The opening keynote speaker for this year’s ARDA World 2012 timeshare industry conference will be noted loyalty expert and the creator of the “Net Promoter Score,” Frederick Reichheld.

Reichheld is the founder of Bain & Company’s loyalty practice, is a Bain Fellow, and is responsible for helping companies achieve enhanced results by strengthening customer and employee loyalty. He is the creator of the Net Promoter system of management.

Reichheld has authored numerous bestselling books, including: The Loyalty Effect: The Hidden Force Behind Growth, Profits, and Lasting Value (HBSP 1996); Loyalty Rules! How Today’s Leaders Build Lasting Relationships (HBSP 2001), and The Ultimate Question: Driving Good Profits and True Growth (HBSP, 2006).

His newest book, The Ultimate Question 2.0: How Net Promoter Companies Thrive in a Customer Driven World (HBR Press-Sept. 2011), looks at how businesses practicing the Net Promoter System (NPS) have used Reichheld’s principles to generate exceptional results. Included among those noteworthy companies are: American Express, Apple Retail, Philips, Schwab, Allianz, and Intuit.

ARDA Timeshare Conference

The keynote address of Frederick Reichheld will be only one of many highlights of this year’s ARDA The World 2012 Conference, scheduled for April 1-5, 2012, at The Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Follow this link to register for the ARDA The World 2012 timeshare conference. And be sure to play the video to learn more about the wisdom and insights of Frederick Reichheld.

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?

Once intended to be Westgate Resorts timeshare’s most extravagant venue, PH Towers Westgate at Planet Hollywood is now under the controlling interest of Resort Finance America LLC.

The 1201 timeshare-unit property opened in late 2009, at what was perhaps the timeshare industry’s most uncertain point in the current US economic recession/depression.

Westgate Resorts CEO David Siegel has reiterated in recent days the same message he has delivered throughout the past two years, that the recession has hurt his timeshare company because banks have been so reluctant to loan money.

Changes Planned for this Las Vegas Timeshare Resort

Resort Finance America has set Hilton Grand Vacations (Hilton Timeshare) to become the new brand for the PH Towers Westgate at Planet Hollywood. Lantern Asset Management of Dallas will provide management services while Hilton timeshare will provide the timeshare sales and marketing services.

Rebranding of this Las Vegas timeshare as a Hilton timeshare, means Hilton Grand Vacations will now have four Las Vegas timeshare resorts, including the:

Hilton Grand Vacations at the Flamingo

Hilton Grand Vacations Las Vegas Hilton

Hilton Grand Vacations Las Vegas Strip

Be sure to read The Timeshare Authority blog on Monday, November 28, 2011, when we will look at the changing dynamic at Westgate Resorts.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations has added its seventh timeshare resort destination with the addition of a 36-unit resort on the Rio waterway in the City Center District of Marco Island.

Don Harrill, president and CEO of Orange Lake Resorts, the timeshare developer that manages Holiday Inn Club Vacations properties, explains,  “As part of our alliance with IHG, we said we’d grow Holiday Inn Club Vacations in places where our Holiday Inn Club Members have said that they want to vacation. Our Members have asked for another drive-to destination in Florida, and Sunset Cove Resort delivers just that, with a unique and upscale experience for all owners and guests who visit.”

Beautiful Marco Island, located on Florida’s southern Gulf Coast, is an extremely popular Florida timeshare destination with pristine beaches and a unique but elegant island lifestyle. The new Holiday Inn Club Vacations Sunset Cove Resort offers three-bedroom timeshare villas ranging from a spacious 1667 to 1900 square feet, with views of either the Gulf of Mexico or Smokehouse Bay.

In keeping with Holiday Inn Club Vacations standards, the timeshare villas will be renovated to include such details as granite countertops and fabrics and furnishings that are consistent with the company’s Signature Collection décor. Amenities for Holiday Inn Club Vacations owners and their guests include a pool with sundeck, bar, boat dock and fitness center. The property is part of the RCI Registry Collection^® (Resort Condominium International).

Holiday Inn Club Vacations Timeshare

The expanding locations of Holiday Inn Club Vacations include:

• Orange Lake Resort, an Orlando timeshare.
• Panama City, a Panhandle area, Florida timeshare.
• Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
• Brownsville, Vermont.
• Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
• Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
• New expansion with a Las Vegas timeshare destination.
• And member access to Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts and IHG’s network of more than 4,400 hotels worldwide.

“At Holiday Inn Club Vacations, we offer great resorts where families can create their own vacation experiences,” said Del Ross, vice president, U.S. Sales and Marketing, IHG. “We offer our guests the flexibility to vacation when, where and how they want to, all under the comfort and security of a well-known and trusted brand like Holiday Inn.”

The Lubner Group has recently completed the second phase of a five-year renovation project on the Las Vegas timeshare, the Carriage House.

