Marriott Vacation Club’s Global Owner Services was honored as the “Contact Center of the Year” at the Fourth Annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.

Each year the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service recognizes exemplary sales associates, call center professionals, and customer service departments around the globe; this year considering more than 500 submitted entries in naming the winners.

Ron Essig, vice president, global owner products and services for Marriott Vacation Club International, says, “Being recognized as the ‘Contact Center of the Year’ is a great honor and a wonderful acknowledgment of the daily commitment our Owner Services Associates in Salt Lake City put forth. The formula for our success continues to be our relentless focus on customer service”

Marriott Timeshares Has Long Been Synonymous with Quality Customer Service

This is not the first Stevie award for Marriott Vacation Club International (see: Marriott Vacation Club Earns “Stevie”). In 2003, 2006, and 2008, Marriott timeshare earned the award in the “Best Customer Service Organization” division and in 2007, they were honored as “Best Sales Organization”.

Marriott Timeshare has long been recognized as a leader in providing top quality timeshare resorts and exemplary customer service. Marriott was one of the first hoteliers to enter the timeshare industry, and today, services more than 400,000 timeshare owners worldwide.

Guy Hall is the new Area Manager for Grand Pacific Resort Management, a California timeshare company. The privately owned timeshare vacation ownership management company is located in Carlsbad, California, and is one of the oldest and largest vacation ownership companies in California.

Hall’s responsibilities include two favorite California timeshare resorts, The Carlsbad Seapointe Resort timeshare, and the Coronado Beach Resort timeshare. He will also play a key role in the identification of acquisition and management contract candidates for the Grand Pacific Resort Management portfolio.

Nigel Lobo, Vice President of Grand Pacific Resort Management, says, “As General Manager at Carlsbad Seapointe, Guy has taken the resort to new heights, both in occupancy as well as guest satisfaction, once again earning RCI Gold Crown status for the resort. He has mentored and developed a solid team with the ‘all hands on deck’ resort credo the Seapointe team developed and has consistently implemented creative programs and activities.”

A forward thinking timeshare company, Grand Pacific Resort Management services more than 45,000 timeshare owners every year, managing over 1000 California timeshares and Hawaii timeshares.

Grand Pacific Resort Services (a California timeshare management company) wants their timeshare resorts to be both grand and green. With this in mind, the timeshare management company has launched a series of projects to help their California timeshare resorts accomplish the goals of being more environmentally conscious and more responsive to consumer expectations for environmental responsibility.

The Grand Pacific Timeshare Resorts Going Green Committee is both championing and documenting environmentally “green” practices of their resorts. Some of their suggested efforts include:

• Programs to educate timeshare guests and timeshare owners on areas of environmental responsibility, such as not using the air conditioner while the windows are open.
• Standardized ambient thermostat settings in timeshare units or common areas.
• Encouraging linen and towel re-use (already done at many timeshare resorts).
• Shifting laundry operations to off-peak energy demand hours.
• Installing shower aerators to control flow without decreasing pressure.
• Use of more energy efficient appliances.
• Energy management systems for water heaters.
• Use of CFL (compact fluorescent lighting) lighting throughout timeshare resorts.
• Recycling programs that are easy for both resorts and timeshare owners to utilize.
• Irrigation timers.
• Replanting with drought tolerant plants.
• Installation of ceiling fans.
• Use of recycled printer and ink cartridges.

And these are only some of the changes the Grande Pacific timeshare resorts Going Green committee is advocating, yet timeshare resorts are already seeing big returns. As Vice President of Resort Operations, Nigel Lobo says, “A lot of small, incremental changes add up to make a difference.”

For more information on Grande Pacific Timeshare Resorts follow this link from The Timeshare Authority: Wi Fi at Grand Pacific Timeshare Resorts

And for more on the Green Initiative throughout California go to: www.green.ca.gov

People who are buying homes and residential real estate right now are doing so because this is an excellent time to buy. And many consumers are finding the same to be true when it comes to buying timeshares, timeshare resales, or other vacation ownership real estate.

Timeshare companies and timeshare developers who sell new timeshare are working hard to earn the timeshare sale … you may find them more negotiable than ever. But the best deals are usually available in buying timeshare resales from belt-tightening, budget conscious timeshare owners, who are anxious to sell their timeshare in order to get out from under annual timeshare maintenance fees and/or property taxes.

So if you are interested in taking advantage of the better-than-ever deals available in timeshare and timeshare resales, here are some important questions you need to ask before you sign on the dotted line.

Applies When You Are Buying Timeshare Either New or as a Timeshare Resale:

• Make sure you know the resort name and exact location. Pay special attention to timeshare resorts that have been built in phases because the description of the Phase I property could be very different from Phase V property. Know the specific address of the timeshare unit or the timeshare property usage you are buying.
• Know the annual maintenance fees, how much they have increased over the years, and the date of the last increase.
• Find out what the property taxes are, if they are included in your maintenance fee, and how and when you pay them if you are responsible for making the payment yourself.
• In a points based system, know the number of points you are buying.
• Know whether you are buying a fixed or floating timeshare interval.
• How many rooms are in the unit, what is the square footage, and can you see a floor plan?
• Find out both how many people the unit sleeps as well as the number of bedrooms. These will not be the same number!
• Ask about the view from your unit. Are you beachside? Have a scenic view of the mountains? Or are you staring at the parking lot? Desirability of view can affect the value of the timeshare.

Applies Specifically When You Are Buying Timeshare Resale:

• Learn what, if any, privileges of timeshare ownership cannot be transferred in a timeshare resale.
• Know how you will handle the timeshare title transfer, the escrow account, and the closing contract.

Applies Specifically When You Are Buying Timeshare New From the Resort or Developer:

• Know the exact sales price you will be paying and the duration and interest rate of the timeshare mortgage if you are using developer financing.
• Know if you can transfer to another financing source without paying a penalty on developer financing and if there are time limits for doing this.
• Find out if there are perks, loyalty programs, or benefits you can take advantage of because you have purchased a new timeshare at the developer’s full price.

And while all of these are critical questions to ask before you buy timeshare or a timeshare resale, based on the situation, there may be many other important questions to ask as well. To make sure you wind up owning a timeshare that fits both your vacation needs and your budget, do three simple things:

1. Take your time, don’t let anyone rush you.
2. Do your own research so that you know exactly what you are buying and the terms of the sale.
3. Do not “settle” for a property that is almost-right. There are too many great deals in timeshare sales and timeshare resales for you to buy anything less than a timeshare that is ideal for you and your family to enjoy for many happy years.