Interval International

Earlier this month, the Festiva Hospitality Group – Resorts Blog posted a comprehensive rundown of what you need to know about timeshare exchange as a Festiva timeshare owner. Here are some of the highlights and be sure to read: Exchanging Your Festiva Week for more information.

Festiva timeshare owners, as members of Festiva Hospitality Group, have the opportunity to exchange timeshare through either RCI Exchange (Resort Condominiums International) or II (Interval International). When you use your Festiva timeshare as a timeshare exchange, you first need to bank or deposit your existing timeshare. This can be done as far in advance as 12 months or as close as 14 days from your timeshare use date.

You’ll want to know whether you own a fixed week or a floating week as the process for deposit varies slightly. If you do not know, contact Festiva’s Owners Services Department. The exchange company (either RCI or II) will also want to know your resort code; unit size; check-in date; unit number and confirmation number. If your timeshare is at a Festiva Hospitality Group managed resort, the reservation specialist will likely handle these details for you and then provide you with a confirmation number for your deposited timeshare unit or interval.

Deposit Your Timeshare Exchange and Let the Adventure Begin

Once your deposit is confirmed, you now essentially have “money in the bank” for exchanging. When it comes to timeshare exchange, there are two important keys to consider: Deposit as early as possible and be flexible. Adhering to the first key provides you the maximum opportunity to get the timeshare exchange date or destination you most desire. But following the second key opens the door to endless possibilities for adventure, exploration, and perhaps the vacation you might never have thought of without the inspiration of timeshare exchange.

Don’t fall for the misinformation that says timeshare exchange is difficult… instead, gain the full, life-enriching potential of timeshare ownership by using your Festiva timeshare for timeshare exchange. Contact the Festiva Hospitality Group’s Owner Services Department at 866-933-7848 or by email at [email protected] and let the fun and adventure begin!

Interval International timeshare exchange welcomes Mai Khao, Phuket’s West Sands resort to its network of vacation ownership exchange properties. Rebranded as West Sands Vacation Club, the eco-friendly Phuket timeshare is expanding its offerings to timeshare owners and their guests, seeking to be more competitive through greater flexibility.

In order to make it easier for owners to enjoy vacations and holidays even when their schedules or budgets are limited, the resort is transitioning from timeshare interval ownership to a timeshare points based system. Additionally, West Sands Vacation Club has affiliated with Interval International timeshare exchange to provide its member-owners with expanded options in timeshare exchange.

An Eco-Friendly Timeshare Resort

West Sands Vacation Club is located in its own bit of paradise, on 48 lush acres with over 500 yards of private beachfront on Phuket’s popular west coast at Mai Khao Beach. The one-, two-, and three-bedroom timeshare units all feature kitchens and balconies overlooking the pool, the garden area, or the Andaman Sea. The entire property was designed to be low impact on the environment while offering guests and timeshare owners both the beauty of natural Phuket along with the fun of West Sands Water World, one of the largest water parks in Asia.

“We are very pleased to have added West Sands Phuket Beach Club to our exchange network,” says Interval International’s Asia Pacific Executive Director, Joe Hickman. He adds, “Along with its high design standards, the eco-friendly development will contribute to preserving the environment and to more enjoyable and economic living.”

As if South Africa timeshare wasn’t already a growth market, the global attention on South Africa during the World Cup served to fuel an ever-increasing desire of many people to travel and vacation there. This year, VOASA, the Vacation Ownership Association South Africa, will be hosting its annual industry conference at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel in Durban.

Planned as a time for focusing on the future of the growing South Africa timeshare market, attendees can also expect plenty of opportunities for exchanging ideas, interacting with others in the timeshare industry, and helping to chart the future in this potentially hot market. David Clifton, Managing Director of Interval International will be the event’s keynote speaker.

Topics for discussion include:

• The Consumer Protection Act, presented by Brian Mdluli, CEO Direct Marketing Association of South Africa.
• Understanding the New Estate Agents Curriculum, presented by Margaret Nicol, CEO Margaret Nicol and Associates.
• Timeshare Sales, Tele-Sales, and Telemarketing Workshop, presented throughout the conference sessions by Mr. Clive Price of the Peer Group.

The VOASA Conference 2010 (August 29-31) will also include entertainment, a gala awards evening, and of course, great golf. The opportunity to take part in the sponsored Golf Day to be held at the Durban Country Club Beachwood course on August 29 is a reason within itself to attend this timeshare conference. Beechwood, a narrow, links style golf course, is now considered part of the famed Durban Country Club, one of the greatest golf courses in the world.

If you have never been to South Africa, August is an ideal time to go, as the South African ‘winter months’ come to a close, and spring is just around the corner. And when playing the Beechwood Golf Course, don’t be surprised if you run across monkeys in the bushes. Just consider them your gallery, however, and don’t invite them to lunch; golfers are discouraged from feeding the monkeys.

You can learn more about the VOASA Conference 2010 at: www.tisa.co.za

Women in the Industry (WIN) is a non-profit organization created to promote, educate and connect women in the vacation and timeshare industry. In May, WIN launched its second annual Travel Auction that offers WIN members and their friends and families the opportunity to bid on donated vacation weeks beginning at $200 and including timeshare vacation opportunities at resorts worldwide.

The auction raised $9,348 in support of The Auskell Medical Clinic, located on Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Donors included Bluegreen, Island One, Festiva Resorts, Hawaii Vacation Club, ResorTime.Com, Interval International, RCI Endless Vacations, Dial an Exchange, San Francisco Exchange, Vacations Only, Lagonita Lodge/Alderwood Advantage, Marriott Vacation Club, Massanutten Resort, Shell Vacation Club, American Resorts International, Pollard Brook and Ron Jon Cape Caribe, Condominium Travel Club.

A Lifesaving Effort

This year’s target was to raise money to help fund the purchase of a mammography machine for The Auskell Medical Clinic. Because of the efforts of the women of WIN, five women have been saved through early detection provided by a previous mammogram machine that WIN replaced.

With a threefold purpose to unite and ignite combined strengths; to offer education scholarship and research opportunities; and to partner with charities that support the health, education and welfare of women and adolescent girls in need, the women of WIN represent the timeshare industry well.

To learn more about WIN, go to www.womenintheindustry.org