First Bangladesh Property Added to Global Exchange Network

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), announced that Bengal Vacation Club at Sea Pearl Beach Resort and Spa has selected its quality global exchange network. The resort is the first affiliated property in Bangladesh and will be situated in Cox’s Bazar, one of area’s most popular tourist destinations.

Due for completion in October 2011, Sea Pearl Beach will offer guests miles of golden sands on the world’s longest natural white sand beach, which slopes down to the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. Plans include a mixture of studios, one- and two-bedroom units with sea views. The resort is being built to adhere to eco-friendly standards that embody the principles of “recycle, renew, reuse, reduce, and rethink.”

“Bangladesh has a population of some 160 million and is visited by a large number of tourists from all over the world,” said Joe Hickman, Interval International’s executive director for Asia Pacific. “Easily accessible by air and road, we believe Sea Pearl and its spectacular beachfront location will offer our members an appealing new holiday choice.”

The facilities are expected to include a clubhouse, cinema, restaurants featuring a variety of cuisines, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, and health club. Nearby amenities are boat rentals, horseback riding, and a selection of local restaurants. The beach is bordered by hills that run parallel to the sea for almost its entire length; towering cliffs; colourful, ancient pagodas; and Hindu temples that make it a natural attraction. Adding to the area’s charm are waterfalls, coral islands, and tribal villages.

“We are pioneering the timeshare concept in Bangladesh and want to provide high-quality exchanges,” observed Aminul Haque,chairman and chief executive officer of Sea Pearl Beach Resort and Spa Ltd, the developer of Bengal Vacation Club. “We decided to affiliate with Interval because we found its exchange and marketing programmes to be very effective and its quality network will complement our image. Their decision makers are very forthcoming and helpful, and we plan to affiliate our future resorts with Interval as well.”

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 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.

FractionalExchange.com® has announced that Appassionata, Ltd. has selected FractionalExchange.com for the vacation exchange requirements of its owners at Estate Giacomo Leopardi in the Le Marche region of Italy.

Appassionata has acquired Estate Giacomo Leopardi, which is located near the hilltop village of Montefiore dell’Aso. The estate sits on five acres with stunning views of the Adriatic Sea and Sibillini mountains. The facilities have been created for all seasons and truly reflect the Italian lifestyle. The large swimming pool, all weather tennis court, private terraces, landscaped gardens, olive groves and newly planted vineyard offer something for everyone.

Casa Giacomo, the first residence on the estate ready for exchange, is a four bedroom, three bath residence consisting of 2,150 square feet over two floors. The villa sits on its own private grounds within the estate.

Paul Nabor, Director of Sales at FractionalExchange.com states, “Casa Giacomo is truly an Italian masterpiece. We are so happy to be adding this remarkable property to our ever-expanding network. We welcome its owners to our program, and are confident our existing members will relish having access to this unique exchange opportunity.”

Also on the estate is a farmhouse known as Casa Leopardi. This second residence is presently being restored and converted to two fractional ownership townhomes and will be available to FractionalExchange.com members at a future date.

“Appassionata is delighted to have joined forces with FractionalExchange.com. We have been researching the exchange options available for the last couple of years and have decided that FractionalExchange.com provides the best solution for our boutique fractional business. Appassionata owners now have the wonderful opportunity to exchange residency weeks with similar luxury properties around the world. This is a fantastic additional benefit and choice for Appassionata owners,” says Michael Hobbs, co-founder of Appassionata Ltd.

Says Evan Julber, FractionalExchange.com CEO, “Bringing this premier Italian property into the FractionalExchange.com family creates new and exciting opportunities for all of our members. We are thrilled to have them join our program and look forward to serving their owners’ needs.”

About FractionalExchange.com
FractionalExchange.com is a global online owner-to-owner exchange network for owners of upscale vacation residences and fractional properties. The company was established in 2008 by parent company Sierra Holdings, Incorporated, an Oregon Corporation with offices in Bend, Oregon, USA. Servers are located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. http://www.fractionalexchange.com

About Appassionata, Ltd.
Appassionata Ltd. is a UK based development business specializing in the restoration and creation of unique fractional ownership properties in the region of Le Marche Italy. The business is boutique in nature and style, family run and aimed at like- minded people who want to experience real Italy and a luxurious lifestyle. Founded in 2004 the business takes its time; in Italy great things take time to evolve. Website: http://www.appassionata.com.

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

International Shared Ownership Trade Publication to Become Survey Technology Media Partner

Robert A. Kobek, President of Mobius Vendor Partners, (MVP) an Indianapolis-based company that provides business process management and online customer feedback surveys for companies, associations and non-profit organizations, announced that it has joined forces with the UK-based Perspective Magazine as a primary vehicle for publishing important leisure industry research garnered by MVP’s CustomerCount online feedback system.

The CustomerCount® program collects and measures customer feedback.   CustomerCount tracks three primary components:  the reservation experience, the sales experience and the vacation experience. CustomerCount® is fully transparent to members, owners and guests.  The process begins with Email invitations and reminders and continues through to on-line reporting and analysis 24/7. It may be customized for use by shared ownership resort developments, as well as other businesses.

“We’re looking forward to working more closely with Perspective as it opens up a truly global market for CustomerCount.  In the few years the publishing company has been in the shared ownership market, their impact has been considerable.  As they expand into North America, we plan to be of assistance in growing both their advertiser and subscriber base,” said Kobek.

