 million this year as demand for Hawaii timeshares and Orlando timeshares decreases.

Here are some updates about hotels and timeshare resorts that may have been affected by Hurricane Ike. The list is not complete and is constantly being updated by officials as more information becomes available in the aftermath of this terrible storm.

Remember that damages from Ike have not been limited to Texas, Louisiana, and the Gulf Coast states; this storm has left downed trees, damaged roofs, flooding and power outages in Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, and continues its path of devastation across the US, as well as the damage and fatalities the storm wrought nearly a week ago in the Caribbean, Haiti, Cuba, and the Turks and Cacaos.

Update from Sheraton, Westin, and Starwood (information updated as of 3PM Sunday, September 14, 2008):

Update from Marriott Hotels and Marriott Timeshare Resorts (as of Saturday, September 13, 2008)

“Many hotels are open, and efforts are underway to fully restore operations in those affected by the hurricane … Most of the hotels that housed guests through the storm have essential utilities or are using generator power, if needed. Early reports indicate damage to some rooftops and windows, as well as the landscaping …

… Guests with confirmed reservations for an arrival date of Saturday, September 13, and beyond should contact the hotel directly or our toll-free reservations number at (888) 236-2427 …

… Generally, cancellation fees are being waived for guests holding confirmed reservations at the hotels that are or will be affected by the storm. However, hotels reserve the right to make this decision on a case-by-case basis … the Galveston and Houston area hotels are not accepting new reservations until further notice … We are accepting reservations and have rooms available in Dallas and other areas of Texas.”

Marriott will post updates at: www.MarriottNewsroom.com

Update from Hilton Hotels (as of 5 PM Saturday, September 13, 2008)

The Hilton Americas Houston and Hilton Post Oak are open and accepting reservations.

The Doubletree Hotel Houston Downtown has sustained damage to its elevators and has been temporarily closed. The guests staying at the Doubletree were relocated to the Hilton Americas Houston. The Doubletree Hotel Houston Downtown will remain closed until Tuesday, September 16 at the earliest.

Homewood Suites in Clear Lake remains closed in compliance with the directive of the local authorities.

The Hilton Hotel in Clear Lake sustained damages when a large section of the hotel’s front wall fell on a FOX 26 live truck.

Executives for Hilton state that, “Generally, cancellation fees are being waived for guests holding confirmed reservations at the Hilton Family of Hotels that have been affected by the storm. However, hotels reserve the right to make this decision on a case-by-case basis.”

Galveston Timeshare Resorts

No reports on whether the following timeshare resorts survived the winds and water of Hurricane Ike. As of now, no one is being allowed on Galveston Island except rescue workers, who have been unable to reach large portions of the island. Much of Galveston Island is still underwater and city services such as water and electricity are not available.

• Escapes! to the Gulf at Galveston
• Four Seasons on the Gulf
• Inverness by the Sea
• Silverleaf’s Seaside Resort – Galveston, TX

Willis, Texas Timeshares

The Landing at Seven Coves Timeshares is closed due to power outages. No report on damages.

Other Updates on Damage from Hurricane Ike:

Continental Airlines

According to Fox News, “Continental Airlines is currently assessing the impact of Hurricane Ike at its facilities, including its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), its headquarters building in downtown Houston and other Houston facilities such as maintenance and reservations.

Customers scheduled to travel to, from or through the Houston hub are encouraged to postpone or reroute their trip without penalty to avoid possible inconvenience. The fastest and most convenient way to change travel plans is via www.continental.com.”

Other airlines may resume service from Bush Intercontinental Airport starting Monday, September 15.

Grocery stores in Huston are beginning to reopen as of Sunday, September 14, 2008.

The Caribbean and the Turks and Caicos

The Timeshare Authority will keep you updated as further information becomes available regarding the resorts and related conditions following Hurricane Ike. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Sell My Timeshare NOW are with the millions of people who are directly and indirectly affected by this storm.

We’ve been updating you all year on what Marriott International and Marriot Vacation Club timeshare is doing to protect and preserve the environment. In February, The Timeshare Authority brought you an update on Marriott Vacation Club employees in Orlando, FL who made the switch from plastic eating utensils and Styrofoam serve ware in their cafeterias. They even switched to SpudWare ™, which are eating utensils that are made from potato starch and that completely biodegrade in 100 days after disposal.

Marriott has also taken steps to make their greens environmentally greener on golf courses at Marriott Hotels and Marriott timeshares, by using more eco-friendly methods of golf course maintenance, including reducing their use of chemicals on the greens and fairways.

Last week in Salt Lake City, Utah, Marriott Vacation Club International expanded their efforts to go green by conducting the Green Fair, involving more than 18 businesses and non-profit organizations. The idea behind the Green Fair is to educate and inform employees and associations about actions they can personally take to recycle and reduce energy consumption.

Over 900 Marriott Vacation Club International associates received reusable eco-friendly mugs and shopping bags. They were also given the opportunity to calculate their individual carbon footprint. Ron Essig, vice president of global owner products and services for Marriott Vacation Club International said, “This is just one step toward Marriott International’s efforts to preserve the environment, acting both locally here in Salt Lake City and across the Marriott Vacation Club International division. With more than 900 associates at the Salt Lake City Marriott Customer Service Center, if we all do our part, we can definitely make a difference-both at the office and at home.”

Marriott vacation club estimates that the immediate result of their effort to go green will be a reduction of nearly 100,000 pieces of plastic ware that would have wound up in landfills.

Sell My Timeshare NOW and Marriott Timeshare

Sell My Timeshare NOW works to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our own work environment. We are proud that our website, www.sellmytimesharenow.com not only advertises and markets right-priced timeshare resales and timeshare rentals, but that our inventory includes Marriott timeshare, a company that is proving their commitment to the environment through their actions.

With timeshare resales from Disney Vacation Club, Westgate timeshare, Hyatt Vacation Club timeshare, and Hilton timeshare, to name only a few, Sell My Timeshare NOW offers you the opportunities of vacation ownership with timeshare companies that are environmentally responsible, at prices that are realistic and affordable in today’s economy.

Related posts on The Timeshare Authority:

• Marriott Hotel and Timeshare CEO Speaks Out for Energy Cost Cuts
• A Timeshare Sales Company Taking an Important Environmental Stand