Timeshare Resorts

Hospitality industry giant Cendant will create Wyndham Worldwide, a new business entity

Cendant Corporation is expected to spin off Wyndham Worldwide during the third quarter of 2006, making Wyndham Worldwide the largest hospitability company in the world to offer a range of lodging products and services. The spin off will establish Wyndham Worldwide an independent, publicly traded company, with the following branded products: Wyndham®, Ramada®, Super 8®, Wingate Inn® and Days Inn®; the vacation exchange and rental businesses of RCI®, Novasol® and Landal GreenParks®, and the timeshare businesses, Fairfield® Resorts (FairShare Plus®) and Trendwest® Resorts (WorldMark®)

The company has mentioned no plans for merging the two timeshare giants, Fairfield and TrendWest. As Stephen P. Holmes, Cendant vice chairman explains, “Even as we adopt a new corporate brand to represent the sum of our hospitality businesses, we recognize the tremendous value and equity of each of our brands. Our commitment to our total brand portfolio remains just as strong, and we will continue to grow and enhance the presence of our brands within their respective market segments.”

Though details remain sketchy, timeshare owners band together for a legal fight.

The publicity surrounding the Crowne Plaza Golf Resort and Casino at Royal Oasis, located on Grand Bahama, highlights a worst-case scenario for any timeshare owner. The resort was damaged by a hurricane in September of 2004 and rendered unuseable. Since then, no improvements or repairs have been made. Timeshare owners have been issued no information about the fate of the resort, especially the timeshare arm of the operation.

I have spoken with a number of concerned owners, most of whom are asking “could this happen to me?” For this reason, I’d like to point out that scandals of this nature are hardly commonplace in the industry, epecially these days. Though rotten apples exist in any basket, there’s plenty of good apples too. This is especially true of timeshares in the Bahamas, among which can be found some of the most opulent resort properties in the world.

With big resort companies investing more and more money into timeshares every year, smaller companies cannot afford to conduct themselves dishonestly. They simply can’t compete with the big boys unless they offer owners and guests the same guarantees and level of service as their more established competitors. In business, ailing organizations which can’t compete are weeded out in favor of those which can. Maybe this is what we’re seeing here, in the case of this resort. The real tragedy here is that timeshare owners are caught in the middle.

We reported on this story back in January. Since then, important developments have come to light:

• Timeshare owners have banded together to file a class-action lawsuit in order to recover money lost through this fiasco.
• Several high-profile resort development companies have expressed interest in purchasing this property. Among these are Planet Hollywood and Westgate Resorts.

Remodeling/repairing a facility of this size is an extremely costly undertaking. It may be more economically viable for the new owners to sell new timeshares. If this is the case, what about those who already own timeshare at this facility?

Hopefully this lawsuit can bring closure for the timeshare owners concerned. The small number of “worst practices” operators in this industry make it hard for all other legitimate vacation/travel companies to do business, simply by association.

It’s time for the “bad apples” to demonstrate some basic accountability. Enough is enough!

See Also

• The Freeport News
  “No Word Yet on Royal Oasis Sale”

A timeshare leader in India announces major expansion plans.

Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd., an RCI affiliate, currently offers 14 select properties in India. 2006 will bring the addition of three new resorts to this list; one in Rajasthan, one in Himachal Pradesh, and a signature resort to open by the end of the year in Corbett. Long-term company expansion includes plans for as many as 10 to 12 additional resorts in India within the next four years, and future growth in Thailand, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

The resorts of Club Mahindra offer a range of holiday destinations. Lake View Munnar is a mountain retreat located near Echo Point and the Rajamala-Eravikulam National Park, while the Varca Beach Resort near Goa provides a true tropical paradise with palm trees, water sports, fresh seafood, and spa amenities. All present and planned Club Mahindra Holiday resorts include timeshares as well as hotel accommodations, making it easy for you to ‘try before you buy’ and creating maximum flexibility for developers to offer the fullest range of amenities.

The cost of a timeshare week in India averages between $3400 USD and $17,000 USD. Timeshare in India, as in many countries, represents the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry.

Does it feel like everyone is planning a ski vacation, except you?

In the US, 6.8 million people go downhill skiing one or more times each year, (according to the 2006 Statistical Abstract of the US Census Bureau). This only leaves you and about 292 million Americans who won’t be making it to the slopes. 

But since skiing looks like such fun, good exercise, and a fantastic way to enjoy the wintry outdoors, why do you think you and those other 291,999,999 folks haven’t tried it yet?

Most people, when surveyed, site lack of time as their number one reason for never learning to ski, with lack of money as a close second. And of course, adversity to broken bones, desire not to make a fool of one’s self, and lack of opportunity all make the top of the list. Nevertheless, if you have not tried skiing—or haven’t been in years—aren’t you curious about what you are missing?

Those who love skiing sometimes speak about the feeling of being one with an Alpine mountain. They savor the smell of the snow and the taste of the crisp air as they glide silently over pristine powder in the Canadian Rockies. In the moment, they are connected to every skier who shares their devotion to the experience, and at the same time, they are entirely alone in their personal triumph. For a few short moments, Vail, Aspen, Snowmass, or Telluride takes them beyond the walking-running-jumping limitations of legs and gives them the ability to glide, slide, and sometimes even fly.

Even if you aren’t nearly this poetic, you’ve got to admit that the chance to get out in the fresh air, take on a sport like a kid again, and recharge your brain doing something totally different than your normal grind… sounds pretty enticing, doesn’t it? Add the backdrop of a vivid blue New Mexico sky or perfect white New England snow, and a luxurious timeshare ski resort ANYWHERE and you really have to question why you aren’t planning your own ski holiday right now.

The smart economics of timeshare ownership solve those issues of not enough time and not enough money. Ski vacations are so easy when you take advantage of timeshare accommodations.

Timeshare ski resorts offer a great place to stay, conveniently close to the slopes. Many resorts include discounts on lift tickets, on-property instruction, plus saunas, spas, and sometimes masseurs for after-ski relaxation.

Even if you find yourself intimidated by the thought of slippery slopes, don’t abandon the idea of a great ski holiday. Can you walk and chew gum at the same time?

Then consider cross-country skiing. It won’t take you long to master the rhythm of the skis, and once you do, there will be no holding you back.

Great timeshare vacations aren’t just a summertime thing!