Beach Republic The Residences was crowned a winner at the sixth annual 2011 Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards held during a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok, Thailand.

The most prestigious and sought after acknowledgement of excellence in Thailand’s property and real estate industry, the Thanachart Bank Thailand Property Awards are the benchmark for quality and showcase the best of the best.

This year the public submitted for consideration over 1,300 companies and developments across 31 categories. Of these, just 80 were shortlisted and subjected to a rigorous review process. Nominated in the category of Best Shared Ownership Development for its Koh Samui property on the northern tip of Lamai Beach, Beach Republic The Residences was named the winner for the second consecutive year.

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Universal Vacation Club (UVC), an exclusively Chinese timeshare club developed by Shanghai-based travel business Pacific Sunrise, has chosen Merlin Software as its new software partner.

Created five years ago and with inventory owned in Sanya (Hainan province), Lijiang (Yunnan province), Yangshuo (Guangdong province), Huangshan (Anhui province) and Xi’an (Shaanxi province), Universal Vacation Club now has over 6,000 members.

Merlin was introduced to the Club by the Hutchinson Group, which has been using Merlin for its trustee operations for a number of years.

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Diamond Resorts International® Chairman and CEO addresses more than 5,000 attendees at International Pow Wow 2011

Chairman of the Board of the Corporation for Travel Promotion (CTP), Stephen J. Cloobeck, announced to more than 5,000 attendees at International Pow Wow 2011 in San Francisco that the U.S. marketing budget had reached a combined half billion dollars and that America was ready to compete for tourists with a global marketing strategy.

Stephen J. Cloobeck revealed that the CTP had a $200 million budget to promote the U.S., and when combined with the work of the individual convention and visitor bureaus, meant there was now a half billion dollars available to carry out strategic marketing initiatives for U.S. travel and tourism.

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Global hospitality and vacation ownership company commits to service excellence through branded hospitality experience

DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL® (Diamond), a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industry, strengthens its commitment to exceptional customer service by building upon the foundation of The Meaning of Yes® with the launch of a 30 minute brand video featuring an in depth conversation with Chairman and CEO, Stephen J. Cloobeck. The Meaning of Yes® is a service excellence platform that empowers Diamond team members to deliver a branded hospitality experience to every owner, member and guest worldwide, as the company continues to grow and expand globally.

Diamond Resorts International® thrives upon the service excellence platform set forth by Stephen J. Cloobeck. By responding to customer feedback and engaging in cost efficient and effective solutions, Mr. Cloobeck has successfully developed a hospitality product that is much more than vacation ownership, but guarantees a lifetime of memorable vacation experiences to all owners, members and guests. The Meaning of Yes® ensures that every guest receives the vacation they deserve. Diamond team members are currently being trained worldwide to work collectively to improve the guest experience and commit to providing relaxation… simplified.

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Dusit Thani Bangkok, Thailand’s leading luxury five-star hotel, will be hosting the Asia & Australasia awards ceremony for this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA), dubbed as the “Oscars of the Travel Industry,” on Sept. 28.

A distinguished line-up of travel industry professionals, senior executives from renowned travel companies, and hoteliers representing Asia & Australasia’s leading hotels, as well as media from 60 countries are expected to attend this prestigious ceremony where awardees will be recognized worldwide by travel industry accolades.

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Dial An Exchange (DAE), one of the world’s largest independent timeshare exchange organizations has recently launched a new expansion of benefits for DAE’s Gold Advantage members. Gold Advantage is the premium membership offered by Dial An Exchange, (www.daelive.com) a free membership is also available.

Gold Advantage memberships can be purchased for $89 for a full year, with a renewal price of $59. Current Gold Advantage benefits include advance booking capability of newly available inventory, priority requests, discounts on the purchase of all DAE exchanges and bonus weeks, and a slew of lifestyle benefits that encompass travel, hotel, golf, recreation and even grocery discounts.

