Last week, when customers arrived at the Holiday Presentation Centre at Matford Park, Marsh Barton, Exeter, England, expecting to sit through a timeshare sales presentation, they found only the locked offices and a sign on the door, saying all presentations for the day were cancelled. The handwritten note, offering no additional explanation, left the prospective timeshare buyers – many of whom had traveled significant distances to attend the timeshare sales presentation – perplexed and grumbling.

What the consumers did not know at the time was that the Holiday Presentation Centre had been closed as part of a raid in a trading standards investigation into the selling of holiday schemes. According to a British publication, The Express and Echo, Peter Greene, the fair trading manager for the Devon County Council, said, “Devon Trading Standards officers have today (last Friday) exercised entry warrants at seven addresses in Exeter, Exmouth, and Somerset and seized an amount of material. The investigation is into alleged breaches of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and the sale of holiday ownership schemes. Inquiries are ongoing.”

While police officers were on the scene to prevent any potential disturbance by irate consumers, they would not discuss the situation, as it involves an ongoing investigation.

Problems in the Past at this Timeshare Sales Center

Over the past few years, there have been numerous timeshare sales or vacation presentation companies in action at this location. Most research suggests that it appears to always be the same company (or individuals) operating under different names, sometimes simultaneously.

History tells us that this is a case of buyer beware. Many consumers are contacted via cold call (meaning they didn’t sign up to receive information about timeshare sales and a “free” timeshare vacation). Complaints have been filed by those who attended, that the timeshare sales presentation often changes from the 90 minutes promised to 3 or 4 hours, one must sit through in order to receive the free or discounted vacation. In a story we have all heard before, the timeshare vacation often comes with so many caveats that the average person is never able to schedule a holiday.

Anyone who feels that they may have been a victim in a misleading timeshare sales presentation (holiday scheme) at the Holiday Presentation Centre, is urged to contact Consumer Direct for advice. The telephone number is: 08454 04 05 06. Consumer Direct is the UK government-funded telephone and online service offering information on consumer issues. They are funded by the Office of Fair Trading and offered in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services.

Until recently, timeshare, in the US, along with other parts of the world, has grown at an excellent rate. After all, the market is global and there are always new timeshare buyers and timeshare renters and new “hot” timeshare destinations.

But when timeshares sales fail to increase by the leaps and bounds the resort industry is accustomed to, (as it has in the US in 2008) we focus on the industry cutbacks and forget that in other parts of the world, the industry is strong. For example, despite the soft economy and recessionary environment in many parts of the world; India timeshare sales are soaring.

According to the Hindu Business Line, Ms Radhika Shastry, Managing Director of RCI India, says “Transactions into India from our international members witnessed 39 per cent growth in November 2008 over the same month last year. For January, we are seeing 51 per cent growth over the same period last year. Timeshare is a family product, offers many holidaying options, gives its patrons flexibility in terms of exchanging destinations for a certain amount, and people are committed to holidays; all these features prevent the industry from getting hit during hard times, which may impact tourism in general.”

While India timeshare developers feared a slowdown in Goa, RCI (Resort Condominium International) reports instead that the region experienced international membership growth from November 2008 until early January 2009 of around 40 percent. Hindu Business Line goes on to quote Ms. Shastry as saying that more than 1400 member families (or roughly 5,000 guests) from South Africa, the US, Australia, and the United Kingdome have visited RCI India timeshare resorts since November.

Good news to hear when after the layoffs and cutbacks in the US!

Popular India Timeshare Destinations:

• Goa Timeshare
• Mumbai Timeshare

Sell My Timeshare NOW’s HOT 100 list timeshare resort number 40 is the Sheraton Vistana Villages timeshare. Located in Orlando, Florida, this resort is a great destination for a vacation your family will remember for years to come. When you buy timeshare at the Sheraton Vistana Villages resort, the fun isn’t just a one-time memory; it can become a treasured family tradition you enjoy year after year.

