It is good to see fair, accurate, and positive press lately regarding timeshares, timeshare sales, and timeshare exchange. The naysayers who present vacation ownership and timeshare vacation rentals as only being about timeshare scam do a real injustice to the industry, to the hardworking people whose daily objective is improving the vacation experience for others, and to consumers who could be enjoying affordable vacationing through timeshare resales and timeshare rentals.

Last week, the Miami Herald took an objective look at timeshare exchange, focusing on Interval International, which happens to be a Miami-based company.

Interviewing Jon Fredricks of Welk Resorts, a California timeshare company, the article quoted Fredricks as saying, “In this economy, you’re seeing more people wanting to drive to their exchange, with less use of airlines. Vegas is not in favor as it once was. I think Interval has had to adjust to those changes alone.”

Fredricks’ point is critical: timeshare owners and timeshare renters may be vacationing differently because of the economy, but they are still making use of timeshare ownership and the opportunities of timeshares.

A Changing Profile for Timeshare Owners

Timeshare owners have always leaned on timeshare companies to offer more flexibility. Because of this, over the years, the options of timesharing have changed considerably. But with all the stresses and economic pressures many people are feeling these days, they’ve upped their demands even more.

Here’s what timeshare owners have always wanted in timeshare exchange:

• Flexibility in exchanging one date or property for another.
• The opportunity to exchange timeshare or timeshare points for cruises and other travel amenities in addition to timeshare.

And here’s their new list of add-ons:

• Shorter lead-time for making timeshare exchange.
• More drive-to timeshare vacation destinations.
• Shorter vacation intervals, something most timeshare companies are already striving to offer.

Currently, Interval International timeshare exchange has a network of over 2500 timeshare resorts, representing some 75 countries worldwide. Last year, in response to their member requests, Interval international timeshare exchange launched their ShortStay Exchange Program. Through this option, gold members can deposit their timeshare interval or points and exchange it for one or more vacations of two to six days in length. These ShortStay timeshare exchanges are made online at IntervalWorld.com

According to Interval CEO Craig Nash, “We’re always looking at product development.” He adds, so far the program is, “tracking nicely.”

Other Options for Timeshare Exchange

As the Herald article points out, Interval International timeshare exchange is second in size as a timeshare exchange company to RCI Exchange. Also there are many other timeshare exchange companies that may have smaller inventories of timeshare exchange properties but are targeted to a specific region, resort group, or type of resort. Additionally, Timeshare Users Group, which most timeshare owners know as TUG, offers timeshare exchange along with ads for timeshare resales to its member participants.

While fees may be cheaper in smaller groups, timeshare owners are not likely to have as much flexibility as with a larger timeshare exchange company. Lisa Ann Shreier, author of Timeshare Vacations for Dummies and co-author of Timeshare Management, makes a valid point in saying this about timeshare exchange companies, “They do facilitate the trading process. It makes it easier if 2,000 people are depositing their weeks into a pool.”

And any timeshare discussion always comes down to one important point: timeshare exchange is -and always has been- one of the significant reasons people buy timeshare.

The Christmas tree is down (or will be soon), a new year beckons, and many people start to think about giving their homes or offices a facelift and a fresher look. Will the same thing be happening at timeshare and vacation ownership resorts that are part of the Interval International network of timeshare exchange?

Robb & Stucky Resorts, a division of the Ft. Myers, Florida-based Robb & Stucky Interiors, has a new alliance with Interval International, making its turnkey design services and one-stop shopping available to Interval International member timeshare resorts.

David Gilbert, Interval International’s executive vice preside of resort sales and marketing says, “The alliance with Robb & Stucky will give our developer clients and homeowners associations access to an exceptional level of service and value.”

What’s the Real Advantage to Timeshare Resort Developers and Timeshare HOA’s?

Co-branded alliances can work in many ways, but in the case of Interval International timeshare exchange and Robb & Stucky Resorts, the benefits look something like this:

Timeshare developers and HOA’s benefit because …

• Dealing with a respected furniture vendor, that offers a quality line, adds instant upgrade appeal when used in timeshare units, timeshare condos, and common areas of timeshare resorts.
• Robb & Stucky is a start-to-finish company, meaning that it manufactures, warehouses, delivers and installs all of its own products. The process of decorating or re-decorating timeshare resort properties is streamlined and simplified because the timeshare or Home Owners Association can deal with one vendor that offers a cohesive plan, décor themes with interchangeable parts, and the simplicity of one-stop shopping.

The furniture manufacturer benefits because its products are exposed to the many people who own timeshare or rent timeshare and make use of the timeshare resort each year. Not only is this a good market for the company’s residential line of furnishings, but as has already been demonstrated, consumers frequently want to add to their homes the same products they enjoyed during luxury resort vacations. (Think of the number of hotels that now retail their mattresses, bed sets, and toiletries to the public, purely in a response to consumer demand for these products.)

This alliance seems to be a win-win for the brands involved, meaning that it should also turn out to be a good thing for the timeshare owners and their guests who visit Interval International timeshare exchange resorts.