The additional features added to the Gold Advantage membership include a 365/24/7 concierge program that members can access both on vacation and at home. Concierge benefits include roadside assistance, currency exchange, medical assistance, and more. Another additional benefit is discounts on vacation, tour, and cruise packages, and an elite member buying service that gives Gold Advantage members discounts on thousands of brand name products from hundreds of manufacturers and distributors.

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Citadel is proud to announce that it will be attending the Fractional Summit in Abu Dhabi as a Ruby Sponsor. The decision by Citadel to support this event which is to be held at the spectacular Yas Hotel on the 23rd and 24th of November 2010, reflects the increasing importance of the Middle East region and the potential it offers the shared leisure market. The Abu Dhabi Fractional Summit is to focus on all the main aspects of the shared leisure industry from traditional timeshare through to all the different types of fractional products.

Christopher Allen, Director, commented “This is an exciting decision for Citadel and we firmly believe that the event will provide us with the ideal platform from which we can launch our bespoke services in the region. Citadel already has many years of experience in Europe, Asia and the Far East, so we see it as a natural progression for us to now look towards the Middle East and the business opportunities it can offer”.

Piers Brown, founder of event organizer Fractional Life, said: “We´re delighted to have Citadel on board for our first event in the Middle East. This sponsorship demonstrates Citadel’s true foresight and commitment to growing the shared ownership marketplace and we look forward to welcoming delegates and sponsors from around the world to network and discover the opportunities in this exciting region”.

Further to the success of the UK Fractional Summit held earlier this year at the Marriott Grovesnor, London, Citadel is also proud to confirm that it will be attending the 2011 event and, for the fourth year running, it will be supporting the Summit as a Gold Sponsor.

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

For further information about Citadel, please contact Christopher Allen, Director, Client Services and Business Development, by email chrisallen@citadeltrustees.com or, call the company’s UK Head Office +44 (0) 1276 482015/16

New Affiliations Show Growing Interest In Vacation Ownership In Asia

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), today announced the addition of seven affiliated properties to its worldwide exchange network including four resorts in Vietnam, two in Indonesia and a sea-villa resort in Malaysia. The Registry Collection® program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program and one of the three worldwide exchange programs under the RCI® umbrella, also welcomed two newly affiliated resorts in Indonesia and Vietnam to its global portfolio.

The addition of these new resorts extends RCI’s footprint to nearly 150 affiliated resorts in Asia and over 4,000 resorts globally, offering 3.8 million RCI subscribing members a broad and diverse selection of holiday destinations and quality accommodations for superb and memorable vacation experiences.

The significant number of signings also marks the growing interest in fractional and vacation ownership products among consumers and the appreciation of its competitive advantage as a viable and attractive business and operating model for resorts by leisure real estate owners and developers in Asia.

The announcement was made at the RCI Asia Leisure Real Estate Symposium held in Singapore, attended by more than 100 senior executives and decision makers from the vacation ownership, hospitality and real estate sectors across the region. “The BIG Reveal” Symposium is a response to the continued interest in vacation ownership in Asia which is anticipated to gain even greater momentum in the next few years. At the event, RCI revealed the winning strategies of vacation ownership and unveiled innovative initiatives that will help to further accelerate the development of vacation ownership in Asia.

“We are honored and pleased to welcome these seven new resort affiliates to RCI and two new additions to The Registry Collection® program,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, RCI. “These vacation destinations have chosen to partner with the largest and most global vacation exchange provider in both the timeshare and fractional ownership space. We are very much looking forward to helping these developers grow their brands and ownership levels across Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia. We are actively working on welcoming additional vacation resorts to our network in these countries as the vacation ownership industry continues to grow and expand across this very important part of the world for RCI.”

“What makes RCI an exchange company of choice for leisure real estate owners and developers is our continuous effort to innovate and reinvent vacation exchange,” said Adrian Lee, managing director, RCI Asia. “As the pioneer of vacation exchange, we have achieved many firsts including a series of product and service innovations to optimize member satisfaction while at the same time increasing awareness and exchanges for our affiliated resorts.”

