Timeshares Lead Again, Airlines and Car Rental Sectors Improve; Market Metrix Announces Third Quarter YTD 2008 Hospitality Index Results

Despite economic pressures to reduce staff and services, hotel customer satisfaction for the third quarter remained flat (-0.1), maintaining near record levels for the industry according to the most recent results of the Market Metrix Hospitality Index(TM) (MMHI). Contrary to severe budget cuts and steep declines in satisfaction following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, hotel satisfaction has been nearly immune from the current financial crisis. Hotels have been able to maintain service and reduce expenses without impacting the guest experience.

Comparing Performance Across the Hospitality Industry
In the third quarter, economy, timeshare and casino segments showed the most improvement. Economy brands showing the biggest gains include Budget Host (+4.2), America’s Best Inns & Suites (+1.5), and Jameson Inns (+1.4). Timeshare brands continue to get rave customer reviews and have outscored all other hotel segments, including luxury hotels, since the first quarter of 2007. Disney Vacation Club extends its dominance in the segment with Marriott Vacation Club showing the most improvement (+1). Casinos were up slightly (+.2 to 83.1) with Borgata taking top honors and showing the most improvement (+2.5 to 88.9).

Car Rental satisfaction scores increased to their highest levels in two years (+1.3 to 81.0). Advantage (82.3) was the winning car rental brand, finishing just ahead of the perennial leader Enterprise (82.1). In 2007 Advantage ranked only 7th among all car rental brands with a score of 79.1.

Satisfaction among airlines also improved (+0.7 to 74.5). However, these scores are still at historically low levels for the industry. Airlines continue to struggle with customer satisfaction and have made matters worse with the expanding suite of fees charged for services such as in-flight meals and baggage. Midwest Airlines (85.6) was the high scoring airline, outpacing JetBlue (83.7) for the third consecutive quarter.

Top Scoring Hotel Brand
The top hotel score went to Sandals Resorts, a collection of twelve “all-inclusive” resorts in the Caribbean. Sandals guests rave about the service, “Wow, we had a butler… what a treat! A great idea!” and are enthralled by the facilities, “I loved the European decor mixed with tropical landscaping… nothing short of amazing!” According to Mr. Gordon “Butch” Stewart, chairman and founder of Sandals Resorts, “We work very hard to ensure that our guests are experiencing a top luxury product and are humbled and flattered that our ongoing efforts to modernize and improve have been recognized.”

Market Metrix Hospitality Index 2008 3rd Quarter YTD Winners

WINNER                                          SEGMENT
Hotels
Pan Pacific Hotels & Resorts         92.8       Luxury
Riu Hotels                           91.0       Upper Upscale
Sandals                              93.1       Upscale
Red Lion Hotels                      82.6       Midscale w/ F&B
Drury Inns                           91.7       Midscale w/o F&B
Jameson Inns                         87.0       Economy
Casinos
Wynn Las Vegas                       92.1       Upscale casino
Borgata                              88.9       Casino
Web Sites
Walt Disney World Resorts            88.3       Hotel Brand Web Site
Hotwire.com                          79.4       Hotel Travel Web Site
Airline
Midwest Airlines                     85.6       Airline
Car Rental
Advantage                            82.3       Car Rental
Timeshare
Disney Vacation Club                 90.6       Timeshare Accommodations
About MMHI
Based on 35,000 customer interviews conducted each quarter, the Market Metrix Hospitality Index (MMHI) is the largest and most in-depth measure of hospitality company performance available today. These benchmarks, delivered through our flagship product Customer Metrix(TM), enable Market Metrix clients to compare their results to competitors by STAR segment, AAA classification, Brand, SMSA, industry averages, performers in the top 10% and other classifications. The MMHI is also available by subscription.

About Market Metrix
Market Metrix helps hospitality companies around the world foster loyal customers and engaged employees. Based on award-winning research and breakthrough concepts, our SaaS-based products deliver instant survey results, analysis and management tools for increasing revenue and reducing staff turnover. Our benchmarking database, MMHI, is the most comprehensive, independent comparison of consumer brand satisfaction in the industry. Our annual MMHI Awards are coveted by lodging and travel enterprises around the world. With clients that include more than 120 brands across 70 countries, Market Metrix has been helping leading hospitality companies turn feedback into performance since 1996. For more information, visit www.marketmetrix.com.

Contact:
Mike Pharis
1-800-239-7515

SOURCE: Market Metrix

NetJets Middle East, the largest operator of business jets in the region, is introducing a range of firsts with its debut participation at the Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) 2008 exhibition and the introduction of its Hawker 750 aircraft, the first in the region’s aviation industry.
“NetJets Middle East is the first company in this part of the world that has this top-of-the-line aircraft in its fleet and it will be made available to our growing number of aircraft owners in the region,” said Chadi Saade Managing Director, Sales and Marketing NetJets Middle East.
The Hawker 750 is an aircraft considered as the best in its class and designed to make business travel faster, safer and luxuriously convenient at a relatively low cost. The midsize jet offer range and comfort ideal for business use and is commonly referred to as a spacious conference room in the sky, making it one of the most popular midsize business jets. NetJets Middle East Hawker 750 fleet offers stand-up headroom along the entire cabin length. It also features a full refreshment centre.
While the presence of the Hawker 750 will be the visible highlight of NetJets Middle East participation, what is equally gaining popularity among corporate and individual business travelers is the concept of fractional aircraft ownership program.
“It certainly makes travelling a lot more flexible and convenient, given the guarantee we provide to our customers to have their aircraft available within 12 hours notice. This means that the client is assured of travelling safely, globally and comfortably at very short notice, using NetJets worldwide fleet of aircraft” added Chadi.
The NetJets Middle East fleet includes 16 light, midsize and large cabin aircraft accommodating from 8 to14 passengers with flight range of up to 4,300 nautical miles. The fleet includes the world’s finest jet aircraft such as Hawker, Falcon and Gulfstream. NetJets Middle East fleet is expected to grow by 60 new aircraft, on order now, with projected delivery of one aircraft per month starting this month.
MEBA announced that the Middle East is now the world’s fastest expanding market for private jets Industry experts forecast that the region will account for $720 million of the private jet market this year. In such a highly competitive industry, the only way companies can hope to succeed is to differentiate their offers.
“What we offer is not only the largest fleet of aircraft and a team of the best trained and highly experience pilots and flight crew, but also an idea – fractional aircraft ownership – whose time has come,” added Chadi.
Corporate and individual business travelers who wish to find out more about the NJME fleet of advanced and premium aircrafts and fractional ownership can visit the company at chalet # 35 at MEBA 2008, from 16-18 November, at the Dubai Airport Expo.
NetJets Middle East is a division of National Air ServicesNational Air Services and is headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. All flights are operated by NASNAS. The NetJets Middle East fractional aircraft ownership program is affiliated with NetJets Inc. and is operated under the principles of the NetJets U.S. program created in 1986 by NetJets Inc. Chairman and CEO Richard Santulli.

For more information visit www.njme.com

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT), one of the world’s largest hotel and leisure companies, announced today the appointment of Clayton C. Daley, Jr. to the Company’s Board of Directors. Mr. Daley, 57, is currently Vice Chair and Chief Financial Officer for Procter & Gamble.

“With more than a decade of experience in the top financial position at P&G, Clayt is one of the most highly regarded CFOs in the world,” said Frits van Paasschen, Starwood’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Coupled with his impressive background in corporate strategy and planning at arguably the biggest brand powerhouse in the world, Clayt will be a tremendous asset as Starwood continues to aggressively grow our global footprint and extend the depth and breadth of our nine distinctive and compelling brands.”

Mr. Daley has spent his entire professional career with Procter & Gamble, joining the company in 1974, and has held a number of key Accounting and Finance positions including Comptroller, U.S. Operations for Procter & Gamble USA; Vice President and Comptroller of Procter & Gamble International and Vice President and Treasurer. Mr. Daley was appointed to his current position as Chief Financial Officer, Procter & Gamble in 1998 and was elected Vice Chair in 2007.

Mr. Daley’s active involvement in professional organizations and charities include the Financial Executives Institute; the Rotary Club of Cincinnati; the Board of Directors for the Boys Scouts of America, Dan Beard Council; Board of Directors for Cancer Family Care; Member, Officers Conference Group; and Member, Council of Financial Executives.

Mr. Daley, who also serves on the Board of Directors of Nucor Corporation, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Davidson College and received his Masters of Business Administration from The Ohio State University.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(R)
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 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 Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), 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

InnSeason Resorts®, creators of the Northeast Experience® and leading providers of resort vacation and ownership opportunities, recently announced the promotion of Chip Rogan to Vice President of Sales.

Rogan started with one of InnSeason’s predecessor companies in 1994 as a part-time telemarketer during his high school years. After graduating cum laude in 2000 from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, College of Business, he joined the company (at that time Curran Management Services) full-time and immediately took over the management of a 350-person telemarketing center. He relocated to InnSeason’s Pembroke office as General Manager, working first as brand standards manager and then in 2005 creating the Vacation Experience Tours. As Vice President of Sales, he will be in charge of implementing sales strategies and processes throughout company’s several Northeast sales centers.

Rogan notes, “This is a real opportunity for me. I have watched this company grow and have grown with it. Now I can make a difference strategically, directly impacting our corporate mission by implementing effective sales methods across our range of markets.”

InnSeason Resorts®, creators of the Northeast Experience®, a leading provider of resort vacation and ownership opportunities in the Northeast U.S., delivers “best-in-class” management, advisory and marketing services to resorts and developers nation-wide. For more information, visit www.InnSeason.com.

