World’s largest vacation exchange company continues to grow stronger, offering more
value to affiliates

Demonstrating that vacation exchange remains a bright spot in the travel industry, RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), announced that it added more than 100 new resorts, including 10 properties under development, to the world’s largest vacation exchange network.

Several of the industry’s most powerful and well-renowned brands and their properties were added to RCI’s system in 2009, including the Disney Vacation Club, Fairmont Properties in Canada and Palace Vacation Club in Malaysia.

“Developers understand the importance of working with a quality exchange company that helps them increase sales and lower marketing costs, especially in today’s economy,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “RCI’s ongoing commitment to providing the most innovative marketing services and solutions has helped us attract high quality new affiliates as never before, and enabled us to continue to grow our membership base.”

After 35 years, RCI continues to be the leader and innovator in the industry, first to market with fresh, new and unique marketing and technology ideas that provide added value for affiliates and improve the member experience. Its legacy of innovation rests on making many “firsts” happen – RCI was the first to launch weeks exchange, the first to offer points exchange, and the first to implement high-end luxury exchange.

In 2008, RCI committed to spending tens of millions of dollars over a three-year period to develop and execute a series of online technology, product and service enhancements that are improving the exchange experience for its subscribing members around the world. In 2009 with the growing popularity of online video, RCI recognized a unique opportunity to use this medium as a marketing tool for its members and prospective timeshare buyers. An online video network available only on RCI.com, RCI® TV offers a broad selection of entertaining and educational content about RCI, its products and services, as well as travel and resort information. The network is designed to help owners get the most out of their RCI subscribing membership and make vacation planning more fun while also introducing new prospects to the benefits of vacation ownership.

Response to RCI TV from both members and affiliates has exceeded expectations with over 100 videos uploaded, including 80 Resort Showcases, and more high-definition video being added on a regular basis to RCI.com. Web share, or the percentage of exchange and rentals transacted online, has increased from 13 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 to 24 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009. In the last 10 weeks alone, the non-member site has already received over 265,000 visits and the member site has received over 100,000 visits. With developers able to feature their properties, and millions of visitors able to watch RCI-affiliated resorts come to life on the Resort Showcase channel, this tool is already driving greater exchange activity and helping to increase occupancy for RCI-affiliated resorts. To promote the site and help drive increased traffic from newcomers, RCI is investing heavily in advertising and search engine optimization efforts. This includes three commercials currently airing on Resort & Residence TV, a new travel and real estate cable channel which is available to 27 million viewers.

RCI has vastly improved its marketing infrastructure, allowing RCI to showcase more resort photos of its affiliates with higher picture quality, as well as videos and floor plans. This effort supports a recent member survey where respondents ranked “more and bigger resort photos” as the number one feature desired to help them plan or choose a vacation.

Like the Resort Showcase channel on RCI TV, new system capabilities help affiliates better promote their properties and drive higher occupancy.

“We are constantly working to develop new and exceptional marketing and technology ideas that benefit our affiliates and improve the member experience,” added Ballotti. “It’s what our affiliates and members have come to expect from RCI and it’s what we plan to continue to deliver.”

About RCI
RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange and 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.

Wyndham Exchange and Rentals is comprised of vacation exchange, including RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection Ò program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation RentalsÒ, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure
Real Estate Solutions, a research and consultancy firm providing advisory services to the global leisure real estate industry. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange.

For additional information visit www.wyndhamer.com or the media center of www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), will host senior executives and decision makers in the hospitality and leisure real estate industries at the RCI® Asia Leisure Real Estate Symposium on 22-23 April 2010 in Singapore where RCI will reveal the secrets of successful vacation exchange.

“The BIG Reveal” Symposium is a response to an emerging interest in vacation ownership in Asia, which is anticipated to attain greater momentum over the next few years. As the largest vacation exchange network in the world that continues to revolutionize the vacation exchange experience for leisure real estate developers and leisure travelers with service and product innovations, RCI recognizes the rising demand for quality leisure real estate models to capture this growth.

“We are noticing a strong and growing interest in vacation ownership products in Asia as holiday makers become more sophisticated and discerning and are seeking a differentiated vacation experience with quality accommodations,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “We believe that now is a great time for leisure real estate owners and developers to invest in and create vacation ownership products to catch the upswing in Asia. As the pioneer in vacation exchange, RCI has the expertise, experience and solutions to help leisure real estate owners and developers enhance the value of their assets and offer an outstanding proposition to consumers while revolutionizing their vacation experience.”

