It has been just one year since Holiday Inn Club Vacations timeshare launched its cobranded resorts though an alliance between IHG and Orange Lake Resorts. And despite coming into the timeshare market at one of the most challenging times in the history of the industry, Holiday Inn timeshares/Orange Lake Resorts are a remarkable success.

The unique branding alliance between the two hospitality companies is structured so that Orange Lake Resorts, as a privately held company, continues to own and operate the timeshare resort properties. IHG comes into the timeshare sales industry to help market the properties, yet without the financial burden of a capital investment.

As Christian Hempell, vice president New Business Delivery, the Americas, IHG explained in an interview with Financial, “This is the tale of two systems coming together to create a better timeshare business model. The unique nature of the two-system alliance means that we at IHG can concentrate on promoting the timeshare resorts through the power of Priority Club Rewards and our world-class distribution channels.”

Here’s how Hempell explains the result of combining the two brands, “Orange Lake can capitalize on their 30 years of proven timeshare success in the top leisure market in the US, one of the strongest management teams in the timeshare industry, and their strong balance sheet with existing capital to invest in growth. By focusing on the strengths of publicly-traded IHG and privately-held Orange Lake Resorts, we’ve made Holiday Inn Club Vacations an industry success story.”

What’s Holiday Inn Timeshare Doing to Attract New Timeshare Owners?

A new call transfer system introduced by IHG has delivered approximately 1000 phone calls per day to Orange Lake timeshare resorts from Holiday Inn hotel guests who are interested in learning more about becoming timeshare owners. And in 2010, Holiday Inn Club Vacations resorts expects an additional 5000 guests to tour Holiday Inn Club Vacation timeshares, all interested in buying timeshare and becoming new timeshare owners. Since the co-branding of Orange Lake Resorts timeshares and Holiday Inn Club Vacations timeshares, Orange Lake Resorts has seen a fourteen percent increase in the number of timeshare tours.

And as Holiday Inn Timeshare Resorts and Orange Lake Resorts continue to thrive and grow, creating many satisfied new timeshare owners, they are also helping to anchor the timeshare industry, and are making powerful and positive contributions to the US economy. Orange Lake Resorts has hired 700 employees so far this year. Starting with one resort—Orange Lake timeshare—Holiday Inn timeshare resort properties have already expanded to include six timeshare properties across the US.

Don Harrill, president and CEO, Orange Lake Resorts, says, “It’s been an exciting year for us, and we’ve not even seen the full impact that we expect as a result of our alliance. Next year, we’ll welcome thousands more guests to our resort destinations who are being introduced to Holiday Inn Club Vacations—and for some, timeshare—for the very first time. We are proud to present a product that can enhance vacation lifestyles for more families, with a brand that’s known and trusted worldwide.”

Hat tip to IHG, Orange Lake Resorts, and all the visionaries that got this obviously successful venture going. What you’re doing is good for the timeshare industry, good for timeshare owners, and very good for the economy.

The Timeshare Authority posts on IHG and Holiday Inn timeshares:

• Holiday Inn Timeshares Not Slowing Down in this Economy
• Another Major Hotelier Entering the Timeshare Resort Industry
• Orange Lake Timeshare Resorts Expanding in Vermont
• New Look at Orange Lake Country Club Timeshare

No, the seasonal holidays that typically give us all pause for reflection are not upon us quite yet, but they are close enough for me to begin looking at 2009, evaluating what an interesting year it has been. In the United States, 2009 brought a new President and new administration, a new economy that most of us hope resolves itself quickly and never returns, and a lot of new experiences for this country and the world at large. If challenge and adversity makes us stronger, then sadly, far too many people have had too many ‘character building’ experiences over the last 12 to 18 months.

Timeshare Sales and Timeshare Resales Improving their Services

Sell My Timeshare NOW has experienced a great number of changes. We’ve expanded our services, grown our business, and improved our business plans. I don’t mind telling you, none of it has been easy; change never is. As a timeshare resale and timeshare rental advertising company, we have been part of a timeshare industry in flux in a business climate undergoing major climatic change.

At the same time, many timeshare owners are finding their lives in flux as well. For some, the decision to buy timeshare, sell timeshare, rent timeshare, or use property as a timeshare rental is far more complicated than it would have been a few years ago. And these very issues are what motive us at Sell My Timeshare NOW to continually reevaluate our products and our services, striving to deliver real-world, workable solutions for both timeshare owners and the timeshare industry. The secondary market of timeshare resales should not be a challenge or a problem, but should be and CAN BE, an opportunity for families to enjoy and experience vacation ownership.

