Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino Installs TimeShareWare Professional 2008 Software To Manage Timeshare Units

Aruba, Caribbean – Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, a Marriott Franchise property with timeshare membership, recently successfully installed the TimeShareWare Professional 2008 software system to manage its timeshare units. TimeShareWare Professional 2008 replaced a custom accounting software system at Renaissance Resort and also manages all owner activity.

Junior Croeze, IT Director of the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, loves the customizability and flexibility of the TimeShareWare Professional 2008 software. “The reliability and dependability of the system has been great. This is exactly why we chose TimeShareWare as our software provider.”

Jerry Sandorf, COO of TimeShareWare, commented, “TimeShareWare provides the flexibility that allows resorts to tailor the software setup to their own unique needs. We’ve been pleased that Renaissance Aruba has been able to capitalize on this flexibility to essentially customize TimeShareWare for very specific business processes and work flows in its timeshare business operations.”

Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino features 556 rooms and suites, with 150 of those units being timeshare units. The resort is split into two different areas: The Renaissance Marina Hotel which is an adult-exclusive destination within the resort for travelers over 18 years old, while the Renaissance Ocean Suites is suitable for families with children.

For more information about Renaissance Resort, please visit their website at www.renaissancearuba.com


About TimeShareWare & CondotelWare:
TimeShareWare is the industry standard software platform for shared-ownership, mixed use resorts. Since 1993, TimeShareWare serves all sizes and types of vacation ownership associations, fractional ownership properties, and timeshare resorts including multi-site, single-site, and points-based clubs. The TimeShareWare software platform includes solutions for lead management, contract processing, sales and marketing, owner accounting, loan servicing, property management, reservations, and web-based owner servicing.

CondotelWare is the first full-service software solution designed specifically for condominium hotels. The software helps owners and operators master all aspects of condo-hotel management and administration, including owner accounting, billing, rental rotation, inventory management, reservations, owner relations, reporting, and more.

Leffler & Heaney Wims Interior Renovation Contracts For Starwood’s Sheraton Vistana Resort

Timeshare Projects Further Leffler & Heaney’s Expansion into Hospitality Industry

Orlando-based general contractor, Leffler & Heaney, Inc., announced it was awarded a third contract with Starwood Hotels & Resorts to provide construction management of the interior renovations for the Fountains II phase of Sheraton Vistana Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Leffler & Heaney will oversee the interior renovations of 604 of the resort’s 1,500 vacation ownership units as part of the three contracts. Once complete, the resort rooms will feature new cabinets, flooring, fixtures, furnishings and paint.

Interior renovations of the first phase, the Lakes, began in September 2007 and were completed this past January. Leffler & Heaney is currently working on Fountains I interiors, which began in February and is scheduled to be completed in August. The third phase, Fountains II, will be completed this December.

“We are pleased to have been selected by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, a pillar in the vacation ownership industry, to manage the interior renovation,” said Leffler & Heaney’s Co-Owner Tim Leffler. “We look forward to servicing the hospitality industry and showing our commitment to quality construction and customer service.”

Known for specializing in multifamily renovations nationwide, Leffler & Heaney’s preparations to expand into the hospitality industry began nearly two years ago with the renovation of the Hilton Garden Inn at SeaWorld International Center and continue to grow the company’s portfolio and client roster.


About Leffler & Heaney, Inc.
Headquartered in Orlando, Fla., Leffler & Heaney is a leading privately owned general contracting firm specializing in renovating, reconstructing and repositioning multifamily and timeshare communities throughout the United States. Since 1986, the company has successfully completed more than 500 projects. For more information, visit www.LHIrenovation.com.

Architectural Concepts, Inc. Designs Cat And Bird “Resort”

San Diego’s “The Purring Parrot” Caters to Different Kind of Guest

Architectural Concepts, Inc. (ACI) a San Diego firm regarded as one of the nation’s top hospitality-oriented architectural and interior design firms, has completed design work for “The Purring Parrot”, a retail cat and bird “resort” to be located in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego. This new facility will provide a full line of cat and bird supplies, toys, and furnishings in-store and on-line. The unusual facility will also feature work from local artists that will be available for purchase, with 10% of the sale going towards local animal charities.