The two-day event will be held at the Pan Pacific Singapore where attendees will participate in a series of forums, panel discussions and workshops focusing on the development of vacation ownership in Asia and around the world. Symposium topics will focus on vacation ownership trends and opportunities, fractional real estate and ownership, cross-border success and sustainability, customer engagement and social media, legal framework and expert insight on building a successful vacation ownership business.

Key speakers and experts include:
•    “A Global Overview of Vacation Ownership Industry and Asia Market Insights” by Dr. Richard L. Ragatz, President, Ragatz Associates;
•    “Thinking the Future of Leisure Hospitality: Challenges for Asia” by Dr. Russell Arthur Smith, Interim Dean, Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore;
•    “Finding a Competitive Advantage in the Global Luxury Market” by Frank M. Pfaller, Chief Executive Officer, Selected Hotels Promotion L.C.; and
•    “State of the Industry & Tourism in Singapore” by Justin Chew, Executive Director, F1 Sports & Hospitality, Singapore Tourism Board.

Prior to the Symposium, a half-day interactive and informative workshop on “Sales and Marketing Techniques for a Successful Vacation Ownership Business” conducted by Dan King, one of the industry’s most recognizable trainers and consultants, will be held at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre on 21 April.

“The BIG Reveal Symposium is aimed at experts, industry and business leaders to facilitate discussion of initiatives that boost the growth of vacation ownership, share invaluable insights, explore innovative leisure real estate models and transform the leisure experience for travelers,” said Adrian Lee, managing director, RCI Asia. “We will reveal effective solutions that will unleash asset value in leisure real estate and the sustainable success of vacation ownership. We believe that the RCI Asia Leisure Real Estate Symposium is the much needed platform that will drive a concerted effort towards the growth of vacation ownership in Asia and benefit leisure real estate owners in finding a competitive advantage through vacation ownership.”

For online registration and further information please visit www.rciasia-symposium.com, email: rci@ap-comms.com or phone: +65 6411-9632.

About RCI
RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange and 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. Wyndham Exchange and Rentals is comprised of vacation exchange, including RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation Rentals, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure Real Estate Solutions, a research and consultancy firm providing advisory services to the global leisure real estate industry. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange.

For additional information visit www.wyndhamer.com or the media center of www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

Peninsula Bay Resort Chooses Interval International

Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc (Nasdaq: IILG), has added the Peninsula Bay Resort, situated on the Indonesian island of Bali, to its resort network. It is the latest vacation ownership property developed by British entrepreneurs, Roger and Alan Thomas, and is located on the waterfront of Nusa Dua overlooking the golden sand beaches of Benoa Bay.

“We have had an excellent partnership with the Thomases since they affiliated Peninsula Beach Resort with Interval more than 10 years ago,” said Joe Hickman, Interval International’s executive director for Asia Pacific. “We look forward to working with them on the new Peninsula Bay Resort, which is certain to prove as remarkable.”

Upon completion, the purpose-built project will feature 65 one- and two-bedroom units, all with sea-facing views. The resort is being built using contemporary Balinese architecture and is set within lush tropical gardens to create an eco- friendly atmosphere. The new property is just a five-minute drive from Peninsula Beach Resort, with shuttle service between the two, so that owners are free to enjoy the amenities at both.

“Our second resort in Bali, Peninsula Bay Resort, offers unrivalled spaciousness and luxurious comfort in an idyllic tropical setting,” Roger Thomas offered. “From our years of experience, we know that only one exchange company is capable of providing the highest standard and quality of services, along with exchange accommodations commensurate with our members’ expectations and requirements. Not surprisingly, we chose to affiliate with Interval International so that our members could enjoy the benefits and the efficient and caring service that the company unfailingly provides.”

Planned amenities at the new property are an on-site spa, swimming pool, gym, two restaurants, and three bars. In nearby Nusa Dua, there are a number of golf courses, water sport offerings that include surfing and scuba diving, and day trips to Serangan Island, a local turtle conservation area. Visitors can also shop at the Bali Collection, with its selection of upscale shops and restaurants.

Further reinforcing the value of ownership, new purchasersat Peninsula Bay Resortwill be enrolled as individual members of Interval International, as well as Interval Gold®, its upgraded membership programme. This gives them the opportunity to exchange their accommodations for those at other resorts in Interval’s worldwide network, as well as the ability to relinquish their resort weeks toward the purchase of cruise, golf, and spa vacations. They also will enjoy an extensive menu of benefits, including discounts on resort Getaways, ShortStay Exchangesm, access to a personal concierge service available 24 hours a day via phone and e-mail, complimentary Hertz #1 Gold® membership, worldwide hotel and dining discounts, and the complimentary services of Traveller’s Assistance, providing peace of mind when travelling.