Located only a block off the “Strip” in Vegas, the Carriage House has 155 timeshare units, ranging in size from 350 to 1,800 square feet. Renovations include new flooring, complete kitchens with cabinetry, appliances and fixturing. The timeshare unit redesign also includes new headboards, nightstands, a custom crafted wall unit that both houses the flat-screen TV and serves as a space divider between two areas of the timeshare, and new case goods and soft goods. Of the 17 units included in this phase of the redesign, two were completed as ADA units.

Carriage House General Manager Amy Lowell says this of the Lubner Group, “We wanted to work with a company that could handle the entire turnkey project. They helped us with design, fabrication, installation and warehousing of materials. Throughout the entire process, they have been extremely well organized and highly responsive to our needs. We continue to be impressed with their services and the quality of their furnishings.”

Among the many renovations done by the team at The Lubner group are:

• The Breakers Palm Beach
• City Centre in Las Vegas
• Projects at Disney World
• Multiple Bluegreen timeshare resorts
• And many popular timeshare and fractional properties in Branson, Jamaica, Anguilla, and Costa Rica

Related news from The Timeshare Authority Blog:
Timeshare Industry Welcomes Newly Launched Lubner Group

Find great deals on Carriage House timeshare resales and Carriage House timeshare rentals.

After a long hot summer of economic turbulence and a long hard week in which the eastern seaboard, from the Caribbean to Canada, has dealt with earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding, this Labor Day weekend holiday comes as a welcome respite to many.

As we head into this last traditional weekend of summer, it’s a good time to look at the top timeshare resales and top timeshare rentals in demand with consumers. These resorts that made this list are timeshares that consumers have made popular with their offers to buy or rent as timeshare resales here at Sell My Timeshare NOW and Timeshare Broker Services.

HOT 100 Timeshare Resales and HOT 100 Timeshare Rentals

Download your free copy of the Hot 100 Timeshare Resales Report

Download your free copy of the Hot 100 Timeshare Rentals Report

Who made the top 10 on the Hot 100 Timeshare Resales Report?

1. WorldMark by Wyndham – Multi-Destination
2. Grandview at Las Vegas - Las Vegas, Nevada
3. Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club –  Maui Hawaii
4. Paradise Village Beach Resort & Spa - Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico
5. Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas – Maui, Hawaii
6. Marriott’s Grande Vista – Orlando, Florida
7. Manhattan Club - Manhattan, New York
8. Ocean Beach Club – Virginia Beach,  Virginia
9. Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club – Oahu, Hawaii
10. Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort- Orlando, Florida

Click the image to download the report.

Who made the top 10 on the Hot 100 Timeshare Rentals Report?

1. Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club – Palm Beach, Aruba
2. Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club - Oahu, Hawaii
3. Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas – Maui, Hawaii
4. Harborside Resort at Atlantis – Nassau, Bahamas
5. Marriott’s Newport Coast Villas – Newport Coast, California
6. Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club –  Maui Hawaii
7. Marriott’s Ocean Watch Villas at Grande Dunes – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
8. Manhattan Club - Manhattan, New York
9. Holiday Inn Club Vacations at Orange Lake’s West Village – Orlando, Florida
10. Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort- Orlando, Florida

Click the image to download the report

Over the next few days we will look at these resorts and I’ll share more information with you about the current trends we are seeing in timeshare resales and rentals.

Last week, popular timeshare company Orange Lake Resorts and its branding partner, Holiday Inn Club Vacations® announced the addition of two new properties to their family of resorts. (See: Holiday Inn Club Vacation Timeshare Expanding)

Here’s a closer look at what each of these resorts has to offer and what they mean for member/owners at Holiday Inn Club Vacations.

New Orange Lake Las Vegas Timeshare Destination

The Las Vegas Desert Club in Las Vegas (formerly a part of Summer Bay Resorts) gives Orange Lake timeshares it first Las Vegas vacation destination and first destination in the western part of the US. Located just off the Las Vegas Strip, the Las Vegas Desert Club features 5 pools, 5 Jacuzzis, premier concierge service and a complimentary shuttle to many of the most popular locations along The Strip.

This three-story resort includes 648 one-and two-bedroom timeshare units. Other on-property amenities include a new, state-of-the-art clubhouse, a convenience store, fitness center, restaurant, bar, putting green and more.

As the folks at Orange Lake Resorts say, they have, “headed west!” with this addition to their resort destinations that already included Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Panama City, and Orlando, Florida;  Brownsville, Vermont;  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

New Orange Lake Marco Island, Florida Timeshare Destination

With the acquisition of the Sunset Cove timeshare in Marco Island, Florida, Orange Lake Resorts now has a south Florida resort on the Gulf of Mexico. This beautiful property includes 36 three-bedroom/ 2 bath timeshare villas and is located on the Rio waterway in the City Center, Marco Island’s new entertainment, shopping and dining district.