Maria Brinson, owner of The Purring Parrot, said: “We have created something unique by combining cat and bird lodging into our retail showrooms. Each cat family stays in their own guest suite and enjoys the amenities that we have available. Each walk-in room is a minimum of 4.5ft x 6 ft x 8 ft high with a window door looking out on to the aviary, cage show room or to simply supervise the business. Each room is large enough for two cats. They are spacious enough for staff members to come in, sit down and have play time with ‘kitty.’”

Margit E. Whitlock, AIA, principal of Architectural Concepts, Inc. , said “ Our firm is known for creating unique environments to enhance the guest experience. The Purring Parrot provided us a unique opportunity to think outside the box with a smaller, different kind of “guest”. This project allowed us to have fun while doing what we are best at: producing a beautiful and functional environment that engages the guest – in this case, cats and birds!”

The new facility will include retail sales areas, 21 cat rooms, two cage and aviary rooms, along with support facilities. The space will feature “themed” rooms, with work by local artists, and include a variety of colors and patterns along with energy-efficient lighting and Solatube Daylighting Systems. It will be located at 3015 Saint Charles St., Suite D, San Diego, CA 92110. A grand opening is anticipated in early August 2008.

Project team members include: T-Squared Professional Engineers, Inc. for MEP engineering and Jayden Construction, General Contractor.

Textron Financial Appoints Jon Fliss Executive Vice President Human Resources

Textron Financial Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that Jon Fliss has been named executive vice president, human resources, effective June 16. Fliss succeeds Rob Powers, who recently joined Textron Systems as senior vice president, human resources. In this role, he will oversee human resources for Textron Financial and many of Textron Inc.’s corporate functions, focusing on organization design, compensation, recruitment, orientation, training, performance management, and diversity. He will report to Jay Carter, Textron Financial’s president and chief operating officer, and will be a member of the company’s Management and Executive Committees.

“Jon is a strong human resources leader with a keen focus on the needs of employees – our most important internal customers,” said Carter. “Through experience that spans both the public and government sectors, he has consistently led effective teams by setting human resources strategy and building upon solid foundations to better address the business as a whole.”

Fliss joined Textron Inc. in 2003, serving as director of executive compensation and executive benefits, where he was responsible for Textron’s Executive Compensation Program including both corporate and divisional Annual Incentive Compensation Plans, as well as the Textron Long-Term Incentive Plan. He established the company’s Rewards Center of Excellence to provide Textron’s first-ever enterprise capability for broad-based compensation design and administration. He also formalized Textron’s compensation benchmarking practices to the benefit of employees at all compensation levels.

Prior to Textron, Fliss served in human resources and strategy roles at Sears, Roebuck & Company, and as a Captain in the U.S. Army. He received a BS from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Northwestern University. Fliss has also completed Textron’s Executive Leadership Program at the Thunderbird School for Global Management.


About Textron Financial
Textron Financial is a diversified commercial finance company with more than $11 billion in managed receivables. It has core businesses in Aviation Finance, Asset-Based Lending, Distribution Finance, Golf Finance, Resort Finance, and Structured Capital. Textron Financial also provides financing programs for products manufactured by its parent company, Textron Inc. Additional information about the company is available at www.textronfinancial.com.

About Textron
Textron Inc. is a $13.2 billion multi-industry company operating in 34 countries with approximately 44,000 employees. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, defense and intelligence, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Fluid & Power, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

Fairmont Raffles Nets $1.33bn From Legacy Sale

Fairmont Raffles Hotels International (FRHI), leading group with 88 hotels worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissotel brands, on Monday announced the sale of Legacy Hotels Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) for SR5 billion ($1.33 billion).

Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), which holds a 58.1 per cent controlling interest in FRHI, netted SR740 million ($197 million) from the sales proceeds. The KHC is chaired by Prince Alwaleed bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Alsaud.

The FRHI also owns Fairmont and Raffles branded Residences, Estates and luxury private residence club properties.

Legacy REIT is the largest Canadian lodging real estate investment trust with focus on the ownership of luxury and first-class hotels.

PJ Shoucair, executive director for International Investments at KHC said the sale was in line with Fairmont Raffles Hotels International’s strategy of disposing of non-core assets.

‘Last year, Kingdom Holding sold Swissotel Sydney in Australia for SR281 million besides re-financing of the Four Seasons George V hotel in Paris with net cash proceeds valued at SR285 million going to KHC, the re-financing of the Hotel des Bergues, Geneva in the amount of SR375 million and announced the sale of the Four Seasons Hotel, London for SR550 million,’ he added.