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.

PerspectiveForums.com reports more than 2,000 friend requests served in first two weeks.

Perspective Magazine, the shared ownership industry’s leading trade publication recently launched the first standalone social networking platform dedicated to the timeshare and fractional ownership industry, combining the most popular features of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn all on one website.

From initial promotion only, the site has already attracted in excess of 600 registered users, who have generated more than 75,000 page views and issued more than 2,000 friend requests over the past fortnight, with word of mouth now growing the site exponentially each day.

The site was created to encourage timeshare and fractional developers, marketers and suppliers to network more efficiently, thereby creating opportunities for new collaborations, strategic partnerships and extending client portfolios.

What makes this site standout, apart from its vast array of features, is its leverage of Perspective Magazine’s readership which exceeds 22,000 registered industry professionals around the globe who are currently being invited to register free on the website.

“We’ve had a lot of feedback from users of the website, all of it positive and it has started well, but there are still quite a few additional features to roll out yet – such as an iPhone App, but due to the complexity of the site we have a few weeks still to wait for this. The marketing for the site has only just started – by the end of March we expect to have the largest social media group of industry professionals available online, and then we’ll only be at about 10% of the expected number of registered users for the coming months.” Said Paul Mattimoe, President & CEO of Perspective International.

To join Perspective Forums simply visit www.perspectiveforums.com

For more information about Perspective Magazine (Trade), Owners Perspective Magazine (Consumer) and advertising and editorial opportunities visit www.perspectiverates.com

A website dedicated to the recruiting of professional sales executives for the purpose of fractional property sales was launched in test mode back in August 2009, and now after detailed scrutiny of the quality of applications received via the website and after reaching the No.1 spot on Google.com for the search term “fractional jobs”, www.fractionalstaff.com will officially launch next week aimed at providing a reliable service with high returns for advertisers of fractional job vacancies.

Recent months have shown that fractional property developers are increasing but their success with property agents is not producing the results originally hoped for, and so many are enquiring about the availability of dedicated sales teams – something that FractionalStaff.com has concentrating on for the past 7 months.

Fractional Staff is another service from the Perspective group of companies who publish the leading shared ownership industry magazines for both the trade and consumers and so its widest reach both online and offline ensures that it will attract the most suitable candidates that are new to the industry as well as the best sales professionals from within the industry worldwide.

Introductory advertising rates start from as little as £199 per month with added value across the network of Perspective websites and titles available on selected packages.

For more information email advertising@perspectiveinternational.com or call +44 191 250 3501 (UK) or  +1 407 792 2343

yooPhuket, a spectacular collection of 256 apartments and penthouses on the Thai island of Phuket, has won the Fractional Life Readers Choice Award.

The award, which received an impressive 60 per cent of votes from thousands of readers of the global shared ownership web portal FractionalLife.com, was presented at the 2010 Fractional Summit in London on Friday.

Absolute’s International Director of PR & Marketing for yooPhuket 
Charlotte Rose Melsom who received the award, said: “The Fractional
Life Reader’s Choice Award is the ultimate accolade within the 
Fractional Property Industry voted for by the independent consumer so 
a wonderful credit to the yooPhuket project.”

Piers Brown, founder of Fractional Life said: “Thousands of FractionalLife.com readers voted and I’m delighted for yooPhuket.”

L - R: Nick Turner, VP, Registry Collection; Piers Brown, Founder, Fractional Life; Charlotte Rose Melsom, International Director of PR & Marketing, yooPhuket/Absolute Developments; Bryan Lunt, Chairman, the Absolute World Group

yooPhuket is a partnership between international branding, design and investment property company yoo and one of Asia’s leading development and lifestyle brands, Absolute Developments so the added security of buying into two internationally recognised brands is also a huge advantage.

Stand-out interiors are one of the things yoo do best and the contemporary design offers open plan living space with dramatic floor to ceiling windows, opening onto spectacular views across the lake, golf courses and lush Thai island landscapes. The impressive master bedroom suites have en suite bathrooms and walk in closet space. Stylish kitchens are fitted with integrated appliances. Bathrooms have fully tiled walk in shower enclosures and state of the art home technology includes comfort cooling systems and the latest audio visual equipment.

