The Luxury Exchange Program’s Members Now Have Access to More Resorts in Florida, North Africa and Greece

The Registry Collection® Exchange Program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program offered by Group RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), today announced relationships with three luxury affiliates which will become part of The Registry Collection exchange program’s growing network.

The new resorts include Jimmy Johnson’s Fisherman’s Cove in the Florida Keys, The International Riviera in North Africa and Halcyon Hills Spa Resort and Marina in Greece.

Halcyon Hills Spa Resort

“We are extremely excited to welcome these extraordinary properties to The Registry Collection program,” said Gregg Anderson, global managing director, The Registry Collection program. “Each resort boasts incredible features that epitomize the vacation experiences we offer our more than 30,000 members through this elite global network.”

Fisherman’s Cove in the Florida Keys epitomizes the best of the Keys’ outdoor and entertainment opportunities including celebrated sunsets, world-class sport fishing, outstanding diving, a thriving art community, lively nightlife and delightful waterfront dining. This private residence club lavishes a total of only 48 owners with luxury at every turn. Guests will enjoy on-site amenities including an outdoor swimming pool and cabanas; private dock and boats for personal use of owners; rooftop terrace with a jetted tub; wet bar and sunbathing area; state-of-the-art fitness center; waterfront dining and room service; and an exceptional staff to handle all needs and requests.

The International Riviera in Tunisia, North Africa, is set to be completed in 2011 and will include 50 luxury waterfront villas. The concept for The International Riviera was created to be a fusion of European elegance and the 21st century pioneering spirit of Dubai. The five-star residential resort development will have at its heart a Las Vegas-style casino complex and a range of other upscale amenities, including golf, spa, marinas and retail.

Halcyon Hills Spa Resort and Marina on the Greek island of Samos will boast an array of luxury facilities including a 1,200 square-meter spa, a 35-berth private marina, two beaches, tennis courts and more when completed. The ethos of the resort combines luxury with the traditional Greek charm of Samos.

About The Registry Collection
The Registry Collection program is a global network comprising over 30,000 members and more than 130 affiliates on five continents. More than 160 properties are available through the program and are either accessible for exchange or under development. As the world’s largest luxury exchange program, The Registry Collection program provides members with access to an elite global network of the very finest vacation properties at some of the world’s premier destinations, as well as personal concierge services that are available 24 hours a day. From condo hotels and high-end fractional resorts to private residence clubs and fractional yachts, The Registry Collection program facilitates exchanges around the world and redefines the vacation experience for owners and developers. The Registry Collection program is offered by Group RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies. (NYSE: WYN) For additional information, visit the media center at www.grouprci.com.

For additional information on the services offered to developers and members by The Registry Collection program and how it can add potential value to leisure real estate projects, visit www.theregistrycollection.com.

Nearly 20% of magazine subscribers have expressed an interest in owning fractional ownership after reading about it in Owners Perspective Magazine.

Owners Perspective Magazine (http://www.ownersperspective.com), the independent consumer publication specialising in leisure property ownership and luxury travel have released their latest readership statistics which show an increase in popularity for fractional property ownership.

The publication is quite unique in that it distributes via first class airport lounges around the world, hotels, resorts and supermarkets each month reaching different audiences every time and then converts a percentage of these readers into registered subscribers for either of their online or print versions – currently reaching nearly 50,000 prospective buyers per month with a core subscription base of just over 20,000.

From the registered subscribers, Owners Perspective Magazine has divulged that it has seen a rise in interest for the lesser known fractional ownership product as a result of increased exposure in the magazine in recent months, and that 19% of its readership that are looking to buy a shared ownership product have now expressed an interest in purchasing fractional ownership sometime in the future, compared to just 1% who were interested in buying outright overseas property.

SURVEY RESULTS
Interested in Buying Timeshare – 66%
Interested in Buying Fractional Ownership – 19%
Interested in Buying Luxury Vacation Products – 9%
Interested in Buying Cruise Products – 5%
Interested in Buying Overseas Property – 1%

 Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Perspective International says “The increase of nearly 11% over just a few months amongst our subscribers proves that it is only consumer education on the product that is lacking from the fractional ownership industry. Most new subscribers have never heard of fractionals, but after reading about our featured resorts and advertisers in the magazine and online at their leisure they appear to be choosing this product as a preference over traditional whole ownership / real estate, hence the significant drop in that area to just 1%.”

Through their publication, Owners Perspective Magazine is successfully and organically producing highly qualified, affluent sales enquiries direct to developer for several fractional ownership companies around the world.

For more information on advertising and editorial opportunities visit http://www.perspectiverates.com

The Wyndham Championship has for the third year in a row, named Victory Junction Camp the official charity of the tournament.

“Just as Wyndham Worldwide is focused on accommodating the needs of our guests, we are also committed to supporting the communities we serve,” said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and CEO of Wyndham Worldwide. “Our relationship with Victory Junction Camp has been a tremendously rewarding experience for all of us at Wyndham Worldwide. We are proud to once again make Victory Junction the official charity of the Wyndham Championship.”

Victory Junction Camp, a year–round camping facility, enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions and serious illnesses, such as cancer, arthritis, hemophilia, diabetes and physical disabilities by providing life–changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering in a safe and medically sound environment. The Camp was opened in 2004 by Pattie and Kyle Petty in honor of their son Adam.

“It is such a privilege to receive another donation from the Wyndham Championship because it not only helps us expand our programs but it also highlights our services to a national audience,” said Pattie Petty, chairman and co–founder of Victory Junction. “The support from the tournament, our local community and Wyndham Worldwide ensures we continue serving as many children as possible during these tough economic times.”

The 2009 Wyndham Championship begins tomorrow at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. Additional tournament information is available at www.wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office at (336) 379–1570.

About Wyndham Worldwide
As one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) offers individual consumers and business–to–business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world–renowned brands. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses over 7,000 franchised hotels and approximately 590,200 hotel rooms worldwide. Group RCI offers its 3.8 million members access to more than 73,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of over 150 vacation ownership resorts serving over 830,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs approximately 25,500 employees globally.

For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit the Company’s web site at www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

Seasons Holidays, one of the UK’s leading holiday ownership developers, has appointed digital marketing agency Koko Digital to create its first viral game.