This year KHC announced the completion of the sale of the Monte Carlo Grand Hotel in Monaco with proceeds valued at SR150 million going to KHC, Raffles Grand D’ Angkor & Le Royal, Cambodia for a sale value of SR131 million and the Swissotel Merchant Court, Singapore for a sale value of SR573 million.

In 2006 Kingdom and Colony completed a $5.5 billion acquisition of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts which was combined with the Raffles Hotels Group.


Source: Trade Arabia News

Timeshare Thrives In Economic Slump

Across the country resort developers are putting new projects on hold and trying to figure out how to salvage sales of projects already under construction. But a timeshare developer from Florida, David Siegel, CEO of Westgate Resorts, is setting record sales in what others would consider a down market.

“If I did not read the paper I would think our economy is booming,” said Siegel. “Our occupancy is up and sales continue to surpass the records we set in 2007 when we exceeded $1.1 billion in revenue.”

The past 30 year history of the timeshare industry is ripe with examples of how resilient this business is during periods of economic or domestic uncertainly, and Westgate has consistently led the industry in growth each year. In fact, after the September 11th attacks virtually crashed the tourism market in destinations like Orlando and Las Vegas, the timeshare industry showed solid improvements in both occupancy rates and sales. Many industry experts credit timeshare for buoying the local tourism-related businesses in a period when hotel occupancy rates dipped below 20% at these destinations.

“Gas prices are at an inflation-adjusted high and food prices have skyrocketed. But people still want to vacation; they’re just looking for someone to make it affordable,” explains Siegel. “The fact that we can offer them five-star luxury at a price they can afford is the thing that sets us apart.”

As the visionary founder and CEO of Westgate Resorts, David Siegel has spent the last 25 years developing high-end family resorts in vacation destinations across the nation, growing his company from one resort in Kissimmee, Florida to 28 resorts across the United States. “The best memories I had growing up were vacationing with my family; it has always been my mission to replicate the great memories I had for the over 400,000 families that visit our resorts each year.”

Next month Siegel will celebrate the topping off of his $1.2 billion Las Vegas property-PH Towers by Westgate. Much of the celebration, however, will be had by the local businesses and individuals who have benefited from Siegel’s success. A project of this magnitude has a tremendous impact on the local economy. When Westgate develops a project, it translates into hundreds of jobs for the local community and millions of dollars in additional revenue for area businesses. “In places like Orlando and Las Vegas, we buy a significant amount of attraction tickets, hotel rooms, and other local goods,” explains Siegel. “More importantly, we create thousands of permanent annual
visitors who will return each year and spend their vacation dollars. We value our local partners and the communities in which we live and work.”


About Westgate Resorts:
With 28 resorts and over 400,000 owners worldwide, Westgate Resorts is the largest privately owned timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States. The company, founded in 1970 by David A. Siegel, provides affordable luxury vacation accommodations and exchange opportunities through exclusive affiliation with Interval International, which offers worldwide travel solutions at over 2,000 resorts in over 65 countries. More information is available at www.westgateresorts.com


You can also read an exclusive interview with David Siegel in the June Edition of Perspective Magazine, the timeshare and shared ownership industry’s leading independent publication globally.

Diamond Resorts International® Appoints Sales & Marketing Expert As Vice President, Marketing, Eastern Region

Diamond Resorts International® (DRI), a global leader in the vacation ownership industry, has appointed Joel Lazar, RRP, as Vice President, Marketing, Eastern Region, for DRI. Lazar’s more than 20 years of vacation ownership and fractional ownership marketing experience will be leveraged to generate a significant number of tours for DRI’s Eastern operations, including resort destinations in Tennessee, Missouri, Virginia, St. Maarten and Florida. Lazar will report to James R. Danz, RRP (”Jim”), DRI’s Chief Marketing Officer.

“Joel has proven abilities in attracting qualified prospects through innovation in communication and product design across many facets of the real estate industry,” says Jim Danz, “His addition to the industry-leading DRI marketing team will enable us to deliver consistent tour flow to current and planned sales centers in DRI’s Eastern Region.”

