Timeshare Information

Hilton Grand Vacations Club, the renowned Hilton Worldwide vacation ownership brand, is celebrating two decades of industry leadership with a year of special events beginning in February.

Twenty years ago, in February 1992, a joint venture between Hilton Hotels Corporation and Grand Vacations, Limited established Hilton’s entry into the vacation ownership market, launching a highly successful chapter in the legacy of the leading global hospitality company.

Today, the Hilton Grand Vacations brand has grown to include more than 50 Club-affiliated resorts, two thriving Club membership programs, 176,000+ Club Members worldwide, and more than 4,500 team members globally.

“On the occasion of our 20th birthday, we want to thank our global team members and Hilton Worldwide leadership for contributing to the growth and progress of Hilton Grand Vacations,” said Mark Wang, President of Hilton Grand Vacations.

“Together, we remain committed to create the satisfaction of a life well-vacationed for our Members, and to maximize the value for our business partners, through industry-leading quality, business stewardship and innovation.”

Throughout 2012, birthday celebrations will be held at the Hilton Grand Vacations headquarters in Orlando, Florida and at the resorts and regional sales and marketing offices in Florida, Hawaii, Las Vegas, New York, Guam and Tokyo.

Additionally, Club Members will be invited to enjoy special events and promotions throughout the year. In keeping with the brand’s spirited commitment to corporate responsibility, Hilton Grand Vacations will also announce dedicated charitable initiatives throughout its resort collection and neighboring communities.

“The launch of our third decade of operation finds us in the midst of a dynamic era of growth,” noted Wang. “High-performing teams, spectacular resort properties and flexible development strategies are contributing to the brand’s expansion and sustained success.

"We remain committed to delivering the highest quality of ownership options while excelling in the outstanding service our Club Members and guests have come to expect from Hilton Grand Vacations.”

Throughout the past 20 years, Hilton Grand Vacations has successfully expanded its resort portfolio to include 14 Hilton Worldwide–developed resorts managed by Hilton Grand Vacations, 23 additional managed properties and 14 distinctive affiliated resorts in California, South Carolina, Canada, Mexico, Portugal, and Scotland.

Thus far in 2012, Hilton Grand Vacations has fortified its growth strategy through Club affiliations in Thailand, New Zealand and Italy, and the brand’s expanded presence in Las Vegas and Hawaii.

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, announced the affiliation of The Resort Group Vacation Club based in Cape Verde, a group of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean 350 miles off the coast of Western Africa.

The first resort to be included in the multi-site club is the Tortuga Beach Resort & Spa (see photos) on Sal, one of the islands in the Cape Verde archipelago. Two other resorts are currently under construction, both on Sal Island.

The Resort Group Vacation Club comprises spacious two-bedroom apartments at the Tortuga Beach Resort and Spa that also includes a hotel managed by Melia Hotels & Resorts, together with additional apartments and private villas. Each vacation club apartment has a private terrace or balcony, an Italian kitchen, and an open-plan living area with a 42-inch TV.

“The Cape Verde islands, already a favorite destination of British, Portuguese, Italian, and German tourists, are gaining renown as an international destination,” said Darren Ettridge, Interval’s senior vice president of resort sales and business development for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

“Sal is the most developed of the islands and the setting of Tortuga Beach Resort & Spa makes the most of the island’s natural beauty.”
In addition to spectacular ocean views and a pristine white-sand beach (a nesting site for turtles), the lushly landscaped resort offers a range of luxury amenities, including an adult pool with a swim-up bar, a children’s pool, YHi Spa, a state-of-the-art gym, and several restaurants and bars.

Guests can choose from AQUA – a gourmet restaurant specializing in Italian and Mediterranean-style cuisine, Spices – the resort’s main restaurant featuring an international buffet, and O-Grille Beach Club Bar & Restaurant, included in CNN’s “World’s 50 best beach bars,” which offers some of the island’s best seafood and is the ideal place to watch the sunset. There is also the stylish Late Bar, the first and only Champagne Bar in Cape Verde.

“Sal Island is one of the world’s most idyllic locations,” said Adam Ellis, marketing director of The Resort Group Vacation Club. “Tortuga Beach Resort & Spa has been designed to the highest standards, weaving luxury and impeccable service into a true oasis of tranquility. We look forward to sharing it with Interval International members.”

Tortuga Beach Resort & Spa is five minutes from restaurants and shopping in the town of Santa Maria and only 15 minutes from the Sal airport.

Interval International has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for 35 years. Today, Interval has an exchange network of approximately 2,600 resorts in over 75 nations.

Photo Credits: tortugabeachandspa.com

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, has an affiliation agreement with Copper Point Resort, Ltd. that adds the Copper Point Resort in Invermere, British Columbia to RCI’s network of affiliated resorts.

Copper Point Resort is an award-winning luxury mountain resort that opened its doors in May 2011 in the Columbia Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Visitors will find this sleek modern alpine retreat amongst breathtaking views of the Rocky Mountains and The Ridge at Copper Point golf course, one of nine championship golf courses in the area.

