Timeshare Information

If timeshare is doing well...is it limited to one area? We think not. Reports show there are definite sparks of life in the industry that was hard-hit by the recession, and some of the areas where you'll find those sparks may surprise you.

Las Vegas 

Las Vegas is seeing its biggest growth since 2008. According to the Las Vegas Business Press, more than 1,000 units have been added, or will be added, to the Las Vegas timeshare sector. (In last week's blog we talked about construction resuming on Desert Blue, a 281 unit Vegas timeshare started by Wyndham Worldwide.)

Says Ed Kinney, a Marriott Vacations Worldwide spokesman, "We are seeing a continued pattern of increased travel. There is a tremendous interest, and Las Vegas has always been a popular destination." Last month, the company topped the third 37-floor tower of its off-strip Grand Chateau, which added 223 units.

Hilton Grand Vacations added to its luxury timeshare portfolio with the purchase of 300 units at the Trump International Hotel. At Grandview at Las Vegas near South Point, construction of a new tower is expected to increase its number of units from 1,556 to 1,856 according to the LVCVA survey.

Other parts of the world are also seeing an industry upswing:

Canada

With CRDA VO-Com running this week in Vancouver, it's hard not to hear talk about Skyline Vacation Club, Ontario’s first drive-to vacation club. Only days ago, Skyline International Development announced their new lifestyle division, a members-only, points based vacation club. The club offers members a choice of vacation experiences from 3 different categories. The Urban Collection, with locations in downtown Toronto (Pantages Hotel and Cosmopolitan Hotel), the Resort Collection, located 1-2 hours from Toronto (Horseshoe Resort and Deerhurst Resort), and the International Collection, featuring over 4,000 vacation options around the world through a partnership with RCI.

Gil Blutrich, President of Skyline International Development, says, "Skyline Vacation Club elevates the guest experience by providing connectivity between city and country, urban and resort."

Ireland

Reports from a survey by Failte Ireland, (Ireland's National Tourism Development Authority) show Ireland's tourism is 'on the turn' (Irish speak for upturn). Business sentiment is at its highest since the economic crash in 2008. The report goes on to say that occupancy was up in over two-thirds of hotels, 58% of guest houses, and 46% of B&Bs.  Good weather was cited as a contribution to the up turn, but also 6 of 10 businesses cited the Government's Gathering Initiative (Ireland's biggest ever tourism initiative) as a factor for increased trade.

New Zealand

All those who attended NZHOC back in May know that New Zealand is facing its timeshare challenges head on. The Australian Timeshare Holiday Ownership council has representatives from 3 main timeshare regions.  Two of the regions are on North Island, in the Bay of Islands Region, and in the Taupo Region in the center of North Island. The 3rd region is in Queenstown where 9 resorts are located.

A New Zealand astro-tourism operator is hoping to take advantage of the "star gazing craze."  Every year tens of thousands of tourists flock to Lake Tekapo, where Canterbury University's Mt. John Observatory resides, to see Southern Stars, the Milky Way, and meteor shows. Graeme Murray, founder of the astro- tourism concession Earth & Sky, wants to build a $5 million "window to the universe" facility on the lake's shore to cater to the needs of those star-gazing tourists.  Earth & Sky will be just a part of a wider development plan around Lake Tekapo including hotels, shops and a supermarket that Mr. Murray hopes to get going.

Apparently, astro-tourism, which has taken off in Asia too, has immense potential for the region as it means tourists need to stay overnight to watch the stars.

Is the market upswing here to stay? 

There are still a few worries. Lisa Ann Schrier, executive director of the National Timeshare Owners Association is concerned about "the amount of timeshares coming online all at once instead of sticking a toe in the water to see if it will fly or not." But she adds, "the major players seem to think there is still a lot of life in the old warhorse."

We'd like to know what you think. Please post your comments below.

Plan a family timeshare rental vacation and enjoy the arts. Even if you just appreciate seeing something beautiful, whimsical, or comical, you truly can have a fun family adventure exploring art museums around the country.

When you rent a timeshare in the Washington, D.C. area (Alexandria, VA, and Fort Washington, MD) you are giving your family the opportunity to experience several different kinds of art museums. The National Portrait Gallery on the Smithsonian Mall will delight everyone in the family with the chance to see some of the most famous paintings in American history - which all school children past and present have seen in textbooks.