The game is based on the ‘Space Invaders’ concept with a holiday twist.  Players take control of a holiday maker and the main aim of the game is to keep the sun loungers clear.
Players can choose from a male or female character to control and can customize their sun beds. Using a water hose, players must soak the oncoming people with water and blast them back into the pool to stop them taking over the sun loungers. At the end of each game scores can be entered on to a leader board the top ten highest scores are shown.

The game invites users to enter a competition to win 2 weeks luxury accommodation every year for life!
Leslie McCann, Group Marketing Director for Seasons Holidays says; “Online brand awareness is extremely important for Seasons Holidays, Koko Digital has created some excellent viral campaigns for multinational organisations; Sunbed Invaders is an engaging and creative game and we are confident this will generate a strong viral response.”

Karl Bloor, Director for Koko Digital says; “Creating such an enjoyable and addictive viral game for Seasons Holidays has been a fantastic project for Koko Digital.  We are positive this campaign will generate a huge viral response and increase Seasons Holidays online brand awareness.”
To play the game please visit www.sunbedinvaders.com

Largest Canadian-owned vacation ownership developer joins worldwide network of affiliated resorts

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), today announced an affiliation agreement with Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd., the largest Canadian-owned developer and marketer of interval vacation ownership condominiums.

“With beautiful, top quality resorts in highly sought after destinations, Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd. is a wonderful addition to our RCI network,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Group RCI. “We couldn’t be more pleased to add this leading developer and their unique properties to RCI’s collection of top vacation destinations. This affiliation is also a testament to RCI’s ongoing efforts to offer great vacations to our more than 3.8 million members.”

As part of this relationship, Sunchaser Vacation Club at Fairway Cottages on Oahu, Hawaii, and Fairmont Vacation Villas in Fairmont Hot Springs, British Columbia, join RCI’s network of more than 4,000 affiliated resorts worldwide.

“RCI invented the exchange business 35 years ago and has been the innovator and leader ever since,” said Murray Moore, CRO, Fairmont Resort Properties Ltd. “Their diverse selection of luxury resorts the world over deliver the highest quality vacations to their members. Being associated with RCI was important to Sunchaser Vacation Club at Fairway Cottages and Fairmont Vacation Villas. Furthermore, RCI offers exciting technology and marketing advantages for us as well as the largest possible selection of vacation resorts for our timeshare owners. We are very pleased to be working with them.”

Sunchaser Vacation Club at Fairway Cottages, located at the Makaha Resort & Golf Club, offers members an ideal Hawaiian vacation setting in the cliffs of the Waianae Mountains and Oahu’s pristine western shore. The resort offers Polynesian-style villa accommodations, an ocean view restaurant and lounge, and a host of on-site amenities for guests including a swimming pool, tennis courts and spa services.

Fairmont Vacation Villas is located in the beautiful Columbia Valley and offers guests the opportunity to stay in fully-furnished villas surrounded by nature and wildlife. The resort offers villas equipped with jetted tubs and decks with barbeques, while the area lends itself to many activities including hiking and biking trails, whitewater rafting, boating and horseback riding.

For additional information on the value-added services offered to leisure real estate developers by Group RCI visit www.grouprci.com.

About Group RCI:
Group RCI, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, (NYSE: WYN) is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 73,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. The company is comprised of vacation exchange, including RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection® program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation RentalsSM , Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure Real Estate Solutions, an international leader in providing a full spectrum of advisory, research, and asset management services. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange. For additional information visit www.grouprci.com or the media center of www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa in Victoria BC, a completely sustainable resort hotel leading Canada in innovative green resort hotel development and design by targeting LEED® Platinum Certification, has affiliated with Wyndham Worldwide to afford owners with exceptional members-only luxury leisure travel resources and services. Owners at Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa have access to the Registry Collection’s Signature Selections, a high-end luxury fractional vacation home exchange network with 158 affiliate luxury resorts and residences worldwide as well as exclusive member benefits at the most desirable resort destinations in the world. Parkside is Aviawest Resorts’ newest addition to its portfolio of resort properties.

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa (www.parksidevictoria.com) has affiliated with The Registry Collection, a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family.

The Registry Collection is a high-end luxury fractional vacation home exchange network with 158 affiliate luxury resorts and residences worldwide.

Owners at Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa have access to the Registry Collection’s Signature Selections and exclusive member benefits including a vast array of exciting activities, custom travel packages and other premium services at the most desirable resort destinations in the world.

“We are very excited to be able to offer our Parkside purchasers access to the Registry Collection. High quality regional resorts and properties abroad are truly exceptional. Our owners are able to trade their Parkside vacation home for 3 and 4 bedroom single family homes and Private Residence Clubs and get the benefit of access to brands such as Hyatt, Disney and Cirque Du Soleil,” says Aviawest Resorts CEO Jim Pearson about the affiliation.

One of the most valuable benefits to members is the Registry Collection Concierge, which provides 24/7 services and assistance with everything from theatre tickets and dinner reservations to car rentals and cruise bookings.

Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa is Aviawest Resorts’ (www.aviawest.com) newest addition to its portfolio of resort properties. With exquisite interiors, sustainable environmentally-friendly design and a robust amenities package, Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa offers affordable, flexible second home ownership in the heart of downtown Victoria, BC, Canada.

As a completely sustainable resort hotel, Parkside Victoria Resort & Spa is leading Canada in innovative green resort hotel development and design by targeting LEED® Platinum Certification, the highest rating.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is reaching out to corporate executives, meeting planners, and conference attendees in an effort to encourage the scheduling of meetings from educational seminars, incentive trips, customer appreciation events to annual retreats. With a message that “It’s Not Extravagant, If It Produces Results”, the award-winning hotel company is highlighting the added value proposition of selecting a Ritz-Carlton hotel or resort, even during the current challenging economic environment.

“Meetings Within Reach” includes the following value-added components for groups booking ten or more nights at Ritz-Carlton hotels all over the world:

• Daily continental breakfast
• General session meeting room
• High speed internet access in one meeting room
• 20 per cent savings on audio visual needs
• Select suite upgrades
• Meetings must be booked by September 30 and held by December 31, 2009

Offering an attractive range of rates (starting from $159 to $229 subject to availability and certain restrictions), as well as outstanding service and surroundings, which make choosing The Ritz-Carlton a sound business decision, the company is targeting the third and fourth quarters of 2009 to encourage new meetings, as well as the rebooking of events cancelled in the wake of the recession.