This four-season mountain resort’s amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, hot tubs, multi-use sport court, a playground, a marked walking trail, fire pits, fitness facility, business center, onsite market, 24/7 reception, high-end concierge service, conference facilities and Elements Grill. A full-service spa is also set to open in early 2012.

“RCI introduced the exchange business over 35 years ago and has been the industry innovator and leader in both timeshare and fractional properties ever since,” said Rohit Gupta, CFO of Rohit Group of Companies. “Through our relationship with RCI we are able to provide added value to our existing owners while also expanding our international market for both whole and fractional ownership and vacation getaways.”

“Copper Point Resort is a great addition to our growing network of affiliated resorts,” said Gordon Gurnik, president of RCI. “This beautiful resort will give our RCI® Weeks members an opportunity to experience the best that British Columbia has to offer.”

Copper Point Resort is the newest four season luxury resort located in Invermere, British Columbia, where area attractions and activities include premier golf courses, world renowned skiing, natural hot springs and the stunning Lake Windermere.

RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with over 4,000 affiliated resorts in approximately 100 countries. RCI pioneered the concept of vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility and versatility with their vacation ownership experience.

Today, through RCI® Weeks, the traditional week-for-week exchange system, and RCI Points®, the industry’s first global points-based exchange system, RCI provides flexible vacation options to its 3.8 million RCI subscribing members each year. RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals and the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands.

Photo Credit: toqueandcanoe.com

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, and Welk Resorts, a well-established leader in the vacation ownership industry, have announced the renewal of their master affiliation agreement.

The multi-year contract extends the relationship established in 2004 and comprises six existing properties in four sought-after markets, as well as future development.

“Our commitment to excellence is seen in everything we do at our resorts, beginning with the design and amenities to delivering the best service to our owners,” said Jon Fredricks, president of Welk Resort Group.

“Renewing our partnership with Interval ensures that we will also be able to continue providing industry-leading programs and benefits to members, including the opportunity to exchange their vacations through Interval’s renowned resort network to some of the most highly demanded destinations around the world.”

“We’ve greatly enjoyed working with Jon and the Welk team, who are among the most respected professionals in the shared ownership industry,” added Craig M. Nash, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Interval Leisure Group. “We’re very proud to enhance our relationship and offer our members many more years of exceptional experiences at the outstanding Welk locations.”

The resort portfolio includes Welk Resort San Diego, where it all began in 1964 with legendary bandleader Lawrence Welk’s purchase of hundreds of undeveloped acres in Southern California. Today’s high-quality vacation community spans 450 acres and contains three projects: Welk Resort Villas (see photos), Villas On The Greens, and Mountain Villas.

Designed in a low density, suburban style, the flagship resort offers one- and two-bedroom units with high-end features and finishes, each with golf course or mountain views. Owners appreciate an array of on-site amenities: rounds of golf on two 18-hole courses, both listed on Golf Digest magazine’s list of “Best Places to Play”; five recreation centers with pools, water slides, and splash pads; tennis courts; and a restaurant, market, and deli.

True to Welk’s entertainment heritage, visitors can also take in live Broadway-style shows at the 300-plus seat theater.

Founded in 1955 by Lawrence Welk, the late entertainment icon, Welk Resorts is one of the most respected independent brands in the vacation ownership industry today. Welk remains a privately held, family-owned company led by President Jon Fredricks, who is the grandson of Lawrence Welk.

The company has developed and/or operated more than 1,100 luxury vacation units, villas, and hotel rooms in San Diego; Maui, Hawaii; the Palm Desert area; Branson, Missouri; and Cabo San Lucas. The corporate offices are located in San Marcos, California.

The mission of the company, “Our family creates vacation memories to cherish for a lifetime,” is reflective of the strong company values that promote both tradition and family

Bluegreen Vacations, a leading provider of “Colorful Places to Play,” has announced that its Missouri resort, Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar, was presented the City of Branson’s 2011 Green Initiative award for its eco-friendly practices. Bluegreen Corporation is honored and proud to receive the award.

While Bluegreen Wilderness Club is decidedly focused on rustic luxury, with 18 Concierge and Presidential villas, slate and hardwood floors, flat-screen TVs, exquisite fireplaces, stainless steel appliances and soft, comfortable and inviting furniture and bedding; it is also diligent about remaining energy conscious and eco-friendly. While we continue to evolve our practices to become as energy efficient and eco-friendly as possible, we have already accomplished many great things.

“We are honored to receive this award, as we believe instilling a culture of environmental respect and sustainability is an important part of living and working in The Ozarks,” explained Howard Kitchen, General Manager of Wilderness Club at Big Cedar. “As a Bluegreen Corporation resort, we are proud to represent the timeshare industry with a positive, environmentally friendly award.”

Bluegreen Wilderness Club at Big Cedar is diligent about the following:

1. Landscaping practices to reduce use of water and fertilizer to guard against runoff into Table Rock Lake, and to recycle organic materials into the soil by composting and mulching.