Christel DeHaan, Founder of Christel House

Formerly the founder of Resorts Condominiums International (RCI) back in 1974, Christel is now responsible for changing the lives of nearly 2,600 impoverished children around the globe at five learning centers.

We asked her how and why Christel House was formed and what it was like making the transition from For-Profit to Non-Profit.

The story behind how Christel House was founded is fascinating.  Will you share with us the pivotal trip that led to the creation of what is now an international non-profit organization serving impoverished children in 5 countries?

During my RCI years, every office around the world was committed to giving back to its local community.  After I sold the company, I received a request from Gabriel Oropeza, then President of RCI Mexico, asking if I would consider giving financial support to two shelters for impoverished children.  I agreed in principle, subject to a personal visit to meet Mother Inez, the 70-year old nun who operated the shelters, and the children.

Mother Inez and a tiny staff operated two shelters for 187 children.  One shelter for young children and older girls was located in Mexico City; the other was two hours away in Texcoco where the older boys, ages 14 to 19, were housed.  The Mexico City shelter was extremely crowded, with children sleeping head-to-toe in twin size beds. Washing was done on a washboard and dried on the rooftop.  In Texcoco there was no electricity because of a broken generator and the only water available was drawn from a cistern.  That experience gave birth to Christel House.

We spoke with the caregivers and young adolescents to understand their hopes and dreams.

Some worried about having enough to eat; others hoped that the broken school bus would be repaired so they would not have to walk 8 miles each way to school every day.  It was at that moment I realized that giving money to Mother Inez would make life easier, but inherently nothing would change.  These youngsters would live in the same poverty as their parents and grandparents.  So too would future generations.  That experience gave birth to Christel House.  I believed that if given the opportunity, these children could make a better life for themselves, and become self-sufficient, contributing and dignified members of their communities.

As we drove back to Mexico City, a spirited discussion ensued about what was truly needed to help these children.  To change a life of poverty into a life of self-sufficiency would require quality education, good health care, and proper nutrition.  It would be necessary to teach life skills, develop strong values, and foster the child’s sense of self-worth.  And every child must feel love and acceptance.  Additionally, we recognized the importance of helping parents and caregivers become more effective in their roles.

As we rambled back to Mexico City in a Volkswagen bus, we outlined these basic principles of the Christel House model.  I felt a tremendous sense of excitement, knowing that I could direct my skills and resources to transforming human lives.

Making the transition from leading a successful for-profit business to launching a non-profit organization is quite a leap.  What skills and lessons learned at RCI were most valuable to you when you started Christel House?

The leap wasn’t that big.  Running an enterprise requires certain skills, strategies and business practices that are common to both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.  Perhaps the biggest differences are how the bottom line is measured.  Instead of market capital, our bottom line at Christel House is measured in human capital. Starting RCI required fortitude, creativity, courage, pioneering, perseverance, risk-taking, hard work and a determination to succeed.

Transparency and integrity were key to RCI’s success. Leading and expanding the company required a focus on customers and employees, an absolute passion for excellence and a drive to be the leader in the field.  All of these hold true for Christel House.  One of the most valuable lessons I learned at RCI was to surround myself with excellent people.  Setting an organization’s tone and culture starts at the top, but the people charged with executing the business create the ethos. Excellent people were a mark of distinction at RCI. Christel House has that mark, too.

There are many similarities between RCI and Christel House.  In my view, both are in the business of ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF LIFE. RCI provides unique vacation experiences, while Christel House gives disadvantaged children the opportunity to build successful lives. Both organizations fulfill an important need.  Business disciplines accustom us to competition, accountability, transparency, metrics, strategic planning, performance appraisals, and compensation based on merit and achievement. I find these practices hugely important for successfully operating a charity.

What sets Christel House apart from other charities?

Christel House creates lasting change.  We are transforming lives. We address the causes and debilitating effects of poverty, poor health, isolation, abuse, abandonment and lack of opportunity.  We are doing more than providing sustenance and basic needs.

We are unleashing human potential and giving children otherwise destined to a life of poverty and despair the pathway to human dignity and success. Our model includes working with the child, the parent or caregiver, and the community.  To date we have not found another organization with a model as comprehensive as that of Christel House.

Our focus is on quality, achievement, transparency and accountability.  Financial audits for each CH entity are a given.  We submit voluntarily to education audits—just as we did in the RCI years by auditing exchange statistics in the 1970’s long before the practice became required by law. We ascribe to total transparency within the organization and report important milestones of the organization, our children, parents and community to our stakeholders.  We are regulated in each country by the ministry of education.

We have achieved numerous significant milestones.  For example, we have a 98% retention rate at Christel House Venezuela and all our children graduated with a diploma – a first for a school in the La Vega barrio and perhaps the entire country. Over 60% of our Venezuelan graduates were accepted at universities or technical schools in Caracas – unheard of for children from such impoverished background.

Another feature that sets us apart from other organizations is the provision I have made to fund the Christel House general and administrative expenses in perpetuity.   Donors now and in the future are assured that 100% of their donations directly benefit the children, and are not used for administrative overheads.  I very much believe that charities must find mechanisms for sustainability.  Ensuring that G & A expenses are covered gives Christel House greater sustainability and a high level of donor satisfaction.

We understand that Oprah called upon you for advice when launching her own school for girls in South Africa.  What was it like to have one of the most recognized women in the world asking for your advice?

As you can well imagine, receiving a call from Oprah’s staff wanting to discuss Christel House caused quite a buzz in our office.  We were excited to learn that her team visited many schools throughout South Africa, including Christel House South Africa.  Oprah’s team was tremendously impressed, stating that it was by far their number one choice out of all the schools visited.  Our scheduled hour-long meeting quickly turned into three hours.  Oprah was keenly interested in learning how we were able to open five Christel House learning centers in just four years.  We shared best practices, talked about possible pitfalls, offered our help and worked with her team to arrange a visit to Christel House Academy in Indianapolis.  And, yes, we are still hoping that one day Oprah will feature Christel House on her show.

Many timeshare organizations around the world currently support Christel House.  From your perspective, what makes Christel House and the industry such a good match for one another?

More and more companies today recognize the benefits of corporate social responsibility, particularly when it is woven in the overall fabric of the enterprise.  CEO’s know that it gives employees a greater sense of pride in the enterprise.  It also helps in staff recruitment and retention, and influences customer preference when making purchase decisions. The first timeshare resort in the U.S. that adopted Christel House as its charity of choice was Bluegreen.  Then CEO George Donavan liked the business model of Christel House, and said: “I know how you ran RCI, and I have trust and confidence that you will run Christel House by those same standards.”  From there, we garnered support from other industry members.  ARDA, OTE and ATHOC have been generous in their support.

My aspiration is for Christel House to become the international charity of choice for the timeshare industry, although I also recognize the importance of resorts supporting local organizations as well.

What are some of the creative ways in which organizations currently support the work of Christel House?

Supporters from the timeshare industry are very creative and generous; some of their fundraising initiatives include:

• Maintenance fee add-on programs

• Employee payroll deduction programs

• Hosting and/or sponsoring the Christel House Open

• Bake sales

• 50/50 raffles

• Cookbook sales

• Garage sales

• Marathons

• Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

• Bicycle races, London 2 Paris

• Asking for donations at check-out

Our objective is to create a win-win relationship with our supporters in the timeshare industry. Timeshare employees are excited about working on Christel House initiatives; marketing efforts of a resort can be enhanced by adding a social responsibility component; the industry can unite around an international charity, and the children of Christel House are the beneficiaries.

Famed golfer Gary Player was involved with the Christel House Open several years ago.  He recently spoke about visiting Christel House South Africa in an interview with the Golf Channel.  In that interview, he said that visiting Christel House may have been the best day of his life.  He is not alone. Many people, including timeshare industry veterans, who have visited a Christel House learning center, have had similar reactions. To what do you attribute those powerful reactions?

From an intellectual perspective, there is recognition that meeting basic needs, like feeding the hungry, is essential to helping our fellow man, but that this assistance is temporary, not transformational and permanent.  We must also have organizations that provide the tools necessary to break the cycle of poverty. Christel House transforms lives. The multiplier effect of this transformation will impact not only the lives of this and future generations, but also uplift the communities and countries in which we are working.

From an emotional perspective, every visitor to Christel House is touched by the experience… children who display a plethora of skills and talents; children who are well-mannered and self-confident; children who are grateful and joyful; children who have dreams and who know that Christel House will be central to the fulfillment of those dreams.  For most visitors, Christel House is a life altering experience.

There is a huge emotional impact from seeing the living conditions from which these children come, and knowing that they will have a better life. It is inspirational to realize what humans can accomplish if given the right environment and opportunity.  And above all, there is an overwhelming feeling of joy and hope. Together, these form an indelible imprint in our hearts, our minds and our souls.

For more about our support for Christel House Click Here

Left To Right: Jonathan Hitchens, Erika Garcia, Orlando Arroyo, Annie Arroyo, Alma Lopez and Sigfrido Pazparedes

At this year’s World Travel Market, The Global Event for the Travel Industry, the World Responsible Tourism Day sponsor Hacienda Tres Rios Resort, Spa & Nature Park held a seminar on How To Build A Green Hotel and Perspective Magazine was in attendence.

Orlando Arroyo, CEO of Tres Rios and a leader in the Mexican travel industry for more than two years, presented to a packed room of attendees and described the lengths his company have gone to in building this eco-friendly luxury resort on a 326 acre eco-park in the heart of the Riviera Maya. More than 150 acres of the land is being retained as a reserve, with environmentally friendly building pracices and planning for the resort to guard the surrounding beauty.

