In Saturday’s The Timeshare Authority, we quoted Sandy Grey as a critic of the new timeshare regulations recently put in place by the European Union. Grey, essentially, was saying that the new timeshare laws are not yet tough enough to protect tourists from themselves. His statement appeared to say less about the laws and more about his lack of confidence in the consumer’s ability to make sound decisions.

Timeshare Industry Critic in Hot Water

The November 24 edition of the OTE e-News (Organisation for Timeshare in Europe) reported that the High Court in London has ruled that Sandy Grey, chairman of the Timeshare Consumers’ Association (TCA), is the man behind Crimeshare, a website found guilty of libeling many reputable individuals and businesses affiliated with the timeshare industry. According to eNews, “From the High Court judgement, it now appears that for a number of years Grey has been responsible for the publication of a web site that contained serious and defamatory allegations about many of the leading brands in the European timeshare industry.”

The OTE’s newsletter went on to explain that the Crimeshare website appeared under five domain names, and included personal attacks against both employees of and the directors of timeshare companies. Additionally, the website published blacklists that included reputable timeshare businesses. Among the 200 or so companies appearing on Crimeshare’s blacklist have been the American Resort Development Association (ARDA); Resort Condominiums International (RCI); and the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE).

In tomorrow’s The Timeshare Authority, we will look at the role Bob Trotta, well-known pioneer of the timeshare industry in Europe, played in bringing the case against Grey. And remember, to share your timeshare news and talk with other timeshare owners, visit The Timeshare Forum at Sell My Timeshare NOW.

Sell My Timeshare NOW’s HOT 100 list timeshare property number 44 is the Westin Kierland Villas timeshare resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Located within the 730-acre master-planned community of Kierland, on ten beautiful acres, this Westin timeshare is an ideal destination for a quiet retreat or a romantic getaway.

Serene and low-key, the décor of this relaxing resort reflects the colors of the desert. Timeshare villas at this popular Westin resort include one-bedroom timeshare villas, one-bedroom premium timeshare villas, and two-bedroom lockoff units.

One-bedroom villas sleep four vacationers comfortably with 543 square feet of living space and 106 square feet of balcony. A larger, 871-square foot one-bedroom premium timeshare villa is actually the lockoff side of a two-bedroom lockoff unit. Two-bedroom lockoff units will sleep up to eight adults. Each side of a two-bedroom villa includes its own fully equipped kitchen and living area as well as its own bedroom and bath.

All of the Westin Kierland timeshare villas include the famous Westin Heavenly Bed ®, granite counter tops, solid maple cabinets, a 32-inch color television, a flat-screen television, CD player, Bose AM/FM radio, DVD player, fully equipped kitchen, dining area and access to a washer and dryer.

The timeshare villas at the Westin Kierland are adjacent to the Westin Kierland Hotel and Spa, making it easy for you to take advantage of all the spa treatments and services for which the resort is so well known. This is also an excellent vacation destination for golfers, bikers, horseback riding, relaxing by the pool, or enjoying local attractions including the Desert Botanical Garden, the Arizona Science Center, the Heard Museum, The Phoenix Zoo, the Pioneer Living History Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

Own a Westin Timeshare Resale

Currently Sell My Timeshare NOW offers more than 50 timeshare units for sale at Westin Kierland Villas. These are all timeshare resales, meaning that you can buy them directly from the owner for substantially less than they sold for originally.

To learn more about this HOT 100 list timeshare, visit the website for Sell My Timeshare NOW, then buy timeshare resales at Kierland Villas and enjoy the pleasure and convenience of vacation ownership at a truly affordable price.

The financially troubled residential community and vacation resort development company, Bluegreen, continues to announce employee layoffs. Bluegreen timeshares are closing three Wisconsin offices and laying off 110 workers as of January 20, when they will close their marketing facilities in Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, and Sun Prairie. Breaking this down, the layoffs means 25 jobs lost in Sun Prairie, 16 lost at the Wisconsin Dells Parkway office, and 69 layoffs at the company’s Christmas Mountain Road offices.

Wiscnews.com stated that the Wisconsin Department of Workforce development (DWD) says the company intends the layoffs to be permanent, although Wisconsin Dells Mayor, Eric Helland, said that he believes the jobs will eventually come back.

Early last week Bluegreen timeshare announced that 122 employees will be laid off in Florida, (many at their Boca Raton headquarters). The company then followed that announcement on Friday with the news that an additional 182 workers in Orlando will also be let go.

In Indiana, Bluegreen Timeshare plans to layoff up to 92 employees after the first of the year.

The situation at Bluegreen timeshare is similar to the problem facing other timeshare developers who found themselves overextended at a bad time, as credit got tighter and consumer purchases declined.

Other recent news about Bluegreen Timeshare from The Timeshare Authority:

• Bluegreen Timeshares and Westgate Timeshare Mogul Settle Pending Lawsuit
• Credit Crisis May Change the Deal for Bluegreen Timeshare Resorts
• Bad News for Bluegreen Timeshares

TATOC is the only elected consumers association to represent the interest of timeshare owners in Europe. TATOC works with all aspects of the timeshare industry including the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE), the exchange companies, timeshare developers, the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR), and other governmental agencies.

Formed in 1989, TATOC is a limited company that operates predominately as a networking group for members of timeshare owners committees.

The Objectives of The Timeshare Association TATOC

The objectives of the association are:

• To promote the maintenance of high quality standards of facilities and amenities, and to encourage the efficient management of timeshare resorts through communication and education.
• To lobby and campaign on matters related to timeshare and timeshare owners by liaison with trade industry bodies and government departments.
• To actively promote the positive image of timeshare through all communications channels.

To learn more about TATOC, visit www.timeshareassociation.org
Or contact them at:
Manchester House
84-86 Princess Street
Manchester, United Kingdom
Telephone +44 (0) 845 230 2430
Fax +44 (0) 870 916 7223

To interact with timeshare owners in an online forum, visit The Timeshare Owners Forum for Sell My Timeshare NOW.