Having acquired a stunning location in south-west Turkey for its 2^nd Turkish resort, Club La Costa is creating a flagship property by giving it the ‘California’ branding, the hallmark of its top quality resorts in Spain.

Named Kusadasi Village, the resort, atop a treed hill with sweeping views across national park land to the shoreline and the Greek island of Samos, is Club La Costa’s first to feature an 18-hole golf course; the course is also the first for the popular tourist destination of Kusadasi.

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Shell Vacations LLC has recently announced the opening of a new offsite sales gallery in Anaheim, California for the sales of its points-based Shell Vacations Club (SVC) vacation ownership product.

According to Jack Chevrier, SVC Senior VP of Sales and Marketing “The 5,000 square foot preview center is located within the Shops at Anaheim Garden Walk and features an oasis of outdoor shopping, entertainment and dining, to include P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and The Cheesecake Factory. Gardenwalk is centered one block from Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center on West Katella and Disney Way and a short drive from Angel Stadium. The new sales site is also about a block from our Peacock Suites resort, which features 139 one- two- and three-bedroom vacation suites. We are delighted with this new alliance.”

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Emily Ceruzzi of Global Connections, Inc. (www.exploregci.com) was recently named the recipient of one of the most prestigious awards presented annually by the Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers (C.A.R.E.), a vacation industry trade association. Emily was honored at C.A.R.E.’s historical 25th semi-annual conference, held in late April in New Orleans.

According to C.A.R.E president Alain Carr, “Emily was selected to receive the coveted Richard Gallardo Award for the important role she played in raising sponsorship funds to help defray speaker and conference costs. She has been a dedicated C.A.R.E. member for eleven years and currently serves on the Membership Benefits and Sponsorship Committees.”

Presented annually in recognition of outstanding service to C.A.R.E., the award was created in honor of Richard Gallardo, who served the organization for many years. Emily received her award from Ricky Gallardo, the son of Kathleen and Richard Gallardo, who were one of C.A.R.E.’s founding member families and present at the organization’s inaugural conference 25 years ago.

A nine-year veteran with Global Connections Inc. (GCI), Ceruzzi serves as General Manager of GCI’s 38-unit Sea Shells Beach Club, located in Daytona Beach, Florida. As General Manager, Ceruzzi leads 15 resort employees in the day-to-day operation of the property. She also handles marketing for resort rentals, oversees the centralized ordering for several Global properties, supervises four reservation agents and assists GCI travel club members with questions. Previously, she was manager of the Global Southeast Florida member fulfillment office for the nationally respected travel club company.

As a leader in the travel club industry, the 23-year old Global Connections provides its 150,000 members with a host of benefits and vacationing options to more than 700 resorts located from the Midwest to the Caribbean. GCI is the owner and developer of five resorts in California, Colorado, Florida and Tennessee and also owns multiple resort condominium units in Florida, Hawaii, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Partner alliances with exchange and cruise organizations, along with owned and leased properties provide on-demand locations in popular vacation destinations around the world for the company’s expanding member base. The company’s 28 sales centers are located in 20 states and are distributors of its travel club product, Global Discovery Vacations.
For more information visit www.exploregci.com

RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, and Grand Pacific Resorts, a premier vacation ownership company, announced they have renewed their long-standing affiliation.

“For over 16 years Grand Pacific Resorts has been a very valued partner of RCI, offering quality vacation experiences to our 3.8 million subscribing members,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “This renewal of our affiliation allows us to continue our great working relationship and offer both RCI members and Grand Pacific Resort owners the vacation experiences they desire.”

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, Grand Pacific Resorts has eleven RCI-affiliated resorts in their portfolio and more than 45,000 owners.

“Through the years, Grand Pacific Resorts and RCI have enjoyed a great relationship,” said David Brown, co-president of Grand Pacific Resorts. “We’re glad to continue our affiliation and look forward to successful collaborations in the years to come.”