After the presentation, Orlando joined Annie Arroyo, Alma Lopez and Sigfrido Pazparedes who are all involved in the project to form a panel for the attendees to fire questions at. From here, questions such as contributing to the local community was raised, at which point it was explained that as one of the few Mexican owned family developments in the area, they employed local workers and used local materials to create the resort and for those indigenous people who live in remote villages, the resort will feature their crafts in the on-site spa and gift shop, as well as offering cultural tours and educational programs that will help preserve local cultures and encourage sustainable employment.

Hacienda Tres Rios, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Both Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine will be running special features on this development in the New Year so watch out for them, but in the meantime if you would like to know more about Hacienda Tres Rios visit http://www.haciendatresrios.com

The Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE) welcomes the recent verdict in a libel case against Alexander (Sandy) Grey, Chairman of the self-styled “Timeshare Consumers Association, which has been consistently critical of the reputable timeshare industry.”

The High Court found that it was Sandy Grey himself who was behind the so-called “Crimeshare – Timeshare Frauds and Scams” and related Websites. The Website not only included personal attacks against employees and directors of timeshare companies and OTE, but also produced so-called “black lists” falsely incriminating reputable timeshare companies.

Even though Grey denied his involvement; the Judge – Mr Justice Eady, found that Mr Grey had published the Crimeshare website on all five of the domain names which formed the basis of the High Court claim. Grey was ordered to pay the substantial costs involved in proving his responsibility for publication.    Over a number of years Grey had denied that he was behind these sites and had even signed court documents to verify his false denials. Despite this, he continued to portray himself as an independent advisor on timeshare issues to consumers, the media and government. It is believed that up to 1.5 million individuals may have relied on his “advice” over the years.

More than 200 companies were “blacklisted” by Grey including publicly traded companies such as RCI – the timeshare vacation exchange company, the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE), to which most European developers belong and ARDA – the American Resort Developers Association.

Peter van der Mark, Secretary General of OTE said of the judgement:

“OTE is very concerned about the legitimacy of a number of private organisations set up around Europe to purportedly provide “consumer advice”. These companies have absolutely no link to the industry or to any government authority. We would advise consumers to exercise caution in dealing with any organisation that refers to the so-called Crimeshare blacklist, Mr Grey or the TCA.” 

OTE provides guidance and advice on timeshare through its website www.ote-info.com and offers a free of charge arbitration service for timeshare owners who own at OTE member resorts. Consumers may also contact TATOC – The Timeshare Association – on 0845 2302430 for further advice.

Over the past few years OTE has worked successfully with a number of different European consumer organisations, including European Consumer Centres, ConSeur in Brussels and with TATOC, to name just a few. OTE has valued and continues to value constructive comment and criticism of the timeshare industry by consumer organisations as it contributes to the maintenance of a high level of best practice for the timeshare industry. This has for example resulted in all European Consumer Centres having input into OTE’s 2005 Code of Conduct through a meeting organised by the European Commission and OTE.

OTE tried to establish cooperation with the TCA in 1999 but its Chairman Mr. Grey personally refused any cooperation. It now appears, from the judgement of the High Court on 28 October 2008, that for the past five years Mr Grey has been responsible for publishing serious and false allegations about many of the leading brands in the timeshare industry in Europe.

Club La Costa is also involved in High Court proceedings against a company over unfounded and serious allegations. It is believed that the defendant company had worked closely with Sandy Grey. High Court proceedings continue.

More about OTE:
OTE is the pan-European trade association representing the timeshare industry throughout Europe. It promotes best practice in the industry for the benefit of both consumers and the industry.  All members are bound by a code of ethics that ensures the protection of consumers’ rights.  OTE provides information and advice to consumers and offers a free conciliation service to consumers dealing with its members.

OTE represents the majority of timeshare companies in Europe which are responsible for some 65-70% of all timeshare sales. These include major hospitality groups such as De Vere, Hilton, Sol Melia, and large independent timeshare developers, namely the Petchey Leisure Group, Club La Costa, Hapimag and Seasons Holidays.

Source: http://www.thetimeshareblog.com/chairman-of-%e2%80%9ctimeshare-consumers-association%e2%80%9d-behind-libellous-websites/

Margit Whitlock, AIA, Principal of Architectural Concepts, Inc. (ACI) a San Diego firm regarded as one of the top hospitality-oriented architectural and interior design firms, has been selected to chair the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Design and Construction Committee.  The new committee will hold its first meeting the second week in November at the trade association’s fall conference in Washington D.C.

ACI has been honored with numerous awards including the ARDY for Resort Design for Cibola Vista Resort and Spa (Peoria, Arizona) and Club Regina Resorts (Cancun and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico) for Resort Design — Refurbishment. The ARDY is one of the trade association’s top awards. Last year the firm was also the recipient of the prestigious ARDA ACE Community Service Award for its benefit for San Diego’s Habitat for Humanity.

Margit Whitlock, AIA principal of the architectural firm, said “we’ve been talking about forming this specialty committee within ARDA for a few years now. I am honored to spearhead the cause and excited about the possibilities of the impact we can make on the resort development industry as well as many legislative parameters which affect our developers.   We are currently recruiting members who come from the architecture and design community within ARDA and are looking forward to our kick off event on November 13.”

ARDA Members interested in being on the committee may contact Margit Whitlock at margit@4designs.com or call 619-531-0110.  For more information they may also refer to www.arda.org

Millions of AT&T Customers to Get Free Wi-Fi Access at Nearly 20,000 U.S. Hotspots

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced today that it has agreed, through one of its subsidiaries, to acquire privately-held Wayport, Inc., a leading provider of managed Wi-Fi services in the United States, for approximately $275 million in cash. The deal adds Wayport’s focused capabilities and enterprise customer portfolio with AT&T’s leading Internet Protocol (IP) and 3G networks, and broad consumer and business customer bases, to deliver enhanced broadband connectivity at home, in the office, on the road, and virtually anywhere in between.

The acquisition expands the AT&T Wi-FiSM footprint to nearly 20,000 domestic hotspots, takes the company’s global Wi-Fi presence to more than 80,000 locations*, and creates thousands of new ways for customers worldwide to stay in touch. Millions of AT&T customers – plus millions of other consumers needing to connect on the go – will benefit from access to new hotspot locations served by Wayport. Wayport hotspots are in key locations, including select Wyndham, Marriott Vacation Club and Four Seasons hotels; HealthSouth and Sun Healthcare locations; plus McDonald’s restaurants. 

AT&T’s global brand, marketing leadership and extensive enterprise sales force will complement Wayport’s expertise in enabling and managing applications over an integrated network. Wayport will also extend AT&T’s reach in the hospitality, health care, education and retail sectors.

“We’re seeing exponential growth of Wi-Fi-enabled devices — such as smartphones — combined with a continued dependency on 24/7, anytime, anywhere Internet access across business and consumer market segments,” said John Stankey, president and CEO, AT&T Operations. “Now is the right time for AT&T to affirm our commitment to Wi-Fi leadership. By acquiring Wayport, we’re giving consumers more ways to stay in touch and building a more robust network management solution for businesses. We’re bringing ready access to the nation’s leading Wi-Fi, wireless and IP networks — on a global scale.”

Delivering Greater Value to Consumers
More than ever before, customers worldwide are using AT&T’s expansive network to serve today’s growing demand for more connectivity in more places – which is driven by the proliferation of Wi-Fi-enabled devices. 

This acquisition enhances AT&T’s Wi-Fi presence in the United States, and it delivers a seamless, consistent communications experience to customers at home or on the go — from one company.

• Nearly 300 million Wi-Fi-enabled devices were shipped in 2007. Nearly 1 billion are predicted by 2012.* *
• With the surge of Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, portable computers, gaming devices and cameras, more consumers can enjoy the benefits of anytime, anywhere access from the nation’s largest Wi-Fi network.
• A broader and deeper AT&T Wi-Fi network means more free connectivity for millions of AT&T customers, including select AT&T smartphone customers, AT&T LaptopConnect customers and AT&T High Speed Internet (including U-verseSM) subscribers.

Providing Solutions for Enterprise Customers

The acquisition complements AT&T’s ability to deliver a complete end-to-end solution for businesses worldwide with Wayport’s experience in facilitating business applications and managing public access to the Internet over a single network. As Wayport currently provides back-office management for AT&T’s Wi-Fi Hot Spots, the acquisition expands such capabilities and brings management of Wi-Fi infrastructure completely under AT&T management.

The combined company will be able to deliver a more cost-effective and streamlined solution for enterprises – and their customers – by providing more anytime, anywhere access to end-user applications. Plus, with both the back-office infrastructure and end-user content application managed by one company, businesses can reduce operating costs, enhance and customize their customers’ experience and reach more customers in new innovative ways.

• AT&T will provide a comprehensive solution for businesses seeking converged and managed network capabilities – on one network – with global reach, while also bringing ready access to the nation’s largest Wi-Fi, wireless and leading global IP network.
• Enterprise customers will be able to better utilize private-side applications – effectively managing costs and increasing productivity levels – including inventory management, remote employee learning, point-of-sale applications and remote security monitoring.
• A unified solution will drive new business partnerships, leveraging AT&T’s unique, innovative services and applications available to enterprise customers.
• Enterprise customers will benefit from new, revenue-generating opportunities with AT&T’s ability to bring customized, location-based messaging and advertising to more touch points – via a streamlined Wi-Fi solution – reaching more end-users. 

“AT&T’s premier capabilities in both the enterprise and consumer industries will take Wayport’s strength in delivering Wi-Fi solutions over converged networks to an entirely new level,” said Dave Vucina, chairman and chief executive officer of Wayport.
“AT&T’s ability to reach and service tens of millions of customers will greatly expand the value we currently bring to our customers.  As part of AT&T, we’ll bring new and better solutions to our customers on a global scale, with greater reach and more innovative services.”

