14 ARDY Entries Selected As Finalists For 2010 Gala

Brand Tango, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based marketing, technology and design firm, has had 13 Advertising and Promotion entries selected as finalists in the American Resort Development Association’s ARDY awards competition. In addition, Larry Talley, Brand Tango’s vice president of application development, is a finalist in the Management and Administration category.

“This is a wonderful way to celebrate Brand Tango’s fifth anniversary; it’s our best showing ever,” says Joe Russoniello, president and co-founder. “We started the agency to provide a much-needed service to the vacation ownership industry, and it’s a thrill to see our work recognized.”

Brand Tango’s work for Blue Strawberry Resorts, Casa Dorado, Floridays Club, GlobeQuest, Hacienda Tres Rios, Royal Palm Vacations, Royal Resorts, and Sunset World—as well as its own electronic newsletter—all received ARDA honors. “We’re grateful to these companies for entrusting us with their brand and image,” says James Kluetz, vice president and creative director. “In these challenging times, we know that what matters is return on investment, and these projects delivered.”

In addition to the Advertising and Promotions awards, Larry Talley, Brand Tango’s vice president of application development, is a finalist in the Management and Administration category. Talley has created a proprietary Web-based software system that integrates all facets of a developers operation, including all lead and contact management, call centers, referral programs, reservations, maintenance fee and mortgage billing, as well as loyalty points programs. In 2009, his team designed several Web sites, including two for Royal Resorts Caribbean and Sunset World that were selected as ARDY finalists.

“Brand Tango has been a staunch supporter of ARDA and the timeshare industry overall,” says Howard Nusbaum, ARDA president. “We heartily congratulate them on their success as they celebrate this important milestone and wish them luck at the ARDY awards gala in Las Vegas on March 17.”

Brand Tango is a comprehensive marketing, design, and technology company with clients in timeshare/real estate/hospitality, consumer products and services, and financial services. Relying on their decades of combined expertise, its principals and staff help clients define and achieve sales goals and return-on-investment objectives by addressing integrated marketing needs in an efficient, unbiased, and knowledgeable manner with a solid, multi-faceted, results-oriented strategy.

Brand Tango specializes in new-customer kits, loyalty programs, member-retention materials, and annual reports for vacation ownership, hospitality and leisure clients, and for other consumer-products companies. Selected clients include Floridays Club, Pacific Monarch Resorts, OPTX 20/20, GBS International, Premier Estate Properties, Tres Rios Resort, Sunset World, Premier Cancun Vacations, and Casa Dorado.

To view examples of Brand Tango’s recent work, visit www.brand-tango.com. For an online demonstration of Brand Tango’s Web 2.0 customer relationship management system, Tango, go to www.gettango.com.

ResortCom International, which provides resort management, rental, reservations and travel services and financial services to the vacation ownership, fractional and luxury resort industry, has announced Hannah Zulueta as its new director of sales.

Zulueta brings over 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry. She started her career with RCI Management in 1997 and later returned to ResortCom as the customer relations manager. Zulueta reenergized her team and increased service levels to over 45,000 timeshare owners. Her efforts also won her the 2003 Gold ARDY for Customer Relations. In her sales and marketing positions, Zulueta has constantly achieved over 100 percent of the set sales goals.

“We’re happy to have Hannah as part of the team again,” said Small. “She excels at maintaining solid relationships with business associates, and as ResortCom continues to grow, her industry knowledge, organizational skills and strong initiative will be invaluable resources.”

Zulueta will concentrate on the rental aspects of the company and is in charge of all sales activities. She will also facilitate the development of new resorts and help convert inventory into ResortCom’s Suite-Getaways portfolio, a source for wholesalers and travel agents that offers timeshare and fractional resort owner rental programs in the United States, Mexico and other destinations.

“I see a shift in the travel industry where consumers now have greater access to travel options and an increased need for a travel specialist to sort through these options,” said Zulueta. “My focus will be to support ResortCom’s travel sales partners as they help travelers to research and create their next vacation.  Using a travel agent specialist helps customer save valuable time and money.”

Previously, Zulueta worked as the business development manager for ResorTime, where she developed the Lifecycle marketing approach to foster systematic and continuous business relationships with her customers. She has also served as the special events and marketing manager for the City of Los Angeles’ historic Olvera Street.
Zulueta holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing from California State University, San Bernardino.

About ResortCom Elite
Based in San Diego, ResortCom Elite is the luxury division of its parent company, ResortCom International, provides concierge and owner services, resort operations and financial services 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). For more information, visit http://www.resortcom.com.

Brand Tango, a Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based marketing and advertising firm, was awarded five Gold ARDY awards at the American Resort Development Association’s 2009 convention in Orlando.

“This was our most successful ARDA convention ever, and a big win was a great way to wrap it up,” says Joe Russoniello, the firm’s president and co-founder. “With the current economic climate, we’re finding that even more clients are seeking Brand Tango’s expertise in delivering measurable results with strategic and cost-effective advertising, marketing and brand solutions.”

“Many companies have cut back, so they must identify new ways to market and sell their products,” Russoniello says. “Brand Tango is known for unique solutions, and the current business climate is actually a great time for us to identify ways to replace lost revenue.”

The Gold ARDYs are for the following projects in the Advertising and Promotion category:

• One- to Eight-Page Brochure: Premier Cancún Vacations Spice It Up Brochure
• More Than Eight-Page Brochure (Business to Consumer): GlobeQuest Travel Club Point-of-Sale
• New Owner Member Package: Club Intrawest Member Kit
• Interactive Advertising Campaign: Levitin Group Email Blast
• Web Site: Casa Dorada Vacation Club Web Site

Prior to the ARDA Convention, Brand Tango had been awarded ARDY Silver awards in 10 Advertising and Promotions categories, as well as a technology team Silver award in the Management and Administration category.

