There is a lot going on these days at Sell My Timeshare NOW. While we are always in growth mode around here, 2008 has brought an extensive increase in both the depth and the breadth of our timeshare resales and timeshare rentals advertising business.

And with such expansion comes the need for new faces, more helping hands, and experienced professionals. Which leads us to Sylvio Therault, Sell My Timeshare NOW’s new senior financial analyst.

Sylvio has over 20 years of experience in both publically held companies, and privately held corporations like Sell My Timeshare NOW. He understands that in less than 5 years we have grown to be a leader in timeshare resales and timeshare rentals, and he “gets it” when he hears us talk about our vision for the future.

Sell My Timeshare NOW’s Vision for the Future

As Leslie Martin, the vp of operations at Sell My Timeshare NOW says, “We are pleased to have Sylvio Theriault as part of our team. His expertise in analyzing and implementing critical cash flow management plans, financial controls and well-structured financial statements will help lead to key financing solutions and will position our company well for business growth.”

Sylvio holds an MBA from Northeastern University and a BA from Merrimack College and he comes to Sell My Timeshare NOW from the VXI Corporation in Rollinsford, NH, where he was the CFO and vice president of finance.

Welcome Aboard, Sylvio!

To read the Sell My Timeshare NOW official press release, click here.

Resort Condominiums International, (RCI) has entered into an agreement with ICE Gallery Asia Pacific, in a plan to offer RCI timeshare exchange members in Asia a choice of over 10,000 cruise itineraries from leading cruise lines.

While a recent article in CNNMoney.com says that these new extensive cruise exchange opportunities currently are available only to RCI members in Asia, one has to wonder whether they will soon be available to all members that rely on RCI for their timeshare exchange or banking of timeshare points and unused timeshare weeks.

The CNN Money article (published April 7, 2008) says, “RCI members will be able to exchange their vacation week or RCI Points® towards the purchase of up to four cabins at cruise exchange pricing plus only one transaction fee on selected cruises, depending on the type of cruise, cabin, date and destination. Alternatively, RCI Members and their family and friends can avail themselves of member-only special rates should they opt to purchase a cruise holiday outright through RCI, instead of exchanging their week or RCI Points.”

More Cruise Options for More Timeshare Owners

ICE is a leading worldwide cruise and leisure organization that specializes in value-added cruise programs, internet marketing solutions, and tech solutions for travel alliances between corporations, resorts, cruise lines and vacation suppliers. ICE will manage and operate the RCI Cruise program and they will provide cruise benefits and products to RCI timeshare exchange members. The partnership with ICE will enable some RCI timeshare exchange members to book or exchange timeshare for cruises through many of the biggest names in the cruise business, including Cunard, Holland-America Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, Disney Cruises, Celebrity, and Carnival Cruises.

Cruise vacations are growing in popularity worldwide. The World Cruise Shipping Industry to 2020 Report predicts that, world cruise passenger globally will reach 18 million by 2010, 22.6 million by 2015 and 27 million by 2020. With more timeshare owners gaining rights to exchange timeshare for a wider array of cruise products, who knows how high these numbers could grow?

As always, as I learn more about this program, I will share what I learn here in the Timeshare Owners Blog.

A Texas-based timeshare resales brokerage, that is a division of Stroman Realty, Inc., has released an interesting study on timeshare resales buying trends for transactions handled within their company. The study looked at timeshare sales based on the size of the timeshare unit, the location, and other factors that influence a consumer’s decision to buy timeshare. It also reported on trends that affect timeshare resales across the industry, such as why people resell timeshare or what marketing media best reaches potential timeshare buyers.

Like the research Sell My Timeshare NOW released earlier this year, both studies found that people don’t typically resell timeshare because they are unhappy with it, but more often because it no longer suits their lifestyle, needs, or the way they vacation.

One observation that came from this timeshare resales study is this, “As consumer internet usage has increased, the Timeshare Resale Industry has benefited significantly from the use of the Internet to advertise units for sale. This is because timeshare owners/sellers have never been able to use signage to help with their marketing due to resort restrictions. Since about 1995, the Internet has created an interactive growing conduit for timeshare property information utilized by buyers, wholesalers, brokers, and sellers. The Internet is the single largest factor that has improved the market for timeshare resales.”

Above all else, the study, like research developed for ARDA and research by timeshare developers, reinforces the idea that timeshare sales – both of new timeshare and timeshare resales – are on a very positive upward trend, and that consumer’s confidence in the timeshare or vacation ownership industry increases every year.

In other words, it is a good time to buy timeshare. And it is a good time to sell timeshare. Whatever your needs, at this point in your life, find a reliable, highly rated company to assist you and then move forward confidently with your timeshare transaction.

Earlier this month, Resort Condominiums International, known as RCI, announced an agreement with Al Ghaith Holdings regarding the Bavaria Executive Suites timeshare resort. Al Ghaith Holdings is a leading timeshare resort development company, based in Dubai. The new agreement will make the Bavaria Executive Suites timeshares part of RCI timeshare exchange.

RCI Timeshare Exchange Helps Shape the Face of Dubai Timeshare

RCI has played an integral role in bringing timeshare resorts and vacation ownership to Dubai. RCI, along with many timeshare developers has worked with regulatory agencies and lawmakers to assist in creating timeshare legislation that protects both the timeshare company and the timeshare buyer, while safeguarding Dubai’s cultural considerations and traditions. Nick Turner, managing director of Group RCI Middle East, commented on the forethought Dubai has demonstrated in preplanning its entry into the timeshare market, saying, “This aims to be well thought through and protects the interests of the consumer, developer, and brand of Dubai.”

The Bavaria Executive Suites will consist of two condominium towers, with a minimum of 450 one and two bedroom apartments. As the first timeshare resort on Shiekh Zayed Road, one tower will flank each side of the highway, giving the property prime access to Dubai’s new commercial and residential hub, and a location adjacent to Dubai Media City and the access route to the Palm Jumeirah. The timeshare resort will be conveniently close to the Mall of the Emirates, Jumeirah beach, golf courses, and many of the city’s attractions and business destinations.

The timeshare resort will include eight restaurants, sports centers, the newest Anagsana Spa, and a shopping arcade. As proof that the timeshare company hopes to attract both business travelers and vacationers, the Bavaria Executive Suites will include 40 fully equipped offices and a meeting center that can be configured to accommodate between 10 and 1000 business people.

The Future of Dubai Timeshare Sales

Dubai has aggressively committed to becoming a global destination for luxury vacations and tourism, yet has embraced timeshare real estate in a cautious and deliberate manner. Dubai is in the enviable position of being able to observe the smart moves and the errors made by other countries in regulating timeshare sales and timeshare resales and avoid mistakes others have made in the past.

People who want to buy timeshare or who are already timeshare owners should keep their eye on timeshare sales in Dubai…it could easily become one of the world’s top timeshare vacation destinations in the near future.