Westgate Timeshare

Westgate Resort has qualified as a finalist for CivilianJob.com’s Most Valuable Employers (MVE) awards.

CivilianJobs.com is a website devoted to helping military veterans find civilian jobs once they return from active service. The Most Valuable Employers awards distinguish companies that excel in providing career opportunities to veterans after serving in the military.

The MVE awards also recognize companies who show support to veterans by creating specific benefits and policies for military veterans and their families.

Director of CivilianJobs.com Jake Hutchings said, “Increasingly, military-friendly companies are coming to the forefront. This is reflected in the record number of employers that applied for the MVE recognition in 2014. It is a significant milestone that more than 100 businesses are being acknowledged today based on the quality of their veteran hiring focus.”

MVE finalists were selected based on surveys. In these surveys employers outlined their hiring model, training program, and retention strategies to military service men and women.

Westgate COO and U.S. Air Force Reserve Captain Mark Waltrip commented, “We are truly honored by this recognition. You cannot understate the enormous sacrifice that our men and women in uniform give to our country. Just as important, our military trained team members bring a high degree of leadership and technical skills that add tremendous value to our organization. Supporting our military team members is a win-win for everyone involved.”

The winners of the MVE awards will be announced in the May issue of Military Transition News. An article will also be posted on CivilianJobs.com. Winners will be announced on May 1st, 2014.

Westgate timeshare’s charity division, the Westgate Resorts Foundation, has recently announced a new way to support local charities through their employees.

The Westgate Resorts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity organization developed by the Westgate Resorts timeshare company to support local and large charitable organizations.

The foundation is now offering financial assistance to team members who run in local charity races. They encourage employees to work together by forming running groups. These groups will allow them to volunteer for the events on behalf of the organization.

Since the Westgate Resorts Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity organization, it can only donate money to other charitable organizations. Therefore, Westgate must restrict this running program to only include races that donate a portion of their proceeds to a charity.

Financial assistance will be offered on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Employees can participate in a variety of races including 5Ks, 10Ks, marathons, and more. Westgate is open to allowing employees to choose the type of race and the charity, as long as it qualifies under 501(c)(3) guidelines.

While employees are encouraged to participate as a team, there are also options available for individual runners. If a Westgate employee chooses to run a race solo, they will be reimbursed by Westgate up to $100 per year. This reimbursement system can also be used for non-charitable races.

For example, if an employee wishes to participate in the Color Run or the Disney Marathon, they can choose this reimbursement option. Westgate provides this option to support health and wellness within its Westgate team members.

For more information, please visit WestgateResortsFoundation.org.

Tuesday night, Florida’s Governor, Rick Scott, presented Westgate Resorts with the Innovation and Expansion in Tourism and Hospitality Award. This is the first time that the Governor’s Innovation and Expansion has been awarded to a timeshare company.

The Governor’s Innovators in Business Awards occur every year during the Florida Business Innovators Week. The awards celebrate Florida companies that have influenced the state’s diversification and economic growth over the past year.
This year, the 30th annual event was held at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee, Florida.

Governor Scott shared, “The businesses we are recognizing today helped create the strong economy we have in central Florida. […] Florida families can live, learn, and work toward the American Dream because of the opportunities that these companies provide.”

Recipients were selected in three segments for Mid, Major, and Mega markets. Westgate Resorts received the innovation award in the Mega Market, for County populations 800,001 and greater. Westgate was specifically recognized for being the Florida company that “best exemplifies innovation developed through product or process in the last three years”.

When discussing Westgate and the other award recipients, Florida Commerce Secretary Gary Swoope commented, “Florida and its companies continue to be the model for economic recovery and growth. Companies from every industry around the state have helped produce jobs and provide opportunities that companies in other states haven’t been able to match. […]They deserve to be recognized for their resilience, innovation, and achievements”.

Westgate was excited this receive this prestigious award. Westgate Resorts President and CEO David Segal said, “We are honored to be recognized as a leader in the hospitality and tourism industry. We had the best year in our 44-year history and hired thousands of new team members. We want to thank our Governor Rick Scott for making Florida a great place to do business”.

For more information regarding the Governor’s Innovators in Business Awards, visit FLGov.com.

Expansions are in the works for Westgate, Silver Lakes Resort, and Regal Oaks Resort in Orlando, Florida for 2014. Central Florida construction manager Roger B. Kennedy Inc. will construct all three projects totaling over $50 Million in expenditures.

The Regal Oaks Resort, a CLC World resort, has approved a $22.4 Million expansion to the property. In addition to unit expansions the resort will also build a clubhouse and a new resort-style pool. Phase one of this project is already underway with a second phase to begin on February 24, 2014. Located across from Orlando’s Old Town village, the Regal Oaks Resort is a favorite for families visiting Disney World.

Silver Lake Resort in Orlando, FL will add a new tower to the resort with a $6 Million update. The new tower will be over six stories high and offer 24 new timeshares for sale. In 2009, Silver Lake Resort also conducted a $20 Million timeshare resort update.

Down the road at Westgate Town Center, the resort is planning a $21.5 million new timeshare resort tower. Designed by General Design Architecture in Branson, MO, construction is expected to be complete in April of 2015. The new tower is an anticipated update to the already spacious resort.

It is a great benefit to both resorts and their owners to update existing properties. Regular improvements and renovations keep owners excited to visit the resort, and show that their maintenance fees are consistently invested back into the property.

Check back in the upcoming months for more information regarding these timeshare projects.