Each timeshare unit ranges from 1,667 to 1,900 square feet and includes views of either the Gulf of Mexico or the Bay. Amenities include a pool with sundeck, a bar and promenade area, boat dock and a fitness center. This property is part of RCI’s distinguished Registry Collection® program and Orange Lake Resorts will be bringing all Sunset Cove units into its upscale “Signature Collection.”

Any way you look at it, it looks like Orange Lake Resorts and the Holiday Inn Vacation Club just keep getting better and better.

The big news in timeshare today is that vacation resort developer Orange Lake Resorts is expanding both to the Gulf Coast beaches of Marco Island, Florida and to the bright lights and glitter of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Joining the Holiday Inn Club Vacations® brand of Orange Lake Resorts will be the Sunset Cove Resort at Marco Island and the Desert Club Resort, which is located just one block off the Las Vegas Strip. Although both resorts have been part of the Summer Bay Resorts network, other properties under the Summer Bay timeshare brand will not be involved in this acquisition.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) operates the following hotel brands: InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites®.

In September 2008, Holiday Inn Club Vacations was created through a strategic alliance between IHG and Orange Lake Resorts, an established leader in vacation ownership. Currently other Orange Lake Resorts timeshares include: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; Panama City, Florida; Brownsville, Vermont; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Gatlinburg, Tennessee along with Orange Lake’s flagship property in Orlando, Florida, near the vacation destination attractions of the Walt Disney World Resort.

Holiday Inn Vacation Club members enjoy access to Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts and IHG’s network of more than 4,400 hotels worldwide.

Related News from The Timeshare Authority Blog:

Timeshare CEO of Orange Lakes to become new ARDA Chairman

Another Timeshare Company Honored as a Great Place to Work

Holiday Inn Timeshares Not Slowing Down in this Economy

Another Major Hotelier Entering the Timeshare Resort Industry

Robb & Stucky Interiors are one of the finalists in the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) annual Awards Program recognizing excellence in the timeshare and vacation ownership industry.

Competing in the Resort Design Division, Robb & Stucky’s design and décor work includes Bluegreen timeshare’s Harbour Lights resort in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Carriage House Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, both in the Resort Refurbishment category. For Interior Design on a New Resort Unit, Robb & Stucky is recognized for its work on Bluegreen timeshare’s Presidential Suites at The Fountains Resort, an Orlando, Florida timeshare resort.

Dan Lubner, President Hospitality Division for Robb & Stucky Interiors, says, “This was our second year to enter this competition. We are extremely pleased with this important recognition from ARDA since it reflects the high quality of our work within the vacation ownership resort and hospitality industries.”

Carriage House Resort, a Las Vegas Timeshare

Shown in the picture is one of the beautiful units that was part of the Carriage House renovation. Gail Huff, ASID and NCIDQ, served as Senior Project Designer for the first phase of this renovation, which included 30 of the resort’s 158 total units.

Carriage House, a Las Vegas timeshare, is a mixed-use property, including both hotel rooms and a timeshare resort. With this challenge, Robb & Stucky effectively designed spaces that include modern residential conveniences paired with urban sophistication.

Award winners in each category will be announced at a Black Tie Gala held in conjunction with ARDA’s annual convention in Orlando, Florida, March 30, 2011. Sell My Timeshare NOW is a proud member of the American Resort Development Association.

Last week, ARDA (the American Resort Development Association) released a media announcement looking at American travel trends for 2011. Here’s some of the patterns they identified:

• Americans will be traveling more in 2011 than in the past few years.
• Trip Advisor estimates that 69 percent of travelers will take international trips this year with the top three destinations being Paris, London, and Rome.
• Trip Advisor predictions also show that in the US, top destinations are Las Vegas, New York City, and San Francisco.

Travel and Timeshare Sales and Timeshare Rentals

What does this renewed enthusiasm for travel indicate for timeshare sales, timeshare resales, and timeshare rentals? Many things, all of which are as good for timeshare owners as they are for the timeshare industry.

As more people discover the opportunities of timeshare rentals, the spacious accommodations and the great prices, travelers will quickly realize that their vacation dollars are going further, allowing them to travel more or stay longer. And timeshare owners who want to rent timeshares they currently own may find a larger and more competitive market for renting timeshare.

And as travelers take to the highways and skyways, timeshare sales companies and timeshare resale brokers will be able to market in targeted ways, recognizing in advance the trending interest in Las Vegas timeshare, New York City timeshare, San Francisco timeshare, and European timeshare. As Howard Nusbaum ARDA president and CEO, explains, “This resurgence of travel is terrific news for the timeshare industry. More travelers are beginning to understand the value and comfort of a timeshare vacation and with resorts in all of these popular 2011 destinations, vacationers will find exactly what they need.”

Follow this link to read the ARDA media release in full.