“As companies look ahead, we are encouraging organizations to realize the value of a truly results-oriented meeting,” said Bruce Himelstein, corporate senior vice president, sales and marketing. “The Ritz-Carlton uniquely creates environments that maximize productivity and efficiency of meetings, and pride in your employees; our efficiency and excellence in planning and execution are second to none,” Himelstein explained.
To book your meeting, please visit The Ritz-Carlton website at: www.ritzcarlton.com/meetings.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 72 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe with future openings including Dubai International Financial Centre, United Arab Emirates; Dove Mountain, Tucson, Arizona; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Lake Tahoe, California. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company web site at www.ritzcarlton.com.

Residential Interests Now Available at Ireland’s Most Exclusive Private Golf Club

Timbers Resorts, the leading developer of intimate luxury resort properties, announced today its partnership with Kiawah Development Partners (KDP), master developer of Kiawah Island and other premier golf course communities, to launch and oversee the new private residence club at Doonbeg in County Clare, Ireland called The Links Cottages at Doonbeg. The Links Cottages will allow residential interest ownership in one of Europe’s most desired golf and lodging destinations, with a setting featuring five-star services and amenities.

“The partnership between KDP and Timbers Resorts allows two of the most successful luxury lifestyle brands to extend their offerings to a new and larger audience both here and in Europe,” says Charles P. “Buddy” Darby, III, CEO of Kiawah Development Partners. “With The Links Cottages now a Timbers Resorts Residence Club, Owners may enjoy residential interest ownership on Ireland’s stunning southwest coast which also allows membership in the prestigious Doonbeg Golf Club plus access to the idyllic locations that the Timbers Collection offers.”

Easily accessible from Shannon airport, Doonbeg is set along one and a half miles of crescent-shaped beach and may be the last true links course built in Ireland and Great Britain. Designed by two-time British Open champion Greg Norman, the course was named Golf Digest’s “Best New International Course” in its opening year. The Links Cottages at Doonbeg are located near the Lodge, which gives Owners access to all of the resort amenities including dining venues from renowned chef and lead judge of Bravo’s “Top Chef” Tom Colicchio, the culinary force behind New York City’s Gramercy Tavern and Craft, an acclaimed spa designed by award-winning Clodagh and an extensive golf program. Membership in the private golf club with purchase, assures full access to the course and members club areas.

“Timbers Resorts is delighted to partner with KDP at Doonbeg and at several other planned locations in the future,” said David A. Burden, CEO & Founder of Timbers Resorts. “We admire the casual sophistication and quality nature of their resorts, as well as their attention to detail in the key areas of comfort and enjoyment that their impeccable operations teams deliver. Timbers Resorts strives to deliver the best experience anyone could envision at each of our locations and with KDP at Doonbeg, this will be surely the case.”

Spanning an average of almost 3,000 square feet, each of the eight Cottages offers four bedrooms and an expansive living space with décor representing a simple yet elegant country style. Each cottage boasts kitchens custom-designed by SieMatic, large living and dining areas, bedrooms each with a private bath that encompass large marble slab showers, stone vanities, and heated towel racks. Owners will enjoy waxed limestone slab and wide-plank old oak floors, timber casement windows, two gas-burning fireplaces, carpets in natural fabrics and reclaimed wooden beams throughout. All Cottages are designed for the ultimate in comfort, convenience, and luxury with stunning views of the fairways and lush Irish countryside from all four bedrooms. The launch price per deeded interest is €165,000.

Over the past 10 years, Timbers Resorts has created an incomparable host of benefits and privileges for Owners to ease and enhance the vacation experience. Owners will become Members in the Timbers Collection and have access to the Timbers Reciprocity Program (TRP) that allows them to trade their vacation weeks and stay at any of the other Timbers Collection properties in the world’s most sought-after ski, golf, beach and countryside destinations. In addition to TRP, Doonbeg Owners will also receive access and services from Sentient Jet, Hertz Car Rental, MedjetAssist, Luggage Forward and more, as well as, savings at hospitality affiliates.

Doonbeg’s coveted location on Ireland’s famed southwest coast makes it an ideal destination for surfing, sailing, hiking, cycling, picnicking, antiquing, fishing, horseback riding, dolphin watching and more. The ancient village of Doonbeg is a short drive up the road, offering an assortment of restaurants and old pubs for vacationers to enjoy.

View The Links Cottages online at www.CottagesAtDoonbeg.com or call toll-free in the U.S. at 888-366-6604 or in Ireland at +353-65-9055666.

About Timbers Resorts
Since 1999, Timbers Resorts, the developer of small, private, luxury resort properties including private residence clubs, boutique hotels, and club communities has established an unrivaled reputation in the real estate industry. Its exclusive collection of intimate prestigious developments unlike any other, reside in the most sought-after destinations in the world.

Current Timbers Resorts properties include The Timbers Club in Snowmass, Colorado; Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; The Rocks Luxury Residence Club in Scottsdale, Arizona; Castello di Casole in Tuscany, Italy; The Preserve at Botany Bay on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands; One Steamboat Place in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; The Orchard at The Carneros Inn in Napa, CA; and The Villas at Rancho Valencia in Rancho Santa Fe, CA.

With these properties, Timbers Resorts has taken the concept of real estate to a new level of luxury, exclusivity and personal service by creating the Timbers Collection which provides reciprocity between resorts through the Timbers Reciprocity Program, as well as, a host of partnerships with purveyors of travel and the art of living well such as Sentient Jets, Backroads, Hertz, Priority Pass and more. For more information, please visit www.TimbersResorts.com.

About Kiawah Development Partners
Kiawah Development Partners (KDP) is the master developer of Doonbeg Golf Club, as well as Kiawah Island, a 10,000-acre sea island located 21 miles south of Charleston, South Carolina. The company’s other subsidiaries include Kiawah Island Real Estate, The Kiawah Island Club, which encompasses the Tom Fazio-designed River Course, the Tom Watson-designed Cassique, The Beach Club by Robert A.M. Stern and Sasanqua, the Members-only spa; Freshfields Village; and Christophe Harbour in St. Kitts. Additional information may be found online at www.Kiawah.com.

Tara Cappadona has been named to the newly created position of Resource Manager for Spirit Incentives, one of the nation’s premier incentive companies.

