Author: Staff Contributor

Royal Holiday Club Timeshare Fires Back

Royal Holiday Club Timeshare Fires Back

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Author: Staff Contributor | Topics: ,

Back in April, when The Timeshare Authority reported on complaints against Royal Holiday Timeshare, we weren’t the only one talking about the problems and alleged problems at this vacation club company. First, there was the investigation by ABC’s 20/20, and then came all the sources that followed up the 20/20 story. Among the publications covering the topic was TimeSharing Today, a timeshare owners magazine that has been in print since 1991.

To get caught up on the matter, you may want to read our past blog posts on the subject:

A Response from Royal Holiday Club Timeshare Company

In short, some timeshare owners at Royal Holiday felt that the product they bought was not as it was represented to them in the timeshare sales pitch they attended. Louis Laara Gonzalez, Director General of Royal Holiday Club, responded to the matter in general, and specifically to TimeSharing Today’s coverage of the situation, with a letter that included the following…

“I want to make absolutely clear that both the resale program you reference and the “International Leisure Group” name under which it was marketed were fraudulent undertakings by rogue sales individuals and were presented to prospective members without the knowledge, approval or involvement of Royal Holiday. The false promises that were made run counter to everything that we stand for at Royal Holiday. We have not only dismissed the individuals who engaged in these unscrupulous activities, but also initiated criminal proceedings against them…”

In his letter, which TimeSharing Today ran as a front cover item, Gonzalez went on to describe Royal Holiday Club as one of the largest and most successful vacation clubs in the world with a 25-year track record of providing outstanding service and vacation experiences. And in the spirit of fairness, the magazine additionally ran an article from a couple who have owned Royal Holiday Club timeshare since 1998 and who had only good things to say about the years they have spent with them.

For all of us involved in timeshare sales, timeshare resales, and timeshare rentals, it is important that we tell timeshare owners about problems, fraud, or scams that may be out there. But it is just as important, that we all also report on when and how these matters are remedied.

Timeshare Sales Analysis Overlooks Timeshare Resales

Timeshare Sales Analysis Overlooks Timeshare Resales

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Author: Staff Contributor | Topics: , ,

When financial analysts for Goldman Sachs looked at the timeshare industry recently, they may have overlooked something very important – the impact of timeshare resales.

In an article released last week, CNN.com reported that financial analyst Steven Kent, had observed that the timeshare industry would be one segment of the economy likely to see growth in 2008. Kent noted that the timeshare industry would probably see gains despite the real estate slump and the credit crunch. But he overlooked one other very important fact; he failed to give credit to timeshare resales for also slowing the sales of new timeshare.

While the lodging industry overall is feeling the crunch as consumers tighten their grasp on their dollars, timesharing is one segment of the hotel and lodging arena that continues to grow. But the timeshare industry isn’t escaping the weak economy totally unscathed; increases in the number of timeshares sold will be only slightly greater in 2008 than they were in 2007. In other words, timeshare sales are predicted to increase this year, but the percentage of growth will be less than it has been in the past.

The Associated Press article noted that Marriott International Inc, shares had fallen by 17 cents to $28.25 after hitting an earlier three-year low of $28.01. Similarly, Wyndham Worldwide Corp had gained 26 cents, but only after having already dropped to a low of $18.64 earlier that same day. While analysts may point their finger at the overall weak US economy, they are remiss in not addressing the effect timeshare resales have on the sale of new timeshares.

The Attraction of Timeshare Resales

Thanks to online timeshare advertising services like Sell My Timeshare NOW, it has become remarkably easy for timeshare owners to advertise their timeshare for sale, gaining global visibility on the World Wide Web. People interested in buying timeshare are turning to the resale marketplace to buy the same properties sold as new timeshare, but at a fraction of the price.

To quote James Carville, in advising former President Bill Clinton during his successful political campaign against former President George H. W. Bush, “…it’s the economy, stupid.”

But in this case, it’s also the value and ease of buying timeshare resales.

Economists, peering into their crystal balls, are negligent when they overlook the incredible impact that timeshare resales have on the sale of timeshares purchased from developers. As more and more people come to understand that the best values in vacation lodging today are in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals, bought or rented directly from the people who own them now, timeshare developers will continue to see changes in the timeshare marketplace.

