Timeshare Resorts

Every time there is an event that raises concerns about travel safety, such as this past week’s bombing at the Boston Marathon, timeshare resorts edge past hotels a little further in terms of desirability and appeal. Why? Because they inherently carry a lower risk of threat from an outside source than do hotels.

In an article by Adam Leposa published by Travel Agent, the Director of Risk Management at Petra Risk Solutions and former director of loss prevention at Marriott, Todd Seiders, was quoted as saying, “The Boston Marathon bombing is just another example of how hard it is to secure public places and events. According to the news, bomb dogs had swept the finish line area 1 hour prior to the start of the marathon. So obviously police did everything they could to secure the area, and the bombs were brought in during the event.”

Leposa went on to point out that in order to make hotels truly safe, you’d have to implement TSA-style security measures which are contradictory to the warm, welcoming, “home away from home” environment that hoteliers strive to create. In fact, the significance of projecting a safe but non-intrusive ambiance in hotels is so critical to hotel culture that many hotel staffers feel their job security hinges on it.

Why Timeshare Resorts Beat Hotels for Security and Safety

You already recognize that timeshare resorts offer more amenities and more spacious accommodations than hotels provide. But do you realize timeshare resorts are theoretically safer vacation sites than hotels are?

Timeshare resorts are purpose built for vacationing. While they can function as conference venues and even overnight accommodations for travelers, that is not how they are typically used or how they were designed to be enjoyed. By in large, the guests at timeshare resorts are timeshare owners—people with a vested interest in the resort through their vacation ownership. Timeshare owners don’t check into timeshare resorts with falsified credentials and IDs; instead they are couples and families on holiday at a resort where they have an ownership commitment.

Unlike a busy hotel where many people who are not registered guests at the hotel pass through the building and its public areas daily, at timeshare resorts, the people there are the owners and guests who are supposed to be on property.

No resort, neither hotel nor timeshare, can guarantee that it will not be the target of a threat. But timeshares seem to be a little off the mainstream radar. Timeshare resorts already maintain a database of information on their owners, and even fairly detailed contact information on timeshare renters, affording a level of security that hotels can’t offer.

Vacation safely, but whatever you do, don’t stop taking vacations. Time shared with your family in relaxation, holiday, and escape is too important to your mental and even physical well-being for you to let anything stop you from making it an ongoing part of your life.

The Westgate Timeshare Resort & Spa Park City is the winner of the 2013 “Best of State” Award for both the Top “Ski Resort” and Top “Destination Spa” in Utah categories. The “Best of State” Awards recognize outstanding businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the state of Utah with the criteria that they “excel in their endeavors, use innovative approaches or methods, and contribute to a better quality of life in Utah.”

The general manager of the Westgate Timeshare Resort Park City, Brian Waltrip, explains, “We are honored to have received the ‘Best of State’ Award recognition. With unparalleled luxury, abundant amenities, spectacular views and easy access to the ‘Greatest Snow on Earth,’ Westgate Park City truly offers a resort experience unlike any other.”

Over 100 expert judges from the state of Utah sat on the selection panel, scoring nominees in categories that totaled up to 100 possible points. The Westgate Timeshare Resort Park City will receive two “Best of State” medals along with the privilege of displaying the “Best of State” logo on business correspondence, websites and other promotional materials.

More about Westgate Timeshare Resort Park City

• Westgate Resorts Announces New Fine Dining Experience

Founded in 1982 by David A. Siegel, Westgate Resorts includes 27 themed destination vacation ownership resorts. Westgate timeshare resorts include:  Park City, Utah; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Gatlinburg, Tennessee; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Williamsburg, Virginia;  Branson, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; and Tunica, Mississippi. 

As Futtsu, Japan and Carlsbad, CA celebrate their 25^th Anniversary as Sister Cities, Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort stepped up to play an important role. The Carlsbad, California timeshare resort served as host property to four students and three chaperons from Futtsu, who were in Carlsbad as part of the celebration.

Randy Chapin, General Manager of the Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort California timeshare explains, “We are proud to be the first stop for these enthusiastic young people. We are pleased to represent our community in this important effort to build relationships worldwide. In fact, we will also shortly play host to our other sister city’s Lord Mayor. Carlsbad was named after Karloby Vary in the Czech Republic and its leadership will be our guests when they come here.”

The classic Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort is a Grand Pacific Resort Management property. Other timeshare resorts and hotels managed by Grand Pacific Resort Management (GPRM) include:

1. Hanalei Bay Resort and Ali’i Kai Resort in Hawaii.
2. Banff Gate Mountain Resort in Alberta, Canada and Panorama Vacation Retreat at Horsethief Lodge in British Columbia, Canada.
3. Hilton Grand Vacations Club at MarBrisa, Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel, Carlsbad Inn Beach Resort, Carlsbad Seapointe Resort, Coronado Beach Resort, San Clemente Cove Resort, Southern California Beach Club, Villa L’Auberge (Del Mar, CA), Indian Palms Vacation Club, Indio, CA and Channel Island Shores (Ventura County), all are Southern California timeshare resorts.
4. Red Wolf Lakeside Lodge (Lake Tahoe), Red Wolf Lodge at Squaw Valley, RiverPointe at Napa Valley, and Mountain Retreat in Arnold; all of which are in Northern California.

You already know Welk Resorts timeshare for its popular, family-friendly vacation resorts in California; Branson, Missouri; and Cabo San Lucas. Now Welk Resorts timeshare owners and guests have a new option in Welk vacationing.

Welk Resorts timeshare has purchased the Northstar Lodge, in Truckee, California. This  Hyatt Residence Club property, is a ski-in/ski-out private vacation ownership club with a pulse-driven gondola and is located at the base of Northstar Mountain in the Lake Tahoe area. The resort was built in 2008, and the first phase of this LEED Silver Certified luxury property development included 34 two- and three-bedroom vacation ownership residences. Other features of the property include, in each ownership unit, a private deck with outdoor fireplace, hickory flooring, Wolf brand ranges and Sub Zero refrigerators in the upgraded kitchens.

On-property, owners can enjoy a private owners lounge, media theater, ski and boot valet (winter) and bike valet (summer). And of course, the location within the Village puts owners only a few steps away from Highlands Gondola and Village Swim and Fitness Center, there at Northstar California, which is considered to be one of the premiere ski resort areas in North America. This year-round destination provides summer vacationers a relaxing place to hike, picnic, or gear it up and experience more than 100 miles of trails in what is the most extensive lift served mountain bike terrain in the western United States. For winter sports, you’ll find 3,170 skiable acres, 7 terrain parks, 97 trails, 20 lifts and 2,280 feet of vertical drop as well as the recently constructed 22’ half pipe designed by Winter Olympics gold medalist, Shaun White.

But for owners and future owners at the fabulous destination, perhaps the best news is that the acquisition by Welk Resorts includes the 23 remaining unsold whole ownership and fractional residential units, in addition to two entitled development parcels for future phases of the project. Jon Fredricks, President of Welk Resorts, explains:

“We are excited to add this one-of-a-kind ski-in/ski-out resort property to our vacation club as we develop additional phases at the Northstar Lodge. This will be our first Western U.S. alpine resort with strong year-round demand due to the quality of the Northstar mountain and the proximity of Lake Tahoe. Our 44,000 vacation owners will be excited to know this will be part of our points-based club system once we receive the requisite approvals.“

Along with his wonderful new addition to the Welk Resorts family of properties, the company also owns real estate that is being held for future resort development in Breckenridge, Colorado and a newly acquired Poipu, Kauai property.