A Spirit Incentives employee for nearly two years, Cappadona works directly with vendor partners and Spirit’s internal fulfillment department to ensure that all product certificates are properly serviced. This involves establishing and building vendor partner relationships and negotiating contracts with various cruise lines, hotel wholesalers, airlines and car rental companies. She also coordinates the input of vendor information into the company’s extensive database and assists in preparing materials for agent training.

According to Taylor Billington, Executive VP for Spirit Incentives, “With her extensive background, Tara is the ideal person to serve as liaison between our company and our travel partners. Her skills as a negotiator, marketing analyst and long-term strategic planner have been highly beneficial to our corporation. We are delighted have her in this key position.”

“Since I have been with Spirit Incentives, I have met some truly amazing people,” added Cappadona, “My goal is to help provide the optimal experience for our customers.”  Prior to joining Spirit Incentives in January 2008, the Northeastern University graduate gained nine years of experience working in product development as well as providing strategic planning guidance to various travel industries, including cruise lines and hotels.

Spirit Incentives is a full service, privately owned incentive marketing firm specializing in marketing programs delivered as customer acquisition, retention and reward incentives. Founded in 1990 and located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spirit has become respected as the premier incentive solution provider for small to medium sized businesses as well as private and Fortune 500 companies. Spirit’s client list and travel vendor partners are among the most successful and prestigious in the country.
Visit: www.Spirit-Incentives.com

World’s largest vacation exchange company grows its Club Mahindra affiliated resorts to a total of 15 across India’s most sought after destinations

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), today announced four new affiliations with resorts belonging to leisure hospitality major Club Mahindra.

The new resorts include Club Mahindra Lake Forest in Yercaud, Club Mahindra Tusker Trails in Thekkady, Club Mahindra Backwater Retreat in Ashtamudi Lake and Club Mahindra Dancing Waters in Naukuchiatal.

“RCI is very proud to continue to grow our long-standing relationship and partnership with Club Mahindra as we welcome these extraordinary new resorts into our global exchange program,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Group RCI. “Each of these resorts exemplifies the wide range of vacation experiences our more than 3.8 million subscribing members can enjoy in over 4,000 locations across the globe.”

“We are thrilled to announce these four new affiliations into the RCI network and are glad that our members will enjoy the RCI advantage that allows for greater vacation flexibility and an opportunity to explore new destinations with every holiday,” said Ramesh Ramanathan, managing director, Mahindra Holidays & Resorts India Ltd.

Club Mahindra Lake Forest is located in Yercaud in the hills above Salem at an altitude of 1,600 meters. The resort, which is a short walk from Lake Forest at the town’s center, was originally a British bungalow dating back to the 1800s. The architectural style of the resort integrates a classic vintage ambience with modern luxuries. Situated in the midst of a coffee estate, Yercaud is just 200 kilometers from Bangalore and 340 kilometers from Chennai, with a network of highways connecting these cities to Salem.

Club Mahindra Lake Forest

Club Mahindra Tusker Trails is located in Thekkady, in Kerala, and offers the ultimate getaway for travelers looking for a tranquil holiday. Situated amidst spice plantations and lush woods, the resort offers guests opportunities for scenic hikes and mountain walks. Built in traditional Indian ‘machan’ style, the resort boasts 32 rooms that exude a warm and rustic charm. All rooms have private balconies overlooking hills, foliage or landscaped gardens. The resort’s many offerings include, a multi-cuisine restaurant that serves local delicacies, an ayurveda center, and an array of indoor and outdoor activities such as bamboo rafting, plantation tours, jungle treks and elephant rides.

Club Mahindra Tusker Trails

Club Mahindra Backwater Retreat is located on the quiet and peaceful banks of  Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala. Historic Kollam is the gateway to Ashtamudi, and is just 15 kilometers from the resort by road or 10 minutes by speedboat. The resort has 25 rooms spread across five chalets, with each room overlooking a view of the garden and lake.  Guests can opt for a massage at Svaastha spa, a boat trip, bird watching, kayaking or fishing. Located less than two hours by road to Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Alappuzha, guests looking for adventure can travel to Alappuzha on the backwaters by boat.

Club Mahindra Backwater Retreat

Club Mahindra Dancing Waters is located in Naukuchiatal, just 25 kilometers from the town of Nainital, in the Himalayan mountains. Naukuchiatal, known as the “lake of nine corners,” is situated in a valley surrounded by tranquil orchards and dense jungles. Club Mahindra Dancing Waters offers 31 rooms that blend into the surroundings, each offering scenic views of either the lake or the hills.

For additional information on the value-added services offered to leisure real estate developers by Group RCI visit www.grouprci.com.

About Group RCI:
Group RCI, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, (NYSE: WYN) is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 73,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. The company is comprised of vacation exchange, including RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection® program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation RentalsSM , Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure Real Estate Solutions, an international leader in providing a full spectrum of advisory, research, and asset management services. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange. For additional information visit www.grouprci.com or the media center of www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

Industry Veterans Collaborate on First Project in Thailand

Bustling with affluent leisure and business travelers, Asia has become an exemplary model for the hospitality industry, with many successful luxury hotels and lifestyle brands. Realizing the potential of this market and other areas around the globe, LaTour Signature Group, a joint-venture enterprise with ResortCom Elite that provides management services to small, luxury fractional ownership properties, and IndoChine Group, an international lifestyle brand, have teamed up to create the LaTour IndoChine Hotel Group. The newly formed hotel management company is also announcing its first project, the IndoChine Resort and Villas, in Phuket, Thailand.

Based in Singapore, the LaTour IndoChine Hotel Group will provide comprehensive specialized services to developers entering the realm of boutique hotels and six-star hotels, as well as whole and fractional ownership villas. The group plans to expand further into Asia, in addition to the Middle East, New Zealand and Australia.

“By combining the strengths of the LaTour Signature Group and the IndoChine Group, we are able to further assist developers and manage properties with global influence,” said Tom LaTour, founder of LaTour Signature Group. “For example, the IndoChine Resort and Villas represent an ideal opportunity to create a premier hybrid luxury resort for the region and Middle East overall.”

The first property in the LaTour IndoChine Hotel Group’s portfolio, the IndoChine Resort and Villas in Phuket, Thailand promises to be a haven of contemporary Asian living for refreshing and rejuvenating the body and mind. Overlooking Kalim Beach and the Andaman Sea, the resort consists of one- to six-bedroom villas, ocean view studios and a large entertainment complex featuring restaurants, deli, bakery, rooftop beach bar and nightclub.  The property will include elevated terraces, a stunning waterfall, two natural pools and five spacious spa treatment rooms, along with full-time butler service and high speed wireless Internet throughout all accommodations.

