With construction scheduled to begin no later than June, Morritt Properties plans to invest some $58 million during the next five to 10 years in order to expand its East End resort development on Grand Cayman island.

According to a report in cayCompass.com, Morritt Properties has set a goal of doubling time-share ownership to more than 30,000 members.

“I’m so excited about the future,” owner David Morritt said in a news release. “We’ve had a brilliant year, and it’s only going to get better.”

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), has added to its exchange network Jungle Bay Resort & Spa on Dominica in the West Indies. The mixed-use property has been featured in publications, including National Geographic Traveler, the New York Times, and Travel + Leisure as a model of ecotourism, while winning numerous awards for its sustainable development.

“Jungle Bay is recognized as one of the top ecotourism resorts in the Caribbean owing to its commitment to operate in an environmentally responsible manner,” said David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International. “Our members will appreciate the care that was taken to develop this special retreat and enjoy the natural beauty of their surroundings.”

The resort’s 35 treehouse-style cabins are tucked away on a hillside on 55 acres near Morne Trois Pitons National Park, one of the 17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Caribbean. It was built in accordance with the international sustainable tourism guidelines set by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES).

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Law firm Baker Hostetler was, for the 4th year in a row, recognized as having one of the country’s strongest hospitality law practices by legal industry resource Chambers USA. The firm is one of only three firms recognized for excellent client service and keen commercial awareness by the organization.

Chambers noted that the firm is “known for its resorts work in Florida and the Caribbean. The backbone of its practice comes from mixed-use projects, involving management agreements, development and financing matters. In the past year the group represented Hard Rock Hotels in the drafting and negotiation of management agreements for hotels in Qatar and Miami, among other places. It also advised Hyatt on the documentation process for several mixed-use projects in several locations, including New York and Miami.”

Chambers made special mention of Rob Webb and John Melicharek, as Webb was highly recommended by peers as an acknowledged expert in timeshare-related matters. Melicharek was described as efficient, knowledgeable and good at solving problems, with his main specialties including mixed-use matters.

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The independent multi-media information leader for the timeshare and fractional industry is expanding its North America operation.

Timeshare and fractional ownership information provider Perspective Magazine announces that Steve Luba has been promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer for the company’s North America operation. He will continue to report to Paul Mattimoe, president and CEO of the Perspective group of companies.

“We are very excited to have Steve take the reins of our North America business,” said Mattimoe. “Our Perspective Magazine North America edition has grown rapidly this year, cementing its position as the largest independent publication in print and online for the region. Now, with the development of our GNEX Conferences and other projects we have in the pipeline, we plan to expand our U.S. based team which Steve will manage along with the implementation of our various multi-media initiatives into the Canadian, U.S., Mexican and Caribbean markets.”

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services, is pleased to announce that The Honourable Richard L. Sealy, Barbados Minister of Tourism, will be a featured speaker at the Shared Ownership Investment Conference on June 1. The educational forum for developers, hoteliers, and lenders interested in various shared ownership business models will be held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre in Bridgetown, Barbados. Delegates will be welcomed at an opening reception on May 31.

“We are very pleased that Minister Sealy is participating in our upcoming conference and appreciate the support of the Barbados government. This gathering is particularly relevant in light of the important role that shared ownership can play in the growth of hospitality and tourism in the Caribbean in a recovering economy,” said Bryan Ten Broek, Interval’s senior vice president of resort sales and business development.

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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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Online voting will end on April 29^th for timeshare and fractional industry professionals looking to assist in deciding the winners for the inaugural Perspective Magazine Awards Program.

Nearly 2,000 votes have already been cast online for nominees in the Perspective Magazine Awards program. However, timeshare and fractional industry professionals who have not yet cast their ballots only have until the end of this week to participate in the selection process.[membe]

April 29^th is the deadline for online voters to help choose between nearly 150 entries submitted for the awards program, with winners to be announced the evening of May 12^th, 2011 during a Gala dinner at the conclusion of global networking expo GNEX 2011.