Co-president Tim Stripe added, “RCI increases the benefit of our owners’ vacation purchase as they may exchange for literally thousands of destinations around the world.  In return we see that Grand Pacific Resorts are among RCI’s most popular and often requested group of resorts. It is clearly a win-win affiliation.”

About RCI
RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange and 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 and 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 www.wyndhamer.com or the media center of www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

About Grand Pacific Resorts
Grand Pacific Resorts is one of the oldest and largest vacation ownership companies based in California. With over 45,000 owner-families Grand Pacific Resort Management services fourteen properties, including the recently-developed Grand Pacific MarBrisa Resort in Carlsbad, California. For more information visit www.grandpacificresortservices.com  or call Sharrie McIntosh at 760-431-8500.

Vacation ownership resort company, Welk Resorts, announces record-high numbers for 2009….expectations for 2010 and coming decade are high.

Welk Resorts reported having record sales in 2009 of the Welk Resorts Platinum Program – a multi-resort, points-based, vacation ownership program. Welk Resorts President Jonathan Fredricks says, “Despite a rough economic year for many in the timeshare resort industry, we found that adhering to our core competency in providing an excellent product at affordable prices helped us achieve over $72 million in net revenue with strong sales efficiencies, beating our budget by over 15 percent.”

“We believe our focus on remaining profitable in our sales and marketing departments, rather than developing a dependence on earnings from the finance side of the business, is a principle reason for our success,” added Don Dubin, who directs the company’s sales and marketing activities. “We’ve also concentrated on retaining a consistent, excellent and well-trained staff, many of whom have been with us for more than two decades. Welk Resorts has a well-deserved reputation for integrity and honesty; and this is the way we perform throughout the organization.”

Welk recently opened its seventh property, Sirena del Mar, in Los Cabos – a 222-unit, luxury project, situated on a seven-acre, seaside expanse overlooking the Sea of Cortez and anticipates adding to their inventory mix substantially in the coming year.

“The prospects for continued top sales results are excellent,” adds Dubin. “Thankfully, Welk Resorts has a lot of marketing momentum going right now and we plan to capitalize on that.”

About Welk Resorts
Welk Resorts offers high-quality accommodations and top-rated service at popular destinations, such as San Diego; Palm Desert, California; Maui and Branson, Missouri and serves over 40,000 families. Welk Resorts has a unique face-to-face marketing platform from which it generates guest tours and leads, with over 50 sports franchise, retail, fairs and events alliance locations in Southern California, including Staples Center, Knott’s Berry Farm, San Diego Padres, LA Dodgers, the San Diego Chargers, Live Nation and the San Diego County Fair. Welk Resorts has presold approximately 70 percent of the points in this phase at Sirena Del Mar, which is part of the Welk Resorts multi-site club system, Welk Resorts Platinum Program.  Points backed by Sirena Del Mar resort intervals are available at Welk’s four preview center locations in Mexico, Missouri and California. Welk Resorts Platinum Program members and Interval International exchange guests will be able to use their points to enjoy Sirena del Mar or any of the company’s six other timeshare resorts.

John Farrow, President of Farrow Commercial Construction has recently become a member of the prestigious Chairman’s League of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

Chairman’s League members are called upon to provide insight into current industry issues and to help develop and guide association programs. Membership indicates a high level of commitment to the vacation ownership industry and provides direct contact with the ARDA Chairman and association president. Through an additional involvement with the industry trade association, John Farrow was recently named lead for the Regulatory sub-content group within ARDA’s Construction and Design Council, helping to advise members on construction and regulatory issues.

As part of his Chairman’s League involvement, Farrow Commercial will also be a sponsor of the March 14-18 annual convention in Las Vegas at The Venetian Hotel as well as a sponsor of RCI/AIF Golf Tournament held in conjunction with the same event.