…And that’s okay. The automobile industry can handle the co-existence of dealers that sell new cars, dealers that sell previously owned cars, dealers that sell both, and current car owners that resell their cars themselves…it works with cars…and it works with timeshares.

Sell My Timeshare NOW HOT 100 Property # 95

Sell My Timeshare NOW HOT 100 Property # 95

Monday, June 23, 2008

Author: Staff Contributor | Topics: ,

The Grand Mayan Riviera Maya timeshare resort comes in as HOT List property number 95 on this year’s list of the timeshare resorts that received the most offers to buy or rent through Sell My Timeshare NOW. This beautiful resort is located just 20 miles from Mexico’s Cancun International Airport at Playa del Carmen, where the aquamarine waters of the Caribbean meet white sand beaches along Mexico’s Riviera coast. The locals call this beachside city, “Playa”.

Many vacationers and timeshare owners at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya find Playa to be just the right mix of nightlife and sizzle paired with an authentic Mexican laidback lifestyle.

From this timeshare resort, you can take the ferry to Cancun, explore the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, Uxmal or Tulum/Coba, or enjoy all the beachside activities for which the warm, clear waters of the Caribbean are famous.

What to Expect in Your Grand Mayan Riviera Maya Timeshare Unit

Timeshare units at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya are categorized as: Master Rooms (with two double beds, designed to accommodate 2 adults and 2 children); Suites (with a king-size bed and 2 sofa beds, designed to accommodate 4 adults and 2 children); and Master Suites (with a king-size bed, 2 doubles, and 2 sofa beds, designed to accommodate 6 adults and 2 children).

All suites include a stove, mini-fridge, microwave, small kitchen appliances, and dinnerware. Every timeshare unit at the resort has air conditioning, satellite or cable television, marble bathroom fixtures, ceiling fans, ironing boards, an electronic safe, and the vacation luxury of room service.

Besides the pool, tennis courts, and unique Nicklaus Design 18-hole, par 54 golf course, there is a spa, on-site medical services, and a cyber café.

Under development are plans to create a shopping area (in addition to the current Jade Boutique), a meeting and convention center, and a water park on-property at the timeshare resort.

Opportunities in Grand Mayan Riviera Mayan Timeshare Resales

Like all the properties on Sell My Timeshare NOW’s HOT 100 List, there are excellent opportunities for you to buy timeshare resales or rent timeshare at Riviera Mayan. You’ll find one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and two-bedroom lockout timeshare units for sale and for rent, with timeshare rental prices starting at under $100 per night along with many timeshare rentals listed as “negotiable”.

And when you plan your Grand Mayan Riviera Maya timeshare vacation, here are some interesting travel tips:

Don’t let the fact that some women sunbathe or walk the beaches topless give you the impression that nudity is permitted on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. Nudity, even going topless, is illegal and puts you subject to arrest at the discretion of local law enforcement.

Some taxi drivers have small television sets mounted on the dashboards of their taxis – in Mexico this is legal. The locals strongly advise against riding in cars driven by persons who are watching television as they drive. They suggest that either you seek out a taxi without a television or you use resort transportation.

Residents zip around the town on small motor scooters. While these are available to tourist as rentals, authorities say they are also the source of many ruined vacations. Unless you are very familiar with the streets and the driving style of the locals, you should probably avoid the scooters.

And lastly, there is no worm in Mexican tequila. If you think you’ve found one, you have either been drinking too much, or you’ve gotten a hold of some really bad tequila. You will find a worm in some mescal, a Mexican distilled spirit made from the agave plant (which is the plant also used for tequila making). The worm is a marketing gimmick that was developed in the 1940’s and is in no way authentic to the drink. When mescal is served with a worm, it is called, con gusan. When tequila is served with a worm, it is called a bad mistake!

Follow this link to learn more about Mexico timeshare resales from Sell My Timeshare NOW.

Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Timeshare Perspective, in an Exclusive Interview, PART III

Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Timeshare Perspective, in an Exclusive Interview, PART III

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Author: Staff Contributor | Topics:

This is the final post in a three-part blog series with the President & CEO of Perspective International Ltd & Timeshare Staff Ltd, Paul Mattimoe.

Over the past two days, Paul has shared with us the history and development of Timeshare Perspective magazine, and the development of the exciting new, Owners Perspective scheduled to launch early next month. In today’s The Timeshare Authority blog, Paul Mattimoe reflects on the state of the timeshare industry and what he sees in his crystal ball for the future.

