Following on from the industry-first success of Owners Perspective Magazine’s independent positioning of shared ownership products amongst general consumers through first class airport lounge distribution with more than a dozen of the world’s leading airlines, and in top hotels, resorts, golf clubs and spas, the specifically tailored Resort Developer Editions are helping on-site sales credibility, reducing new member cancellations and increasing the opportunities for upgrades, rentals and referrals.

Since its official launch last month, the publisher has announced confirmation for distribution and use at resorts in Mexico, Thailand, India, Bali, United Kingdom and soon plans to announce a number of confirmed contracts in Florida, Canada and Australia. These developer orientated special editions are backed by the credibility of the world’s largest independent publication for shared ownership products that is available to the general public and is exciting and motivating sales teams as it continues to be implemented in more and more resorts around the globe.

“We are so pleased with being able to provide another unique product to help increase sales and customer retention, and the rapid success of our Resort Developer Package is testament again to the quality of our work” says Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Perspective International Ltd.

With an incredibly versatile suite of options, developers can choose some or all of the features provided within the package to create the perfect fit for their operation(s) and orders can be placed with no long term commitment enabling resorts to quickly integrate at low cost.

For more information on Owners Perspective Magazine’s Resort Developer Options please request an information pack by emailing advertising@perspectiveinternational.com

Owners Perspective Magazine can be freely read online at http://www.ownersperspective.com

Since its inception in July 2008, Owners Perspective Magazine has established itself as the authority on buying timeshare, resort real estate and fractional ownership products, having been selected for distribution via the first class airport lounges of more than a dozen of the world’s leading airlines, luxury hotels, resorts, golf clubs and spas with a reach of over 50,000 highly targeted prospective buyers per edition.

Today, sees the launch of a new cutting edge website for the magazine, which offers access to all back issues in both digital page turn technology and downloadable PDF formats, web versions of all articles for easy search and reference, reader offers, competitions and the latest resort and luxury travel news updated daily.

The new site also has a social media element to it, combining the most popular features of Twitter and Facebook as well as offering Groups and Forums designed to glean positive feedback and consumer opinion on all aspects of shared ownership products.

To ensure the quality and integrity of its readership, all previous subscribers to the website are being asked to manually re-register, enabling Owners Perspective Magazine to have an accurate and active database of readers; with the new system also controlling any unsubscribing readers with ease.

Estimated figures predict that more than 10,000 will re-register over the next few weeks and the company expects rapid growth thereafter.

For more information visit www.ownersperspective.com

For information on advertising and editorial opportunities visit www.perspectiverates.com

Sol Meliá Vacation Club (SMVC), an international vacation membership club with locations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Europe, has been awarded the prestigious RCI Gold Grown Resort designation by RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, for its Gran Meliá Puerto Rico resort in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, minutes from the El Yunque rainforest.

A select number of RCI affiliated resorts meet RCI’s requirements for recognition and have earned the RCI Gold Crown Resort award. These resorts have attained high levels in resort accommodations, hospitality and member experiences as measured by RCI.

“We are excited that our product and experience in Puerto Rico exceeds RCI guest expectations, demonstrating the dedication and commitment of our team there,” said Denis Ebrill, Sol Meliá Vacation Club’s Executive Vice President.

L - R: Luis Perez, SMVC Resort Manager, Gran Meliá Puerto Rico; Julio Villasenor, SMVC Regional Director for Puerto Rico; Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President, Sol Meliá Vacation Club; Eugenio Macouzet, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Caribbean, RCI; and John Dishinger, Director of Business Development, Caribbean, RCI

Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club focusing on leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury suites, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities.  Each Sol Meliá Vacation Club vacation experience is different from the other, aligned with local culture and customized to fit Members’ leisure lifestyle needs.

RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 65,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries.