Dubai constructions update
by Imre Solt (www.imresolt.blogspot.com)

The elegant Royal Club at Bonnington Tower in Dubai, a prestigious residential, commercial, and timeshare community, has joined the Interval International collection of timeshare exchange resorts. Now, this highly sought resort/residential destination joins Royal Club at Palm-Jumeirah and Royal Club at Downtown Dubai as Dermarr Real Estate’s (owner of the Royal Club properties) third timeshare resort affiliated with Interval International. Both Royal Club at Palm-Jumeirah and Royal Club at Downtown Dubai are fully sold out properties.

More Dubai Timeshare Luxury

The showpiece Bonnington Tower is 40 stories of five-star luxury, featuring 30 spacious and elegantly furnished one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and timeshare condos, six onsite restaurants and bars, 24/7 concierge service, and a host of amenities including hairdressers, the Leisure Deck with infinity pool, and a state-of-the-art gym exercise center. Located in the heart of Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Royal Club timeshare is near the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates, which features an indoor ski resort. The resort is also conveniently near the airport.

David Clifton, managing director for Interval International timeshare exchange says, “Interval International has worked with Royal Club in Dubai and its marketing partner for many years, and we’ve developed a relationship based on shared respect for quality product and service excellence. We have no doubt that the Royal Club at Bonnington Tower will be as valuable an addition to our network as the two other Royal Club resorts—Royal Club at Downtown Dubai and Royal Club at Palm, Jumeirah—have been.”

Interval International has been a recognized leader in timeshare exchange for more than thirty years. Today, the company includes a network of more than 2500 timeshare resorts in over 75 countries. Some 2 million member families enjoy timeshare exchange and timeshare services through Interval International.

Hard to believe it’s already November and time for the American Resort Development Association Conference in Washington DC. Registration begins tomorrow, with the opening night reception hosted by Interval International.

The Fall ARDA Conference, which runs from November 4-6, is hosted at the Fairmont Washington, DC. Former Senator John Sununu of New Hampshire will be leading off the sessions as keynote speaker.

As always, it is expected to be a significant week of information exchange, interaction, and engagement by representatives of the timeshare industry, vacation ownership, timeshare resales, and timeshare brokerage.

It’s going to be a busy week and in the upcoming days I will be sharing news with you from the ARDA Fall Conference.

Sell My Timeshare NOW in the news:

• Previous Senator John Sununu Honored By Sell My Timeshare NOW

In a world where good customer service in any type of business just doesn’t happen as frequently as it should, this account of great service in timeshare exchange is welcomed news.

Timeshare owner, Rodney Van Housen wrote a Letter to the Editor that ran in the September/October edition of Timesharing Today. He chronicled the excellent customer service he received while trying to reserve a Branson timeshare, followed by a consecutive week in a Texas timeshare through the timeshare exchange company Interval International.

Mr. Van Housen had several specifications to address in arranging his timeshare exchange. His range for travel dates was narrow and he wasn’t sure if his timeshare points would cover both timeshare exchange weeks. But the representative at Interval International was undaunted by the challenge. So over the course of a three-hour international phone call, during which the representative and Van Housen were disconnected twice, plans were made, adjusted, and remade until finally the timeshare owner had just exactly the timeshare exchange he wanted.

Yes, You Can Exchange Timeshare

I’ve heard it before and so have you: the allegation that you can’t exchange timeshare. And timeshare owners who try to exchange timeshare but cannot be flexible about dates and resorts may have a harder time getting the timeshare exchange they want. But testimonies like this one from Timesharing Today are proof that the option to exchange timeshare really does increase its vacation value for the owner. And whether you want a Branson timeshare, a Texas timeshare, or a Manhattan timeshare condo, the combination of persistence and a dedicated timeshare exchange company are the ingredients that make the important difference.

There is financial news regarding Hyatt, Disney and Interval International, as Director of Communications Steve Luba explains.

 

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Timeshare exchange is one of the reasons timeshare owners love their vacation properties. It’s hassle-free vacation ownership with the opportunity to enjoy a different location every time you travel.

Trading Places International is a timeshare exchange company with over 35 years of experience in helping timeshare owners just like you. Best of all, you don’t have to pay an annual membership fee to take advantage of many of the timeshare exchange opportunities they provide.

With hundreds of timeshare resort destinations in their inventory, Trading Places International offers an easy way for you to exchange your timeshare, paying only an internal exchange fee (swapping timeshare at your own resort) or an external exchange fee when you want to vacation at a different resort. Fees range from approximately $109 to $159, depending on location and the type of exchange. You can also bank your timeshare through Trading Places International, meaning that you can “turn in” your timeshare now and enjoy a different timeshare resort in the future, up to three years from the date you make your deposit.

If you have more specific timeshare exchange needs, Trading Places International offers paid membership benefits, further expanding your timeshare exchange opportunities.

Timeshare Owners Have Choices When it Comes to Timeshare Exchange

In addition to Trading Places International timeshare exchange, there are other companies, including the two largest, RCI (Resort Condominium International) and II (Interval International). There are also timeshare exchange companies that specialize in properties in a certain region as well as several companies that, like Trading Places International, offer a no annual fee option.