Farrow Commercial Construction, Inc. of Santa Rosa, California, is a premier construction company, specializing in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries. In conjunction with its affiliate companies, Farrow has specialized in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance within its ADA Division for more than 15 years. The company is also highly respected for their commercial refurbishment, remodeling, and addition projects. Although based in California, Farrow works nationally and either has or obtains the appropriate general contracting licenses and insurance requirements for every state in which they work.

For more information, contact John Farrow at 707-591-0225 or visit their newly designed website at www.FarrowCommercial.com

Quintess, LRW is thrilled to announce a new enclave on the enchanting Caribbean island of Saint Martin, the latest addition to the Club’s portfolio of more than 40 coveted destinations worldwide. The enclave is located within the superlative La Samanna Resort & Spa, a secluded paradise on the French side of the island offering extensive privileges, activities and services to Quintess, LRW Members. The Club is initially bringing on two free standing villas, each with a private infinity pool and panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea, for stays as of February 20, 2010.

With the best homes and availability in the destination club industry, the Club’s financial strength and stability, and attractive payment options, Quintess, LRW continues to welcome new Members. Now with 525+ Members, the Club’s growth in turn allows Quintess, LRW to add breadth and depth to the home portfolio and enhance its Members’ travel opportunities. This year alone, in addition to the new Saint Martin enclave, Quintess, LRW has opened a second home in La Quinta, California, and created its fourth and most recent enclave environment in Aspen, Colorado with the addition of two slope-side homes adjacent to, and receiving amenities through, The Ritz-Carlton Residence Club.

“We are pleased to open this new enclave of four-bedroom, oceanfront villas in Saint Martin for our Members, building on our portfolio of great luxury homes. These homes, along with the extensive amenities provided by La Samanna Resort & Spa, exemplify the Quintess, LRW experience our Members enjoy,” said Greg Eure, President of Quintess, LRW.

With Saint Martin, the Club’s fifth enclave, Quintess, LRW continues to deliver the best of the best by providing its Members five-star services and amenities within A-list destinations: La Samanna Resort & Spa, which is part of the world renowned Orient-Express Hotels portfolio, is frequently ranked by Travel & Leisure magazine as one of the top 10 hotels for service in the Caribbean.

“This interest from the elite membership of Quintess, LRW reinforces the status of La Samanna as one of the finest residential communities anywhere in the Caribbean, as well as the stature of Orient-Express in the world of luxury real estate. We are delighted to be working together,” said Paul White, President and Chief Executive Officer, Orient-Express Hotels.

The Club’s villas are prominently located within the resort, on a bluff offering sweeping views of the sea, and ideally situated to take advantage of La Samanna’s enviable private beach and comprehensive resort amenities. Also recognized as a Small Leading Hotel of the World, La Samanna truly is an exclusive haven for luxurious living, elegant accommodations, delectable cuisine and family-friendly activities. While many other destination clubs have compounds of condos within resorts, Quintess, LRW knows that family and friends prefer homes with ample space and privacy after a day on the beach, at the spa, or touring the island.

About Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World (quintess.com)
Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World is a luxury destination club that creates highly personalized vacation experiences for its Members. Quintess, LRW provides its Members with access to 80+ multimillion-dollar residences and experiences in 40+ international resort and city destinations, including Aspen, Los Cabos, Florence, Hawaii, Jackson Hole, London, Napa Valley, New York City, Paris, Saint Martin and Tuscany, among countless others. As part of Quintess, LRW’s strategic relationship with The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., the Club now offers Q Leading Experiences at select member hotels around the globe. With 525+ Members, the Club remains committed to financial transparency and full disclosure and continues the practice of providing its Members with third party audited financial statements. For more information about Quintess, LRW please call 800.550.0324 or visit quintess.com.