The Timeshare Industry and Timeshare Owners on the Bounce Back

As we all move forward toward a new year, I want to share with you some thoughts from a man who is both a legendary collegiate sports coach and a great motivator, John Calipari, currently the head coach of men’s basketball at the University of Kentucky.

In his recently released book, Bounce Back, Overcoming Setbacks to Succeed in Business and in Life, Calipari shares with readers the mindset that has helped him bounce back from crushing career lows lived out in the public eye to becoming the sports and motivational leader he is today. As he challenges readers to claim their “Second Life,” which he points out can be better than the first, he says, “Don’t allow your dreams to become daydreams.”

There are very few of us who don’t dream about spending more vacations with our friends and families; savoring more relaxing down time, and recharging our batteries with travel and new experiences. As time passes, people too often look back and wish they had spent more time with children, parents and siblings, and precious friends.

America is going to Bounce Back. Today’s hard times really can be the precursor of a second life, so pay close attention and don’t let your most meaningful dreams ebb away into only daydreams.

If you want to learn more about John Calipari’s life wisdom, you might want to sign up to follow his Twitter account, http://twitter.com/ukCoachCalipari. He’s admirers include nearly 1 Million Twitter followers on an account he opened late last April.

We’d also appreciate it if you join a much smaller crowd and follow Sell My Timeshare NOW on Twitter at:

• http://twitter.com/JasonTremblay_ (that’s @JasonTremblay_) and
• http://twitter.com/VacationHotDeal (that’s @VacationHotDeal)

Dubai constructions update
by Imre Solt (www.imresolt.blogspot.com)

The elegant Royal Club at Bonnington Tower in Dubai, a prestigious residential, commercial, and timeshare community, has joined the Interval International collection of timeshare exchange resorts. Now, this highly sought resort/residential destination joins Royal Club at Palm-Jumeirah and Royal Club at Downtown Dubai as Dermarr Real Estate’s (owner of the Royal Club properties) third timeshare resort affiliated with Interval International. Both Royal Club at Palm-Jumeirah and Royal Club at Downtown Dubai are fully sold out properties.

More Dubai Timeshare Luxury

The showpiece Bonnington Tower is 40 stories of five-star luxury, featuring 30 spacious and elegantly furnished one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and timeshare condos, six onsite restaurants and bars, 24/7 concierge service, and a host of amenities including hairdressers, the Leisure Deck with infinity pool, and a state-of-the-art gym exercise center. Located in the heart of Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Royal Club timeshare is near the Dubai Mall and the Mall of the Emirates, which features an indoor ski resort. The resort is also conveniently near the airport.

David Clifton, managing director for Interval International timeshare exchange says, “Interval International has worked with Royal Club in Dubai and its marketing partner for many years, and we’ve developed a relationship based on shared respect for quality product and service excellence. We have no doubt that the Royal Club at Bonnington Tower will be as valuable an addition to our network as the two other Royal Club resorts—Royal Club at Downtown Dubai and Royal Club at Palm, Jumeirah—have been.”

Interval International has been a recognized leader in timeshare exchange for more than thirty years. Today, the company includes a network of more than 2500 timeshare resorts in over 75 countries. Some 2 million member families enjoy timeshare exchange and timeshare services through Interval International.

For anyone who wants a Florida timeshare with year-round golfing conditions, and a PGA Tour tournament quality golf course, there is no better choice than Doral timeshares at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida.

Golfers already know that the famed Blue Monster at Doral, home of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship, has hosted PGA TOUR events for more than 45 years. But many fans of the game don’t realize that Doral offers four other courses that are equally as exciting to play.

Golf Vacations at Marriott’s Villas Doral Timeshare

This week, Doral Golf Resort officially unveils the new “Jim McLean Signature Golf Course” (formerly known as the Silver). The course, redesigned under the watchful eye of renowned golf guru Jim McLean, features some of the most challenging holes on any golf course in Florida.

7100 yards long, the par 70 course starts you off with 3 very exciting holes, each a nearly 500-yard, par 4. On the back nine, holes 13, 14, and 15 are formidably known as the “Bermuda Triangle”.

Even if your schedule won’t permit you to be a part of the November 13-15 launch of The Jim McLean Signature Course, a Doral timeshare resale or Doral timeshare rental will make it easy for you to regularly test your skills at this amazing golf and timeshare resort.

With Marriott’s Villas at Doral timeshares you can choose which course to play, lessons at the on-property Jim McLean Golf School, a relaxing day at the world famous Doral Spa, and then top it off with the glittering nightlife of Miami Beach.