Timeshare Information

RCI®, the global leader in vacation exchange, was recently recognized by the St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association (SHTA) with a Crystal Pineapple Award in the category of Outstanding Tourism Industry Partner.

The award winners were recognized at a ceremony in November at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino in St. Maarten.

“SHTA has unanimously chosen RCI as the recipient of its 2012 Outstanding Tourism Industry Partner Award,” said Alfred Harley, executive director of the SHTA.

“This award recognizes international industry partners that have made a significant contribution toward the development of our tourism industry, and in this case we are confident that the timeshare industry on St. Maarten has benefited tremendously from a fruitful relationship with RCI,” Harley said.

Among RCI’s contributions to the tourism industry in St. Maarten, the SHTA cited RCI’s ability to gather, analyze and provide information about timeshare exchange travel trends on the island.

With this information, businesses were able to tailor their tourism products and services to grow the industry in St. Maarten. RCI, along with other timeshare industry leaders, also worked with the SMTA to draft comprehensive legislation to assist in the regulation of the timeshare industry, which was submitted to Parliament and the Minister of Justice in October.

“We are so happy to be presented with this prestigious award,” said Eugenio Macouzet, managing director, RCI Caribbean.

 “The timeshare industry has developed quickly and beautifully on the island of St. Maarten, and we look forward to being a part of its continued growth in the future.”

RCI became the first vacation exchange company in St. Maarten in the early 1980s through an affiliation with the island’s first timeshare property, the Pelican Resort. RCI is now affiliated with more than 20 quality properties on the island.

Photo Credit: stmaarten.blogspot.com

Marriott Vacations Worldwide has announced that Robert A. Miller, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the company’s international region, will retire by the end of this year.

A 35-year industry veteran, Miller started his career in 1978 with the co-founding of American Resorts Corporation which was purchased by Marriott International, Inc. in 1984.

The new division launched Marriott as the first branded hospitality company to enter the timeshare industry by more than a decade.

“Bob leaves an impressive legacy. His leadership in the early formation of the industry helped structure important legislation and consumer regulations that created a platform on which the industry would grow,” said Stephen P. Weisz, president and chief executive officer for Marriott Vacations Worldwide.

Miller came on board with Marriott when it acquired American Resorts, where he was the president and chief operating officer. He served as president for the timeshare division until 1996 and grew the business from $5.4 million to nearly $258 million during that time and also led the Marriott Golf business.

Throughout his career, Miller has been an active member of the vacation ownership industry. He was a member of the board of directors for Interval International for more than five years.

Miller has also played a key role in the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) by serving as its treasurer in 1997, and then as chairman from 1998 – 2001. He is currently a member of the executive committee and the board of directors, as well as chairman of the ARDA International Foundation.

In 1991, Miller was named ARDA’s Resort Industry Executive of the Year, due to his enduring efforts to bring the segment to the forefront of the hospitality industry, and in 2005, received ARDA’s ACE Lifetime Achievement Award.

The American Resort Development Association of Hawaii (ARDA-Hawaii) has announced the recipients of its first annual "Timeshare with Aloha" Awards.

One outstanding employee each from Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and Island of Hawaii was recognized and received a two-night stay at a Hawaii timeshare resort and $1,000 to spend during their vacation.

The nominations, which included submissions from supervisors and peers, were reviewed by a panel of judges comprised of leaders in government and in the travel and hospitality community. The judges evaluated the submissions based on the candidates' dedication at the workplace, relationship with coworkers, customer service and community stewardship.

ARDA-Hawaii's leadership was pleased to establish the Timeshare with Aloha Awards to showcase and reward committed industry professionals who make Hawaii a special place to visit. Though many vacation destinations offer sun, sand, and surf, Hawaii's warm and unique culture is what sets it apart.

"It was a significant challenge for our panel of judges to single out just four individuals among the many worthy nominees," said ARDA-Hawaii Chair Daniel Dinell, who is also the Hilton Grand Vacations Club Vice President for Oahu.

"The fact that these four timeshare professionals are recognized among their peers as consistently going above and beyond when it comes to sharing the spirit of aloha is truly a testament to how exceptional they are."

The vacation stays were donated by ARDA-Hawaii members Hilton Grand Vacations, Marriott Vacation Club, Starwood Vacation Ownership and Wyndham Vacation Resorts.

Recipients of the Timeshare with Aloha Awards included Julie Pavao, Executive Assistant, Starwood Vacation Ownership - Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas, Kauai (see photo).

For the second consecutive year, Wyndham Worldwide, one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, is ranked number one by Newsweek magazine in its annual Greenest Companies survey.

The rankings evaluate the environmental performance of the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. and around the world. Ranked among the top 100 greenest companies in the U.S., Wyndham Worldwide was evaluated on a number of criteria including its environmental footprint and management, environmental policies, programs and initiatives.

The survey also considered the Company’s reporting and disclosure practices, including the Carbon Disclosure Project and its 2011 Sustainability Report, which align with the Global Reporting Initiative.

“We are proud to be recognized once again for our work in sustainability, which is the result of tremendous collaboration and innovation by our associates, franchisees, suppliers, business and community partners,” says Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and chief executive officer, Wyndham Worldwide.

“As one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, these collaborative efforts work to leverage the versatility of our unique hospitality portfolio of vacation ownership club resorts to drive sustainable, profitable growth.”