“The IndoChine Resort and Villas is the first of many LaTour IndoChine properties to come,” said Michael Ma, chief executive of the IndoChine Group. “And by providing all the necessary services and expert advice luxury resorts and hotels need, the LaTour IndoChine Hotel Group will help them successfully launch into the Asian market.”

About LaTour Signature Group
Launched by Tom LaTour in 2007, LaTour Signature Group delivers an exceptional five-star vacation resort “lifestyle” experience to select developers and owners of new and existing properties by managing all of the operational aspects of fractional interest resorts, boutique hotels and condominium resorts.

By delivering management services that are unprecedented in the industry, LaTour Signature Group is committed to becoming the ultimate brand for private residence clubs and luxury fractional properties through superior service, distinctive amenities, chef-driven restaurants and culinary activities and superior attention to detail.

LaTour Signature Group will manage all resort operations – including the training and supervising of staff, reservation coordination and concierge services as well as sales and marketing of fractional rentals.  When brought in on the ground floor, LaTour Signature Group can effectively lend its expertise and direction to the resort’s conceptual design and operational functionality and provide referrals and recommendations for other key partner alliances, such as real estate sales and marketing.

The LaTour Signature Group offers two product lines to the rapidly growing fractional market. The first is the private label brand of LaTour Signature for private residence club properties with a five Diamond or Star rating. The other is the ResortCom Elite line, which operates under the luxury division of San Diego-based ResortCom International, for properties that meet four Diamond or Star status.

For more information about LaTour Signature Group, visit http://www.latoursignaturegroup.com, or call 415-568-2210.

About ResortCom Elite
Based in San Diego, ResortCom Elite is the luxury division of its parent company, ResortCom International, and provides financial services, concierge and owner services and resort operations to private residence clubs, luxury fractional ownership properties and condo hotels. Under the direction of Chairman John Small and President Jeff Healy, ResortCom International’s 200 employees in offices in California and Florida and 800 employees worldwide at its resorts, provide exceptional services to over 50 clients worldwide and more than 200,000 satisfied owners at resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico and the U.S. (including Hawaii).

About the IndoChine Group Pte Ltd
The IndoChine Group of bars, restaurants, clubs, villas and resorts is a unique reflection of contemporary Asian lifestyle and is synonymous for its authentic ‘nutriceutical’ cuisine, award-winning designs, prominent events and internationally famed parties. Apart from the 15 venues in Singapore, the IndoChine Group also has venues in Kalim Beach, Phuket; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Hamburg, Germany; New Delhi, India, and most recently, at the fX X’nter in Jakarta, Indonesia, bringing it to a total of 26 internationally.

Extremely popular with the jet-set crowd, local and international guests are offered more than just a bevy of restaurants, bars, clubs, hotels and resorts; they are presented with an adventurous yet sophisticated and holistic entertainment experience not found anywhere else. The group is also fast growing into an international lifestyle group, with an expansion into the Asia-Pacific region as well as into the Middle East and Europe.

For more information, please visit http://www.IndoChine-Group.com.

14 Destination Hotels & Resorts properties now supported by EthoStream, with the latest two premier properties including the new Southern California world-class resort and spa, Terranea

EthoStream, LLC, a Telkonet company (NYSE Amex: TKO), operator of one of the largest hospitality high-speed Internet access (HSIA) networks in the U.S. and a preferred or endorsed provider for some of the world’s largest hotel companies, announced today that it has received contracts from Destination Hotels & Resorts, consistently ranked one of the top ten largest independent hospitality management companies in the U.S. EthoStream is providing a single-solution converged IP network for the world-class Terranea Resort on California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula, which opened on June 12, 2009. The project involves integrating wireless and wired high-speed Internet access (HSIA) with back-office connectivity and remote customer support. At the Resort at Squaw Creek near Lake Tahoe, California, EthoStream is installing wireless networking throughout the luxury resort, as well as providing 24/7 guest support services.

Jeff Henschel, Vice President of Technology – Hotels for Destination Hotels & Resorts, commented, “For our new flagship Terranea Resort, we wanted to consolidate a diversity of network applications over a single managed IP network, while still meeting our stringent budget requirements. EthoStream was able to deliver on all fronts. Its core network delivers consistent connectivity – across guest Internet access, mini-bar communications, guest TV systems, and our Property Management System. This converged network achieves far greater efficiency, as well as giving us a secure, extendible platform for our business-critical applications, and streamlining our operations.”

With EthoStream’s web-based management interface, Destination Hotels & Resorts is now able to manage 14 of their properties remotely from a single location, involving a total of over 4,000 guestrooms. Remote management facilities include the ability to compare HSIA usage among properties, as well as monitor Internet connectivity and guest support activity. EthoStream will be providing 24/7 support to both properties, taking over guest support from the internal IT staff at the Vail Cascade Resort and displacing the current vendor at the Resort at Squaw Creek. EthoStream’s in-house support center has a real-time view of guests’ HSIA usage via EthoStream’s web-based platform, enabling quick, proactive problem resolution.

About Destination Hotels & Resorts
Destination Hotels & Resorts is one of the largest independent hospitality management companies in the country with more than 30 luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and conference centers. To protect and preserve the unique communities in which the company operates, Destination launched Destination Earth, an environmental sustainability program in 2008. In June of 2009, Destination opened the 582-room Terranea Resort situated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern California. The 102-acre ocean front resort features a 25,000-square-foot destination spa, three swimming pools, three ocean-view restaurants and a Todd Eckenrode-designed par three golf course. In addition to Terranea Resort in the greater Los Angeles area, Destination operates properties in key metropolitan areas and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Palm Springs, Houston and Lake Tahoe. Destination is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe Enterprises. For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.