Other recent honors for the Brand Tango include the “Judges’ Choice” award at the Advertising Federation of Greater Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) 2009 Addys for Royal Palm Vacations’ new member kit, which was also won a Gold award. The firm won two other Gold and five Silver Addy local awards. The three Gold award winners are now eligible to win a Gold Addy at the District level and thus be considered for national honors.

Brand Tango is a comprehensive marketing, design, and technology company with clients in timeshare/real estate/hospitality, consumer products and services, and financial services. Relying on their decades of combined expertise, its principals and staff help clients define and achieve sales goals and return-on-investment objectives by addressing integrated marketing needs in an efficient, unbiased, and knowledgeable manner with a solid, multi-faceted, results-oriented strategy.

Brand Tango specializes in new-customer kits, loyalty programs, member-retention materials, and annual reports for vacation ownership, hospitality and leisure clients, and for other consumer-products companies. Selected clients include Pacific Monarch Resorts, the Levitin Group, Island One Resorts, GBS International, OPTX 20/20, Premier Estate Properties, Royal Palm Vacations, Tres Ríos Resort, Sunset Resorts, Premier Cancún Vacations, Grand Incentives, and Advantage Travel.

To view examples of Brand Tango’s recent work, visit www.brand-tango.com. For an online demonstration of Brand Tango’s Web 2.0 customer relationship management system, Tango, go to www.gettango.com.

For more information, contact Joe Russoniello at (954) 295-7879 or
joe@brand-tango.com .

The American Resort Development Association (ARDA) honored the ARDA Circle of Excellence Award and ARDY Award winners at a gala ceremony and dinner during the 2009 Convention & Exposition in Orlando, Florida.

“These companies and individuals represent ‘the best of the best’ in the vacation ownership industry,” said Howard Nusbaum , RRP, president and CEO of ARDA.  “Selected by their peers, they set an example of personal and professional excellence for us all.”

The ACE Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual whose pioneering efforts have had a major positive impact on the direction and standards of the industry.  This year’s posthumous recipient, Jim Lambert, was the founder and visionary force of The Berkley Group and supported ARDA from its formation.  He is remembered fondly by all for his record of achievement and support.

The ACE Project of Excellence Award recognizes timeshare or mixed-use projects that are considered a success by investors, owners and the local community.  The recipient exhibits years of cooperation between planners, engineers, architects, lenders, contractors, designers, sales, marketing, operations, staff, owners, local government, community groups, and the surrounding area.  This year’s recipient is The Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida, a showcase resort that became the set for the company’s first-ever TV ad campaign featuring legendary golfer Arnold Palmer. It was also the grand prize on “The Dreamers into Doers” contest on the Martha Stew art Show.

The ACE Volunteer Award, given in memory of Anne W. Crawford, recognizes an ARDA member who consistently devotes time, energy, creativity and talent to the advancement of the industry.  This year, the ARDA member to earn this significant honor is Bob Miller, President of Marriott Leisure.  His selfless hours, uncommon support of ARDA and participation in countless strategic governmental meetings make him one of the most outstanding leaders in the industry.

The ACE Innovator Award recognizes a company or individual that has developed a ground-breaking product, service or concept that was successfully implemented within the last three years.  The winner this year, Wyndham Vacation Ownership, has undergone several break-through “green” initiatives such as creatively harvesting southern daylight for maximized window space and lowering interior cube walls so more light could flow into work areas.  Occupancy sensors were also installed to reduce unnecessary lighting expenses and indoor air quality was enhanced with a fresh air intake unit which minimized VOC products and particles in the air.  An employee recycling training program was launched, as well.

The ACE Philanthropic Award recognizes an outstanding philanthropic effort for a humanitarian cause by an individual or company.  This year, Bruce Thompson, CEO of Gold Key/ PHR Hotels, was recognized for his monumental efforts in supporting and participating in the Annual Walk to Defeat ALS (known as Lou Gherig’s Disease), in honor of his son who was stricken with ALS and for all those who suffer from the disease.  He has taken a lead role in planning events all across the country.

The ACE Community Service Award recognizes outstanding community contributions by an ARDA member individual or organization.  This year’s recipient, the ShareForce workers of the Island One Foundation are honored for their strong support of Habitat for Humanity and their unwavering devotion to helping others.

The ACE Employer of the Year Award recognizes an employer that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to its employees.  This year’s winner, Group RCI, designed a highly targeted new training program, called CATALYST,  to create a company culture of leadership.  The program includes a comprehensive course which provides a structured development plan of how to obtain competencies needed for advancement.

The ACE Employee of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding employee who has demonstrated commitment, loyalty, superior performance, and the willingness to go above and beyond. This year’s recipient, Olga Dancaescu, is Project Coordinator of the Island Empress Resort on Santa Rosa Island , Pensacola Beach .  She guided a team of architects, designers, financers, marketing and PR specialists to create a new island resort and is recognized for her respect, focus, integrity, graciousness, exceptional skill and devotion.

The ACE Women on Their Way Award is a brand new award this year, recognizing the outstanding achievements of women who continue to excel and advance in the industry. The very first recipient of the ACE Women on Their Way Award is Jenniver Vanlerberghe, Director of Global eCommerce for Group RCI, who quickly became the driving force behind the development and introduction of RCI’s new Enhance Search Internet Service, a new approach to booking online.

In addition to the ACE Awards, ARDA awarded ARDYs to finalists in advertising and promotion; resort design; management and administration; and marketing/sales categories.  For a list of winners and finalists, please visit the “Awards” section of the website at www.arda.org.