The transaction is expected to close as early as the fourth quarter of 2008.
* Including roaming locations
** In-Stat, 2008. 

About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company. Its subsidiaries and affiliates, AT&T operating companies, are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around the world. Among their offerings are the world’s most advanced IP-based business communications services and the nation’s leading wireless, high speed Internet access and voice services. In domestic markets, AT&T is known for the directory publishing and advertising sales leadership of its Yellow Pages and YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations, and the AT&T brand is licensed to innovators in such fields as communications equipment. As part of its three-screen integration strategy, AT&T is expanding its TV entertainment offerings. In 2008, AT&T again ranked No. 1 on Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired Telecommunications Company list and No. 1 on America’s Most Admired Telecommunications Company list. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com.

© 2008 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other marks contained herein are trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Wayport, Inc.
Founded in 1996, Wayport enables breakthrough public and private applications over an integrated network platform which creates new business opportunities and operational efficiencies. Wayport serves notable brands in a variety of vertical markets, including AT&T customers through a managed service agreement. Wayport helps clients create new business capabilities and improve operational efficiencies at premier venues including major hotels, hospitals, McDonald’s and Hertz locations, and other retail brands worldwide. Wayport’s investors include Sevin Rosen Funds, INVESCO Private Capital, New Enterprise Associates, Scale Venture Partners, Trellis Partners, Advanced Equities, Inc., Lucent Venture Partners, GC Technology Fund, Sanders Morris Harris, Star Ventures and GIC.

Source: http://www.thetimeshareblog.com/at-combined-wi-fi-networks-to-provide-connectivity-in-more-places/

Sicilian Resort Joins Quality Exchange Network

Interval International, a leading provider of vacation services, has announced the affiliation of Villaggio Cala La Luna situated on the small island of Favignana just off the west coast of Sicily, Italy. 

The development which was completed in May 2008 comprises of 70 units, with a mix of studios, one- and two- bedroom units out of which 58 are allocated to timeshare. The resort features an outdoor pool, restaurant and live entertainment. It is also within walking distance of the lively harbour where fresh lobster and octopus can be bought every morning.

“Good quality resorts such as this are in popular demand with our members and we are delighted to welcome this resort to our network,” says Darren Ettridge, Interval International’s vice president resort sales and service (Europe). “This is our fifth affiliation in Italy since July 2007 and it is continued evidence of Interval’s success in the region.”

Villaggio Cala La Luna is situated in the fishing village of Favignana which is admired for its beauty and crystal clear waters. The island offers a wide range of leisure activities including diving, deep-sea fishing, shopping, nightlife and good food. Sailing is also a major attraction and Favignana hosted the America’s Cup in 2008.

Capella Pedregal, Cabo’ss hottest new resort and residential community, just got a little hotter. In a new, unprecedented alliance with luxury destination club Ultimate Escapes’s174;, owners at Capella Pedregal now have access to residences at 23 fabulous resort and metropolitan destinations around the globe.

We are proud and excited to be the first private residence club to partner with a destination club, said Juan Diaz Rivera, marketing director, Capella Pedregal. This unprecedented partnership is offering owners at Capella Pedregal an opportunity to build equity by owning real estate in Cabo, while providing them with access to Ultimate Escape’ss global portfolio of properties through Ultimate Escapes Developer Affiliate Program – it’ss the best of both worlds.

Amenities at Capella Pedregal include fractional ownership in a luxury Viking yacht at the Capella Yacht Club, access to all of the amenities of the Capella Resort and Spa to open on-site in March 2009 and a prime location on 24 acres of pristine beach. The Ultimate Escapes Developer Affiliate Program is another unique amenity that gives current and prospective owners the opportunity to enjoy vacations at Ultimate Escapes destinations worldwide including luxurious mountain and ski spots such as Deer Valley and Beaver Creek, major metropolitan cities including New York, Paris and London, golf destinations like Tuscany and Scottsdale and beach resorts from Belize to the British Virgin Islands.

Cabo San Lucas is the most sought after vacation destination for our members, said Gregg Amonette, senior vice president, Business Development for Ultimate Escapes. We’sre thrilled to align ourselves with a property of this caliber and are confident that Capella Pedregal will become a highly desired destination for our members.

Set to debut in March 2009, Capella Pedregal is Capella Hotels and Resorts’s preeminent beachfront resort and residential community. Accessed via a private mountainside tunnel, Capella Pedregal will be comprised of a 66-room Capella Resort and Spa, 38 shared-ownership Capella Residences and 11 private, full-ownership Casonas. The only luxury hotel and residence resort with immediate proximity to the world-class Cabo Marina, Capella Pedregal offers its owners and guests unprecedented access to a fleet of luxury Viking sport fishers and cruisers at the Capella Yacht Club. Resort guests and residents will enjoy amenities including a 10,000-square-foot Sylvia Sepielli-designed signature Auriga spa and wellness center; their own personal majordomo; and attendance by Capella’ss signature Personal Assistants who are on hand to arrange anything from dining reservations to yacht excursions and access to Cabo’ss many attractions.

For more information on Capella Pedregal, please call (866) 956-7222 or visit www.capellacabo.com.
About Ultimate Escapes’s174;:
Ultimate Escapes’s174; is the combination of two powerful brands: Ultimate Resort’s174; and Private Escapes’s174;. Members enjoy access to more than 140 private residences and over 130 affiliated properties in more than 150 locations worldwide. Locations range from chic urban residences to charming beach villas, spacious five-bedroom homes to an 80-foot private yacht. The Ultimate Escapes’s174; brand is about delivering memorable, luxury travel experiences to Members who place great value on spending quality time with their family and friends. Additional information can be found at www.ultimateescapes.com.

Capella Hotels and Resorts serves today’ss top-tier travelers and residential property owners and is setting a new standard in the hospitality industry. Capella promises the unique benefits of the finest boutique hotels, including superb architecture and interior design, privacy, individualized service and attention to detail – combined with the amenities and activities of the world’ss great luxury hotels and resorts. Capella, led by founder Horst Schulze, is a brand focused on customer choice, and offers choices that no other hotel company in the world can match. Capella is opening world-class properties in gateway cities and high-profile resort destinations around the world, including: Breidenbacher Hof, a Capella Hotel (D’s252;sseldorf, Germany); Capella Bahia Maroma (Riviera Maya, Mexico); Capella Dunboy Castle (Castletownbere, Ireland); Capella Ixtapa (Ixtapa, Mexico); Capella Niseko (Niseko, Japan); Capella Pedregal (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico); Capella Singapore (Sentosa Island, Singapore); Capella Telluride (Telluride, Colorado); and Schloss Velden, a Capella Hotel (Velden, Austria). Learn more at www.capellahotels.com.

Source: http://www.fractionalownershipmagazine.com/an-unprecedented-partnership-capella-pedregal-aligns-with-ultimate-escapes-offering-owners-exclusive-access-to-resort-destina/

Located in Mexico’s Most Exclusive Beach Community, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort Features Latin America’s First Remede Spa, World-Class Cuisine, Three Infinity Pools with Private Cabanas, Two Jack Nicklaus Golf Courses, State-of-the-Art Fitness Facilities, a Private Beach Club, Tennis Courts and the Signature St. Regis Butler Service

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced the debut of its renowned St. Regis brand in Latin America with the opening of The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort. A joint venture between Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Ideurban Consultores, the luxurious new destination resort is located in Bahia de Banderas, one of the worlds’ most alluring private beaches in the state of Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Offering an unrivaled dimension of opulence, bespoke service and refined elegance at one of the best addresses in the world, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort features 120 exquisitely appointed guest rooms and suites, three world-class restaurants, three infinity pools with private cabana service, a state-of-the-art fitness center, private beach club, tennis courts, a luxurious Remede Spa and an outstanding line-up of recreation facilities, including two Jack Nicklaus signature golf courses. Frequented by celebrities, world leaders and business moguls, Punta Mita offers travelers a seductive, exclusive setting in the heart of Mexico.
“Today we are proud to debut the St. Regis brand in Latin America with the opening of The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, featuring the iconic luxury, unmatched privilege and bespoke services for which the St. Regis brand is renowned,” said Paul James, Vice President, Brand Management, The Luxury Collection & St. Regis, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Truly one of the world’s most desirable destinations, Mexico is rich in culture and heritage and offers our discerning global guests an exotic array of world-class cuisine, art and stunning natural surroundings.”

“The spectacular setting and signature offerings of The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort establishes this destination as The Address on Mexico’s Pacific Coast,” said Osvaldo Librizzi, President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts in Latin America. “This opening not only launches our most exclusive brand, but also affirms our deep commitment to Mexico with which we have both a long history as well as strong future growth plans.”

Nestled on a peninsula surrounded by azure water and white sand beaches, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort features 89 lavishly appointed guest rooms, 30 exquisite suites and an ultra-luxurious three-bedroom presidential suite, offering stunning vistas of Mexico’s seascape, lush gardens and picturesque mountains. Handcrafted tiles made exclusively for the resort by artists in Saltillo, Coahuila, private terraces, custom furnishings, and spacious marble bathrooms with both indoor and outdoor showers offer guests an oasis of relaxation, inspired by the local surroundings. Each guest room also features deluxe Remede bath amenities, flat screen televisions with cable and high-speed Internet access and 24-hour in-room private dining.