About EthoStream
EthoStream, LLC is a technology solution provider targeting the hospitality and MDU/MTU verticals. Operating one of the largest hospitality high-speed Internet access (HSIA) networks in the U.S., EthoStream, a preferred or endorsed provider for some of the world’s largest hotel franchisors, has developed the most comprehensive technology management platform available for the hospitality industry.
EthoStream has distanced itself from other providers in the hospitality HSIA field through the size of its EthoStream Hospitality Network, high quality of technology and support provided to network members, security of the network and overall guest satisfaction. Beyond claims made by competitors, as the premier hospitality HSIA provider, EthoStream has continued to lead the industry through end-to-end service and its high quality standards. www.ethostream.com

About Telkonet
Telkonet provides integrated, centrally-managed energy management and SmartGrid networking solutions that improve energy efficiency and reduce the demand for new energy generation. The Company’s energy management systems, aimed at the hospitality, commercial, government, healthcare and education markets, are dynamically lowering HVAC costs in over 140,000 rooms, and are an integral part of various utilities’ green energy efficiency and rebate programs.
Primarily targeting SmartGrid and utility applications, Telkonet’s patented powerline communications (PLC) platform delivers cost-effective, robust networking, with real-time online monitoring and maintenance capabilities, increasing the reliability and energy efficiency across the entire utility grid. www.telkonet.com.

After fifteen years of project and municipal refinement, the mountain themed Mahalee Lodge and city center redevelopment project reached approval of the tentative map with the city of Markleeville, Tom Abdoo, project lead, announced today.

The project is situated on 38 acres of prime real estate in Markleeville; nestled amongst the natural mountain beauty of Alpine County, CA — the least dense county, by population, in the state. When approved for LEED certification it would be the first all-inclusive LEED certified commercial center, resort lodge and fractional development in the Lake Tahoe area. The approved plans encompass a redeveloped downtown business epicenter that closely reflects its pioneering heritage, 49 alpine-inspired fractional luxury cabins and a 38,000 square foot lodge, coined “Mahalee” — a name derived from the native Washoe Indian term for the processing of the acorn that was traded for pine nuts.

“Markleeville is an undiscovered diamond lying peacefully in the shadow of Lake Tahoe,” stated John Sweeney, President, Global Resorts, Inc. an international consulting firm in resort and recreational development. The intent in developing this gem of a project is not to exploit this natural environmental wonder, but to open its serene and timeless beauty to discriminating consumers who appreciate the mountain lifestyle without the congestion and overcrowding that now typifies the Lake Tahoe area.” Sweeney also mentioned that the project will set a new standard and stewardship in LEED development in this market area. “This project is exemplary of the marriage between environmental responsibility and sensitive and sustainable development,” Sweeney concluded.

Dick Ragatz, noted and widely recognized fractional authority, stated in a recent article in Vacation Ownership World that “…more than three in four fractional developers felt that the sales performance was as good or better than that of whole ownership developers in their local market area.” Ragatz went on to say that, “sales were down last year and there were fewer projects in active sales, but sales are still being made in the so-called iconic locations that will always have a highly perceived value. They are situated in places with limited land being sold at very high prices.”

Notwithstanding, the proven consumer demand for the Lake Tahoe environs, coupled with the unique environmental quality of Alpine County, CA and the attendant dynamics of the Markleeville project, would seem to bode well for the future of this project as the economy ultimately recovers.

Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels has opened the doors on its sensational new resort in Turkey.

The resort: Apollonium Spa & Beach Resort faces onto an exclusive stretch of beach in a plum position on tranquil and breathtaking Bozbuk Bay, on the country’s south-west coast.

A village-style development, the 350-unit resort boasts an impressive list of features. These include the showpiece and very chic Byblos Beach Club & Spa, where members and guests can enjoy massage and beauty treatments including a traditional Turkish hamam.

The cool white beds of the Beach Club are planted across lawns and pale golden sand, providing front line viewing for the bay’s famous sunsets of cocktail-coloured skies.

Other features include an aqua park, heated indoor and outdoor pools, fitness facilities, minigolf, tennis, water sports and an al fresco cinema, as well as restaurant and snack bar.

Apollonium Spa & Beach Resort in Turkey is a mixed use resort which includes the  60-unit Adonis Private Members Club, sold as freehold homes by Club La Costa with a leaseback arrangement and guaranteed rental return.

“We are proud to say that the resort opened its doors on schedule, on August 1st, with very complimentary reviews from the first members to go there. It is successfully launched toward becoming what we firmly believe will be a hugely popular resort, with a very big future for ourselves and our members,” said Richard Fletcher, CLC resort management director.

Club La Costa has a second resort in Turkey, California Golf & Spa Resort – Turkey, scheduled to open in 2010, it too will offer outstanding facilities including an 18-hole golf course and a Turkish baths.

For more information about Club La Costa visit www.clublacosta.com
For real estate visit www.clcestates.com

In New Westin Hotels Sleep Study, A Great Night’s Sleep Trumps Great Sex

In Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Heavenly Bed Westin Surveys Travelers’ Sleep Habits; More than half of travelers prefer a great night’s sleep to great sex

Westin Hotels Partners with the renowned National Sleep Foundation to Launch (888) TIME-4-SLEEP Hotline to help People Get a Good Night’s Sleep

A great night’s sleep trumps great sex according to more than half (51%) of the U.S. respondents to a new global survey of sleeping habits conducted by Westin Hotels & Resorts. Just how desperate are we for sleep? Well, 42% said they’d rather have a sleeping pill on their hotel pillow than the ubiquitous chocolate, and 62% take a relaxant, sleep or stress medication when traveling overnight.

Today, Westin Hotels unveils the results of a new global sleep study of more than 12,500 frequent travelers in ten countries – a follow-up to a sleep study the hotel giant conducted a decade ago when it launched its now iconic Heavenly Bed. When Westin debuted its revolutionary all-white bed, it spurred a global hotel bedding war that instantly made Earth tone polyester bedspreads and foam mattresses relics of old. Millions of travelers have benefited, and today 43% of frequent travelers say the quality of sleep on the road has gotten better, 25% of Road Warriors said they’d pay $100 more for a hotel with a great bed, and more than half would go out of their way to stay in a hotel with their favorite bed.

Forget the Boogie Man, it’s Mortgages, Marriage and Blackberry PDA’s That Keep Us Up at Night
While good beds on the road may be easier to find, sleep itself can be elusive and our round-the-clock work life, today’s economic woes and good old fashioned relationship problems often get in the way of a good night’s sleep. To wit:

56% of U.S. respondents said that with our 24/7 lifestyles, a good night’s sleep is more important than ever, though unfortunately 61% believe that today’s technology and constant connectivity impairs sleep. And our beloved Blackberry’s make for dreadful sleep companions.

60% said their PDAs have prevented them from getting shut eye.

