European Timeshare

In 1979, The Osborne Club was established as one of the first English timeshare resorts. Located on five and a half acres within the tranquil gardens of Hesketh Crescent in Torquay, today this elegant English timeshare resort offers 46 one, two, and three bedroom timeshare units.

But The Osborne Club, a mature timeshare, with loads of English charm, is by no means behind the times. This UK timeshare resort just selected Merlin Software for Vacation Ownership to provide software for its resort operations.

As Sarah Smith, resort manager, explains, “As a mature resort our focus is on providing the best possible service to our owners and guests and the software we choose to run our systems will help us with this. From tracking ownerships and running our rental programme to management fee billing and owner reservations, Merlin can support all of our activities. We are delighted that Merlin works with all types of resorts from the newest start ups to mature resorts like the Osborne Club and are very impressed with their professionalism.”

Merlin is the only software available that is intrinsically web-based and served totally over the internet. It is considered to be a state of the art Business Application Software, incorporating modules for sales, marketing and front and back office.

Citadel Trustees has announced it will be a sponsor of Fractional Summits in the US, Europe and the Middle East. This is an exciting and significant commitment of sponsorship by Citadel Trustees, known as one of the leading providers of trustee and stakeholder services in the shared ownership and fractional real estate industry.

Piers Brown, founder of Fractional Life says, “It’s generally accepted that we raised the bar for fractional real estate conferences with the successful launch of our USA and MENA events in 2010 and are very happy to have signed this deal with Citadel. Our mission is to grow the fractional ownership marketplace, and for a company of their stature to show this level of commitment by sponsoring all our conferences this year, and the 2012 London event demonstrates significant confidence in what we are trying to achieve, as well as offering proof that Citadel shares our goals. We are delighted to have them on board.”

Chris Allen, Director, Client Services & Business Development for Citadel Trustees adds, “Sponsorship of the Fractional Summit conferences is essential to raise our company profile as we reach out for new business opportunities throughout the world. We sponsored the very first Fractional Summit and have been pleased with how the conference has grown during these challenging times. The fractional conferences are a great opportunity for the industry to get together and exchange knowledge and best practice, as well as providing a networking opportunity which is ideal for making new business contacts. We are pleased to be able to support such useful industry events across three continents, and look forward to a successful partnership with Fractional Life over the coming year.”

Fractional Summit Europe Underway, USA and Middle East North Africa Upcoming

This year’s Fractional Summit Europe is currently underway at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in London. Fractional Summit USA is planned for August 30-31, 2011, at the InterContinental Hotel, Miami, Florida and the Fractional Summit Middle East North Africa is in the planning stages with a destination and dates to be announced. Follow this link to learn more about Fractional Summit Europe: Fractional Summit Europe is Only 10 Days Away.

Fractional Life a leading consumer lifestyle brand dedicated to growing the fractional ownership marketplace. The company has three divisions: interactive, b2b fractional conferences and consumer exhibitions.

Additional information related to fractional ownership: Fractionals Could Offer Unique Opportunities in Real Estate and Vacation Ownership

Last week, ARDA (the American Resort Development Association) released a media announcement looking at American travel trends for 2011. Here’s some of the patterns they identified:

• Americans will be traveling more in 2011 than in the past few years.
• Trip Advisor estimates that 69 percent of travelers will take international trips this year with the top three destinations being Paris, London, and Rome.
• Trip Advisor predictions also show that in the US, top destinations are Las Vegas, New York City, and San Francisco.

Travel and Timeshare Sales and Timeshare Rentals

What does this renewed enthusiasm for travel indicate for timeshare sales, timeshare resales, and timeshare rentals? Many things, all of which are as good for timeshare owners as they are for the timeshare industry.

As more people discover the opportunities of timeshare rentals, the spacious accommodations and the great prices, travelers will quickly realize that their vacation dollars are going further, allowing them to travel more or stay longer. And timeshare owners who want to rent timeshares they currently own may find a larger and more competitive market for renting timeshare.

And as travelers take to the highways and skyways, timeshare sales companies and timeshare resale brokers will be able to market in targeted ways, recognizing in advance the trending interest in Las Vegas timeshare, New York City timeshare, San Francisco timeshare, and European timeshare. As Howard Nusbaum ARDA president and CEO, explains, “This resurgence of travel is terrific news for the timeshare industry. More travelers are beginning to understand the value and comfort of a timeshare vacation and with resorts in all of these popular 2011 destinations, vacationers will find exactly what they need.”

Follow this link to read the ARDA media release in full.

This year’s Fractional Summit Europe starts in just ten days, scheduled for February 17 and 18, 2011, at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in London. Sponsored by Fractional Life, this event is significant to anyone involve in, or thinking of becoming involved in, fractional ownership.

Starting with an intro to fractionals session called Fractional 101; the two days include presentations, networking opportunities, and discussion groups. This year’s conference will unveil a new format including a B2B Exhibition; a new Developer Panel, for learning from successful fractional developers; and a new Owners Panel in which recent fractional buyers will be discussing why fractional ownership makes such good sense. Other topics to be covered are marketing and sales, financing, project evaluations, the role of the trustee, and how fractionals can play a part in the portfolio of UK investors.

The Registry Collection is a Platinum Sponsor of Fractional Summit Europe and as Gregg Anderson, Global Vice President, The Registry Collection explains, “One of the key reasons for the consistent growth of The Registry Collection programme in Europe has been our support of and involvement in the annual Fractional Life conference. We believe that Fractional resort real estate is in its early growth cycle in Europe and we are confident savvy developers and affluent travelers will see the concept as a better value proposition to holiday home whole ownership.”

To learn more about Fractional Summit Europe, go to: www.fractionalsummit.com

Past news from The Timeshare Authority blog on Fractional Life

• Congratulations to Timeshare Industry Leader, Fractional Life, Winner of OPP Award
• Follow Up on Fractional Summit USA Conference for Fractional and Timeshare Industry
• Fractionals: That’s Timeshare on a Whole Different Level
• Fractionals Could Offer Unique Opportunities in Real Estate and Vacation Ownership