Orlando, Florida based Sol Meliá Vacation Club is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, a 50-year-old international hospitality company with over 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents.  Sol Meliá Vacation Club Members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world, as well as flexibility to choose length of stay, season and size of unit.  Featured Sol Meliá Vacation Club locations include Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean; Panama in Central America; and the Canary Islands, Spain, in Europe.  For more information, call 866-379-5950, or visit www.smvc.com.

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), today announced the addition of Cayena Golf Club in the Dominican Republic to its exchange network. Currently under construction, the vacation ownership resort will be located in Bavaro, Punta Cana, a popular tourism destination on the island’s east coast.

“With multiple golf courses within an hour’s drive, the Punta Cana area of the Dominican Republic is becoming a mecca for golfers in the Caribbean,” said Marcos Agostini, vice president, Latin America, resort sales and service, Interval International. “This makes Cayena Golf Club a perfect retreat for members who are both avid golfers and want to enjoy the island’s other great activities.”

The planned one-, two- and three-bedroom units will feature a full kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances, washer/dryer, a private balcony or terrace, and will be equipped with satellite TV, a DVD player, and high-speed Internet.

“We are excited to offer owners at our latest property the opportunity to enjoy Interval’s valuable leisure benefits and services, including the ability to stay at the high-quality resorts around the world that are part of the company’s exchange network,” said Juan Ramon Fernandez Abiega of Cayena Golf, Inc., the resort developer.

Amenities available on-site and nearby will include a restaurant and bar, large sundeck, pool and kids pool, fitness center with sauna, spa services, game room, and convenience store. Guests can take a complimentary shuttle to the spectacular beaches and the White Sands golf course in close proximity. Additionally, there are multiple restaurants, designer shops, and vibrant nightlife in the town of Bavaro. Cayena Golf Club is only 30 minutes from the Punta Cana International Airport.

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. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,500 resorts in over 75 nations. Through offices in 15 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.

Expedia® travelers have ranked The Cove On Ormond Beach among the world’s best hotels on this year’s Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list. The list formally recognizes individual hotels worldwide that consistently deliver excellent service, a great overall experience and a notable value.  The full list represents only a small percentage of the world’s top hotels from the more than 110,000 hotel properties offered on Expedia.

“Delivering superior service to our guests is a top priority at The Cove On Ormond Beach,” said Sulyn Stumbras, Island One Resorts Hospitality Group president. “We are pleased that our efforts have been acknowledged by Expedia travelers and look forward to extending our high level of service to even more guests. General Manager Regina Barbour and her team truly exemplify our commitment to hospitality.”

The 2010 Expedia Insiders’ Select™ list is compiled based on the more than one million Traveler Opinions hotel reviews collected by Expedia, combined with a value rating and the local market expertise of more than 400 Expedia employees in local markets worldwide, resulting in an easy-to-browse list that provides travelers with a powerful way to find the perfect hotel using the trusted insight of other travelers like them. The list showcases the diverse selection of travel destinations and hotel properties.

The Cove On Ormond Beach, in Ormond Beach, Florida, is a 112-villa resort situated on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean. The resort’s villas are comprised of studios, one- and two-bedroom accommodations. All villas feature an ocean view, full kitchen and private balcony. The resort was originally comprised of a 54-villa tower. An adjacent 58-villa addition to the existing resort structure opened in 2006. Resort amenities include: oceanfront activity deck featuring a two-story tube slide; indoor heated swimming pool; owners lounge; oceanfront hot tub; game room; organized activities; barbecue and picnic area; fitness center; private beach access; 1,500 gallon salt water aquarium; private oceanview balconies; concierge services; and wi-fi access.

Island One Resorts has provided extraordinary timeshare vacation experiences through resort development and hospitality management since 1981. The company’s 750 team members are focused upon providing innovative and value-driven benefits to its over 65,000 owners. Its points-based vacation club, Club Navigo, offers 30 resort destinations throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Latin America and Europe. Through Club Navigo, developers have access to award-winning sales, marketing and communications programs; operational support; state-of-the-art reservation and computer systems; and one of the most seasoned management teams ever assembled in the industry. To learn more about Island One Resorts, visit islandone.com or clubnavigo.com.