58% of respondents said the biggest worry keeping them up at night is bills and paying the mortgage.

Another key culprit that keeps people tossing and turning is problems with their spouse or partner (25%).

Honey, I have a headache said HE – the Sex vs. Sleep Gender Debate
In the 10 years since the Westin brand conducted its original sleep study, our desire for sleep has increased, and our sex lives have suffered. Today 51% of frequent travelers in the U.S. prefer a great night’s sleep to great sex, compared to just 31% who chose sleep over sex 10 years ago. Contrary to conventional wisdom, it’s men who are more likely than women to take sleep over sex, with the majority of women saying they prefer sex to snoozing. And Americans are not alone – in nine of 10 countries surveyed, sleep beats sex – only the Canadians prefer seduction vs. slumber.

Other key findings include:

Hotel Beds in a Post-Heavenly Bed Era
More than half (57%) found that a great hotel bed provides a better sleep experience than at home, and more than one in four strongly agreed that sleeping in a hotel bed while on a business trip is a “luxury”—a significant change from 10 years ago, when 82% of travelers found something to complain about hotel beds.
The majority of those surveyed like the hotel mattress (59%) and pillows (54%) better than their bed at home.

Sleep Woes Take Their Toll
57% of respondents say a bad night’s sleep has hurt their business performance.
The most common side effects of a bad night’s sleep? Getting in a fight with a boss or co-worker (29%) or a spouse or partner (25%).

A Good Night’s Sleep is a Phone Call Away…
There is hope for the weary eyed. As a result of the study findings and Westin Hotel’s ongoing commitment to wellness, the brand has partnered with the National Sleep Foundation to launch a toll-free sleep hotline. Starting today, the National Sleep Foundation Hotline brought to you by Westin Hotels, (888) TIME-4-SLEEP, will be staffed by sleep professionals during the peak hours when people experience problems sleeping. These medically trained sleep professionals will help callers with common sleep problems and offer advice and healthy tips for getting a good night’s sleep. The sleep hotline lines will be open until September 15th, Monday through Friday, 6:00pm to 1:00am Eastern Standard Time.

Study Methodology
This study is based on a survey conducted by StudyLogic, LLC via telephone through RDD of adults who are executives, professionally employed, and with an average of 2+ business and leisure trips per year. Study results are representative of each country’s population of Executives. Twelve countries were surveyed: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, the United States, and the United Arab Emigrates. There were approximately 1,000 people surveyed in each country, with the exception of the United States, which had approximately 1,500 people. Combined percentage breakdowns for all twelve countries based on various categories are available at the end of the report. The survey consisted of thirty-three questions, some of which contained multiple parts. Due to cultural reasons, certain questions were modified or omitted for Japan and the United Arab Emigrates, and any change or omission is indicated in the following report. Interviews were conducted between June 15th and July 15th, 2009. The survey averaged 18 minutes in length and contains a margin of error in the totals of +/-3%.

About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 169 hotels and resorts in more than 31 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 97 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, 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 the National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving sleep health and safety through education, public awareness, and advocacy. It is well-known for its annual Sleep in AmericaTM poll. The Foundation is a charitable, educational and scientific not-for-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Its membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine, professionals in the health, medical and science fields, individuals, patients, people affected by drowsy driving and more than 900 healthcare facilities throughout North America. For more information about the National Sleep Foundation and a directory of its sleep center members, please visit sleepfoundation.org.

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE: WYN), today launched a new programme to formally honor sales and innovation among its European affiliates in the timeshare industry. The RCI Award for Developer Achievement (RADA) programme will recognise the importance of a quality sales operation, and the performance of outstanding resort staff and developers who lead the industry through innovative products and programmes at their resorts.

“These awards have been created to thank our affiliates and their staffs for their continued support and to further recognise their success in sales, marketing, product development and service quality,” said Jonathan Back, managing director, RCI Europe, Middle East, Africa and India.

The RADA awards include the following categories:

Top European Performer – Recognises the affiliate producing the highest volume of RCI membership enrollments during the year

Top Regional Performers – Recognises the top performing affiliate from each of the five European regions based on volume of RCI membership enrolments during the year

Top Performer: Newcomer – Recognises the top affiliate based on volume of RCI membership enrollments during the year with less than two years affiliation with RCI

Developer Innovation – Recognises an RCI affiliate for carrying out a new and innovative project during the year

RCI also created the RADA Distinction award which will allow affiliates to nominate a member of their staff for individual recognition awards under the categories of best performing sales person, manager and employee of the year.

Affiliates located in the following regions are eligible to participate in the RADA awards: U.K., Ireland and Malta; Portugal, France and North Africa; Spain and Italy; South Eastern Europe; Finland, Scandinavia and Central Europe.

About Group RCI
Group RCI, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, (NYSE: WYN) is the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 73,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. The company is comprised of vacation exchange, including RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation Rentals®, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure Real Estate Solutions, an international leader in providing a full spectrum of advisory, research, and asset management services. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange. For additional information visit www.grouprci.com or the media center of www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

Doreen Bechard and Mary Dieckmann Become Regional Directors of Resort Operations

Grand Pacific Resort Services,  a privately owned vacation ownership management company located in Carlsbad, CA has promoted both Doreen Bechard and Mary Dieckmann to the position of Regional Director of Resort Operations.

Doreen Bechard has been with Grand Pacific Resort Services since 1999.  She was the Regional Vice President- Pacific Region with Resort Condominiums International (RCI), and has over twenty years of timeshare experience.

Mary Dieckmann joined Grand Pacific Resort Services in 1992 as a Resort General Manager of the Coronado Beach Resort.  During that time she was responsible for maintaining the efficient operation of the resort during the crucial opening and during the sales launch.

According to Nigel Lobo, Vice President of Grand Pacific Resort Services, “Doreen Bechard is an expert in resort operations, RCI exchange company interface and HOA governance.  She plays an instrumental role in developing corporate initiatives and standard operating procedures for our company.

Mary Dieckmann has built a reputation within our company as a dedicated manager who pays great attention to detail. Mary has operations oversight for our Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGVC) affiliated Grand Pacific MarBrisa resort, and champions all HGVC related issues.  Mary also oversees the leadership of our resorts in Lake Tahoe, Napa, and Indian Palms.