One of the initiatives credited in the Company’s ranking is its Wyndham Green Toolbox, a proprietary designed, state-of-the-art eco-software program that allows both owned and managed properties, as well as independently owned and franchised properties within the Wyndham Worldwide portfolio to track and measure their environmental footprint.

The Toolbox provides users with resources and tools to reduce energy use, and advance the Company’s global sustainability efforts.

Earlier this year, the Company reported a five percent reduction in its carbon footprint of its owned, managed and leased properties over 2010 based on energy per square foot measured by the custom Toolbox.

Wyndham Worldwide sustainable practices are created and driven by the Company’s Wyndham Green program, which is in its sixth year, remains one of the top five strategic priorities at Wyndham Worldwide. 

The program, which is focused on education and innovation, is a way of living and working based on the Company’s vision and core values, enhancing customers’ lives by improving the environment, supporting global and local communities, and developing sustainable programs that deliver economic benefits.

Take a look at Wyndham timeshare rentals and resales available now.

Bluegreen Getaways Partnered with Elvis.com to give away a vacation fit for a king. The winner just returned from his family trip to Las Vegas.

Pete S. of Beaumont, CA, won a trip to Las Vegas. His prize package included a 7-night stay at Bluegreen Club 36 Resort in a Presidential Suite- 2,500 square feet of elegance, including three lavish bedrooms, a kitchen and an entertaining media room. Pete also received $2,500 in cash.

Pete was casually surfing the Internet when he saw the contest fit for a king and decided to roll the dice on a Las Vegas getaway.

“I was really happy when I found out I won,” Pete said. “I called my wife right away to let her know.” Pete vacationed with his wife and two children.

He says the prize made for the ideal family trip, because Las Vegas happens to be only three hours from where he lives.

Bluegreen’s strategic partnership with Elvis.com was designed to bring more than just vacation packages to the site’s audience.

 “The sweepstakes was created specifically for Elvis Presley Enterprises to give fans a chance to win a great experience from Bluegreen Getaways,” said Marco Merida, Vice President of Marketing Alliances for Bluegreen.

“Elvis fans love Las Vegas. Offering the Presidential Suite from our Vegas Resort (Club 36) seemed like a great way to give the winner a vacation package that even Elvis would have enjoyed. We’re very excited to give this experience to Pete.”

“Elvis Presley Enterprises is proud to have partnered with Bluegreen on this sweepstakes to send Pete to one of Elvis’ favorite cities: Las Vegas, NV,” said Jane Mims, Marketing Account Manager for Elvis Presley Enterprises.

“Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, TN will celebrate his love for Vegas in 2013 & 2014 with a new ‘Elvis: Live from Vegas’ exhibit.”

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 60 owned or managed resorts, and access to more than 4,000 resorts worldwide.

Located in the heart of Beaver Creek, Colorado, is the dual-affiliated mixed-use resort St. James Place, which enjoys both II Premier, and RCI Gold Crown status.

Accommodations range from large hotel units to an incredible 4-bedroom that sleeps 12.

This is one of those great places where you can walk out of the condo door and up the heated plaza (less than 100 yards) to the main ski lift, and ski-in access trails pass right by it.

Among other things, St. James Place has a full exercise facility, large indoor pool, sauna, steam room, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, meeting rooms, 24 hour front desk, concierge, and heated underground parking.

The open air ice skating facility and the Vilar Center for the Performing Arts, with live entertainment, are also just yards from the front door.

Also right outside the front door are shopping and dining, hiking, horseback riding and golf, all on site, and tennis is only two blocks away.

This elegant and luxurious resort consistently gets very high ratings from everyone who visits, and can be difficult to exchange into, especially at the height of the winter season.

Keep St. James Place in mind for other times of the year, too. The region is always beautiful, always full of activity, and you might have a better chance of getting in.

Bluegreen Vacations, a leading provider of vacation experiences, will make a $5,000 corporate donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief to assist with care for those displaced by Hurricane Sandy, Bluegreen President and CEO John M. Maloney Jr. has announced.

In addition, the company will match personal donations by its associates made by November 30, 2012- dollar for dollar- up to $5,000.

A handful of resorts that are either owned by or affiliated with the vacation club experienced the wrath of Sandy first hand: The Soundings and The Breakers in Dennisport, MA, The Manhattan Club in New York City, Patrick Henry Square in Williamsburg, VA., Shenandoah Crossing in Gordonsville, VA., and Atlantic Palace in Atlantic City, NJ.

“Many Bluegreen associates in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast took great precautions before the storm to protect our resort owners and guests, even as they took steps to safeguard themselves and their loved ones,” Maloney said.

“They showed great care and compassion. Now it’s our opportunity—and responsibility—to show compassion.”

The American Red Cross has provided more than 23,000 overnight shelter stays since October 26, 2012, two days before Sandy made landfall. The storm has affected 60 million people across an area the Red Cross described as “about the size of Europe.”

Bluegreen Vacations hosts owners and guests at several resorts in the affected area, including Bluegreen at Atlantic Palace on the hard-hit Atlantic City, N.J., Boardwalk.

Contributions to the American National Red Cross are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Red Cross’ tax identification number is 53-0196605. For more information, visit the Red Cross web site. 

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 60 owned or managed resorts, and access to more than 4,000 resorts worldwide.

Photo Credit: nj.com