CONTACT: Sheila Morris: 407.215.4255  sheila.morris@islandone.com.

Interval International, working with its Caribbean member resorts, has made a record-breaking donation to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF). David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International, presented a $45,000 check, the largest contribution in the foundation’s history, to CHTAEF representatives at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Interval commends its resort affiliates for their commitment to this important initiative,” noted Gilbert. “We’re proud that the vacation ownership industry continues to support educational programs such as this one, which are critical to the long-term success of regional tourism.”

Over the past five years, Interval and its member resorts have donated US$120,000 to the foundation.

Participants in the 2009 scholarship fund include:

•    Antigua – Jolly Harbour Beach Resort, Tranquility Bay Antigua.

•    Aruba – La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club, Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club, Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club, Paradise Beach Villas, Playa Linda Beach Resort, Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Hotel, The Aruban Resort and Casino at Eagle Beach.

•    Bahamas – Island Seas Resort, Ocean Reef Resort, Woodbourne Resort.

•    Cayman Islands – Ramada Grand Caymanian Resort.

•    Curaçao – The Royal Sea Aquarium Resort.

•    Dominican Republic – Barceló Punta Cana, Cayena Beach Club, Coral Costa Caribe Resort, Sun Village Resort and Spa.

•    Mexican Caribbean – The Royal Cancun.

•    Puerto Rico – Aquarius Vacation Club® at Boquerón Beach and Aquarius Vacation Club® Dorado del Mar Beach and Golf Resort, ESJ Towers, Hyatt Hacienda del Mar.

•    St. Lucia – Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Bay Gardens Hotel, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort & Spa.

•    St. Maarten – Flamingo Beach Resort, Pelican Marina Residences.

•    U.S.V.I. – Westin St. John Resort and Villas.

“The foundation administers one of the largest scholarship programs in the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry. Applications are received from young people all over the region and reflect a wide variety of interests and backgrounds,” said Tom Pas, the foundation’s chairman. “One of the primary goals of the CHTAEF is human resource development and these funds will definitely assist us in reaching that goal.”

The CHTAEF was established in 1987 as a non-profit organization to provide scholarships and special assistance to Caribbean hospitality industry personnel and students pursuing hospitality and tourism careers.

To date, the Education Foundation has awarded more than US$1 million dollars in scholarships and grants. The application requirements include being a Caribbean national, having a high school or equivalent secondary school degree, pursuing a tourism-related education degree, and demonstrated financial need.

As a strategic partner of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and a board member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Education Foundation, Interval is committed to understanding the unique needs of the Caribbean region and providing products and programs tailored to this market.

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. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,500 resorts in over 75 nations. Through offices in 15 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), today announced the affiliation of Cap Maison on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. Recognized with the Condé Nast Johansens 2010 Most Excellent Hotel Award (Atlantic, Caribbean, and Pacific) and featured in the Condé Nast Traveler Hot List for 2009, the spectacular property is located on the estate of a former sugar plantation on an ocean bluff above secluded Smugglers Cove Beach in Cap Estate.

“This resort has all the elements of a truly distinctive vacation experience, from its stunning setting, top-quality service, and luxury accommodations, to its numerous upscale leisure activities,” said David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International. “We are thrilled to add this tranquil hideaway to our resort network, so that our members will have the opportunity to enjoy an unforgettable Caribbean holiday.”

Inspired by Spanish Caribbean architecture, Cap Maison’s design includes colonial-style courtyards, fountains, wooden jalousie doors and windows, terracotta roof tiles, and spacious balconies and terraces. Five acres of lush tropical landscaped gardens surround the elegant one-, two-, and three-bedroom units appointed with designer furnishings, rich fabrics in warm colors, and hand painted tiles. Each unit offers panoramic views of nearby Pigeon Island and Martinique.