2. The living ‘green’ roof at Indian Creek Swimming pool Pump House and the emphasis on sustainability throughout the newly constructed Indian Creek Lodge.

3. Recognition by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Certified Green Lodging Program.

4. Participating Property, “Clean the World” Program to recycle soap products for distribution to needy, third-world countries to provide sanitizing cleansers to combat infection transmission and to reduce the impact of these cleaning products on our landfills and groundwater.

5. Encouragement to all guests to participate in our resort-wide commitment to recycling by providing convenient containers for collecting recyclable materials. The resort’s recycling programs divert and transport an estimated 128.5 tons of recylcable material that would otherwise be sent to a landfill.

6. Use of energy efficient and solar lighting fixtures where practicable.

7. Use of water/energy conserving fixtures where practicable.

“These aspects of our green culture were recognized by the City of Branson during the 2011 Green Initiative award ceremony,” stated Kitchen.

Founded in 1966 and headquartered in Boca Raton, FL, Bluegreen Corporation is a leading timeshare sales, marketing and resort management company. Bluegreen Resorts manages, markets and sells the Bluegreen Vacation Club, a flexible, points-based, deeded vacation ownership plan with more than 160,000 owners, over 59 owned or managed resorts, and access to more than 4,000 resorts worldwide.

RCI®, the global leader in vacation exchange and part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands, has renewed its affiliation agreement with El Cid Resorts.

The 35-year old Mexican hotel group continues the partnership in an effort to offer the high-quality services and varied exchange options its owners have come to expect over the 27 years RCI has been its exclusive vacation exchange provider. The agreement includes El Cid Resorts’ six developments in Mazatlán, Cozumel and the Mayan Riviera.

“We chose RCI as a provider of vacation exchange because it offers members the benefits of the world’s largest vacation exchange network, in addition to being committed to the growth and expansion plans of our company,” said Carlos Berdegue, president and managing director, El Cid Resorts. “RCI’s business and marketing solutions complement our service offerings, making for a very productive relationship.”

Each of the El Cid Resorts attracts visitors with its first-class oceanfront accommodations, luxury spas and friendly and dependable service. Mazatlán’s four locations are renowned for their golf courses, while the Cozumel location gives visitors access to cave and cavern diving. In the Mayan Riviera region, travelers staying at Hotel Marina El Cid Spa Beach Resort (see photo) can go snorkeling in the aqua waters of the Caribbean in Puerto Morelos National Reef Park.

“We are proud to continue our relationship with El Cid Resorts, a hotel group that continues to grow through a clear business vision,” said Ricardo Montaudon, president and CEO, RCI Latin America.

“Its widespread success in Mazatlán and other Mexican tourist regions, such as the Mayan Riviera and Cozumel, are an indication of their exemplary commitment to servicing the guest. We look forward to more growth as our companies continue to work together.”

RCI is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange with over 4,000 affiliated resorts in approximately 100 countries. RCI pioneered the concept of vacation exchange in 1974, offering members increased flexibility and versatility with their vacation ownership experience. Today, through RCI® Weeks, the traditional week-for-week exchange system, and RCI Points®, the industry’s first global points-based exchange system, RCI provides flexible vacation options to its 3.8 million RCI subscribing members each year.

Diamond Resorts International® (Diamond) a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, encourages its U.S. bound owners, members and guests to participate in Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that provides expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Both the frequent international traveler and occasional jetsetter are equally eligible as no minimum number of trips is required to qualify for the program.

Global Entry is designed to alleviate frustration by eliminating duplicative screening of international passengers while still maintaining optimal security. The process requires that participants present their machine-readable U.S. passport or permanent resident card at a Global Entry Kiosk, provide fingerprint verification and make a customs declaration. Upon completion, the kiosk issues the traveler a transaction receipt and directs the traveler to baggage claim and the exit.

According to Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Resorts International®, “As Chairman of the Corporate for Travel Promotion we continually seek ways to simplify travel in order to increase tourism to the United States. We have many exciting destination choices in the United States and the Global Entry program provides increased accessibility with reduced hassle and greater enjoyment while traveling.”

In 2008, CBP launched its pilot study of the Global Entry program at 20 airports. Due to its success, CBP is preparing federal regulations to make it a permanent program. The program is currently open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, Canadian citizens and permanent residents, Dutch citizens as well as Mexican citizens. Global Entry will soon be open to United Kingdom, German and South Korean citizens.

Diamond Resorts International®, with global headquarters in Las Vegas, Nev., is one of the largest hospitality companies in the world with more than 200 branded and affiliated resorts and over 24,000 guest beds in 28 countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Annually, nearly 1.4 million owners, members and guests enjoy the simplicity, choice and comfort Diamond Resorts International® offers through our branded hospitality experience.


Diamond Resorts Corporation and its subsidiaries develop, own, operate and manage vacation ownership resorts and, through resort and partner affiliation agreements, provide owners and members with access to 69 managed resorts and 132 affiliated resorts.