Interval International

Among the guest speakers and panelists at GNEX 2013 will be David Siegel President and Chairman of the Board Westgate Resorts  and Central Florida Investments and high visibility timeshare and vacation ownership industry pioneer. Siegel, who has spent more than 30 years in timeshares, now runs the largest single-site vacation ownership resort in the world — Westgate Vacation Villas and is founder and CEO of the largest privately owned company in Central Florida. His diversity of business accomplishments includes timeshare, travel services, hotel and apartment management, real estate, construction, tele-communications, citrus, insurance, transportation, retail, and much more.

GNEX 2013 is an opportunity for the innovators and thought leaders of timeshare to come together to share ideas, debate key issues, and lay critical groundwork for the future of timeshare, fractionals, and vacation ownership. This year’s 3^rd annual Global Meeting of Minds (GNEX 2013) will be held at the luxurious Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, California. Event dates are February 3-6, 2013.

David Siegel founder of Westgate Resorts Timeshare

In addition to his accomplishments in business in founding Westgate Resorts timeshare, David Siegel has been honored as the “Entrepreneur of the Year” for construction and real estate in Central Florida and finished second in the “Entrepreneur of the Year” national competition. He holds an honorary doctorate from Florida A&M University for his work in community service, and the National Community Service Award from ARDA, the American Resort Development Association. On the committee for the 2012 Olympics, David Siegel also sits on the board of directors for many charitable and civic organizations. He is Chairman of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society (representing the United Way’s highest level of contributors). David Siegel will be joined as a speaker, panelist, and forum member at GNEX 2013 by other noteworthy timeshare industry leaders including the following, with more timeshare innovators still to be announced:

• Barry Robinson – CEO & Managing Director, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific
• Bruce L. Thompson – CEO, Gold Key / Professional Hospitality Resources
• Bryan Lunt – Chairman & CEO, Absolute World Group
• Bryan Ten Broek – Senior Vice President, Resort Sales and Business Development North America, Interval International
• Craig Morganson – President & CEO, Holiday Systems International
• Dimitris Manikis – Managing Director, RCI South Africa & Vice President, Business Development, RCI Europe, Middle East and Africa
• Erika Garcia – CEO, Marketing 4 Sunset Group & Premier Cancun Vacations
• Fermin Cruz – VP North American Business Operations Dial An Exchange, USA
• Francis Taylor – CEO, Dial An Exchange
• Gordon Gurnik – President, RCI
• Gregg Anderson – Global Vice President, The Registry Collection
• Harold Derrah – CEO, Anantara Vacation Club
• Harry Taylor – Executive Chairman, TATOC
• Howard C. Nusbaum – President & CEO, American Resort Development Association
• James M. Casey – Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Commercial and Specialty Finance, Capital One Bank
• Jim Whitteron – Director of Marketing & Sales Solutions, HVS Shared Ownership Services
• John “Roger” Burk – Attorney, John Rogers Burk, A Law Corporation
• John Spence – Chairman & Owner, Karma Royal Group
• Marcia Rowley – Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, International Cruise & Excursions, Inc. (ICE)
• Marcos Agostini – Senior Vice President, Resort Sales and Business Development Latin America, Interval International
• Mark Carney – Marketing & Sales Director, Royal Resorts
• Mark Waltrip – COO, Westgate Resorts / Central Florida Investments
• Mel Grant – President & CEO, SFX Preferred Resorts
• Nico March – Senior Vice President, Investments, The March Group of Wells Fargo Advisors
• Ramy Filo – CEO, Classic Group
• Richard L. Ragatz, PH.D. – President, Ragatz Associates
• Robert A. Kobek – President and CEO, Mobius Vendor Partners and CustomerCount℠
• Robert J. Webb – Partner, Baker Hostetler
• Steve Tassler – Principal, Xeputu
• Stuart Lamont – Executive Chairman, Club Leisure Group
• Tommy Middaugh – Executive Vice President, Travel To Go

Interval International timeshare exchange (part of Interval Leisure Group), a global leader in vacation services, has been honored by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) with a bronze Adrian Award. Presented to Interval International in the category of advertising campaigns, the award was judged by top hospitality, timeshare, travel, tourism, and media professionals from all sectors of the industry.

The London-based consumer marketing and creative services groups developed the award winning campaign for Interval. The campaign targeted member renewals among Interval International members in Asia and the Middle East and was distributed via print, direct mail, and online in three languages.

Sharon Freed, Interval’s senior vice president of consumer marketing, says, “We’re pleased to be recognized by HSMAI for this creative campaign that involved offering incentives unique to the marketplace. The program was a tremendous team effort as we engaged members across multiple marketing channels and achieved our goal of increasing upgraded membership sales.”

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International awards have been presented for more than fifty years, and this year attracted some 1000 entries from around the world. Interval International will receive the award on January 28, 2013, along with other HSMAI winners at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International’s annual gala in New York City.