The design for The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort combines stylistic elements from Provence, France and Mexico and is based around the concept of barefoot elegance. The use of natural materials, including Mexican Galarza stone, river stone, marble, onyx, wood and clay, combined with exquisite European furnishings, create a sophisticated yet natural oasis destination. The resort also features the work by renowned Mexican artists, including mural work by Tatiana Montoya, who combines her signature modern style with local history, emphasizing the importance of the fishing heritage of Punta Mita.

A suite of pampering services is available at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort’s Remede Spa, including both traditional treatments and modern Remede therapies to create the ultimate spa experience. The extraordinary spa features nine treatment rooms, a sauna and steam bath area with lounges for relaxation.

Dining at The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort indulges the senses with a diverse menu of sophisticated and distinct culinary options. Set against a breathtaking ocean backdrop, Las Marietas serves an authentic menu of Mexican cuisine with a contemporary flair in an inviting alfresco atmosphere. The Sea Breeze Beach Club features an eclectic menu of contemporary California cuisine in a relaxed bistro environment and the resort’s signature restaurant, Carolina, offers an exotic selection of world-class seafood, highlighting a mosaic of culinary styles from the Mediterranean. Located at the resort’s highest point, the Altamira lobby bar offers guests dazzling ocean views and serves an enticing selection of tequilas and specialty cocktails including The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort’s Bloody Mary and the signature Afternoon Tea ritual.

“The opening of The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort is an achievement that gives us great pride. Every detail was given the utmost care to ensure that guest enjoy the exquisite architecture and exuberant vegetation which the hotel offers,” said David Serur, President of Ideurban Group. “The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort is the place where mysticism and beauty captured by life in the tropics becomes a reality.”

An ideal choice for weddings, meetings and special events, the resort features a 2,600 square foot Astor Ballroom, which can be used in its entirety or divided into three sections for more intimate gatherings. The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort’s ample pre-function area features a stunning outdoor terrace, creating an ideal setting for afternoon or evening soirees.

Following in the tradition of the legendary St. Regis Hotel New York, The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort features the famed hallmarks of St. Regis hotels including the iconic St. Regis Butler Service, bespoke guest experiences and luxury accommodations tailored to global travelers. Trained in the English tradition, the butlers provide ever-present, yet unobtrusive service while anticipating guest needs and customizing each guest’s stay according to his or her specific tastes and preferences.

The new St. Regis Punta Mita Resort joins a select portfolio of St. Regis hotels in the best addresses around the world, including Aspen, Singapore, Monarch Beach, New York, Washington, D.C, San Francisco, London, Rome, Bora Bora, Bali, Beijing and Shanghai.

For more information about The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, please visit: www.stregis.com/puntamita

About St. Regis Hotels & Resorts

Combining timeless sophistication with modern luxury, the St. Regis brand is uncompromising in its commitment to excellence. Founded by John Jacob Astor with the landmark St. Regis Hotel, New York over a century ago, St. Regis is known for delivering an unrivaled dimension of luxury, bespoke service and refined elegance at the best addresses in the world. The brand plans to further its legacy globally and will unveil highly anticipated St. Regis properties in Atlanta-Buckhead, Baha Mar, The Bahamas, Bahia Beach, Puerto Rico, Bal Harbour and Deer Crest in North America, and in Buenos Aires, Costa Rica and Mexico City in Latin America. In Asia, St. Regis has announced plans to open properties in Bangkok, Jakarta, Lhasa, Kuala Lumpur, Macao, Osaka and Tianjin. In the Middle East, St. Regis will expand in Cairo, Doha, Dubai, and Bahrain. Personalized service and amenities, enviable locations and luxuriously localized design are recognized worldwide as hallmarks of the St. Regis experience. For more information on St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, please visit www.stregis.com.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 890 properties in more than 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood(R) Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, Aloft(SM), 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.

About IDEURBAN
Established in 1974, IDEURBAN is one of Mexico City’s leading urban development companies delivering a complete range of integrated real estate solutions and construction services. Supporting the needs of communities, governments, commerce and industry on a local, national, and international basis, the company has led projects in markets ranging from hospitality, residential, retail and commercial to highway infrastructure, mixed-use developments and urban planning. IDEURBAN is recognized for its skilled professional staff and its commitment to the highest quality and ethical standards. The company is currently involved in the development of the three largest private-sector construction projects in Mexico City, including The St. Regis Mexico City.

About Punta Mita
Punta Mita is an ultra-luxurious, 1,500-acre resort and residential community situated in the Riviera Nayarit, north of Puerto Vallarta. It lies on a private spear-shaped peninsula surrounded by white sand beaches, Pacific Ocean waters and lush tropical flora. Punta Mita is home to private villas and residences, two Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Courses and The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort. The master plan of Punta Mita includes several additional developments currently in the works. For more information, visit www.puntamita.com.mx.

Expedia, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPE), the world’s leading online travel company, and vacation ownership leader Diamond Resorts International(R) (DRI) today announced they have partnered in an innovative agreement covering marketing,
distribution and lead generation. Under the terms, Expedia will provide global distribution for DRI resort destination offers on Expedia- and hotels.com(R)- branded sites worldwide; generate leads and qualify travelers interested in DRI vacation ownership; and provide concierge services to guests at DRI resorts.

“This is a groundbreaking deal in how it harnesses the unmatched value of Expedia’s online and offline travel marketplace,” said Doug Miller, vice president of Expedia(R) Media Solutions Group. “It highlights Expedia’s
ability to deliver value to our partners not only as a distribution channel, but as a strategic marketing partner.”

This is one of the most sophisticated deals of its magnitude in online travel in terms of the integration of multiple Expedia business capabilities for a single partner. It covers online media, marketing and advertising;
distribution for DRI resort properties worldwide; in-destination concierge services and lead generation; Expedia’s private label technology to power travel bookings on DRI’s own websites; and corporate travel services by
Egencia, an Expedia, Inc. company.

“This venture brings a new level of marketing to the mainstream and propels the capabilities of both companies across multiple vertical markets. It is truly a unique endeavor and creates a paradigm shift for the vacation
ownership industry,” said Simon Crawford-Welch, Ph.D., R.R.P., president and chief operating officer at DRI.

“Expedia’s extraordinary online capabilities coupled with its offline presence in key tourist destination markets provide DRI with unparalleled reach to tap consumers with vacation ownership offers. Additionally, DRI’s
more than 380,000 existing owners, members and guests worldwide will have the opportunity to benefit from Expedia’s trusted travel services,” says James R. Danz, RRP, chief marketing officer at DRI. “We see this partnership as a
creative approach to leveraging Expedia’s strengths to reach our target customers while expanding our benefits platform within THE Club(SM) at Diamond Resorts International and adding to the quality level of hospitality services we provide to our owners, members and guests.”
Deal signals new opportunities for travel suppliers

The agreement goes beyond Expedia’s traditional role as an important distribution and marketing partner for travel suppliers globally, to tap the unique media value of the Expedia marketplace, whose monthly traffic volume is
unsurpassed in online travel. DRI will partner with Expedia Media Solutions Group in developing custom interactive media programs throughout Expedia sites to help generate leads and qualify travelers considering vacation ownership. Several other Expedia business units are also engaged under the deal.

– DRI will engage the Expedia Local Expert(TM) (ELE) team to operate concierge desks at DRI resorts, starting in Hawaii, Orlando and Las Vegas. ELE concierges will provide DRI guests with face-to-face personalized assistance in booking events, activities, tours, attractions and other services.  ELE concierge staff will also help DRI qualify guests interested in learning more about the benefits of vacation ownership.

– The global team of hotel relationship managers within Expedia(R) Partner Services Group will provide DRI property managers with strategic distribution and marketing expertise in reaching the millions of travelers
worldwide who visit Expedia to book travel every month.

– DRI has selected Expedia Travel Network’s World Wide Travel Exchange (WWTE(TM)) technology to power travel bookings on its own sites.

– DRI has selected Egencia(TM) (formerly Expedia(R) Corporate Travel) to provide full-service travel management including an industry leading self- booking platform and global customer service to DRI employees worldwide.

“We’re pleased to be working with DRI, especially given its strong presence in top leisure destinations throughout North America and Europe,” said Melissa Maher, vice president of hotel strategic accounts, Expedia. “The many facets of this deal showcase the breadth of ways Expedia helps our partners to achieve business success.”

Added Will Daugherty, vice president and general manager of Expedia Destination Services & Expedia Local Expert: “We are delighted to provide Expedia Local Expert concierge services at Diamond Resorts International(R)
destinations. We look forward to creating memorable experiences for DRI owners, members and guests.”
About Expedia, Inc.