“As Regional Directors they are an integral part of Grand Pacific Resort Services strong executive team, committed to delivering the highest standards of guest satisfaction and hospitality.  Doreen and Mary share the commonality of a balanced approach of engaging our owners, putting them on vacation, and providing world class, memorable, vacation experiences.  They are welcome additions to our executive management team.”

Grand Pacific Resorts, Inc. is one of the oldest and largest vacation ownership companies based in California. Servicing over 45,000 owner-families every year, Grand Pacific Resort Services manages 14 properties, including the recently-developed Grand Pacific MarBrisa Resort in Carlsbad, California.

Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services, announced that Interval Travel has received Carnival Cruise Lines’ renowned Pinnacle Award.

This tribute is given only to those top-tier travel agencies that exhibit excellence in promoting the “Fun Ship” cruise experience, demonstrate exceptional professionalism, and provide outstanding support of the Carnival product.

“We’re very proud to receive this honor, because it acknowledges our cruise advisors’ dedication and outstanding performance,” said Raul Estrada, senior vice president of Global Member Services for Interval International. “We work hard every day to deliver great customer service, as well as to offer our member families a variety of high-quality vacation experiences, including Carnival’s ‘Fun Ship’ cruises.”

“Travel agents are a critical component of our distribution system, which is why we created the ‘Pinnacle Club’ to recognize those agencies such as Interval Travel that are truly experts in their field and exhibit the highest levels of professionalism,” said Joni Rein, Carnival’s vice president of worldwide sales.
To commemorate this achievement, the staff of Interval Travel’s Cruise department was presented with a stylized gemstone globe, which is on display at the company’s Member-Services Center in Miami.

Interval International operates membership programs for vacation owners and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 33 years. Today, Interval has a network of approximately 2,500 resorts in more than 75 countries and offers its resort clients and about 2 million member families high-quality products and programs through offices in 26 cities in 16 countries. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.

Global Timeshare Brand Continues Commitment to Green Operations

Marriott Vacation Club, the premiere timeshare brand of Marriott International (NYSE:MAR) and the recognized worldwide leader in vacation ownership, is not allowing a single key card to go to waste. Resorts have begun replacing the 1.2 million plastic key cards purchased annually with those made of 50 percent recycled material, saving approximately 4 tons of plastic from being dumped in landfills.

The new key card is just one of many advances the brand has made to help reduce its global environmental footprint. More than 800,000 guest arrival pieces, which are printed annually in the U.S. and distributed to Owners and guests upon check-in, are now printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified paper and purchased from an FSC certified paper merchant. The FSC is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests, ensuring that the paper meets strict standards in each step of the paper production and printing of the collateral.

Furthermore, Marriott Vacation Club resorts have switched to pens made of 74 percent pre-consumer recycled material. More than 1.5 million pens are purchased annually, which equates to approximately 9 tons. Each eco-friendly pen has 1.2 miles of write-out, allowing the pen to be used longer before it is eventually discarded.

“Continuing to eliminate more waste from landfills and find innovative ways to ‘green’ our supply chain only strengthens our commitment to being an industry leader in environmental stewardship,” said Dirk Schavemaker, senior vice president of resort operations for Marriott Vacation Club. “We firmly believe that it is our responsibility to demonstrate how responsible resort management can be a positive force for the environment.”

The more than 50 Marriott Vacation Club resorts worldwide have installed energy efficient lighting, low-flow showerheads and toilets, and participate in a robust resort-wide recycling program. In addition to the corporate senior-level green committee established to lead division-wide environmental efforts at Marriott Vacation Club International’s corporate headquarters, each Marriott Vacation Club resort has formed its own “green team” which carries out and oversees environmental efforts at the site level. Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI) began the journey to reduce the division’s carbon footprint in February 2008 with the launch of its MVCI Green Initiative at its corporate headquarters with continued roll-out to its corporate offices and resorts worldwide.

About Marriott Vacation Club
Marriott Vacation Club is the recognized worldwide leader in vacation ownership with a program highly regarded for its quality and unique flexibility. Celebrating 25 years of providing unforgettable vacations, Marriott became the first branded hospitality company by nearly a decade to enter the timeshare industry in 1984. Marriott Vacation Club continues to expand with a diverse portfolio of more than 11,000 timeshare resort villas throughout the U.S., Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Today, more than 395,000 Owner families around the globe own their vacations “the Marriott way,” offering options to exchange weeks with priority within the Marriott Vacation Club portfolio or within Interval International’s global system of more than 2,400 resorts in over 75 countries, trade their week(s) for Marriott Rewards points, or rent their week(s). For more information, please visit www.marriott-vacations.com. For nightly rentals, please visit www.marriott.com.

MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) is a leading lodging company with more than 3,200 lodging properties in 66 countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and had approximately 146,000 employees at 2008 year-end. It is recognized by BusinessWeek as one of the 100 best global brands, by FORTUNE(R) as one of the best companies to work for, and by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2008, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of nearly $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com.

Mobius Vendor Partners President to Serve as Miller College

Robert A. Kobek, President of Mobius Vendor Partners, LCC, (MVP) an Indianapolis-based company that that provides business process management and online survey solutions to companies, associations and non-profit organizations, has been selected as Chairman of the Information Services Advisory Board of the Information Services and Operations Management (ISOM) Department of Miller College of Business at Ball State University.

With more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students from across the country and abroad, Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana.  In addition to its program in Information Services and Operations Management, Miller offers degrees in Accounting, Business and Marketing Education, Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Marketing and Management.

Kobek, who has served as a member of the advisory board for two years is an expert in managing business processes including finance, marketing, selling, distributing, and supporting their products and services. His company, MVP, recently introduced an online feedback system called CustomerCount®.

“Effective use of technology allows companies in every sector to better serve their customers, get more usable information, become flexible and increase employee productivity, said Kobek.   “In a world where Information Services is skyrocketing as an academic discipline, Miller College understands how important it is to be guided by real world business expertise.”

Bob Kobek began his career as the Indiana Liaison for U.S. Senator Vance Hartke and then spent two years as Director of Special Projects for the Indiana General Assembly Speaker of the House.  His ownership of AMI Telemarketing, Inc. was the beginning of his expertise as B2B marketing professional.  He has been named as a member of the “Outstanding Young Americans.”    Kobek founded Mobius in 1999 which is well known for its strategic business process management for the hospitality and resort industry. Kobek also serves on several ARDA committees.

For more information visit www.customercount.info or www.mobiusvp.com or call 317-816-6000.