Timeshare Information

What do Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Beckham, and Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickenson have in common? Or 3-time Olympic gold medalist Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt (see photo), Spanish tennis pro Rafael Nadal, and Kevin Spacey? And what do they have to do with travel news?

They were all among the favorites to win the World Travel Awards "Face of Travel 2010" award. The winner was announced on Sunday, November 7th, during the 17th annual World Travel Awards ceremony, which took place at London's posh Grosvenor House Hotel.

The World Travel Awards (WTA) organization "serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry." This year was the most hotly contested yet. Over 5,000 individuals and businesses representing 162 countries were nominated in numerous categories ranging from best airport to best beach resort to best safari. And, yes, best travel ad.

The new “Face of Travel” award acknowledges the celebrity endorsement that has made the biggest contribution to the travel and tourism industry over the past year.

Nominee highlights included Usain Bolt’s “Once You Go You Know” campaign and its role in boosting Jamaica’s tourism profile; David Beckham, serving as ambassador for England’s 2018 World Cup bid, earned him the nod for boosting his nation’s tourism profile; and Iron Maiden frontman and airline pilot Bruce Dickenson was nominated for his new job as marketing manager of Astraeus Airlines.

Rafael Nadal, also a hot favorite, fronted a hugely-successful campaign highlighting the sport tourism credentials of his native Balearic Islands. California's "Governator" was nominated for the popular "If California seems like your kind of work when can you start?" tourism ad with his wife, Maria Shriver.

Kevin Spacey touted the comforts of American Airlines' business class with "you'll know your seat when you find it." And English ex-soccer star Jamie Redknapp and his pop-star wife, Louise, were nominated for their hit ad campaign that led to a surge in summer bookings for England's venerable tour company Thomas Cook.

Hailed as “The Oscars of the Travel Industry” by the Wall Street Journal, the World Travel Awards is recognized globally as the ultimate travel accolade. The WTA 2010 Grand Final in London marked the climax of a year-long search to find the very best travel businesses in the world.

Oh, and the winner of the Face of Travel 2010 award? Jamaican Usain Bolt. Other awards included: World's Leading Travel Destination - London (beating out such luminaries are Bali and Dubai); World's Leading Airport: Singapore Changi Airport; and World's Leading Honeymoon Destination: St. Lucia.


(Photo credit - chron.com)

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that as of November 1, 2010, it will now require a full name, which includes first, middle name or initial, and last, exactly as it appears on your government issued ID (such as a driver's license or passport), date of birth, and gender for all passengers traveling on or after November 1, 2010, regardless of when the reservation was booked. Failure to provide this information could result in a reservation being refused by the airline. Airlines may cancel any record which does not contain this information at least 72 hours prior to travel.

To avoid cancellation, potential delays at check in, denied boarding, or additional costs, make sure that all required information is entered into your reservation.
This is part of the federal program Secure Flight. Secure Flight is the TSA's behind-the-scenes watch list matching program that fulfills a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission.

"By establishing a consistent watch list matching system, Secure Flight enhances aviation security and more effectively facilitates air travel for passengers," states the TSA blog. "By providing complete information, passengers can significantly decrease the likelihood of a watch list misidentification."

The TSA web site lists the objectives of the Secure Flight program as: identify known and suspected terrorists, prevent individuals on the No Fly List from boarding an aircraft, facilitate passenger air travel, and protect individuals' privacy.

Regarding privacy protection, the TSA states that the personal data that Secure Flight collects is protected by the highest set of security protocol standards established by the federal government. "Secure Flight guards the privacy of individuals by adhering to the letter and spirit of privacy law, by treating individuals and their personal privacy information with respect, ensuring a high standard of privacy protection, and responding effectively to public concerns."

If the name you use to make your reservation and that exactly matches your Government-issued ID, but not your frequent flyer account, the airline's frequent flyer system will not recognize your name. If this is true for you, consult the airline frequent flyer program regarding the process to update the frequent flyer account information.

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) will be holding its annual fall conference this year November 10-12 in Washington, D.C.

The ARDA, based in Washington, D.C., was established over 40 years ago to represent the vacation ownership and resort development industries. Today the ARDA has over 1,000 members, including timeshare owner associations and resort management companies. Almost 1 million timeshare owners are represented through the ARDA Resort Owners Coalition (ARDA-ROC). Through ARDA-ROC owners "can be part of an effective grassroots lobbying coalition of timeshare unit owners dedicated to preserving, protecting, and enhancing vacation ownership."