Joining The Registry Collection program are:
delMango Villa Estate – Seminyak Gardens, Indonesia
delMango Villa Estate – Seminyak Gardens is a luxury boutique development consisting of 14 beautifully-appointed designer villas. Located in the heart of Seminyak, the estate is only a short stroll to the beach and is nearby the restaurant and shopping district of Oberoi. It is an idyllic vacation getaway for guests who relish their privacy but want all the luxuries and services that are associated with a star establishment. Resort features include open-plan living and dining areas, designer interiors, air-conditioned bedrooms, private swimming pool, large private garden and a private sundeck.

Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay sits on dramatic Ninh Van Bay, with its impressive rock formations overlooking the South China Sea, white sand beach and towering mountains. 58 beautiful villas are spaciously designed and generously equipped with two rooms and either a garden terrace or a large sundeck. Each villa has a private pool and is located either on the beach, on the water, on the rocks, in the jungle, or on a mountain slope offering a variety of panoramic ocean views and secluded privacy. The lovely resort can only be reached by boat. The car transfer from the airport to the resort’s jetty takes about one hour, followed by boat transfer of 20 minutes to Ninh Van Bay. The resort has been conferred with over 12 international awards from prestigious travel organisations such as Guide Award, Luxury Travel, World Travel Awards and Elite Traveler.

Joining the RCI exchange network are:
Evason Ana Mandara & Six Senses Spa – Nha Trang, Vietnam
Evason Ana Mandara & Six Senses Spa – Nha Trang is conveniently located one kilometre away from Nha Trang town centre and 40 minutes by car from the airport. Managed by Six Senses Resorts & Spas, guests can enjoy warm hospitality and personalized service provided by the resort’s 272 hosts. Situated directly on the private beach with 17 villas containing 74 well-appointed guest rooms, all rooms have their own private terraces along with all the amenities and comforts of a five-star resort.

Ana Mandara Villas Dalat – Resort & Spa, Vietnam
Ana Mandara Villas Dalat – Resort & Spa is a 65-room resort, restaurant and spa situated in the rural highlands of Dalat, just half an hour away by car from the Lien Khuong Airport. The resort comprises fifteen fully-restored colonial-style villas, each originally constructed between the 1920’s and 1930’s by the French settlers at that time. Rooms are independently furnished and are restored to their original design and décor. A personal butler is assigned to each villa, which is surrounded by landscaped greenery and expansive views of local urban life and farming countryside.

Ana Mandara Resort Hue, Vietnam
Ana Mandara Resort Hue is located 15 kilometres east of Hue City, at Thuan An village at the Thuan An Beach. The resort is an ideal holiday spot, surrounded by picturesque rice paddy terraces, beautiful Tam Giang lagoons and set within luxuriant landscaped tropical gardens filled with coconut palms, manicured lawns and lotus ponds. Designed with the most modern and complete facilities, the villas and guest rooms are considered to be among Hue’s largest offerings with 78 varying styles of spacious accommodations including beach pool villas, beach villas, duplex rooms and deluxe rooms. Opening May 2010.

Ana Mandara Resort Ninh Binh, Vietnam
Ana Mandara Resort Ninh Binh is nestled within the Van Long Natural Ecological Conservation and within proximity of the Red River Delta. It is just 90 kilometres away from Hanoi and a two and a half hour drive from Noi Bai International Airport. Incorporating traditional rural Northern delta architecture design as well as a blend of the Ancient Capital and contemporary design using environment-friendly materials, the resort is perfect for a quiet retreat. It has a total of 172 rooms, consisting of 116 standard suites, 36 deluxe suites and 20 duplex suites of 52 charming Vietnamese villas. Opening October 2010.

Bali Island Villas & Spa, Indonesia
Located within the vibrant pulse of Seminyak, Bali Island Villas & Spa is a private complex of self-contained luxury one-bedroom villas. Although very much a part of Bali’s most cosmopolitan district, the villas remain a calming niche ideal for a relaxing break. While deviating architecturally from what is considered typically Balinese, the villa still features plenty of elements that reflect local culture. It respects the natural surroundings in a concept that has evolved to embrace the future. Each villa makes a daring statement through aesthetic design to create an atmosphere that meets the expectations of the modern traveler.

Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa, Malaysia
Managed by Swiss-Belhotel International, Golden Palm Tree Sea Villas & Spa is the first water villas resort to be developed on the Sepang Gold Coast. Accessible from the existing Bagan Lalang beach via a boulevard, the resort is about 25 minutes from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). It comprises 399 water villas lined up in the shape of a palm tree stretching 1.2 kilometres into the Straits of Malacca. The villas’ design is a fusion of Polynesian and Maldivian architecture with interiors exuding modern Malaysian design elements. In 2008, the resort won the CNBC award in the category of “Best Property” and “Best Interior Design” for its Ivory Palm Villa.

Hawaii, A Club Bali Resort, Indonesia
Hawaii, A Club Bali Resort is a popular holiday destination on the Anyer coast, about 145 kilometres away from Jakarta. The resort comprises 73 apartments in studio, one-, two- and four-bedroom presidential suite configuration. The resort offers a wide range of services and facilities such as a water park that includes five swimming pools and water slides, a sea water lagoon, restaurant & bar, tennis court, meeting rooms, banquet hall, BBQ pit and karaoke as well as outbound and water sports activities. Guests can either relax or enjoy the surroundings at the resort or partake in adventurous trips to Banten National Park, Tanjung Lesung Beach or Krakatau volcanic island.

About RCI
RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 65,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals is comprised of vacation exchange, including RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and provider of travel services to businesses and consumers and The Registry Collection® program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation Rentals®, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure Real Estate Solutions, a research and consultancy firm providing advisory services to the global leisure real estate industry. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange. For additional information visit our media center.

About The Registry Collection
The Registry Collection program is a global network comprising over 30,000 members and more than 130 affiliates on five continents. More than 175 properties are available through The Registry Collection® 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 Wyndham Exchange and Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies  (NYSE: WYN). For additional information visit our media center.

Review of the 2010 Fractional Summit, 18-19 February, London
“Changing Times, Changing Markets”

It was almost standing room only at last month’s two-day 2010 Fractional Summit in London as speakers and guests converged at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, to predict future trends and debate about the state of one of property’s most interesting ownership models – fractionals.

The man behind the sold out event is Piers Brown, Founder of Fractional Life, who foresees an additional 10,000 fractional units coming on to the European market this year alone. He believes companies need to react fast to changes in current market dynamics and consumer buying habits, hence the aptly-headlined conference, “Changing Times, Changing Markets.”

Piers Brown

It was Fractional Life’s www.fractionallife.com third summit. Interest in fractionals has surged – as Fractionallife.com’s online research shows – so the burning question during the lively series of panel discussions and Q&As was, what does the future hold?

By the end of the Summit there were more questions than answers, and a number of important points emerged. Europe’s fractional market is no longer a baby, it’s more of a healthy, fast-growing toddler with teething problems, so the event provided a unique opportunity to raise issues such as financing, consumer enlightenment, media awareness and the dangers of over-pricing. It’s a growing industry, temporarily slowed by the “R” word, but consumer interest is thriving.

The fractional model has tested well in the States, with great success, so why shouldn’t properties at all price points sell well in Europe and further afield? How will the land lie in 5 years time? European fractionals are not yet a household name, it’s still early days, but nobody in the room could deny it’s an exciting time to be a part of this industry.

Many fractionals are bought without mortgages; nevertheless, financing is a must for developers and consumers if the concept is to take off at a mass market level. Even if this type of niche funding is now on some banks’ radars, most would appear reluctant to lend without substantial industry research, so one of the notes on Piers Brown’s busy agenda was to encourage members of the banking community to attend next year.

There were plenty of highlights: one was the presentation by Valerie McDermott, Membership Executive at 47 Park Street – Grand Residences by Marriott, who treated the audience to an excellent “how to sell exclusive properties to high net worth buyers” insiders guide – she once sold a fractional in just forty minutes.