Each yooPhuket apartment comes fully furnished with a yoo designed furniture collection the apartment is ready to enjoy, even down to the last teaspoon. In addition clients can choose from a selection of the most sought after designer interior additions and upgrades to create an apartment that is perfectly unique.

Apartments within the development are available both whole ownership and quartershare fractional ownership offering a choice of purchase options to suit.  Prices for three month quartershare fractions at yooPhuket start at £44,000 for a 38 square metre studio, £65,000 for a 70 square metre two-bedroom apartment and £97,300 for a 105 square metre penthouse. These prices include superior furnishings, use of a fully-captained 31foot powerboat and the latest Callaway golf clubs, plus the standard 5 star service management company Absolute Resorts & Hotels are renowned for.

Owners will also enjoy access to Absolute’s affiliation with the renowned Registry Collection, the world’s largest luxury exchange programme and winners of the Fractional Life Services to the Industry Award also at Friday’s event. The Registry Collection provides members with access to an elite global network of the very finest vacation properties at some of the world’s premier destinations far beyond their Thailand accommodations.

Nick Turner, VP and head of The Registry Collection, Europe, added: “I’d like to congratulate The Registry Collection affiliates yooPhuket who are honoured with the Fractional Life Readers’ Choice Award. This company’s superb developments in Thailand are the essence of the successful fractional with AAA location, style and the highest quality in both accommodations and service levels.

About Fractional Life
From a fractional jet to fractional real estate, Fractional Life (www.fractionallife.com) is the number one consumer lifestyle brand dedicated to growing the fractional ownership marketplace. The company has three divisions: interactive, fractional conferences (www.fractionalsummit.com) and exhibitions (www.fractionallifeexpo.com), and publishing.

About the Absolute World Group
Founded in 1998, the Absolute World Group of companies has positioned its 1200 staff tactically across China, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia and Thailand, offering a seamless range of services within the world of Resorts and Hotels inclusive of a worldwide network of International Estate Agencies and a highly successful Vacation Club, boasting thousands of members.

Absolute is committed to delivering heavenly resort destinations from conception to completion and beyond with the added value of its dedicated turnkey resort management service.

About yoo
yoo is an international branding, design and investment property company enhancing the qualityand adding value to development projects in major towns and cities across the world.

The brand is represented by five core design teams – yoo inspired by Starck, Jade Jagger for yoo, wanders&yoo, Kelly Hoppen for yoo and the yoo design studio; all of whom increase value and sales velocity through market leading design, branded marketing and by maximizing media exposure.

Over the past ten years yoo has been working across the world with international partners on a variety of landmark buildings and large residential projects throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America and the Middle East. yoo is involved in the development of more than 10,000 apartments currently under construction valued at $7 billion.

About The Registry Collection
The Registry Collection program is a global network comprising over 30,000 members and more than 130 affiliates on five continents. More than 175 properties are available through The Registry Collection® programme and are either accessible for exchange or under development. As the world’s largest luxury exchange programme, The Registry Collection programme provides members with access to an elite global network of the very finest vacation properties at some of the world’s premier destinations, as well as personal concierge services that are available 24-hours a day. From condo hotels and high-end fractional resorts to private residence clubs and fractional yachts, The Registry Collection programme facilitates exchanges around the world and redefines the vacation experience for owners and developers. The Registry Collection programme is offered by Wyndham Exchange and Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN). For additional information, visit the media center at www.wyndhamer.com.

Starwood Hotels’ Largest Brand Initiates a Strategic Worldwide Expansion Adding Roughly 50 Hotels and more than 20,000 Guestrooms in the Next Three YearsBrand will Nearly Double Footprint in China – 24 New Hotels in Pipeline

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today that its global powerhouse, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, is increasing its worldwide footprint through a strategic expansion that will add approximately 50 new hotels and over 20,000 rooms to the brand over the next three years.

Starwood and its partners are investing more than $4 billion in new hotel openings across four continents – a development effort that follows the recent three-year, multi-billion dollar revitalization of its iconic brand and guest experience. As Starwood’s largest and most global brand, Sheraton currently boasts more than 400 hotels in 70 countries with 92% global awareness among business travelers – the highest of any hotel brand in the world.