You already know all that Orlando timeshares offer for honeymooners, the family vacation, or the perfect empty-nester destination. There are theme parks, lakes, water fun, and sports, along with restaurants, clubs, museums, and idyllic places to relax. You name it, whether it is golf clubs or nightclubs, the central Florida vacation area offers it all.

Amenities Galore at the Sheraton Vistana Villages Orlando Timeshares

The Sheraton Vistana Villages timeshares are located on Orlando’s famous International Drive, where restaurants, shopping, and attractions abound. Sheraton Vistana Villages timeshare runs shuttle buses to the Walt Disney World ® Resort, Magic Kingdom ® Park, Epcot ®, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom ® Theme Parks. Taxi service is available for Universal Studios Florida ®, Sea World ® Orlando, and Wet ‘n Wild. On or near the property you can also enjoy a fitness center, game room, grocery store, pools, sauna, tennis, massage, basketball, barbeque grills, and a playground.

Sheraton Vistana Villages timeshare units are spacious one, two, or three-bedroom, two-bathroom suites, with a Jacuzzi tub in the master bath, living area with pullout sofa bed, dining area, and a full kitchen. Sleeping capacities range from a family of four to the whole gang, with plenty of room for up to twelve adults. Cribs and highchairs are available upon request.

Join the Starwood Vacation Ownership Family

Owned by Starwood Vacation Ownership, the parent company of Westin and Sheraton hotels, Sheraton Vistana Villages timeshares are part of Starwood timeshare family. In many cases, when you buy Starwood timeshare resales, you may also qualify for membership in the Starwood Vacation Network, giving you access to Starwood properties worldwide. To learn more about the options in timeshare exchange, and what may be possible when you buy Vistana Villages timeshare resales, visit the website of SellMyTimeshareNOW.com

Yesterday’s The Timeshare Authority blog profiled two HOT 100 properties in the same post, and today we are doing it again… only this time, we are looking at two sections of the same resort, collectively ranking number 41 on Sell My Timeshare NOW’s hot property list.

Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas I and Villas II is a Palm Desert, California timeshare classic, offering amazing weather, some of the best golf in the world, and a quintessential atmosphere of relaxation and living the good life.

The original JW Marriott Desert Springs resort set the standard for luxury hotels, spas, and golf resorts in the beautiful Palm Desert area. Recently renovated, it has reclaimed its place as a favorite destination for locals and tourists to enjoy restaurant dining, clubs, and an elegant but laidback southern California lifestyle.

While the spa and the fabulous golf are the top draws, other area attractions to enjoy while vacationing at this California timeshare resort include The Living Desert, a remarkable protected ecosystem; plays and performances at The McCallum Theatre; and family fun exploring the Palm Springs Air Museum and the Children’s Discovery Museum.

Accommodations at Marriott Timeshare’s Desert Springs Villas I and Villas II

Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas I provides its guest a choice of one or two-bedroom timeshare condos, access to the JW Marriott spa (some restrictions apply), full kitchens, separate living areas, access to the resort’s pools, and private balconies or patios. Marriott’s Desert Springs Villas II offers the same type of luxurious one and two-bedroom timeshares, minus pool access, and the spa is available only as an add-on fee.

Whether you enjoy your vacation at a Marriott Desert Springs Villa timeshare rental or you choose a lifetime of great vacations with a Marriott Desert Springs Villa timeshare resale, you will love the resort’s Mediterranean-style architecture, and the convenience of the El Picante Grill, and the MarketPlace, which is located next
to the Clubhouse.

Great Destination for a Timeshare Golf Vacation

Although southern California is loaded with championship quality golf courses, two outstanding places to play are the 36 holes at the Marriott Desert Springs Golf Course and the 27 holes at Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Country Club.

On the courses at both resorts you can enjoy the beauty of the Santa Rosa Mountains as a backdrop, but expect water – and plenty of it – because both the Marriott Desert Springs Golf Course and the Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Country Club were designed by Ted Robinson, “King of Waterscapes.”

Visit Sell My Timeshare NOW and pick out the timeshare resale or timeshare rental that is right for you, then go ahead—book a tee time!