About Orient-Express Hotels (orient-express.com)
Orient-Express, the name behind an elite collection of travel experiences, first came into being in 1883 as one of the world’s most exciting and indulgent train journeys. Today those same two evocative words also embrace hotels, cruises and other luxury rail adventures in 25 countries, across five continents. The company’s overriding commitment to providing the highest quality of service, products and amenities in its hotels, trains and cruises is also a standard in its real estate developments. In addition to Porto Cupecoy, Orient-Express is currently offering luxury lifestyle residences at The Villas at La Samanna (Saint Martin), Keswick Estate (Charlottesville, Virginia) and Napasai (Koh Samui, Thailand). The company owns developable land in Madeira; Riviera Maya, Mexico; and St. Michaels, Maryland.

Hospitality Giant Slated to Create More than 12,000 New Jobs in the Coming Year

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announces plans to add more than 12,000 new jobs to the global workforce in 2010 – with roughly half of these jobs to be located inside the U.S. in markets spanning from New York to California. The news comes on the heels of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ employment situation report issued Friday that indicates unemployment remained at 10% in December, with 15.3 million unemployed persons.

“Today, the travel industry employs 7.7 million Americans – more than double that of the auto industry – and travel is uniquely positioned to create even more jobs as the economy continues to recover,” said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood. “After a year of hunkering down and cutting costs, companies are driving their topline again. By definition this means getting back on the road, which not only benefits their own business, but also helps spur job creation.”

The majority of the new jobs will be created through the 80-100 new hotels Starwood and its development partners are slated to open this year globally. These hotels, which span Starwood’s nine brands, will be located in key urban markets like New York City and Los Angeles, as well smaller markets like Biloxi, Miss. and Kalamazoo Mich. Hotels will offer a range of positions including general management; human resources; food and beverage; engineering and maintenance; housekeeping; spa and guest services.

Upcoming hotels now hiring or soon to begin include The Westin Austin at The Domain; Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel; W Hotel & Spa – Vieques Island, and the Four Points by Sheraton Biloxi Beach Boulevard. Individuals interested in pursuing a career at Starwood and one of its hotels can visit www.starwood.jobs. Candidates can also go to http://new-hotels.starwoodpromos.com/ to learn about opportunities and contact information at specific hotels.

These jobs are expected to be in high demand as in 2009 Starwood’s hotels have seen record numbers of applicants. For example, at the soon-to-open W Hollywood Hotel & Residences, more than 10,000 people applied for its 400 positions. More than 10,000 people applied for 300 positions at the recently opened W Washington D.C. And at the Sheraton Augusta Hotel in Georgia, which opened in December, more than 400 individuals applied for its 30 housekeeping positions.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 982 properties in more than 100 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(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Méridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and ElementSM. 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.

Global Connections, Inc. (GCI) one of the nation’s most respected travel clubs, has recently assumed responsibility for the property management and onsite rental program for the whole ownership condo/hotel units at the Beso Del Sol Resort in Dunedin, Florida.

Located on the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida, Beso Del Sol, one of five company-owned resorts, was acquired in July 2008. After its purchase, the waterfront property enjoyed a multi-million dollar renovation project of the nearly 80 units and common areas.

GCI will provide all condominium maintenance and housekeeping services on behalf of the developer as the resort’s property management company. Additionally, the on-site rental and guest services office will be professionally managed and staffed by GCI employees for owners desiring to participate in their program. GCI has an impressive record of success with the development and management of numerous resort properties and over 300 individually owned condo units throughout the U.S. and beyond.

GCI will be utilizing internet-marketing distribution channels for the promotion of its onsite rental inventory. There will be a new marketing focus on weddings and special events.

Selected as General Manager of the Beso Del Sol Resort is Lou Anne Karlin, a veteran of more than five years in the hospitality arena. Karlin previously handled sales, marketing and special events planning for a large international non-profit organization.  Utilizing her expertise in this highly specialized field, GCI plans to transform the Beso Del Sol Resort into a popular destination location for special gatherings.

The whole ownership condominiums include a mix of garden and Gulf-view studio units, as well as one- and two-bedroom townhouses, plus direct Gulf-front studio units. Amenities include two swimming pools, hot tub, oceanfront sundeck, fitness center and video game room, private pier with deep-water boat slips available for sale or rent, plus a Tiki bar and grill. A waterfront restaurant is planned for the near future.