Paul Mattimoe, President and CEO of Perspective International Ltd.  Said “Before establishing our first company in 2003, we had more than 20 collective years of experience in timeshare sales, marketing and management and so we clearly recognize how the data collected by CustomerCount can impact sales, marketing and operations of resorts.  We are proud to be able to offer that information to our international clients and readers. We additionally look forward to working closely with Mobius Vendor Partners in other areas as we continue to rapidly expand our US Company’s presence, based out of Orlando, FL.”

Mobius Vendor Partners is a ten year old business process design and management company specializing in servicing the needs of the timeshare industry.  Mobius principals are active in ARDA through sponsorships and committee memberships.  For more information visit www.mobiusvp.com or call 317-816-6000.
Perspective Magazine, now available in North America, International and South Africa editions; boasts the widest reach of any independent trade publication for the shared ownership industry, and is officially distributed to all delegates at 20 major industry conventions and events worldwide. For more information visit www.perspectiverates.com  or call +1 407-362-1540 (USA) or +44 191 250 3501 (UK)

New internet-based holiday rental site, Holiday Letting Shop, chooses Merlin Software as its technology provider to support its rental business including inventory management and online booking and payments.

Holiday Letting Shop is a new internet-based holiday rental site featuring some of the world’s finest self catering apartment properties and villas.  Set to launch in May 2010, the team works with specialists in all areas of the travel and hospitality sector such as tour operators, resort developers, management companies and owner committees. Inventory is marketed on both a business-customer basis through the Holiday Letting Shop website and, using Merlin’s technology, directly through to other third party inventory distributors.

HLS Director Sharon Jackson explained “We needed software that understood the nature of our business, would work with us as we develop, and support our technological requirements. It made perfect sense to use Merlin. They are leaders in internet based technology solutions and the experienced team understands the needs of the rental side of the holiday business”.

“Merlin will allow HLS to run its entire business from one online application. We can easily integrate Merlin functionality into our website to allow online bookings and payments – exactly what customers expect from a holiday letting service. We can work with resorts with multiple weeks to rent or single owners with just one week they want to rent out”.

From rental sites such as Holiday Letting Shop to fixed week timeshare resorts and from points clubs and fractionals to private residence clubs, Merlin’s software functionality provides a single software solution for today’s resort business. Developed as state-of-the-art Business Application Software, Merlin is web based and served across the internet. Users can access their accounts securely via a web browser from anywhere, at any time without the need of expensive or complicated hardware installations.

“With Merlin we can work with our inventory from wherever we are in the world as long as we have an internet connection. This suits the way that we work” Ms Jackson explained.

Merlin’s interactive functionality allows companies to integrate the software with their current websites for online bookings, rentals and payments. Members can transact in real time with their management company, accessing the same data and with all activities written back directly into Merlin.

Merlin, the leading industry online software provider, delivers software directly to users through the internet using the new technology of Cloud Computing. According to chief software developer Mike Pnematicatos “Merlin is resource light, incredibly intuitive and allows unlimited users and multiple locations to access the software securely in real time from anywhere in the world. It enables resorts and hotels to benefit from time and cost savings – yet still be at the cutting edge of internet technology.”

Developed by Mike Pnematicatos with 25 years’ experience in vacation ownership, Merlin is the complete software solution for resorts. It is web-based, highly interactive and includes property management, sales, marketing and accounting functionality.

Tapestry Resorts has announced the appointment of longtime travel professional Ken Owens to the position of managing director of Travel Escapes Club, Tapestry Resorts’ members only full-service travel club.

Owens has taken on this position in addition to his other responsibilities as Vice President of Reservations and Travel Services, overseeing Tapestry Resorts’ reservations, call centers and Platinum Concierge Services.

“With his extensive background in the travel and vacation industry, including sales, marketing and reservations functions for a number of well known providers in the airline, cruise line, yacht chartering and travel agency segments, Owens was the obvious and ideal candidate to drive the continued growth of our Travel Escapes Club,” said Charlie Martin, Tapestry Resorts’ Senior VP, Strategy & Performance Management. “He is extremely knowledgeable and a true professional travel marketer and operator.”

Owens brings over four decades of experience in the travel industry. Prior to joining Tapestry Resorts in 2002, Owens was the Vice President of Marketing for RCI Resort Management. He has also held high level management, director and VP positions with Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA), Sitmar Cruises, Princess Cruises, Radisson Hotels/Diamond Cruise line, The Moorings and Balboa Travel.

The Travel Escapes Club, Tapestry Resorts’ members-only travel club, was specifically designed to provide value-added discounted travel options to timeshare owners and timeshare vacation club members. Members can enjoy discounts on cruise ships, car rentals, hotel and resort lodging worldwide, timeshare and condo rentals, airline tickets, destination activities and events and more.

In business since 2005, Travel Escapes Club is growing rapidly as its travel offerings have expanded significantly over the past few months to include The Moorings (world’s largest charter yacht company), Carnival, Le Boat, Resort Time, Luggage Pros, plus an air booking engine. “We’re excited about the new offerings that we have recently added and have many more coming soon,” said Owens. “We are also pleased with how easy it is for members to use the new website – which went live in March – and take advantage of the many valuable offers from our partners.”

For more information on the Travel Escapes Club, including membership and benefits, visit http://www.TravelEscapesClub.com.

About Tapestry Resorts
For every client, Tapestry Resorts, a full-service hospitality management company, weaves a team of experienced thought leaders and skilled team members who exemplify its tagline: “We Listen, We Deliver, We Guarantee It.”  Tapestry Resorts’ global network of hospitality professionals – over 250 strong – provides the expertise, tools and solutions its clients need to grow their revenue, improve their bottom line and delight their owners and guests.  For more information, visit http://www.tapestryresorts.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.