Since the conference occurs this year just a week after mid-term elections, one of the key speakers will be Stuart Rothenberg, "who has embodied the rare ability to report on all the political happenings in the nation with unbiased clarity and non-partisan precision." His publication, The Rothenberg Political Report, is a biweekly newsletter that provides honest reporting and analysis of American elections.

Keynote Speaker Kevin Hassett will discuss "The Road to Economic Recovery." One of the country’s most respected and renowned economists, Hassett will give an overview of the timeshare industry's current economic situation, its most pressing challenges for growth, and talk about policy changes that would address some of those challenges.

ARDA's President and CEO, Howard Nusbaum, will lead a breakfast roundtable discussion on the current state of the timeshare industry with the industry A-list, including Jim Lewis, President & CEO, Disney Vacation Club, Mark Wang, President, Hilton Grand Vacation Club, Franz Henning, President & CEO, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, Jon Fredericks, President, Welk Resorts, Craig Nash, Chairman, President and CEO, Interval Leisure Group, and Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, RCI.

For further information about ARDA visit its web site.

There's good news and bad news for the 18 domestic U.S. airlines rated by the Airline Quality Rating (AQR) Report. In its 20th year of reporting major airline performance in the United States, the AQR is a statistical study conducted jointly by Dr. Dean Headley, professor at Wichita State University, and Dr. Brent Bowen, professor at Purdue University.

During 2009 the U.S. airline industry actually improved in quality in the four areas that the study tracks, say Hedley and Bowen in their AQR 2010 report. Those four areas are on-time arrival, mishandled baggage, involuntary denied boardings, and customer complaints.

For the good news, we'll look at the airlines that came out on top out of the 18 airline companies in the AQR study.

1. Hawaiian Airlines
   Ranked at #1 this airline got its passengers to their destinations on time a record 92% in 2009. A customer complaint rate of 0.74 complaints per 100,000 passengers is against the 2009 industry average of 0.97. Its mishandled baggage rate of 1.90 per 1,000 passengers (second best of all airlines rated) is well below the industry rate of 3.88 bags per 1,000 passengers.


2. AirTran
   This airline came in second in the overall rankings of the AQR report. It ranked best in getting your baggage back to you on time and in one piece, having a mishandled baggage rate of just 1.66 per 1,000 passengers, and it decreased its customer complaint rate from 1.10 in 2008 to .97 per 100,000 passengers in 2009.


3. JetBlue
   At Number 3, JetBlue saw the best over-all improvement in all categories during 2009. On-time performance in 2009 was 77.5% in 2009 compared to 72.9% in 2008, and its mishandled baggage rate was 2.56 in 2009 compared to 3.47 in 2008. A customer complaint rate of 0.85 complaints per 100,000 passengers was lower in 2009 (1.02 in 2008), and Jet Blue’s denied boarding performance (0.00 per 10,000 passengers in 2009 and 0.01 in 2008) is the lowest of the airlines rated.


4. Southwest Airlines
   Ranking #4, Southwest Airlines scored big in one of the more important categories, with the smallest number of consumer complaints, averaging a scant 0.28 per 100,000 passengers. Southwest Airlines is consistently the airline with the lowest customer complaint rate in the industry, stated Hedley and Bowen. In addition, its on-time arrival rate of 83.0% in 2009 is among the industry’s highest.

And now the bad news. Cutting to the chase, the worst ranked airline was Delta, who led in delayed arrivals at 78%, and was also first in consumer complaints, averaging 2.23 per 100,000 passengers.

The other airlines at the bottom of the list were United, Alaska Airlines, American and US Airways.

Marriott Vacation Club is teaming up with Audubon International to further the “greening” of its resorts in North America and the Caribbean region, through the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program for Hotels.

The Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program "provides the assurance that the lodging company meets environmental best practice standards." The program began in 1998 to meet the lodging industry's desire to provide quality guest services while minimizing the impact of those services on the environment.

In order to achieve a “Green Leaf” rating, resorts must meet requirements for water quality, water conservation, waste minimization, resource conservation and energy efficiency.

"Our resorts have been utilizing green practices for years and the Audubon Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program will take it a step further by providing consistency through a respected environmental group like Audubon International,” said Dirk Schavemaker, senior vice president of resort operations for Marriott Vacation Club. “By enrolling our resorts in the Green Leaf Program, we’re confirming our enduring commitment to the environment, our communities, and our Owners and guests who stay at our resorts.”

Marriott’s signature timeshare brand currently has 28 resorts enrolled in the Green Leaf program, and expects to have all 43 resorts in the region participating in the program by next year. With average occupancy rates over 90 percent, Marriott Vacation Club resorts in North America and the Caribbean region collectively took care of over 696,000 guests in 2009.