Renowned American expert Dr. Richard Ragatz offered invaluable insight into the American market. He explained how Europe can learn from the States’ success and presented his Fractional 101 model which outlined the pros and cons for both developers and consumers.

Panelist Robin Barrasford, MD of Barrasford & Bird Worldwide, develops luxury resorts in 13 countries, including some of the most scenic locations on the map, including the Caribbean, Cornwall and the Greek island of Samos. He explained, “For our clients, a fractional is an investment and lifestyle purchase, they want to see the investment potential as well.” Barrasford will be concentrating on the UK market in 2010, after his company’s luxury barn conversions in Cornwall were snapped up by ex-pats who live abroad but wanted somewhere that felt like home for their UK visits. Barrasford agrees that finance is an issue, so to facilitate the purchase process he has launched a loan financing package. His company has even been upselling fractionals into whole ownership homes to a number of buyers who were convinced by the fractional model and quality of resorts, who then developed an appetite for a larger piece of paradise.

Fractional Life Award Winners

Bryan Lunt, Chairman of the Absolute World Group of Companies, has been upselling timeshare into fractionals with notable success; it’s a natural graduation because timeshare owners are quick to appreciate the benefits of buying a fractional. (Forest Hills resort near Marbella, owned by another developer Seasons Holidays, has just become the first European fractional resort to sell out; many units were bought by the company’s timeshare members.) Lunt is focusing on resort developments in Asia such as the stylish designer lifestyle yooPhuket Thailand resort, co-owned by Philippe Stark and John Hitchcox and developed by
Absolute which scooped this year’s Fractional Life 2010 Readers Award.

As the Summit proved, fractionals work at all levels. Fabrizio Harper, Head of Sales at Fractionallife.com mentioned a development that was selling shares for just under £7,000 – they sold fast. Low to mid market fractionals are popular in holiday spots like Turkey, Cyprus and Portugal while high end fractionals, those sleek penthouses in Paris and dreamy castles in Chianti country, are often part of a luxury lifestyle line-up also starring jets, yachts and vineyards. Whatever their budget, today’s buyers are risk-averse, so developers and agents must take steps to ensure the buyer understands what’s being bought, to offer a quality product in a good location, to manage it well and price it fairly.

In “Mid Market Fractionals – Where Are The Buyers?” Fabrizio Harper reinforced the potential of fractionals at all levels: “There’s a new generation of consumers hungry for this product and as we open up the market to more price points, we’ll see more people coming into fractionals.”

Paul Owen, Chief Executive of the Association of International Property Professionals, reminded us of “the myth of the great idea” from Felix Dennis’s bestseller, How To Grow Rich. It’s great to have a great idea…but it’s nothing if it’s not well implemented. As discussions turned to fractional resales, Peter Kempf, President and CEO of Peter Kempf International stressed that anyone reselling fractionals must be able to “explain how fractionals work, succinctly and eloquently,” and added that many fractional buyers told him it was “the best money they ever spent”.

The question of clarifying and defining fractional ownership kept surfacing. Lawyer Andy Sirkin, whose Paris and San Franciscobased law firm has handled over 5,000 fractional real estate transations since 1985, touched on the definition of the various models on the market. The most popular definition is the quarter to twelfth equity share of a holiday home, but non-equity, deeded and non-deeded contracts are also part of the fractional world.

Of course while we hypothesised over the future of European fractionals on a cold, rainy day in Mayfair (at our American-owned Marriott across from the American Embassy) there were plenty of Americans enjoying their ski in, ski out chalets in Aspen or doing a few laps in their Florida holiday home pools – thanks, in main, to The Registry Collection, winner of Fractional Life’s Services To The Industry Award 2010. It’s the world’s largest luxury exchange programme, with over 130 affiliates on five continents, more than 35,000 members and 160 world-class properties in its impressive portfolio.