The property was developed by the Gobat family, which has been actively involved in the hospitality industry since the early 1970s. Adam Gobat, chief executive officer of Cap Maison Limited noted, “Cap Maison is a breathtaking spot that has been in our family for many years. It was our hope to create an exceptional resort that would be sought-after by the most discriminating travelers and enjoyed by others, as it has been by us. Now, our owners will have the best of both worlds – they can come home to Cap Maison or travel the globe when they trade their time for a vacation at one of Interval’s high-quality properties.”

Among the many on-site amenities are a full-service gourmet restaurant and three bars, cliff-top infinity pool with whirlpool and courtyard pool, fully equipped fitness center, full-service spa with treatment rooms, walk-in wine cellar, and a library and lounge.

Guests also can enjoy a wide range of activities at the resort or nearby, including kite surfing, snorkelling, windsurfing, sailing, kayaking, trail running and hiking, and a tour of the island on the resort’s own 46-foot yacht. Cap Maison is just minutes from St. Lucia Golf and Country Club’s 18-hole championship golf course and the island’s nightlife center at Rodney Bay.

“We chose to affiliate Cap Maison with Interval International because we very much appreciate the flexibility of the Interval team in helping to fit our mixed-use shared ownership project within their program,” added Brad Lincoln, chief executive officer of the Best Group, the sales and marketing company for Cap Maison.

About Interval International
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 33 years. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,500 resorts in over 75 nations. Through offices in 16 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.

The leading trade publication for the shared ownership industry reaches another milestone as it takes the number one spot on Google.com for another powerful search term.

Perspective Magazine and its network of websites have commanded top search engine results for search terms such as “timeshare news” for several years, but now can boast the top spot for the term “fractional news”, with their flagship website http://www.theperspectivemagazine.com, beating other competing sites, even the many that use the word “fractional” within their website name.

“There are many factors to achieving high search engine rankings, but quality content, loyal repeat visitors and natural growth have always been the key to our success.” Says CEO Paul Mattimoe. “We have reported on the fractional ownership industry for several years, but as that market continues to gain momentum and we continue to take on more fractional clients it is important for us to show our strength and commitment in this specific area.”

Perspective Magazine provides daily timeshare, fractional ownership, resort real estate and hospitality news online and by email, in addition to publishing the “most read” independent trade publication globally for the shared ownership industry, reaching more than 21,000 registered industry professionals. Perspective Magazine also recently launched a Social Networking Site (http://perspectiveforums.com) dedicated to the shared ownership industry which in just four weeks has attracted more members than any other industry social media group worldwide.

For more information visit http://www.perspectivemagazine.com

For Advertising & Editorial opportunities visit http://www.perspectiverates.com

Perspective Magazine, the leading monthly timeshare and fractional ownership business publication which has been in circulation since 2005 as a global edition, recently announced that it would create a series of regional titles to more closely concentrate specific issues relating to each marketplace around the world. The first of these publications to be launched is a North America edition.

Perspective Magazine North America, which focuses on USA, Canada, Mexico & Caribbean regions, was launched this week with a reach of more than 12,000 print and online subscribers making it the largest monthly publication in the region from inception.

“We had most of our readership already from the global edition, but were pleased to reach our target of 7,000+ individual print subscribers before launch and are still looking to increase this to around the 10,000 mark across the rest of 2010.” Said Paul Mattimoe, CEO, OP Media LLC and Perspective International. “But the real story here is that we’ve been able to adjust and reduce our standard advertising rates to less than all other industry publications, even though our monthly reach in some cases is far higher – and we are very pleased we were able to negotiate this and pass on the benefits to our clients”.

Through a strategic regionalizing of content, Perspective Magazine has been able to increase the number of magazine titles it produces and increase circulation and distribution for each in such as way that it has been able to restructure its pricing into a Win Win situation for both publisher and clients.

In addition, Perspective Magazine North America continues the Perspective tradition of offering a wealth of online advertising and social media coverage free of charge to its premium advertisers.