Prior to his engagement with DRI, Lazar held senior management positions with The Owners Club, Intrawest Resort Ownership Corp., Cimarron Golf Resort and Hilton Grand Vacations Club. As the Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Transeastern Homes, Lazar helped the company gain recognition as the fastest growing homebuilder in the country. During his tenure, Transeastern sold nearly $2 Billion in new homes and successfully launched 20 communities. Lazar earned the Florida Home Builders Association’s Marketing Executive of the Year award in 2004.

“Building a world-class organization requires team members with experience, passion and a desire to deliver excellence in everything we do,” said Simon Crawford-Welch, DRI’s President & Chief Operating Officer. “Joel’s engagement is another step toward a dominant global hospitality brand that will set higher industry standards in sales, marketing, resort operations and customer service worldwide.”

Lazar has served on the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) Board of Directors and as chairperson of the ARDA Membership Committee. Lazar has been frequently interviewed by and quoted in major industry and consumer publications, and is a much sought after speaker at industry events.

Diamond Resorts International®, based in Las Vegas, Nev., is one of the largest vacation ownership companies in the world with more than 110 branded and affiliated resorts in 14 countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. Offering simplicity, choice and comfort to its more than 360,000 owners and members through the branded service of more than 5,500 team members worldwide, Diamond Resorts International® is dedicated to providing its guests with effortless and relaxing vacation experiences every time, for a lifetime.

For more information, please visit DiamondResorts.com

Perspective Magazine Confirm Gold Sponsorship of Christel House Open (UK)

Next week (30th June 2008), the UK round of the global tournament spanning five continents at 22 sites will commence in Tewkesbury, England where teams of golfers from different European timeshare companies will play a round for charity in aid of the children of Christel House.

Perspective Magazine, now the most read independent B2B publication for the timeshare industry are Gold Sponsors of the event, continuing their long standing support of Christel House, and will also be covering the event for the publication.

The tournament raises money and awareness for the charity which is helping children around the world to break the cycle of poverty and become self-sufficient, contributing members of society. Christel House have learning centers located in India, Mexico, South Africa, the United States and Venezuela - you can read the Perspective Magazine article in the January 2008 edition of their experience when visiting the South Africa school last November 2007.

For more information on Christel House visit www.christelhouse.org

The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Network Selects Meriwether Ranch For The Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge

After a nationwide search for the premier outdoor recreational development, producers for the DIY (Do It Yourself) Network have chosen Montana’s Meriwether Ranch as the site of a new series called the “Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge.” DIY is visible to over 50 Million viewers nationwide in the USA and around the world.

The pristine Meriwether Ranch, located on the legendary Big Hole River outside of Melrose, Montana, halfway between Butte and Dillon is home to deer, fox, moose, elk, otters, beaver, osprey, bald eagles, ducks, grouse, geese, Sandhill cranes and pronghorn antelope. The Big Hole River is known for its Blue Ribbon rainbow trout, as well as an abundance of brook, cutthroat, and brown trout. It also has the only native run of arctic grayling in the lower 48.

“We combed the country looking for the right blend of stunning venue and unmatched outdoor opportunities,” says Chris Dorsey, president of Denver-based Orion Multimedia, the production company that will bring the series to life, “and when we took one look at Meriwether we knew we had found the perfect place. The property offers the best of Montana and having it straddle the world famous trout waters of the Big Hole River just made it irresistible.”
The Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge is being designed by Bozeman’s Locati Architects; one of the West’s premier architectural firms Locati has created numerous showpiece homes and lodges featured in national and regional architectural periodicals. Adding color to the series will be well-known comedian Jeff Foxworthy who will host regular segments within each episode.

Meriwether Ranch is the dream project of outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists Dave and Emilie Ellingson (Lincoln NE). Nestled between the 3.23 million acres of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and the Big Hole Valley, Meriwether Ranch offers 724 deeded acres and approximately 180,000 acres of permitted land. Fewer than ten percent of the deeded acres will be impacted by the development of new home sites and other buildings. The remaining acres will be protected from further development by the establishment of a conservation easement.

“Since Emilie and I are committed to this land, and regard it as our Ultimate Dream, we can’t help but be excited to share it with others’ who share our enthusiasm,” said Dave Ellingson. “When we created the Ranch, our goal was allow other outdoor enthusiasts to own the experience by purchasing homes or land to build their custom dream homes, right on the river. DIY is going to give so many viewers—both here and around the world–the opportunity to see for themselves, what we have known all along. It’s a little bit of heaven, right here on Earth. ”

DIY’s ‘Ultimate Sportsman’s Lodge’ will begin airing in July of 2009 and is slated to continue airing throughout 2010. DIY Network is part of the Scripps family of networks that includes HGTV, Food, Fine Living, and Great American Country, and is one of America’s fastest growing networks.