As a leader in the growing travel industry, the 21-year old Global Connections provides its 150,000 members with a host of benefits and vacationing options to more than 700 resorts located from the Midwest to the Caribbean. GCI is the owner and developer of five resorts in California, Colorado, Florida and Tennessee and also owns multiple resort condominium units in Florida, Hawaii, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Partner alliances with exchange and cruise organizations, along with owned and leased properties provide on-demand locations in popular vacation destinations around the world for the company’s expanding member base. The company’s 28 sales centers are located in 20 states and are distributors of its travel club product, Global Discovery Vacations. For additional information, contact Melanie Gring at 561-417-7559 or mgring@gcitravel.net

Los Cabos resort offers new upscale property with ‘old world Mexico’ design and hospitality.

Welk Resorts opened its seventh vacation ownership resort last month – Sirena del Mar, located in Los Cabos, Mexico. Members of the Welk Resorts Platinum Program will now have access to the 222-unit, luxury project, which is situated on a seven-acre, seaside expanse overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Sirena del Mar or, “mermaid of the sea,” lies almost 15 miles east of the laid-back, colonial town of San Jose del Cabo and only four miles east of Mexico’s trendiest hotspot, Cabo San Lucas. The resort enjoys the best of both these communities, which together constitute the world-famous tourist destination of Los Cabos.

Sirena del Mar is designed to invoke ‘old world Mexico’ with a contemporary flavor and crests a cliff 60 feet above the Sea of Cortez. From their villas, guests can enjoy a magnificent view of waves hitting rocky outcroppings below and the famous Cabo Arch. Complementing the resort’s stunning appearance is the extraordinarily high level of friendly, personal service for which both Mexico and Welk Resorts are famous.

There’s always plenty to do. Families and loved ones reconnect by swimming, snorkeling or enjoying a lazy day at the resort’s secluded, semi-private cove beach. A short ride away are hundreds of shops and tiendas offering bargain prices for elegantly handcrafted goods from jewelry and clothing to home décor items. More adventuresome travelers can ramp up the pace with parasailing, jet skiing or an eco-tour into the heart of nearby Baja. Plus, the area’s dining and nightlife enjoy well-deserved reputations for being first-rate and extremely affordable.

Vacationers staying at Sirena del Mar can ‘people-watch’ as cruise ships and other vessels come and go into the town’s busy port. Owners can enjoy a swim-up bar in the vanishing edge pool, as well as breakfast and lunch at the main bar, in one of the palapas, or on the pool deck. In addition, there is a fitness room, game room and an owner’s lounge. After a busy day of play, guests can unwind on their private balcony, watching an occasional whale spout during the winter migration and admire a romantic sunset over the ocean’s horizon.

Designed so that all suites enjoy an ocean view, the resort will eventually have five buildings. Ranging from 1,375-square-foot penthouses, two-bedroom/two-bath villas and 1,370-square-foot two-bedroom units to 950-square-foot one-bedroom suites, each accommodation has a kitchen, living room, dining area, Jacuzzi, balcony or patio and a washer/dryer. The resort’s decks feature a soothing wet-wall sculpture, thatched palapas and a fire-pit.

About Welk Resorts
Welk Resorts offers high-quality accommodations and top-rated service at high-quality projects located in San Diego and the Palm Desert area, California, Maui, Hawaii and Branson, Missouri and serves over 40,000 families. Welk Resorts has presold approximately 50 percent of the points in this phase at Sirena Del Mar, which is part of the Welk Resorts multi-site club system, Welk Resorts Platinum Program.  Points backed by Sirena Del Mar resort intervals are available at Welk’s four preview center locations in Mexico, Missouri and California. Welk Resorts Platinum Program members and Interval International exchange guests will be able to use their points to enjoy Sirena del Mar or any of the company’s six other timeshare resorts.