Lessons from Case Studies Can Benefit Legal, Finance and Marketing Professionals By Paul Stewart Paul Stewart is a director of indirect tax services at KPMG in the UK and has been involved in advising on VAT in the vacation ownership sector for over 16 years. In such a colourful... [Read More...]

Everyone says the economy is improving and that things are getting better. But what about the timeshare market? For an industry so dependent on consumer lending, the most important issues aren’t simply when travel will pick up and how much consumers are spending – it’s... [Read More...]

Perspective Magazine Editor Matt McDaniel recently chatted with Darren Ettridge, Interval International’s vice president, resort sales and service for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The one-time co-workers talked about how Ettridge got into the timeshare industry, what’s... [Read More...]

John Spence, the entrepreneurial chairman and owner of Karma Royal Group, celebrates 25 years in the industry this year. Spence’s career spans a humble beginning to a 17-resort group with no debt today, and Paul Mattimoe reviews those 25 years. Paul Mattimoe: 25 years, 17... [Read More...]

As is customary for the American Resort Association’s annual autumn event, the focus of the three-day event was on legislative issues. Fall ARDA, held this past November 4 through 6 at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C. Key industry leaders addressed the Board of Directors... [Read More...]

By Lisa Migani Thinking about selling your existing property as fractionals? If you need some really good background information, then start by looking at www.fractionalpropertydeveloper.com. The biggest mistake a developer can make is to start on the fractional route the wrong... [Read More...]

Attendees from across Europe and around the world converge in London to attend the first FORUM Conference, which served as 2009’s main event for the European shared-ownership industry. By Matt McDaniel, editor 2009 was bad enough. And in a year without a conference held by... [Read More...]

Some startling statistics suggest you just might By William J. Brown Since being launched on June 29, 2007, Apple Inc.’s iPhone has continued to drive radical innovation and upheaval within the global wireless telecommunications industry. Now in it’s third-iteration (with... [Read More...]

Bert Hurstfield left Original Resorts to focus his time and energy on growing the H10 Premium vacation club in the Caribbean. American-born Bert Hurstfield grew up in Vancouver, Canada. But he relocated to Mexico in 1995, and today he calls Cancun, Mexico home. From his base... [Read More...]

On December 8, 2009 a sponsored climb of Mount Kilimanjaro will begin. While countless other teams have ascended Kilimanjaro, this trek may be one of the most important ever. The “Kilimanjaro Climb” aims to raise muchneeded funds for the building of a village for homeless... [Read More...]

George Sell explains how Turkey’s attractions and natural beauty put it in a strong position to go beyond a traditional reliance on domestic business and fully exploit the international vacation ownership market. Turkey has all the ingredients – including history, culture... [Read More...]

An Interview with Denis Ebrill, executive vice president of Sol Meliá Vacation Club, about the company’s parent company, marketing in the United States, and what’s next for SMVC. You’ve been at the helm of Sol Meliá Vacation Club (SMVC) for a year now. What has that experience... [Read More...]

With practically every component of the recent economic downturn – lower consumer spending, tighter credit markets, depressed real estate values – having a negative impact on the vacation ownership industry, it’s no surprise that sales fell off in 2008 after years of rapid... [Read More...]

The 11th annual event draws a decent crowd despite economy The 11th Annual Vacation Ownership Investment Conference (VOIC) was held September 14-17, 2009 at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida – a venue known for its quirky longstanding tradition of “marching” ducks in... [Read More...]

The Fourth Annual Luxury Markets Symposium – organized by Group RCI and sponsored by The Registry Collection, and aimed at finding new business opportunities – was held October 6 and 7 in Mexico City. Participants heard about trends and experiences they can take advantage... [Read More...]

European Seminar Included Timeshare Professionals and Owners for Frank Discussions Late September 2009 saw Dial An Exchange host a controversial seminar titled Timeshare Stripped Bare. The venue was the picturesque Barnsdale Hotel & Country Club timeshare resort, located... [Read More...]

As 2010 quickly approaches, most of us are hopeful, if not optimistic, that the recession and the worst of its consequences are behind us and that the target market, the affluent consumer, will be in a financial position that allows them to increase their spending. As you focus... [Read More...]

Big Winners Include Fairmont, Marriott, American Airlines and Host Hacienda Tres Rios; Awards Help Traveling Public Find Best in Class Hacienda Tres Rios, an all-inclusive luxury resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, was the setting for the 2009 World Travel Awards’ North and... [Read More...]

An interview with Roy Peires, chairman and founder of Club La Costa Resorts and Hotels, a company that is among the leading lights of timeshare in Europe and one that is, by its innovative and progressive approach, defining the standard and shaping the way in which its more than... [Read More...]

Eden Rock is unlike any other resort on the French island of St Barths – often referred to as the St. Tropez of the Caribbean. Situated on a rock high above the ocean and surrounded by turquoise waters and white sand, Eden Rock – St Barths provides the ultimate in service... [Read More...]