The first edition of Perspective Magazine North America is available to view online at http://www.perspectivemagazine.com/na and industry professionals can request a free print subscription from the website. This edition is also available to all delegates at the upcoming ARDA Convention & Expo in Las Vegas in March (http://www.arda.org).

For more information on advertising and editorial opportunities visit http://www.perspectiverates.com or call +1 407 792 2343 or email advertising@perspectiveinternational.com

About Perspective Magazine
Now available in two versions, Perspective Magazine continues to grow at a rapid pace, maintaining its lead as the largest independent trade publication for the shared ownership industry and continues to pioneer and push boundaries with technology, distribution channels and communication tools. Perspective Magazine is also available online, provides the latest news headlines updated daily and now hosts the industry’s only standalone social networking platform which combines all of the most popular features of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to encourage more communication within the industry.

The Karma Royal Group announced today the development of Karma Bahamas, which will be another upscale Karma Resort and the company’s first resort property in the Caribbean.

Karma Royal Group has entered into an agreement with the principles of Mango Bay Bahamas, the owners of Little Harbour Island, for the property to be developed as a Karma Resort. Karma Royal will assume responsibility for the sales and management.

“We are excited to add the Bahamas to our portfolio of Karma Resorts in Indonesia, Thailand, Australia and Greece,” says Karma Royal Chairman John Spence. “Our resort on Little Harbour Island will enhance what is already an unrivalled experience.”

The island is stunning and is ideally located a five-minute boat ride from Harbour Island, the most exclusive address in the Caribbean, which has long been known as a  stunning and upmarket holiday destination and boasts many luxurious private villas of Hollywood stars, international celebrities and fashion designers. The island is also famous for its pink sand beaches, rich colonial history and the Goombay Smash – a killer rum punch.

Little Harbour Island is also ideally situated a five-minute ferry ride from the airport dock of north Eleuthera, which not only has regular flights to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, but also to Miami and Fort Lauderdale (a mere one hour away). Indeed, this international accessibility means that clients can fly their private planes in from the eastern seaboard of the United States, with New York a mere two-and-a-half hours away.

Construction has already commenced on the island, where there is already the beginnings of a marina, core infrastructure and a number of completed and partly completed villas. When finished the property will comprise a combination of deluxe three- and four-bedroom villas, some with their own private beach; smaller one-, two- and three-bedroom townhouses; and hotel-suite units.

“We are still determining the optimum number of units on the island, but the likely number will be between 30 and 60, which will create in excess of 100 keys,” Spence says.

In addition to the marina, the property will have a full range of Karma-standard facilities, including a Karma spa, a range of restaurants, a gym, club house and full hotel amenities.

In tandem with the development of the property, Karma Royal will be marketing and selling property at all ends of the price spectrum, primarily on site, in the United States and Europe. They will offer a combination of traditional real estate purchase and a form of fractional ownership in addition to nightly rentals.

“This will be one of the first times that we have partnered with another company in a karma resort, and we see this as a key strategy for our rapid growth, enabling us to spread our wings and develop in new parts of the globe and to work with local experts and partners for mutual benefit,” says Spence. “Indeed, having spent time with the principles of Mango Bay, I am very confident that we share the same vision and goals for this project.”

Spence adds that he is “delighted that we will be commencing a resort in the Caribbean,” and added that Karma Royal is also looking at additional development opportunities in  Costa Rica, Grenada and St Lucia. “I am very keen for us to start to market in North America,” say Spence, “and indeed to market and promote our Asian properties there. I believe strongly that as the economy recovers, North Americans will have a strong appetite for the holiday products and offerings that Karma and Royal have… backed up by our sales and marketing skills and experience.”

ABOUT KARMA ROYAL GROUP
Karma Royal Group is Asia’s largest independent resort developer, with 17 resorts in India, Thailand and Indonesia. www.karmaresorts.com www.royalresorts.com.au
For employment opportunities e-mail royalmark01@hotmail.com.