Online voting is being conducted through the Perspective Magazine website at http://perspectivemagazine.com/awards, with voters asked to go to the website and follow the links for instructions on how to vote for their favorite individual or company. Once online voting is concluded, the votes will be added to the decisions of a select panel of industry experts in a process to decide the award winners.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the response from the industry so far during the voting process,” said Paul Mattimoe, president and CEO, Perspective Magazine. “With nominations coming in from around the world, we set up the website to make it as easy as possible for the industry to vote and they have exceeded our expectations. We are the only shared ownership industry awards program that includes this level of public involvement and look forward to expanding upon its success year on year.”

GNEX 2011 and the Perspective Magazine Awards will be held May 11^th-12^th, 2011 at the spectacular Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas and will take a comprehensive look at the industry from a global viewpoint. Industry associations from five continents have given their support to the event as attendees from the USA, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, South America, UK, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Russia, Thailand, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Australia will be examining creative new ways to grow their businesses.

Workshops discussing international best practices and new strategies to gain and maintain customers will provide outstanding value for delegates. The expo will also incorporate an exhibitor hall, networking sessions, a welcome reception, open networking time and areas for individual business meetings in addition to the Perspective Magazine Awards Gala dinner.

For more information and to find out how you can attend GNEX 2011, please visit http://perspectivemagazine.com/gnex

Sponsors and supporters of GNEX 2011 include:

The Absolute World Group, Dial an Exchange, Resort Television, Yucatan Holidays, Citadel Trustees Limited, Connex, First American Title Insurance Company, ICE, Interval International, LeisureLink, Max Generation, RCI, First National Trustee Company, Lloydshare, Alternative Ownership Conference Asia Pacific (AOCAP), Australian Timeshare & Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC), Canadian Resort Development Association (CRDA), Cooperative Association of Resort Exchangers (CARE), La Asociación Mexicana de Desarrolladores Turísticos (AMDETUR), Ragatz Fractional Interest Conference, Resort Development Organisation (RDO), Vacation Ownership Association of Southern Africa (VOASA), American Airlines, Avis Rent A Car and Christel House International as Charity of Choice.

About Perspective Magazine

Perspective Magazine publishes four regional brands: industry publications Perspective Magazine North America, Perspective Magazine Europe & Middle East, Perspective Magazine South Africa and Perspective Magazine Asia Pacific. Together, the industry magazines are the most read independent trade publications globally for the shared ownership industry and the company is a media sponsor of 30 major industry events around the world. The company’s consumer magazine, Owners Perspective Magazine, is the only independent consumer publication that specializes in promoting the benefits of buying shared ownership products to the general public.  Distribution is via a variety of high-profile consumer channels including, but not limited to, more than 150 first class airport lounges worldwide with over a dozen airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta as well as hundreds of luxury hotels, resorts, spas and golf clubs.

For more information, please visit http://perspectivemagazine.com/gnex or email Steve Luba, Director of Public Relations, at steveluba(at)perspectivemagazine.com. For information on advertising and editorial opportunities visit http://perspectivemagazine.com/advertise. [/member]

FractionalExchange.com® has announced that Ocean Terrace Condominiums has selected FractionalExchange.com for the vacation exchange requirements of its condos in Anguilla, British West Indies.

Anguilla is currently one of the most desirable Caribbean islands. It is located 146 miles east of Puerto Rico and 6 miles north of St. Martin, and is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands. With 33 all-public white sand beaches, clear waters in many shades of blue, and fabulous restaurants, Anguilla is truly a pleasure to visit. The island offers great swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing and golf. In fact, those who enjoy golf will find the Temenos Golf Course designed by Greg Norman was recently listed as one of Golfweek’s 2011 Best Courses of the Caribbean and Mexico.

Ocean Terrace Condominiums are the perfect accommodation in such an ideal place. They consist of eleven one-and two-bedroom condos, set on a hill overlooking the Caribbean and the southeastern shore of Anguilla. One item most frequently mentioned by guests to the condos is the gorgeous panoramic views of the Caribbean sea and the neighboring island of St. Martin, available from each condo’s two private balconies, and is considered one of the best views on the island.

Square footage in the condos ranges from 1,100-1,500 square feet. They offer key amenities such as daily maid service, swimming pool, gourmet kitchens, air-conditioning, and WiFi Internet access.