Beginning in 2010, the brand will open roughly 50 new hotels over three years in 15 countries, including the United States, Colombia, India, Russia, Slovakia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Sheraton – the largest international upper-upscale hotel brand in China – will nearly double its footprint in the country with the addition of 28 stunning new properties, including the Sheraton Shanghai Hong Kou Hotel, Sheraton Qingdao and Sheraton Huadu Resort , bringing its total number of hotels there to 50. The brand will also add 10 new resorts to its renowned portfolio, expand its footprint in New York City with new properties in Brooklyn and Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood and open several new convention hotels.

“Looking ahead, we continue to grow the Sheraton brand’s already robust presence globally by working with our proven development partners to ensure we have best-in-class properties wherever our guests want to travel,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. “Increasingly, we are seeing demand and growth opportunities for new hotels in fast-growing international markets like China and India. In addition, as transaction activity increases in more mature markets throughout North America and Europe we expect to see a number of high quality conversion opportunities to be realized, especially in light of the successful completion of the brand’s global revitalization.”

As the economy rebounds, the hotel industry is gearing up for a significant influx of new international travelers from emerging markets. By 2015, 400 million Chinese and Indians will have sufficient incomes to travel abroad – for perspective that is seven times the number of international travelers who visited the United States last year. 1 That bodes well for Sheraton, which has a reputation as the leading hotel brand in international markets.

“Over the past three years, Sheraton has successfully revitalized one of the hotel industry’s most iconic brands and now we’re sustaining the momentum with an ambitious worldwide expansion,” said Hoyt H. Harper II, Senior Vice President for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. “Sheraton has historically been one of the first Western hotels to enter developing markets and when travelers from China and other emerging markets increase their travel internationally, they will stay with hotel brands they know from home. To ensure Sheraton was poised to dominate both domestically and internationally we invested $6 billion globally – $4 billion in North America alone – to ensure a consistent, exceptional guest experience across our portfolio.”

Last year, Sheraton completed a three-year, multi-billion global brand overhaul that encompassed more than $4 billion in new hotels, renovations and signature brand initiatives in North America and another $2 billion in new hotels overseas. Highlights included:

* 70,000 new or newly renovated guestrooms — 50,000 in North America alone
* More than 300 new lobbies featuring the brand’s innovative Link@SheratonSM experienced with Microsoft(R)
* More than 100,000 brand new Sheraton Sweet Sleeper all-white, high thread count beds in 211 hotels and 83,000 guestrooms worldwide
* 98 renovated properties, nearly half of Sheraton’s North American portfolio, including high profile gateway properties like the Sheraton Denver, Sheraton Boston, Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers, Le Centre Sheraton Montreal and Sheraton Waikiki.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 992 properties in nearly 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) today announced the company’s 1st half year results with a loss of KD 4,968,422 million (US$ 17,372,712 million). Shareholders’ equity of KD 66,129,532 million (US$ 231,230,225 million) compared to KD 66,893,521 million (US$ 244,851,834 million) for the same period last year. The company’s total assets have increased 18% to KD 393,147,155 million (US$ 1,374,688,468).

Ibrahim S. Al-Therban, Chairman of IFA HR, stated: “The new recommendations of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) that are adopted by the company have had an impact on the revenue in comparison to the previously applied methods, where the methodology of Company income is based on the percentage of project completed.”

The International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) applications, might have a negative effect on the company results in the short term, however it will enhance the company’s transparency policy and enables shareholders and investors to understand and compare financial information for companies around the globe.

“The first half of this year has witnessed the launch of a selection of IFA HR luxury properties which include three Private Residence Clubs in Thailand covering Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket as part of our expansions in the Asian market as well as the launch of the second hotel condominium ownership product in the Middle East, the Fairmont Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Further projects such a Fairmont Residence-Palm Jumeirah(Dubai) and Al-Abadiyah Hills in Lebanon  are in their final stages of development which will be completed in the second half of this year.” added Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Vice Chairman and CEO of IFA HR. .

The launch of three new Thai-based Private Residence Clubs comes as part of IFA HR’s expansion plans in the Asian market due to its high potential for unique real estate products.  The Heights Private Residence Club in Phuket, Northpoint Private Residence Club in Pattaya and The River Private Residence Club in Bangkok are developed by luxury condominium developer Raimon Land in which IFA HR has a 41.07% stake.

IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) launched its second hotel condominium ownership product in the Middle East. Situated within the five-star Fairmont Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai, the new offering is of particular interest to investors wishing to diversify their property portfolio with a unique real estate option that combines both the business of guaranteed rental returns and strong capital growth potential with the pleasure of a hassle-free vacation property
Al-Bahar concluded: “The focus in the remaining part of the year will be on completing and delivering our existing projects according to our strategic plan. We will also continue the search for unique investment opportunities that will maximize our shareholders returns. We are looking forward for a better result in the second half of the year.”