Expedia, Inc. is the world’s leading online travel company, empowering business and leisure travelers with the tools and information they need to easily research, plan, book and experience travel. The Expedia, Inc. portfolio
of brands includes: Expedia.com, hotels.com, Hotwire, Egencia (formerly Expedia Corporate Travel), TripAdvisor, Expedia Local Expert, Classic Vacations and eLong. Expedia, Inc.’s companies operate more than 60 global points of sale in more than 40 countries, with sites in North America, South America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. In addition to being the most highly visited portfolio of travel sites in the world, Expedia offers travel suppliers and other partners myriad opportunities through the integrated efforts of its specialized business groups.
Egencia (formerly Expedia Corporate Travel) is the fifth largest travel management company in the world, which helps businesses get ahead by offering the only truly integrated corporate travel service. Egencia delivers a
complete corporate travel offering supported by global market expertise and a best-in-class technology platform.
Expedia Local Expert (ELE) offers face-to-face personalized recommendations and assistance in booking events, activities, tours, attractions and other services that travelers seek in their destinations. ELE helps travelers get the most out of each destination, which in turn helps hoteliers develop loyal guests and helps destination activities and services providers grow their businesses.
Expedia Media Solutions Group is responsible for helping travel and non-travel brand advertisers leverage the unique media value of the Expedia network, which has more than 60 million unique users worldwide each month,
consistently ranks in the Top 20 online media properties in the U.S., and has an audience with one of the highest Buying Power Index (BPI) scores on the Web.
Expedia Partner Services Group offers travel suppliers centralized access to Expedia’s global marketplace, with hundreds of employees in local markets throughout the world who work with Expedia partners to meet their global
distribution objectives.
Expedia Travel Network (ETN) extends the reach of Expedia’s global travel supply by powering the travel bookings of leading airlines and hotels, as well as some of the world’s best known brands, the most high traffic websites
through its World Wide Travel Exchange (WWTE) technology.
Diamond Resorts International(R), with global headquarters in Las Vegas, Nev., is one of the largest vacation ownership companies in the world with nearly 150 branded and affiliated resorts and nearly 23,000 guest beds in 17
countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Offering simplicity, choice and comfort to more than 380,000 owners and members through the branded hospitality service of more than 5,500 team members worldwide, Diamond Resorts International(R) is dedicated to providing its guests with effortless and relaxing vacation experiences every time, for a lifetime.
Expedia is either a registered trademark or trademark of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. hotels.com is either a trademark or registered trademark of hotels.com, L.P., a subsidiary of hotels.com in the
U.S. and/or other countries. Egencia is either a trademark or registered trademark of Egencia, LLC.  Other logos or product and company names mentioned herein may be the property of their respective owners.

(C)2008 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. CST: 2029030-40

SOURCE  Expedia, Inc.

Americas Best Value Inn (ABVI) in Las Vegas on target to realize energy savings of 260,000 KW hours per year, as the 7th smaller hotel to benefit from Telkonet’s in-room energy management solutions for the Sure Bet Program

Telkonet, Inc. (AMEX:TKO), the leading provider of innovative, centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, networking, building automation and proactive support services, has now installed a total of 7 hotels with the Telkonet in-room, occupancy-driven Telkonet SmartEnergy™ system, as a preferred supplier under the Nevada’s NV Energy Sure Bet Program. The 256-room Americas Best Value Inn Las Vegas is the latest property to be installed with Telkonet’s system, which controls guest room heating and cooling usage based on occupancy, with savings expected to net $26,000 in the first year alone.

NV Energy’s Sure Bet program, which started in 2007, is designed to help smaller hotels achieve significant energy savings through heavily discounted energy efficiency products and free installation in qualifying facilities. The program focuses on improving energy efficiency across four key areas – guest room HVAC control, in-room lighting, common area lighting and vending machine controls. Based on the properties installed to-date in this program, energy savings have been estimated between 15 to 30%, with paybacks typically achieved in less than six months. The program is contributing substantially to increasing profitability, lowering overhead costs, and making the participating hotels more sustainable as businesses. Telkonet was selected as an alternative supplier for non remote capable units in March 2008, and has already retrofitted more than 800 rooms with its intelligent in-room energy management systems.

Sure Bet’s Program Manager Mary Ann Sheehan regards Telkonet’s latest installation at Americas Best Value Inn (“ABVI”) Las Vegas as a great example of how the program can deliver tangible energy savings. “This property was a prime candidate for Telkonet’s energy management controllers, as they can easily control the wide range of smaller-sized PTACs throughout the property that are not receptive to remote control. The Telkonet SmartEnergy system is all about simplicity – with quick, effortless installation, minimal training, intuitive operation for guests, and simple maintenance after the installation. Telkonet makes it effortless to start saving energy, and Americas Best Value Inn Las Vegas is already on track to significantly reducing its guest room HVAC energy costs.”

For ABVI’s Craig Leitch, Vice President of Operations, participating in the Sure Bet program and installing the Telkonet SmartEnergy system represented a sound decision. “The business case was compelling, with estimated electric bill savings of around 15%, which decreases total operating expense and increases overall profit. We were confident in working with Telkonet, as our preferred vendor to Americas Best Value Inn family of over 800 hotels for its high-speed Internet access solutions, and believe that this first property will clearly serve to illustrate the benefits of installing Telkonet’s in-room energy management system to other ABVI properties.”

Telkonet’s involvement with the Sure Bet program represents one of a growing number of state and utility energy efficiency partnerships for the company, including Wisconsin’s Focus on Energy and Cool Control Plus. This activity forms a key component of Telkonet’s forward strategy, underlining the company’s commitment and success in delivering green energy solutions.

About Telkonet SmartEnergy
Telkonet SmartEnergy reduces the wasteful cooling and heating of unoccupied guest rooms using occupancy sensors, along with thermostats or PTAC controllers. With its patented Recovery Time™ technology, it maintains the most energy-efficient room temperature when vacant, and when occupied, returns to the guest’s preferred temperature within a select number of minutes, set by property management.

With the Networked Telkonet SmartEnergy (NTSE), occupancy sensors and thermostats are linked together to form a wireless network, enabling information to be communicated between rooms, floors and properties, and centralized for detailed reporting and analysis. NTSE uses wireless ZigBee mesh technology to create a highly robust and reliable network that can be easily retrofitted for a fast, seamless installation, without the need for expensive back-haul wiring.

About NV Energy
Headquartered in Nevada, Sierra Pacific Resources is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries are Nevada Power Company, now doing business as NV Energy, the electric utility for most of southern Nevada, and Sierra Pacific Power Company, now doing business as NV Energy, the electric utility for most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area of California. NV Energy also distributes natural gas in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada. For more details, visit the company’s website at NVEnergy.com.

About Telkonet
Telkonet is the leading provider of innovative, centrally managed solutions for integrated energy management, wired and wireless networking, building automation and proactive customer support services. The company’s unique broadband networking solutions support more than 2 million network users per month, with its energy management systems dynamically lowering HVAC costs in over 95,000 rooms.

Telkonet’s approach is designed to deliver complete system control and flexibility. Using the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, Telkonet’s products are all networked, enabling local and remote access via Telkonet’s web-based platform, Telkonet CENTRAL. This essential management tool enables both property management and Telkonet customer support staff to monitor and manage all of Telkonet’s systems proactively in real time, reducing costs and streamlining network support.

Telkonet’s technology innovation is underpinned by the highest level of end-to-end quality of service, with comprehensive technical customer support. Telkonet’s platforms are widely deployed on the global stage – in single buildings and ships, in multi-building complexes, hospitality venues, multi-dwelling units, and utilities. www.telkonet.com

Premier property is one of company’s largest WorldMark resorts

Wyndham Vacation Ownership expands its selection of resorts in Southern California with the opening of its newest flagship vacation ownership property, WorldMark Anaheim. Operating within the company’s WorldMark by Wyndham portfolio of world-class resorts, the 241-unit, 14-story property is one of WorldMark’s largest resorts and is the company’s second property in Anaheim. The company acquired the premier land for development of the property in 2005 and began construction the following year. WorldMark Anaheim marks the company’s 15th WorldMark by Wyndham resort in California.

“We have been eagerly anticipating the opening of WorldMark Anaheim as it demonstrates our continued efforts to add value and enhance the vacation ownership experience for our more than 250,000 WorldMark owners who can now enjoy yet another world-class resort,” said Franz Hanning, president and CEO, Wyndham Vacation Ownership. “WorldMark Anaheim in an ideal location for those looking to visit Southern California’s many appealing attractions and it provides a unique perspective of Disneyland® and the Anaheim area that can only be found at our resort which our owners are sure to enjoy for many years to come.”

This premier resort includes a mix of beautifully appointed studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units as well as two-, three- and four-bedroom luxurious Presidential units. Each spacious unit features an urban contemporary design and contains such comforts as a full kitchen; living and dining area; flat screen televisions; and in-unit washer and dryer. The grand Presidential units include upscale touches such as high-end, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops throughout.

The contemporary design of the property’s units is carried across the resort. Bold colors and shapes are utilized throughout to evoke a dynamic Southern California experience. In addition to the colorful finishes, the resort includes over-sized sculptural and lighting elements designed to subtly provide the feel of a theme park.  Artwork in the resort includes images of famous characters from the neighboring Disneyland property, appealing to all ages of visitors.

In addition to its bold design, WorldMark Anaheim provides owners with a number of amenities to enjoy during their visit. The resort features an expansive game room complete with pool tables, video games and air hockey tables as well as a large fitness center. Owners and their guests can soak up the California sun at the resort’s outdoor pool and hot tub, children’s pool and rooftop sundeck with additional hot tubs. As one of the tallest buildings in Anaheim, the 14-story tower’s rooftop deck boasts spectacular views of the surrounding area as well as Disneyland’s fireworks displays.

An urban destination in beautiful Orange County, Calif., Anaheim has a wide range of activities and attractions every family member can enjoy. Beyond the magic of the Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure® Parks, visitors to Orange County can experience the thrills at Knott’s Berry Farm®, watch the Anaheim Angels baseball team, shop at nearby Anaheim GardenWalk or travel a short distance to numerous beautiful beaches.

In recent years, Wyndham Vacation Ownership has greatly expanded its presence in California, adding a number of premier resorts to its portfolio. Wyndham Vacation Ownership has 19 resort properties combined in its WorldMark by Wyndham and Wyndham Vacation Resorts portfolios.  Throughout the state there are properties in sought-after destinations such as Oceanside, San Diego, Palm Springs, Big Bear, San Francisco and Windsor.