For more information visit www.meriwetherranch.com.

NetJets Inc. ® Signs $1.9 Billion Deal With Gulfstream

NetJets, the worldwide leader in private aviation, announced today that it will significantly expand its fleet of large-cabin Gulfstream G450s and Gulfstream G550s. In a new agreement signed with Gulfstream valued at $1.9 billion, NetJets will acquire a total of 40 new Gulfstream aircraft - four Gulfstream G450s and four Gulfstream G550s to be delivered each year from 2012 through 2016. This deal also includes a long-term maintenance support agreement.

“NetJets and Gulfstream have been strong and successful partners for more than a decade and this agreement represents a strategic investment in our future,” said Richard T. Santulli, chairman and CEO, NetJets Inc. “We took our first large cabin Gulfstream IV-SP in 1995 and our first Gulfstream V in 2000. These aircraft offer NetJets Owners premiere large-cabin amenities and the flexibility of intercontinental range. Gulfstream products provide our pilots and flight attendants with the best in next-generation technology and their service teams ensure we meet the high standards of performance and reliability NetJets Owners expect.”

The new contract reinforces an already robust relationship between NetJets and Gulfstream, demonstrating NetJets’ continued support of Gulfstream’s cutting-edge aviation products and renowned service programs. Part of the new deal includes more than $250 million in maintenance support. Under its current agreement with Gulfstream, signed in 2006, NetJets receives four Gulfstream 450s and four Gulfstream 550s each year through 2011.

“This contract recognizes the continued success of Gulfstream aircraft in the NetJets fractional ownership program and the strong partnership between the two companies,” said Joe Lombardo, president, Gulfstream Aerospace. “This deal was made possible in large part due to the long-standing relationship and comfort level Gulfstream Aerospace has developed by working so closely with the talented group of experienced professionals at NetJets International, which operates the large cabin fleet. That relationship has contributed an historical business platform in support of Gulfstream’s continually increasing worldwide product-support capabilities.”

Larry Flynn, senior vice president, Marketing and Sales, Gulfstream Aerospace, added: “Jim Jacobs, vice-chairman of NetJets Inc., with whom I have worked very closely with now for many years, as well as Richard Santulli’s support of the overall NetJets/Gulfstream relationship, is highly valued at Gulfstream. This relationship was also a critical part of our decision to enter into this agreement with NetJets International.”

NetJets has over 90% of the long-range cabin fractional market and is the largest operator of Gulfstream aircraft in the world. As of June 2008, NetJets’ worldwide Gulfstream fleet totals 110 and is comprised of 21 Gulfstream G550/V, 55 Gulfstream G450/400/IV-SP and 34 Gulfstream G200s.


NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the worldwide leader in private aviation and provides the safest and most secure private aviation solutions. NetJets fractional aircraft ownership allows individuals and companies to buy a share of a private business jet at a fraction of the cost of whole aircraft ownership, and guarantees availability 365 days a year with just a few hours’ notice. The NetJets programs worldwide offer the largest and most diversified fleet in private aviation, which includes 15 of the most popular business jets in the world. Access to the NetJets fleet is also available in the form of a short-term lease, sold on an all-inclusive, pre-paid basis in 25-hour increments, through an exclusive alliance with Marquis Jet Partners. NetJets Inc. also offers aircraft management, charter management, and on-demand charter services through its subsidiary, Executive Jet Management. More information on NetJets, the Marquis Jet Program, and Executive Jet Management is available at www.netjets.com.  

The Gulfstream Large Cabin Fleet is operated by NetJets International / NJI. The BBJ is operated by NetJets Large Aircraft Company. All other aircraft offered by NetJets in the United States are operated by NetJets Aviation. Each of these operating companies is a wholly owned subsidiary of NetJets Inc. All aircraft offered by NetJets in Europe are operated by NetJets Transportes Aéreos, SA a Portuguese/EU Air Carrier. The Marquis Jet Card Program is operated by NetJets under its FAR Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate. NetJets has an affiliation with the provider of the NetJets Middle East Program.

« Previous Page — Next Page »