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Monday, timeshare industry leader Perspective Magazine announced that its GNEX 2014 keynote speaker will be none other than Captain Richard Phillips.

For those unfamiliar with Phillip’s incredible story, in 2009 the Captain and his crew aboard the MV Maersk Alabama were hijacked by Somali pirates, and Phillips was taken prisoner. An attack of this nature had not occurred in over 200 years, the last time a U.S. ship was hijacked.

President and CEO of the Perspective Group, Paul Mattimoe says, “We are delighted to have secured Captain Phillips who is in such high demand, to be our keynote speaker for our next GNEX Conference. As our audience is primarily senior level executives from successful companies around the globe, we are sure that he will connect with our attendees and delivery real ‘take-away’ value.”

The account of his journey has been recently released through the film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks. The film’s script is based upon Phillip’s memoir, A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea.

At the event, Phillips will personally share his heroic story of how he survived the infamous 5 day hostage situation and how organizations can survive against threats in their industry. As Captain and “CEO” of his multibillion dollar merchant ship, Phillips is no stranger to running a business.

GNEX 2014 Conference

The 4th annual GNEX conference for timeshare and travel industry experts will be held from February 9th-12th at the Ritz Carlton in Sarasota, Florida. Perspective Magazine refers to the event as a “Global Meeting of Minds”, where representatives from over 100 organizations meet to network. Additional guest speakers and panels will be announced as the conference draws near.

A new study conducted by SRI International, a leading research institute, has shown that the “wellness tourism” industry has reached a ½ trillion dollars annually. In 2012, the industry generated over $439 billion dollars and is projected to increase up to 10% per year over the next 5 years.

You may be wondering, what is wellness tourism?

A wellness trip is any vacation that involves improving the health or well-being of the traveler. This could include a dietary rehab, physical fitness trip, or even a journey to undergo surgery. In fact, almost any vacation in which the person feels that their wellness has improved can be viewed as wellness tourism.

It is a common theme among modern Americans that we are consistently striving to improve ourselves. Wellness tourism can be used as a relaxing retreat to rejuvenate the spirit or to provide a quick start to a healthy lifestyle. Both scenarios have become increasingly more popular with American travelers, as well as tourists around the globe.

It is also common to partake in wellness trips as a large group (corporate retreats, for instance). Many timeshare resorts across the country provide the perfect location for trips of this nature. A resort in the mountains of Colorado can provide a scenic backdrop for hiking and group activities, as well as quiet reflection.

Timeshare resorts can use this new “travel trend” to their advantage. Many new resorts already feature spas, health clubs, and wellness centers but do not promote these facilities to wellness enthusiasts. As the wellness industry continues to grow into what has the potential to become a trillion dollar industry, it’s time to get on board.

The Global Spa & Wellness Summit

The study conducted by SRI International was prepared in conjunction with the 2013 Global Spa & Wellness Summit. The findings had also proven that 1 in 7 tourism dollars is spent on wellness tourism.

To read the study, click here.

On Monday, Breckenridge Grand Vacations resort group announced that it will contribute a $500,000 donation toward building a local community center. The donation will be applied to plans announced earlier this year to rehabilitate a historic school house into a community center, library, and theater.

“We felt compelled to be a part of this project because it is our responsibility to give back to the community that has been so great to us”, says Mike Dudick, Owner and Developer of Breckenridge Grand Vacations. “The Breckenridge Grand Vacations Community Center will fulfill the expressed need for a central gathering place for visitors and locals alike.”

Located right in the heart of Breckenridge, Colorado, the old school house on Harris Street is more commonly known as the “old CMC building”. Needing more than just a little TLC, the Town of Breckenridge is very thankful for the generous donation from Breckenridge Grand Vacations. They have even decided to rename the community center as the Breckenridge Grand Vacations Community Center.

Member of the project’s Capital Campaign Committee, Leah Arnold states, “ “We are pleased to partner with Breckenridge Grand Vacations on this exciting restoration project, transforming a part of our heritage into a spectacular community gathering space. […] This gift shows pride in our town and its future, and we hope many will follow Breckenridge Grand Vacations’ lead.”
The community center will feature the new South Branch Library, replacing an older, existing space on Airport Road. New features to the library will include multifunctional meeting spaces, improved technology, and expanded areas for children, young adults, adults, and staff.

The building will also house the popular Speakeasy Movie Theater. For the past 20 years, the Speakeasy Movie Theater has shared the art of classic films with inhabitants of the town. The theater also features a yearly film festival as well as presentations for the community.

A central member of the community, Breckenridge Grand Vacations owns some of the most popular timeshare resorts in the area including Grand Timber Lodge, Grand Point Resort, and Grand Lodge on Peak 7. They have also made a name for themself in the timeshare industry, winning an award from ARDA for Employer of Choice.

The Breckenridge Grand Vacations Community Center is scheduled to open in October 2014.

Last week, the Hilton Grand Vacations team in Orlando, Florida participated in Hilton Worldwide Global Week of Service. From October 6th-12th over 125 team members from Hilton Grand Vacations Club volunteered for Central Florida’s Coalition for the Homeless.

President of Hilton Grand Vacations, Mark Wang shares, “The Hilton Grand Vacations team proudly shares our support of Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida. We remain committed to positively impacting the lives of our neighbors in need and this signature volunteer event enables us to make an important difference […] Service is at the heart of our business, and today, we are spending the afternoon spreading the light and warmth of Hilton hospitality.”

Throughout the week, volunteers completed 10 different projects for the Coalition for the Homeless, which will help thousands of members of the Orlando community.

President and CEO of Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Brent Trotter says, “We sincerely appreciate the support we receive from Hilton Grand Vacations. Today is an amazing reflection of their commitment, and their team members are engaged in volunteer efforts and service projects all year long. The consistent, committed support that Hilton Grand Vacations provides to our organization makes a very meaningful impact and we are so grateful for their contributions.”

The Global Week of Service is Hilton’s largest annual volunteer effort. From corporate offices to their many timeshare resorts, employees come together to give back to their communities and its members. During Hilton Worldwide’s 2012 Global Week of Service, team members from over 600 resorts and offices participated in the volunteer effort and were able to complete over 800 service projects. This year, the company hopes to complete over 1,200 volunteer projects.

Learn more about Hilton Worldwide’s Global Week of Service on the Hilton Grand Vacations Blog.