The Turnberry Resort Joins Starwood’s Luxury Collection Portfolio

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) announced today that the sale of the iconic 219-room Turnberry Resort, Ayrshire, Scotland, to Leisurecorp, the Dubai World company, for GBP 55 million (approximately USD$100 million), has been completed. Starwood has entered a 50-year management agreement to manage the hotel and after an extensive GBP 30 million (approximately USD$49 million) restoration, the property will become a member of its prestigious Luxury Collection portfolio.

“We are pleased to have completed this agreement with such a prominent and respected development and investment group such as Leisurecorp. We look forward to this deal being the first in a long term relationship with our new partners,” said Roeland Vos, President Europe, Middle East & Africa, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “Their vast experience in the sport, leisure and lifestyle investment market assures us that they will embrace the history and legacy of Turnberry and its internationally renowned Championship golf courses. We are also delighted that this iconic resort joins our distinguished Luxury Collection, a glittering ensemble of some of the world’s finest hotels and resorts. Turnberry’s beautiful setting, impeccable service and renovated style will combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience which fits perfectly with the Luxury Collection brand.”

“Turnberry is a significant addition to our property portfolio and we take seriously our responsibility of restoring the hotel and facilities to its former glory,” said Alan Rogers, Group-CEO, Leisurecorp. “At every stage, we will work with our own heritage consultant and with officers from South Ayrshire Council and Historic Scotland, to ensure that the work is carried out sensitively and sympathetically. When the eyes of the world fall upon Turnberry next summer at the 138th Open, we are determined that the venue will stand tall with pride, taking its rightful place as one of the top golf courses in the world.”

Leisurecorp, which has been operating in Dubai and across the world for several years identifying and acquiring sport, leisure and lifestyle related investments, plans a major renovation and restoration that will keep the history of this award-winning iconic hotel alive. The 101 year old hotel will close for refurbishment on 1 November 2008, to be restored to the vision of original architect James Miller, by renowned British interior designer Mary Fox Linton. The resort, which boasts two 18-hole Championship courses, including the world famous Ailsa Course, is scheduled to reopen in July 2009 as the venue for the 138th British Open Championship, the fourth time the resort will have hosted this world class golf event.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 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 Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), 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.

Please contact Starwood’s new, toll-free media hotline at (866) 4-STAR-PR (866-478-2777) for photography or additional information.

About Leisurecorp
Leisurecorp was established by Dubai World in July 2006, to identify, acquire and develop sport, leisure- and lifestyle-related investments in Dubai and across the world. Its portfolio includes Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai’s premier residential golf community; Pearl Valley Golf Estates, South Africa’s leading residential golf community, which will host the South African Open for the next two years; a major shareholding in Island Global Yachting, the premier owner, developer and manager of luxury marinas; a stake in Troon Golf, the world’s leading luxury-brand golf management, development and marketing company; a shareholding in GPS Industries, the provider of Wi-Fi enabled global positioning systems (GPS) for golf and residential communities; and a stake in Snowmass Colorado, a 2.8 million square foot re-development of one of North America’s premier ski resorts. In November 2007 Leisurecorp announced a wide-ranging partnership with The European Tour which will create The Dubai World Championship, the world’s richest golf tournament with a US$10,000,000 prize fund. To be held annually at Jumeirah Golf Estates, the tournament will be open to the players numbered 1- 60 on The Race to Dubai – formerly The European Tour Order of Merit – with players being given the opportunity to compete for an additional US$10,000,000 bonus fund. From 2009, Jumeirah Golf Estates will also become home to The European Tour’s International Headquarters. In October 2008, Leisurecorp acquired Turnberry in Scotland, the host venue for the 2009 Open Championship, from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide.

For more information please visit www.leisurecorp.com

New Club Adds Residences in Popular Beach and Ski Destinations

Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club, an equity destination club launched in September by the acclaimed travel services company, today announced that four additional luxury residences, collectively valued at nearly $12 million, will be made available to members in the coming months.

The four residences include two homes in Turks and Caicos, a new Hawaiian home in Mauna Lani, and one or more new residences in Snowmass, Colorado. A&K Residence Club President Jarvis J. Slade, Jr., explained the new club’s growth strategy.

“Acquiring new residences in these unprecedented economic times demonstrates A&K’s commitment to our members and the club’s long term future” said Slade. “When we acquired the former BelleHavens and Crescendo clubs earlier this year, Abercrombie & Kent immediately secured a solid foundation of exceptional properties in advance of the official launch of the A&K Residence Club. These new acquisitions strengthen the value of our club and provide attractive options that are not available from any other club.”

The four new residences enhance A&K Residence Club’s property choices in beach and ski destinations, adding to an already strong portfolio of multimillion dollar residences and additional membership benefits such as access to A&K trips around the world, and A&K’s legendary ‘insider access,’ one-of-a-kind experiences that only A&K can deliver.
Once the new residences are put into service later this year, the A&K Residence Club property portfolio will include 17 private residences and access to 12 of A&K’s renowned European villas. The typical property is worth more than $3 million, averages 4,000 square feet, has four bedrooms and at least four bathrooms. In addition, members can choose to stay at any of 12 European boutique luxury hotels, all centrally located to the cultural centers of Europe’s finest destinations.

“It is critical to our success that the luxury experience we provide to club members is equal to what A&K travelers have come to expect over the past 46 years,” said Slade. “Our residences will reflect that quality in everything from how one is greeted at the airport to the meticulously maintained properties to the ultra-fine amenities found inside. Everything must be perfect and consistent across all residences.”

The Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club sets high standards for comfort, convenience and attention to detail. A typical Club property may feature the following home standards:

– Swimming pool
– Pratesi linens
– Chadsworth & Haig custom robes (for adults and children)
– Schott Zwiesel glassware
– Dell computers
– VOIP phones
– Acqua di Parma bath amenities
– And much more, including an extensive list of items specifically for children including baby monitors, baby gates, cribs and accessories, and Wii and PlayStation gaming consoles

About Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club
Launched in September 2008, the A&K Residence Club is the largest equity club in the industry, providing ownership of the club to the members and offering financial transparency. Membership in the A&K Residence Club has many advantages including a broad range of vacation travel options across the globe. The club’s property portfolio, from private residences to European villas to urban-centered apartments to boutique hotel suites, is unparalleled. On-site Destination Hosts arrange one-of-a-kind, exclusive “insider access” excursions that give members authentic, indigenous experiences at each destination. Members can also exchange some of their membership nights towards Abercrombie & Kent travel, choosing from more than 350 annual vacation adventures such as Kenyan safaris, cruises on the Nile, treks to the South Pole and adventures to the Galapagos. Memberships are currently available. For more information, visit www.akresidenceclub.com.

This edition sees a catch up on two recent conventions, ATHOC held in Fiji and C.A.R.E. held in Colorado with reviews of each. The January 2009 edition will bring you reviews of the VOIC Convention in Orlando, OTE Forum in Madrid, CRDA in Canada and more…

Also in this edition we feature the new Four Seasons Residences resort in Bora Bora, introduce Dubai’s latest offering, Nassima Tower; Encanto Villas & Residence Club in Mexico and Dial An Exchange’s success in South Africa.

Plus we look at a new concierge system, hear about financing for fractional ownership, are reminded that customer experience is key and track the changes in shared ownership marketing to name a few.

EDITION HIGHLIGHTS Front Cover Sponsorship: Four Seasons Private Residences Convention Review: Australian Timeshare & Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC), Fiji Resort Review: Nassima Tower, Dubai Convention Review: C.A.R.E. Colorado Feature: Resort To Resort – A Unique Advantage For Developers Feature: Can You Say Huatulco (wah-TOOL-ko)? Supplier Review: Dial An Exchange South Africa Feature: Your Customer Counts Resort Review: Club Las Calas Refurbishment Success Developer Review: The Making Of Club Intrawest Feature: Financing For Fractionals Feature: It’s A Whole New Game Supplier Review: Edge 24 Interactive View Digital Page-Turn Edition Online Download PDF Version To Hard Drive

Collaborators Philippe Starck, Culinary Innovator Jose Andres and SBE Visionary Sam Nazarian Offer a New Paradigm in Luxury Hospitality

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and SBE today announced the debut of the 297 room Philippe Starck-designed SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, A Luxury Collection Hotel. Introducing dynamic new concepts for dining and guest services, SLS offers a truly evolved luxury hospitality experience for today’s global explorer. Created by some of the world’s most talented minds, SLS features exclusive designs and custom furnishings by Philippe Starck, a culinary program crafted by Spanish Chef Jose Andres, custom-curated retail by Moss and Pascal Humbert-designed uniforms. SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is operated under a management agreement with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., as part of The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, a glittering ensemble of more than 65 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 26 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world.

“We are proud to debut our latest global destination with the opening of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, A Luxury Collection Hotel in the highly desirable and dynamic heart of Los Angeles,” said Frits Van Paasschen, President and Chief Executive Officer, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “The hotel’s leading-edge design by Philippe Starck, unparalleled epicurean offerings by Chef Jose Andres and innovative retail concept by Moss, make it an ideal setting for our latest hotel within The Luxury Collection brand, offering global explorers a portal to one of the world’s most exciting cities.”

Design mastermind Philippe Starck has created the look and feel of SLS under a 15-year design exclusive with SBE for the U.S., Caribbean and Mexico. SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is the first truly luxury hotel that Starck has designed in North America, having single-handedly redefined every aspect of the hotel experience in the 1990s and spurred the ’boutique hotel’ movement. Featuring a unique dual guest lobby concept where one caters exclusively to hotel guests, while the other is a lively, multi-faceted public dining and retail environment called The Bazaar by Jose Andres, Starck’s ingenious innovations for SLS promise to surprise, soothe, excite and enchant, while representing an important evolution for the celebrated designer. Exclusively for SLS, Starck has also designed a collection of high-end furniture which is being manufactured by SLS partner, Cassina Contract, and is available for sale through the hotel. Collaborating with Starck on the design and creation of SLS is SBE Chief Creative Officer Theresa Fatino, who directs all aspects of SBE’s marketing, environmental, interior and graphic design, and orchestrates such vital brand touchstones as operating supplies, staff attire, ambient music, and retailing.