Starwood’s Wellness Brand Opens New-Build and Conversion Properties in Asia, Latin America and North America

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announces plans to open 14 new Westin Hotels in 2010.

This year’s openings span China, Greece, Japan, India, Mexico, the United States, and Canada – including newly opened The Westin Wall Centre in Richmond, Vancouver. Other 2010 openings include The Westin Mumbai Garden City in India; The Westin Nanjing in Shanghai, China; The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino in Messinia, Greece; The Westin Austin at the Domain in Austin, Texas; and The Westin Sendai in Sendai, Japan.

In 2010, Starwood will debut the Westin brand in Peru with The Westin Libertador, Lima and expand the brand’s footprint in Latin and South America with its fifth hotel in Mexico and its first in Mexico City, The Westin Santa Fe. In the next three years, Westin will open two additional hotels in Mexico and its first in Panama.

“The Westin brand has significant new-build opportunities in numerous emerging and fast developing economies,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. “Within more mature markets like North America and Europe, however, we are seeing – and expect to continue to see – more, quality conversion opportunities realized as transaction activity increases. Westin is a high value-add conversion brand, and many owners and investors seek opportunities to enhance a property’s performance by upgrading to the Westin brand. Starwood is taking a pragmatic approach to conversions, but will of course be vigilant in preserving the brand integrity that has been a key driver of its success.”

As business and leisure travel to and from emerging markets increases, Westin is establishing a leading presence in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Starwood’s wellness-inspired brand, Westin will introduce its healthy-living initiatives to travelers in new cities, and when travelers from Asia and other developing destinations increase their travel internationally, they are likely to stay with familiar brands they know from home.

“The Westin brand is at a pivotal point in its life cycle, with an unprecedented opportunity for international growth,” said Nancy London, Vice President of Westin Hotels. “Today, the Westin brand is primarily in North America, with 70 percent of our portfolio in Canada and the United States. But looking ahead in 2010, Westin is poised to share its positive lifestyle messaging with travelers across the globe with new properties in China, India and Latin America.”

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 992 properties in nearly 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and ElementSM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts.

Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited is proud to announce that on the 5th February 2010, the Group celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a gathering of nearly one hundred staff, past and present, at the beautiful Elvetham Hall in Hampshire. Elvetham is steeped in history, having been owned by the family of Jane Seymour, one of Henry VIII’s wives and famed as being the site of the first performance of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Initially, Hutchinson’s acted as Collection Agent for resorts in Portugal and Malta. However, the company soon realized the huge potential that the industry offered to professionals prepared to marry their expertise and integrity to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the emerging sales and marketing entrepreneurs. In 1990, Peter Hutchinson, Group Chairman, took the key decision to take the company to the next level and as a result, Hutchinson & Co Trust Company Limited was formed.

During the last twenty five years, the Group has gone from strength to strength, consistently providing a quick, efficient, professional and value for money service, permitting the company to become one of the top specialized Holiday Ownership Trustees in Europe and the largest in India and the Far East. In summarizing the Group’s success, Peter Hutchinson remarked:

“The only constant throughout the last 25 years has been change! And our success has been built on the ability to adapt to what the market demands and to maintain a level of service which is always one step above the expectations of our clients! Our business life is a far cry from its beginnings when Joy Pope and I both worked from home, with a single phone line, typewriter and telex machine, between us! Indeed, that which seemed daunting in 1985 now seems mundane and it will not be long before we can say that at any hour of the day, somewhere in the world, there is a Hutchinson office open for business!”

In 2007, the Group set up a specialist subsidiary, Citadel Trustees Ltd, with a principle focus on emerging products, such as green energy products, requiring stakeholder, trustee and escrow services, as well as Hotel buy-to-let schemes and other leisure related investment products. Citadel has grown rapidly and is now authorized by the UK Financial Services Authority to set-up, operate and manage Unregulated Collective Investments Schemes, an area of business which has seen very strong growth in recent years and one which will be of particular focus for the company in the future. The Group now boasts offices in the UK, Spain, India, Thailand and China and is involved with projects valued at over $2.5 billion!

For further information about Hutchinson or Citadel, please contact Christopher Allen, Director, Client Services and Business Development, by email chrisallen@citadeltrustees.com or, call the company’s UK Head Office +44 (0) 1276
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