In less than an hour's drive from your timeshare you can visit the popular art museums along Historic Charles Street in Baltimore, MD. The Baltimore Museum of Art has a Family FunStop in the lobby where you can pick up family-friendly tips for exploring the museum, as well as self-guided sketching and costume kits for the kids.

A beautiful scenic day trip from your Pennsylvania timeshare hub is a drive to the Brandywine River Museum in Chad's Ford, Pennsylvania. This museum houses the main collection by America's famous Wyeth family. The kids will delight in N.C. Wyeth's dramatic illustrations from "Treasure Island," and the life-size painting of a pink pig by Jamie. In June and September you can sign the children up for Read-Aloud Tours for youngsters 3 - 6, which include story time and art-making activities.

Out west rent a timeshare in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and in an hour you can be exploring amazing Tinkertown, outside Albuquerque. Tinkertown Museum is an art museum like you've never seen before. Forty years in the making, one man built this 22 room museum, the outside walls of which are made from 50,000 glass bottles.

A Laguna Beach timeshare rental vacation in California, will allow your family to explore the premier art festival in the country. The Laguna Beach Arts Festival, scheduled for July 7 - August 31, 2010, turns this art community into one big art museum. Be sure to get tickets early for the astounding Pageant of the Masters show put on each evening.

Even in Las Vegas you can see art. Rent a budget Las Vegas timeshare and head to the Las Vegas Art District, which spans 18 blocks and includes art galleries, antique stores, small boutiques, and cafés. The entire family will enjoy visiting on First Friday when the Art District transforms into a carnival street fair. And then be sure to check out the Las Vegas Neon Museum and Boneyard. Showcasing the city's "shining glory" of art, this museum has over 150 retired neon signs, each with a fascinating history.

(Photo of Pocahontas from the National Portrait Gallery)

The Wyndham Grand Desert makes the perfect family vacation destination. Away from the glitz and noise of the Strip, yet still close enough to feel part of the action, this Las Vegas timeshare resort is very family friendly. Their one and two bedroom units come complete with a full kitchen, washer/dryer, air conditioning, wireless Internet, and three outdoor swimming pools, (one just for kids and one exclusively for adults). Special kids’ activities include poolside bingo, evening dive-in movies by the pool, a game room, magic shows, and Kid's Camp. Adults will enjoy the Fairfield black jack tournament, gaming lessons, four outdoor hot tubs, masseuse, exercise facility and discount prices at the Callaway golf driving range.

A recent guest had this to say, “We just got back from Vegas and this resort was amazing. It is great if you are traveling with kids. There is a huge activities room with the Wii, Xbox, air hockey, board games, a computer, and a big screen TV. The staff is wonderful. You are about 2 blocks off the strip. There's a Wal-Mart nearby for food and souvenir shopping. You are centrally located to everything. Would definitely stay here again!!!”

In addition to casinos and gambling entertainment, in Las Vegas can you also visit famous sites around the world! Take a gondola ride in Venice, visit the pyramids of Egypt, ride a roller coaster in New York, or go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It’s all on the famous Las Vegas Strip. And, don’t forget the wealth of exceptional restaurants and live entertainment shows with famous comedians, singers and spectacle acts.

June 21st is almost here. If you are still thinking about what to get Dad this Father’s Day, consider a family vacation in a timeshare. Timeshare resorts are available across the U.S. and around the world, so, your possibilities are endless. You could find something close to home that just requires a short drive, or, fly to an exotic destination for a big adventure. Dad might like the gambling and nightlife a Las Vegas timeshare can offer. Or, perhaps an island getaway on the soft sandy beaches of Waikiki in a Honolulu timeshare would put a smile on his face. As long as the family is together, anywhere would be ideal, and timeshare resorts offer so much more space and amenities for families than standard hotels.

When you choose to celebrate Dad’s special day with the gift of a family vacation, you are not just giving a gift; you are creating memories that last a lifetime. To make the gift even more special, take a lot of pictures and digital videos and put them on a photo sharing web site when you return. Try Shutterfly.com which has a Share Site feature for free with membership (which is also free). You can even email a link to the site to grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins too and share those precious moments even more.

With a timeshare family vacation, you give the gift of time together for laughing, sharing, and bonding. The beautiful memories you create will be a Father’s Day Dad will not soon forget.