The SLS experience is further enhanced by SBE’s exclusive collaboration with renowned culinary innovator Jose Andres, who has created all food and beverage concepts for SLS. In the gifted hands of Chef Andres, SLS guests can enjoy revolutionary culinary experiences in the hotels’ restaurants, lobbies, bars, and pool deck, as well as in-room dining, banquets and meetings. Exclusively for hotel guests, Andres has reinvented the concept of hotel dining with the innovative Tres restaurant in the private guest-only lobby as well as offering lighter fare on the panoramic pool deck, Altitude. A particular signature of SLS, The Bazaar by Jose Andres is “hotel lobby reinvented as fete extraordinaire” with a heady array of pioneering culinary and lounge concepts created by Andres – everything from traditional tapas to vegetable-focused small plates to a Patisserie to cutting-edge cocktails to roving carts of edible delights.

The Bazaar also features a revolutionary and innovative “shop without walls” retail concept curated by Moss, a renowned New York City-based design purveyor and trailblazer. SLS guests will be immediately engaged in the “windowless” shopping experience in The Bazaar, where objets d’art reminiscent of items found in the grand hotels of Europe from the 18th and 19th century are displayed in a series of free-standing glass vitrines. Additionally, SBE partnered with French fashion designer Pascal Humbert to create a distinctive uniform collection for SLS hotel ambassadors. The SLS uniforms consist of 80 separate styles in neutral tones, with modernistic details and characteristics that establish and define each position within the hotel.

The property includes seven “Lifestyle Suites” which offer built-in Kinesis Personal fitness equipment by leading Italian manufacturer, Technogym — the first time ever this cutting-edge system has been available in a hotel. Specialized trainers provided by celebrated fitness guru Harley Pasternak are available on call to hotel guests looking to enhance their travel fitness regime. Technogym’s innovative high-end design, and Pasternak’s dedicated focus on human well-being create an ideal pairing with SLS’ commitment to guest wellness and innovation.

“The opening of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is incredibly exciting for me and all of us at SBE, for it represents the culmination of over four years of creation and planning, but is really only the first step in our expansion plans for the SLS brand,” said Sam Nazarian, CEO and Founder, SBE. Combined with SBE’s already successful development and operation of some of the country’s hottest restaurants and nightclubs, the addition of SLS represents an incredible and matchless synergy. SBE’s Katsuya, XIV, Foxtail, Hyde Lounge, S Bar, Area, and The Abbey have all become wildly popular destinations for Los Angeles’ A+ list, and additional U.S. locations for these brands are already in the works, including possible outposts at future SLS properties. SLS guests will thus be able to enjoy not only incredible hotels but also fantastic restaurants and nightclubs, and receive preferential access at each establishment.

For more information on SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, a Luxury Collection Hotel, visit www.luxurycollection.com/sls.

ABOUT THE LUXURY COLLECTION HOTELS & RESORTS
The Luxury Collection(R) is a selection of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world’s most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent decor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Today, The Luxury Collection is a glittering ensemble of more than 65 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts in more than 26 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning hotels that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class in some of the most desired destinations in the world. Most recently, Mystique, a Luxury Collection Resort, was honored with the 2008 Travel + Leisure Design Award for Best Small Resort in the world. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world’s finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com.

ABOUT STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 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 Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), 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.

ABOUT SBE
Founded in 2002, the Los Angeles-based SBE brings exquisite balance to the worlds of hospitality, real estate development and independent film production. As a privately held company founded and helmed by CEO Sam Nazarian, SBE acquires, develops and manages exceptional projects through its divisions – Hotels, Restaurant and Nightlife, Real Estate, Bolthouse Productions and Element Films. With a mission to redefine standards of excellence and innovation, SBE has harnessed the creativity and innovation of the best minds in the business, including design visionary Philippe Starck, with whom the company has an exclusive agreement for the creation of hotels, restaurants and lounges in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean and Mexico. SBE’s Restaurant and Nightlife division constantly stays ahead of the curve, creating and expanding trend-setting restaurant and nightlife concepts, which currently include Katsuya, Foxtail, The Abbey, Hyde Lounge, S Bar and Area. As the cornerstone of its synergistic approach, SBE has also completely rethought and re-imagined the luxury hotel experience. SBE will debut its first luxury hotel brand, SLS Hotels, with the Fall 2008 opening of SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills featuring a Starck design and an innovative culinary program by chef Jose Andres. Also in the SBE Hotel collection are Miami’s Ritz Plaza hotel, to debut in late 2009, and Las Vegas’ Sahara Hotel & Casino, which will undergo a complete redevelopment for completion in early 2011.

ABOUT PHILIPPE STARCK
Philippe Starck is widely recognized as the world’s leading designer of luxury restaurant, hotel and real estate properties and has established a global “cultural tribe” of devotees. Born in Paris, M. Starck has always sought to introduce love and happiness into our lives by designing objects and settings which illuminate one’s passage throughout the day. M. Starck developed his eclectic style at a young age and since as early as 1979, he has introduced fun and stylish designs into everyday products. While many of Starck’s masterful creations are exhibited at the world’s most prestigious museums, his primary goal has invariably been democratic design – to create smart and useful products that are also beautiful and cutting-edge. M. Starck’s hotels and restaurants punctuate a new imagery of the world: the Delano in Miami, Felix restaurant at The Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong, the Hudson in New York — and more recently the Faena hotel in Buenos Aires, Bon restaurant in Moscow, and Volar nightclub in Shanghai — have changed the hospitality experience forever. In 2005, he signed an exclusive agreement for North America with SBE Entertainment Group for the design of its restaurants and lounges, which expanded to SBE’s hotels in 2006. His first SBE projects, Katsuya restaurants in Brentwood and Hollywood, opened in 2006 and 2007, and in summer 2008, his designs will shape an entirely new paradigm of luxury hotels with SLS at Beverly Hills, the first in the new SLS Hotels brand created by SBE. M. Starck has received numerous accolades throughout his career such as Grand Prix for Design, the Oscar of the design world; Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Legion d’Honneur; Compasso d’ Oro and many others. Additional information on Philippe Starck can be found at www.philippe-starck.com.

ABOUT JOSE ANDRES
Widely credited with bringing the small plates (tapas) concept to the United States, Jose Andres is a native of Spain who descended upon the Washington, D.C. culinary landscape in 1993 at Jaleo. Andres went on to neighboring Cafe Atlantico and Zaytinya before launching his namesake six-seat “restaurant within a restaurant,” minibar by jose andres, at Cafe Atlantico in 2003. Since then, he has opened a third Jaleo and Oyamel, and launched THINKfoodTANK, an institution devoted to the research and development of ideas about food. Andres has received numerous accolades for his work, including Bon Appetit’s Chef of the Year award in 2004, Food & Wine’s “35 Under 35″ tastemakers list and Saveur’s 2004 “Saveur 100″ list. In 2003, Andres won the James Beard Foundation’s “Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic Region” award and in 2005, released his first cookbook, Tapas: A Taste of Spain in America, as well as his popular international cooking show “Vamos a Cocinar,” on Television Espanola. Andres will bring Spain to the American public television audience in early 2008 with Made in Spain, a 26-episode cooking series showcasing the best of Spanish food, wine, culture and travel. In 2007, he was inducted into “Who’s Who of Food & Beverage in America,” by the James Beard Foundation.

Driftwood WorldGate Resort, located in Kissimmee, FL is situated on 22 acres of land on the 192 corridor adjacent to Walt Disney World. The resort, owned and managed by Driftwood Hospitality  Management LLC, is a recent conversion of a 566 room Radisson Hotel that now accommodates 168, 2 & 3 bedroom timeshare units.

 Magna Timeshare Software was the chosen software for Driftwood WorldGate Resort. The primary goal of the software is to achieve better efficiency overall in their timeshare operations. Top executive, Christine Butler, says that Magna was her choice because it is easy to use, has a web based platform, can readily add users, and is equipped with superior reporting. “It is so easy a cave man can use it!!” was one comment she made about the software. While some Magna users only need parts of the system, Christine says that Driftwood will be using the complete system; which includes telemarketing, lead / referrals management, , tours, sales / contracts, sales / tour commissions, receivables, fundings, automated clearing house, collections maintenance fees & taxes and reservations.

When sold out Driftwood WorldGate Resort, a RCI Global Points Gold Crown Resort, expects to have 9,000 owners. Driftwood Hospitality Management owns extra acreage for possible expansion in the future. As the resort grows, Magna Software will easily expand for the number of users needed, providing essential operations information where and when it is needed.

About – Magna Timeshare Software:
 They say that a key to success is to surround your self with the right people, with Magna Timeshare software your timeshare operations will gain from the expertise and background of our specialist. During a major change over it is even more important to have knowledgeable, experienced people around you, we can help.

MAGNA Timeshare Software synchronizes all your resort activities, allowing each area (from telemarketing to tours to finance…) to work easily with each other—and gives you instant access to critical information for tight management. Easier management means you can be on top of situations, eliminating wasted effort and maximizing profits. We’re with you all the way, through installation, training & support. We offer a full range of services to make sure your transition over to MAGNA is smooth, without disrupting your current organization and operations.