Nick Turner, The Registry Collection’s VP and Head of New Business Development, Europe, commented on how mainstream media is picking up the fractional story, demonstrated by half page coverage on the front page of the FT’s “House and Home” supplement. But it won’t just be the British who’ll be buying. He believes buyer demographics are changing: “The majority of fractional buyers over the next few years are going to come from Europe, including Russia and Eastern Europe, and to a lesser extent from the Middle East.”

The internet’s pivotal role in sales and branding was reflected in two New Media Sessions. After a video presentation by James Bacon, UK Account Manager at Google Property, the panel debated “Is web search optimisation dead?” The definitive answer was no, but a good web strategy must include social media – Twitter and Facebook, et al – to compete in today’s property market.

So, the future? Champagne corks will pop when the big five-star hotel brands like the Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons join the fractional party in Europe. Having those big names on board will lend valuable weight and credibility to the industry. Meanwhile, “boutique” property agents will continue to successfully sell boutique developments (as specialists they understand how to sell the fractional model) and although the big boys may be watching they’re not yet participating, perhaps, except for Winkworths. Exeterbased Director Simon Scott-Nelson who was on the Meet The Agents panel explained why his Winkworths office is now selling unique waterfront fractional residences to its affluent clientele.

During the Ultimate Q&A on the final day, a number of delegates asked what was being done to create awareness of the industry in Europe, and to secure consumer finance for the product. Guest speaker Paul Gardner-Bougaard, Chief Executive of FSOTA (Fractional and Shared Ownership Trade Association) www.fsota.org strongly encouraged developers to join the industry’s only official trade association. Only then, under a united front, with FSOTA’s ability to lobby, and the support of its parent company the Resort Development Organisation (RDO), will the fractional industry be able to address issues as important as financing, regulation and consumer and media awareness – all nothing short of crucial to the future of an
industry that could experience unprecedented development in the next five to ten years, all being well.

Likewise, consumers, now in a position to buy an affordable segment of the holiday home they always wanted, will be able to have their cake and eat it…preferably with a Grappa on the terrace of their Tuscan townhouse, their piece of a place in the sun.

Second International industry award for the Absolute World Group this year

The Absolute World Group, Asia’s leading lifestyle property developer, resorts and hotels operator, fractional ownership and vacation club pioneers, have collected their latest international award from the highly respected American Resort Development Association.

The ARDA Awards Program is organized by the American Resort Development Association and is committed to recognizing the best nominees submitted in areas that include overall professional excellence, outstanding sales accomplishments, product design, advertising, and staff.

The Absolute World Group was nominated in the Advertising and Promotion Division and made the short-list of four finalists for the Video Production category. Their Point Of Sale film ‘We Are Your World’ beat productions from leading international vacation operators to win the category.

Mr. Bryan Lunt, Chairman of the Absolute World Group of Companies said, “It is a great achievement to be recognized in the American market for our outstanding work in international sales and marketing. This award is in recognition of the hard work of our Absolute World team. The video also highlights the quality of our Thailand properties and puts these destinations on a global map.”

It is the mission of the Awards Program to provide a fair and equal evaluation of achievement within the vacation ownership industry. The award from ARDA is the second award for the Absolute World Group in 2010 following the Fractional Life Readers Choice Award in London for their designer resort development, yooPhuket.

Following a further two recent development successes in Phuket – Absolute Bangla Suites (opened October 2009) and Absolute Nakalay Beach Resort (opened January 2010) the Absolute World Group are soon to be adding to their collection of designer boutique resorts with the launch of The Beach Samui, by YOO, and their independent Absolute Developments project, Absolute Twin Sands Spa and Resort, which is expected to be completed in 2012.

About the Absolute World Group
Founded in 1998, the Absolute World Group of companies has positioned its 1300 staff tactically across China, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia and Thailand, offering a seamless range of services within the world of Resorts and Hotels inclusive of a worldwide network of International Estate Agencies, a highly successful Vacation Club, boasting thousands of members and their pioneering Fractional Ownership and Resale division.

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