With so many choices available to you, anyone interested in timeshare exchange should be able to find a company that fits his or her needs and vacation desires. As a timeshare owner (or prospective timeshare buyer), remember that timeshare exchange is a benefit of ownership you can really make work to your advantage; it is flexible and available in a variety of formats to fit every vacation need.

Starting July 16, 2009, the Marriott Vacation Club timeshare program will change its timeshare points system by integrating Marriott Vacation Club properties into Marriott Rewards Categories.

The good news for Marriott timeshare owners is that as part of this change, their timeshare stays will now be eligible for Marriott’s Fifth Night Free program, which Marriott describes as follows, “Guests must reserve a stay for a minimum of 5 redemption nights at one hotel to receive the fifth night for free. The fifth night free will be automatically applied when guests reserve for a minimum 5-night redemption stay.”

Marriott Vacation Club Timeshare Assigned New Rankings

According to Marriott Vacation Club, the strategy behind the change involves assigning hotel category levels to the Marriott Vacation Club timeshare resorts. Most timeshare properties will be ranked as a category 5, 6, or 7, in the Marriott Rewards system. This means that a one-night stay will require 25,000 points; 30,000; or 35,000 points respectively, based upon a deluxe guestroom, and depending upon whether the resort is a category 5, 6, or 7 property.

Upgrading from a deluxe guestroom to a one-bedroom timeshare will require an additional 5,000 points per night; a two-bedroom timeshare will call for 10,000 more timeshare points; and a three-bedroom timeshare will be 15,000 more points per night, all above the base points requirement for that resort.

One simple way to look at this is that at a category 5 resort, the cost in points will be 210,000 points for 7 nights in a two-bedroom timeshare. That rate increases to 240,000 points for the same number of nights, and the same size timeshare unit at a category 6 resort, and 270,000 points at a category 7 resort. These numbers include the benefit of using your one free night that is available to you when booking five or more consecutive nights.

Receiving Your Marriott Rewards Credit for Marriott Timeshare Stays

Remember that in order for a Marriott Vacation Club International owner to ensure receiving Marriott Rewards credit for Marriott Vacation Club International nights, he or she should present his Marriott Rewards member ID at either the time of check-in or check-out. The option for Marriott timeshare owners to count timeshare nights towards qualifying for the next level of Marriott Rewards Elite status, went into effect last June 30 (2008) but still comes as a surprise to many Marriott timeshare owners.

The new timeshare points system applies to reservations booked on or after the July 16 effective date. If you have already scheduled to use your timeshare points after the effective date the timeshare rates at the time of booking will prevail.

You may wish to also visit Marriott Vacation Club Rewards FAQs, if you have additional questions.

Bloomberg News (and other sources) have reported that Arizona-based ILX Resorts has filed for bankruptcy protection. In a story that is becoming all too familiar, ILX Resorts timeshares cites the tight credit market and the growing economic recession as causes.

But here is an important fact to remember: ILX Resorts timeshares are open for business and will continue to operate. Many people learning of the situation at ILX Resorts timeshare will walk away remembering only the word “bankruptcy,” but ILX has filed chapter 11, an important distinction, which is designed to protect a company from its creditors for during a period of restructuring. ILX Resorts has not filed chapter 13 bankruptcy, which is liquidation bankruptcy.

Southwest US and Mexico Timeshares

ILX timeshares owns eleven timeshare resorts, most of which are located in the southwestern US. They also own one Mexico timeshare in San Carlos. In the US, ILX timeshares can be found in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and South Bend, Indiana.

Premiere Vacation Club is owned and operated by ILX Resorts Incorporated and is a vacation ownership program offering the flexibility of staying as few as two nights or as long as multiple weeks in your ILX timeshare. Affiliated with Interval International timeshare exchange, Premiere Vacation Club timeshare can be exchanged internally through the ILX Resort system or through Interval International.

I don’t know how many cities Santa Claus covered on Christmas Eve and in the wee hours of Christmas Day, but he’s about the only one who can take in more territory than you can as a timeshare owner with great timeshare exchange privileges.

Timeshare exchange is designed to give you flexibility in vacation destinations, dates, and accommodations. Resort Condominiums International (RCI) and Interval International, (II) are the two largest timeshare exchange companies, but there are dozens of other companies, many of which specialize in regional or other targeted types of travel. You will find the cost to join a timeshare company varies, as will the types of services they offer.

In their book, How to Benefit from Your Timeshare, authors Susan Johnson and Janice Taylor describe the benefits of timeshare exchange like this:

“An Exchange Club is an organization that lists thousands of travel destinations for use by its members. … An Exchange Club take points/weeks that you do not want to use in the current year and allows you to use and select from their huge inventory of locations worldwide. You should receive a directory from the Exchange Club listing all properties available to you within their network.”

Currently there are 4,775 RCI affiliated timeshare resorts and 2,400 resorts affiliated with Interval International.

Follow this link to learn more about the opportunities of timeshare exchange. And to help you get started in planning your vacations, here is a handy timeshare calendar or, you may wish to visit the website for Timeshare Calendar.