Interval International

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.

This week, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) acknowledged the important efforts of many of its member timeshare resorts and timeshare industry brands that  make the world a little cleaner and greener. How the different timeshare resorts accomplish their goals for being environmentally friendly varies, but the willingness to step up and act responsibly does not.

Here’s a closer look at what some of the timeshare resorts and branded hospitality providers you know and love are doing.

Holiday Inn Club Vacations Orange Lake Resort

Orange Lake Resort, the flagship property of the Holiday Inn Club Vacations timeshare resorts, has recently launched a massive, resort-wide recycling program. This recycling effort takes in the full scope of the resort property’s 1,450-acres and 2,478 timeshare units.

The Orange Lake Resort timeshare project is based on a test project that Holiday Inn Club Vacations piloted in one area of the resort in 2011. The project is not complicated, which probably contributes greatly to its success.

Each timeshare villa is stocked with green bags where guests can place plastic, metal, paper, or glass to be recycled. Since it was implemented, the Orange Lake Resort has already saved 208 cubic yards of landfill space per quarter. Alongside this program, the resort has implemented other efforts which have saved 258,576 kW-hours of electricity; 357,000 gallons of water; and 1,224 gallons of gasoline per quarter.

Interval International Singapore

On Tanah Merah Beach, located on Singapore’s East Coast, Interval International’s Singapore staff recently participated in the 21st International Coastal Cleanup Day. Although the temperatures were extreme, the Interval International team hung in there, gathering more than 600 pounds of discarded items, resulting in a one-mile stretch of beach being cleared.

International Coastal Cleanup Day is an annual event conducted in over 70 countries. The effort is sponsored and coordinated by The Ocean Conservancy, a US-based non-profit organization.

Many More Timeshare Resorts are Involved

The magnificent work being done by Holiday Inn Cub Vacations Orange Lake Resort and by Interval International Singapore is a small but critical part of the contribution to environmental restoration and preservation in which timeshare resorts worldwide are participating.

Later this week, The Timeshare Authority blog will look at other environmentally responsible actions that are being facilitated at other popular timeshare resorts.

Interval International timeshare exchange and vacation services has launched a new campaign created to help its members enjoy great discounts in an even more convenient way. Using mobile coupons from Entertainment Promotions, Interval International members can now “save on the go.”

Interval members in the timeshare exchange program’s upgraded programs can now use their smart phones to browse and redeem Entertainment coupon offers. To take advantage of the mobile coupon discounts, Interval Gold® and Interval Platinum(SM) members need to first go to www.IntervalWorld.com and download the appropriate app for their device (currently available are iPhone, Blackberry, Android, and iPad compatible apps). Members can download the app through their preferred app store, or  have the option to view the app on their browser from any smart phone at http://m.entertainment.com.

Interval International members using the new app will want to filter offers based on their current GPS position or by manually entering a preferred location. Coupons included vary but include access to “up-to-50-percent-off” coupons, as well as buy-one-get-one-free Entertainment discounts, and may be used at Interval’s more than 60,000 participating restaurants, resorts,  hotels,  and retail outlets throughout the US and Canada.

Sharon Freed, Interval’s senior vice president of consumer marketing explains, “Our members have enjoyed access to a variety of savings through our long-term relationship with Entertainment Promotions. Access to mobile coupon redemption is an added convenience for those who are increasingly using Internet and mobile technology in every aspect of their lives.”

Jeanne Chapman, executive vice president of Entertainment Promotions Corporate Marketing Solutions, says, “With the addition of mobile coupons from Entertainment Promotions, Interval now makes it possible for its members to save anytime, anywhere and any way they want, especially when they travel.”

Interval International: Proof that the Future is Now

Representing a truly successful partnering, Interval International has been working with the Corporate Marketing Solutions division of Entertainment Promotions for nearly 20 years. Over that time, the ways in which these companies have served their clients have changed dramatically. Who could have imagined when holding one of Entertainment’s familiar coupon books only a few years ago, how far the potential for rewarding clients and consumers would come?

In a recent article for The Resort Trades, titled: New Commerce and the Timeshare Buyer, I talked about:

M-commerce (buying on a mobile device) and to a lesser degree, t-commerce (buying on a tablet device), gives consumers the capability to simultaneously interact with a business both in person and online. Buyers can use online coupons, tickets, and discounts directly from their phone at an event, service location, or storefront. The potential to deliver targeted coupons and invitations to consumers because the consumer’s mobile phone has communicated that he or she is in the neighborhood of your resort is not futuristic stuff; it is already a reality.

Interval is just one of several forward thinking industry leaders in timeshare and vacation ownership that is proving that the future is here for those companies that are ready to step up and be part of it now.