Paul Nabor, Director of Sales at FractionalExchange.com states, “This island gem is a wonderful addition to our network. Members looking for a good dose of sunshine, beach and ocean time will want to arrange an exchange quickly. We also welcome Ocean Terrace owners as they take advantage of exchange opportunities within our collection, as well!”

Ocean Terrace Developer and Manager Ambrose Fleming states “Our owners wanted the opportunity to vacation in other parts of the world and had expressed interest in being able to exchange with owners elsewhere. We had been looking for an exchange partner that focuses on quality rather than quantity and really like the flexibility that FractionalExchange.com offers, with members being able to make direct contact with other owners in the network. Our participation in the FractionalExchange.com network will add real value to fractional ownership at Ocean Terrace and assist with us with the sale of our remaining units.”

Says Evan Julber, FractionalExchange.com CEO, “Having the Ocean Terrace Condominiums as part of our collection provides an island paradise for our members. The location will provide members with a terrific Caribbean destination.”

For additional information regarding this release and the services of FractionalExchange.com, visit http://www.fractionalexchange.com or contact Paul Nabor at 541.306.3180.

About FractionalExchange.com

FractionalExchange.com is a global online owner-to-owner exchange network for owners of upscale vacation residences and fractional properties. The company was established in 2008 by parent company Sierra Holdings, Incorporated, an Oregon Corporation with offices in Bend, Oregon, USA. Servers are located in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services, was a sponsor of the recent Caribbean Marketplace – the region’s preeminent business-to-business marketing event for the hotel and tourism industry. The gathering in Montego Bay, Jamaica, was organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and hosted by the Government of Jamaica, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association, and the Jamaica Tourist Board.

“We recognize the importance of Caribbean Marketplace as a venue that brings together regional tourism officials and hoteliers with tour operators and wholesalers interested in purchasing Caribbean vacations,” said Neil Kolton, Interval’s director of resort sales and service for the Caribbean and Florida. “By supporting this conference, which promotes tourism to the region, we can effectively help the Caribbean hospitality industry develop and expand.”

Steve Ford, Sunset Resorts (second left) with Interval International’s Neil Kolton (left), Sandra Fittipaldi (third from left) and Dmitri Pekhterev (right).

“CHTA acknowledges and greatly appreciates Interval, a long-standing partner, for its ongoing commitment to our organization,” said Alec Sanguinetti, director general and chief executive officer of CHTA. “Interval’s continued dedication to our programs has been vital to our industry, and in particular, to the success of Caribbean Marketplace.”

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Sol Meliá Vacation Club (SMVC), an international vacation membership club with locations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Europe, has been awarded the prestigious RCI Gold Grown Resort designation by RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, for its Gran Meliá Puerto Rico resort in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, minutes from the El Yunque rainforest.

A select number of RCI affiliated resorts meet RCI’s requirements for recognition and have earned the RCI Gold Crown Resort award. These resorts have attained high levels in resort accommodations, hospitality and member experiences as measured by RCI.

“We are excited that our product and experience in Puerto Rico exceeds RCI guest expectations, demonstrating the dedication and commitment of our team there,” said Denis Ebrill, Sol Meliá Vacation Club’s Executive Vice President.

L - R: Luis Perez, SMVC Resort Manager, Gran Meliá Puerto Rico; Julio Villasenor, SMVC Regional Director for Puerto Rico; Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President, Sol Meliá Vacation Club; Eugenio Macouzet, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Caribbean, RCI; and John Dishinger, Director of Business Development, Caribbean, RCI

Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club focusing on leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury suites, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities.  Each Sol Meliá Vacation Club vacation experience is different from the other, aligned with local culture and customized to fit Members’ leisure lifestyle needs.

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.

Orlando, Florida based Sol Meliá Vacation Club is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, a 50-year-old international hospitality company with over 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents.  Sol Meliá Vacation Club Members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world, as well as flexibility to choose length of stay, season and size of unit.  Featured Sol Meliá Vacation Club locations include Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean; Panama in Central America; and the Canary Islands, Spain, in Europe.  For more information, call 866-379-5950, or visit www.smvc.com.