“We’re pleased to have Marriott Vacation Club work with us to better protect and sustain our land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources,” said Fred Realbuto, Director of U.S. Green Leaf Operations at Audubon International. “Our program is unique in that it is international in scope, uses a standardized process for evaluating environmental performance, provides environmental education and conducts visits to verify eco-rated practices.”

This latest endeavor is part of Marriott Vacation Club’s larger Green Initiative which began at its corporate headquarters, and is being rolled out to its resorts worldwide. In addition to these most recent steps, each Marriott Vacation Club resort has established its own “green team” which manages its environmental efforts.

In 2009, MVC demonstrated its continued commitment to green operations by eliminating waste from landfills through implementing recycled key cards, pens and Forest Stewardship Council certified paper for guest arrival packets at its resorts.

“By promoting sustainable tourism, we have the opportunity to educate our Owners and guests while protecting our most valuable resources and ensuring a more environmentally-friendly future - a true win-win for everyone,” said Schavemaker.

(Photo image - greenleaf.auduboninternational.org)

Interval International has announced that it is adding Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa in Saint Lucia to its exchange network. This Caribbean island is well known for its spectacular beaches, unspoiled tropical rainforests, and majestic mountains.

“In evaluating vacation exchange providers, we concluded that Interval’s high-quality membership and exchange benefits would meet the needs of our discerning clientele,” said Joyce Destang, owner and managing director of Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa. “Interval’s executives have dedicated significant time and resources to support our entrance into shared ownership and we greatly value the relationship. We know that we can continue to count on them to provide sales, marketing, and operations expertise.”

The resort sits on one of St. Lucia’s most beautiful scenic beaches where you have access to a spectacular 2-mile beach with activities such as swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. An in-house tour operator is available to customize your land or sea tours.

The two-bedroom vacation ownership units are housed in three-story buildings with timbered balconies and verandas inspired by French Caribbean and Georgian plantation architecture. With 1,300 square feet of space, each air-conditioned unit has a balcony or patio with a pool and ocean view and a full kitchen. Interiors combine an elegant tropical décor with sleek contemporary finishes, such as granite kitchen counters.

As a guest you can expect state-of-the-art technology, with DVD/CD players and high-speed Internet/Wi-Fi that is available everywhere on the property, even the beach. You'll also enjoy hotel-style luxuries such as bathrobes and slippers, room service, and daily linen change.

In addition, Bay Gardens Resorts is partnering with the Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA), as the official host for the 2010-2011 football season as part of its plan to elevate the country’s standing in the sport by 2014.

“It has been a tremendous pleasure to work with Bay Gardens as it enters our industry with this exceptional property,” said David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International. “We look forward to introducing their purchasers to the many benefits of Interval membership, including access to our Quality Vacation Exchange Network. We are delighted that all of our members will now have the opportunity to visit this premier-level resort in such a stunning location.”

Interval International operates membership programs for vacationers and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 34 years. Interval International is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group.

(Photo credit baygardensbeachresort.com)

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands today announced an affiliation with the Hotel Hacienda La Purisima in Ixtlahuaca, Mexico.

“We are very excited about this new affiliation as we believe this property will attract many international members who want to enjoy a Mexican vacation,” said Ricardo Montaudon, president of Latin America, RCI. “We look forward to a mutually successful relationship with Hacienda la Purisima.”

Located one hour from Mexico City and 20 minutes from the City of Toluca, Hacienda La Purisima has 12 units complete with hardwood floors, a fireplace and a soaking tub. The property offers a lake with boating, 18-hole golf course, entertainment and game rooms, an indoor pool, spa and barbeque facilities. Also onsite are tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball and badminton courts.

The property sits on a working "leisure," or "recreational," farm where you can interact with cows, sheep, rabbits, geese, and turkeys. A state-of-the-art equestrian center offers horseback riding along wooded trails, and a lovely chapel is on-site for your use.

Nearby attractions include Nevado de Toluca, a large extinct volcano peak 15,000 ft high with a caldera almost a mile across; and The Otomi Ceremonial Center, one of the most beautiful palaces of the Mexican Republic.

“It was an easy decision to affiliate with RCI,” said Alfredo Casar, general manager of Hacienda La Purisima. “We are confident that this affiliation is a great business opportunity and that our facilities and services will be a major attraction for domestic and international members."

RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with access to more than 80,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange.

(Photo credit gpodesarrolladores.com.mx)