Although tomorrow is the day the US observes as the Veterans Day holiday, Veterans Day is officially, today, November 11. Since 1919, when it was known as Armistice Day, the US has been recognizing the men and women who served our country in military service. Today’s blog looks at what some timeshare resorts and others in the vacation ownership industry are doing in tribute to our veterans. This is Part II of a series. (See: Timeshare Resorts and Timeshare Developers Honor Veterans in Many Ways, Part I)

Interval International Runs “Treats for Troops”

Through bake sale events called Treats for Troops, Miami-based employees of Interval International raised nearly $4,000 to benefit the Operation Any Soldier program. Held at Interval’s member services center and Interval’s corporate headquarters, this fundraising effort will be used help underwrite the cost of shipping custom care packages throughout the year to wounded and deployed service men and women.

Interval member Deborah Powers-Holloway and her husband Milton are the founders of the nonprofit organization known as Steel Magnolias. Through Steel Magnolias, more than 250 travel certificates have been awarded for seven-day stays at Interval member timeshare resorts over the last two years.

Although not affiliated with Veterans Day in the US, Interval International employees in Europe honor their military, too. In London, Interval International employees manage a program called Help for Heroes, which is a charity that provides recovery services throughout the United Kingdom for military members and their families who have experienced life-changing injuries or illness.  Interval International also donates weeks to the Resort Development Organisation (RDO), the trade association for vacation ownership in Europe. These weeks are used as part of the Give Us Time program that supports British forces in Afghanistan.

Treats for Troops from Wyndham Vacation Ownership Timeshare Resorts

Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO) supports military reservists in the US by honoring their employment after they are deployed. In recognition of this, the Missouri Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee (ESGR), an agency of the U.S. Department of Defense, awarded Wyndham Vacation Ownership the Above and Beyond award, which honors Wyndham Vacation Ownership as an employer who provides exceptional support for military employees by exceeding the legal requirements for granting leave.

RCI’s Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC)

One of the largest military vacation clubs in the world, the RCI Armed Forces Vacation Club is holding its Great Appreciation Vacation Giveaway. This promotion, which runs through December 14, 2012, gives away a vacation every day to those who go to: http://www.AFVClub.com/Appreciation and complete and submit the registration form. Applicants must meet the following criteria of being a legal resident of one of the fifty US states (including District of Columbia);  at least 21 years old at the time of entry, and meet one of the following additional eligibility requirements:

a. Is a member of the Uniformed Services or an adult dependent (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy; active duty and both active and inactive reserve and National Guard);
b. Is a foreign exchange service member on permanent duty with the Department of Defense (the “DoD”);
c. Is a retired or former member of the Uniformed Services or an adult dependent (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy);
d. Is a civilian employee of the DoD (appropriated, non-appropriated, or retired) or an adult dependent;
e. Is an American Red Cross personnel serving overseas with the U.S. military;
f. Is a DoD Dependent School teacher or an adult dependent; or
g. Is a disabled American Veteran @ 100% with 2765 ID Card.

A grand prize vacation package is being awarded along with Visa gift cards and Resort Vacation Certificates.

To learn more about other special vacation programs that may be available to active military and/or veterans, read “The Timeshare Industry Celebrates Veterans Day” available in the Newsroom of VacationBetter.org. You can also contact individual timeshare resorts, your timeshare exchange company, or the members services center for vacation ownership companies, and ask what programs may be offered.

The Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida has announced plans to work collaboratively with representatives of leading timeshare resorts and others in the timeshare vacation industry to build a stronger curriculum, enrich academic research and strengthen relationships and interaction opportunities between the University students and the timeshare and vacation ownership industry.

Dr. Amy Gregory, a UCF Rosen College assistant professor and active researcher of the timeshare industry, explains, “Nearly all the major players in the timeshare industry are headquartered within minutes of our campus, so UCF’s Rosen College truly presents the best opportunity to bridge the gap between education, research and industry within this segment of hospitality.”

This new partnership effort between UCF’s Rosen College and representatives from timeshare resorts and the vacation ownership industry began November 1 with 15 top timeshare executives visiting the UCF Rosen College campus to discuss their visions for timeshare education. The session included a luncheon and was hosted by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

Among the participating vacation ownership companies and timeshare resorts are:

• Island One
• Hilton Grand Vacations
• Disney Vacation Club
• Baker & Hostetler
• Marriott Vacation Club
• Wyndham Vacation Ownership
• Orange Lake Resorts
• Interval International (II)
• Resort Condominiums International (RCI)
• Diamond Resorts International
• ARDA’s International Foundation (AIF)

In preparation for the collaborative partnership, Dr. Gregory said, “The development of timeshare education is critical to the successful future of the industry. The executives’ participation in the luncheon will allow them to see firsthand what is happening at UCF’s Rosen College and request their ongoing assistance in directing the curriculum, creating inroads for student involvement in the industry, and increasing industry involvement with the university.”

The Rosen College sees its goal as one of establishing a thorough, well-rounded timeshare education program that benefits both UCF’s students and the timeshare and vacation ownership industry, with a goal of meeting three to four times annually to address academic and industry objectives.

According to Dr. Gregory, for timeshare education to be successful, the timeshare industry and the Rosen College of Hospitality Management curriculum for timeshare studies must be aligned. Likewise, the timeshare industry and timeshare resorts benefit from exposure within the university while the students benefit from potential opportunities for employment, internships, and mentoring within the timeshare profession.