Q: How do you see timeshare developers, timeshare resellers, and timeshare advertising and marketing companies coexisting? Are they competitors, or do you see them working to support each other and serving different aspects of the timeshare market?

A: Everyone competes, but the industry has changed a great deal in the past ten years and competition has gotten healthier. Although there are varying versions and opinions about relationships between developers and resale companies, there are more and more that are forging partnerships and it is inevitable as the industry continues to regain its credibility that the future consumer will dictate that they happily co-exist, just like the real estate or automobile industries. Thanks to the internet it is a very transparent world – consumers know that there are varying options available to them, and if they don’t, the first search engine they use will tell them that. To answer your question in relation to our publication, we will provide an independent and level playing field allowing them to coexist and let the readers decide what works best for them.

Q: How is (and will) the soft economy in the US; the escalating price of oil; and the uncertainty brought about by the pending Presidential election in America, impact the timeshare industry in the US and globally, from your perspective?

A: The timeshare industry is historically resilient against economic issues; higher occupancy rates compared with hotels have always carried existing resorts through any hard times. New sales may suffer slightly, but again, it’s usually the more affluent that are interested in timeshare who are less affected anyway. Look at the vacation home industry, they are likely to suffer as it is an expensive luxury item, but the fractional market is expected to benefit as where people may not be able to afford the whole villa they want to buy, they may still be able to afford a fraction of it, if they can’t afford that then maybe a timeshare is the right choice for now – everyone needs a vacation at some point.

Q: Is Dubai the current hot market for timeshare growth? If not, who is, and who will follow them as next?

Timeshare Perspective looks at Dubai timeshare opportunities.

A: Yes, everyone has their eyes focused on Dubai at the moment and Perspective Magazine has been covering the progress so you can read all about it in the past few editions, but since the consumer friendly timeshare law was tentatively approved in principle a couple of months ago it has given the green light to all the companies who were waiting in the wings, and now there seems to be a new proposed resort announced every week. Due to the wealth of the local marketplace within the Middle East, sales will boom, then international sales will begin and the industry will mature in the region. The expected success is also due to the way tourism has been cleverly planned out for Dubai. Further areas of future growth will be Asia, and in particular, China.

Q: Where do you see your company and your publications a year from now?

A: We have expanded greatly in the past twelve months, doubling the number of pages and increasing the circulation and exposure of Perspective Magazine in particular, so with a new magazine, buyers guide and resort guide, I think the next twelve months will be spent building each of these to maturity.

Q: Five years from now?

A: Five years from now we aim to have Perspective Magazine distributed to every active shared ownership resort and sales center in the world and hope to have Owners Perspective magazine offered to new members by the majority of developers and marketers globally.

Q: Any thoughts on how the internet is reshaping the way people buy and sell timeshare, and on what the future will bring, including Web 2.0; social networking; and the changing face of the internet in general?

A: With the growing credibility of the timeshare and fractional marketplace, the internet is being used more and more to promote the products, so there is no reason why in a few years time, purchasing online wouldn’t be a viable option – this would also bring about lower marketing costs thereby reducing the price of purchase (whilst increasing profits naturally) and making the products even more accessible to consumers.

Q: What is the most exciting news on the horizon for timeshares/ fractionals/ all aspects of vacation ownership?

A: All new resorts are now built bigger and better, major brands continue to include timeshare and fractionals in their mixed use developments, and as before the growing acceptance and perception change towards timeshare is leaning the industry towards another boom in the near future.

Q: And the biggest challenges?

A: To continue to educate the press / media and consumers about the difference between bogus holiday clubs that get branded as “timeshare scams” and the actual genuine article that the industry and major hotel brands offer. It is a long road, but many companies are now working together to change this.

The Timeshare Authority wants to thank Paul Mattimoe for his time and his valuable insights. If you missed any part of this 3-part interview, be sure you read The Timeshare Authority posts for June 18 and 19. If you haven’t already done so, follow this link to the Owners Perspective and sign up for your free subscription to this new magazine, that promises to be filled with info, insight, and valuable timesharing tips.

Click here to read Sell My Timeshare NOW‘s most recent press release about Owners Perspective.