The Walt Disney Company today reported earnings for its fiscal year and fourth quarter ended October 1, 2011. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the year increased 24% to $2.52 from $2.03 in the prior year. For the quarter, diluted EPS was $0.58 compared to $0.43 in the prior-year quarter.

“Fiscal 2011 was a great year financially and strategically, demonstrating the strength of our brands and businesses with record revenue, net income and earnings per share,” said Disney President and CEO Robert A. Iger. “We are confident the Company is well-positioned to deliver long-term value for our shareholders with our focus on quality content, compelling uses of technology and global asset growth.”

Parks and Resorts revenues for the year increased 10% to $11.8 billion and segment operating income increased 18% to $1.6 billion. For the quarter, revenues increased 11% to $3.1 billion and segment operating income increased 33% to $421 million.

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Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO), the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, today announced it has completed renovations on its 15th resort in Hawaii – Wyndham Vacation Resorts Royal Garden at Waikiki.

The 140-room property was acquired by WVO in late 2007 and was previously named The Royal Garden Hotel and Spa. The property has remained operating while major interior renovations and other redevelopment as a vacation ownership resort occurred, with rentals offered through Extra Holidays by Wyndham, a subsidiary of WVO that specializes in resort condominium rentals. It is anticipated that in the fall the resort will welcome Wyndham’s timeshare owners and vacation ownership interest sales will commence.

“With the addition of our 15th resort in Hawaii we are solidifying our position as the industry’s largest and most successful timeshare developer in Hawaii,” said Franz Hanning, president and chief executive officer, Wyndham Vacation Ownership. “We are very proud to provide yet another world-class property in this highly desirable destination for our more than 800,000 owners and guests.”

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Diamond Resorts International® promotes eco-awareness as resorts worldwide produce sustainable gardens

Diamond Resorts International® (Diamond), a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, continues its global sustainability efforts through the cultivation and utilization of local fruit, vegetable and herb gardens at resorts worldwide. Ka‘anapali Beach Club in Maui, Hawaii, The Historic Powhatan Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia and Vilar do Golf in Algarve, Portugal each utilize on-site sustainable gardens for everyday cooking in resort restaurants.

The use of these gardens enhances the natural environment while benefiting the ecosystem and local economy. Minimal chemical pesticides and fertilizers are used during production and the installation of underground watering systems decreases water waste and eliminates runoff. Each garden boasts unique features and hosts an array of fresh produce native to the area while specific to the cultural cuisine and restaurant offerings. In addition to cooking benefits for the restaurants, the gardens have also proven useful as an educational tool for guests and children as they are allowed to tour the gardens, pick fresh ingredients and participate in cooking demos.

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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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In a ceremony on the lagoon fronting the site of Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai’i, local crew members from Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc. joined with Disney cast members (employees) to celebrate the completion of major structural work on the Disney resort and the beginning of Disney’s “time to add the magic.”

The event was a symbolic representation of the shared efforts of Disney and Hawaiian Dredging in building the new resort, which will welcome its first guests on Aug. 29, 2011. The construction crew and Aulani Disney team met on the beach to exchange gifts – lei from the construction workers to the Disney cast, and Mickey Mouse ears from the Disney cast to the construction workers.  As part of the milestone moment, Hawaiian Dredging “handed over the keys” to the people who will add final detailing, theming, landscaping and all the other magical touches guests expect to find at a Disney resort.

Djuan Rivers, vice president of Disney Vacation Club and Resort, Hawai’i, joined with Eric Hashizume, vice president of Hawaiian Dredging and Elliot Mills, managing director of Aulani, to bring the construction workers and Disney team members together to begin “adding the magic” to Aulani. They gathered on the sand to form the image of the trademark Aulani arch and then transformed it into the familiar silhouette of Mickey Mouse. Mickey, Minnie and their Disney character pals joined in the celebration.

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Trading Places International (TPI) holds an A+ national accreditation rating – the highest honor achieved from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

Ratings are determined by a formula in accordance with the BBB’s guidelines, which encompass the importance and the appropriate “score” for each category, including experience, operation time, advertising, complaint history, and accreditation.

In order to achieve such a prestigious rating, Trading Places has shown its worth as an honest and reliable company, acknowledging consumer complaints and promptly resolving problems for over 36 years.

“We’re pleased to join such an elite group of hospitality service businesses in the BBB accreditation system,” said RJ Jackson, TPI President. “We will strive to meet the BBB’s high expectations, and continue to exceed those of our customers.”

Trading Places International is a 36-year veteran of the travel and vacation ownership industries. It is the only vertically-integrated, independent timeshare company providing full service resort/association management, timeshare rentals and exchanges, and travel agency services. It currently oversees more than 71,000 timeshare owners at over 30 resort locations in Hawaii, Mexico, South America, and mainland United States. www.tradingplaces.com

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.

Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i conveys the connection of the new resort to the islands

The highly anticipated Disney destination resort currently under construction on the Hawaiian island of O‘ahu now has an official name and a dynamic new Web site offering an inside look at the project. The resort’s name – Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai‘i – reflects the company’s deep commitment to celebrating the islands’ rich history and traditions. Plans call for the first phase of the resort to open in fall 2011.

Artist's Concept - Proposed

“We want this resort destination to reflect the vibrant culture that surrounds it. The name ‘Aulani’ expresses a connection to tradition and deep story-telling – and its roots are here in this land,” said Joe Rohde, Senior Vice President, Creative for Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re so grateful to the local Hawaiians who led us to the discovery of this name, and our goal is to live up to its meaning.”

Rohde noted that Aulani translated from the Hawaiian language to English, means “the place that speaks for the great ones” or “the place that speaks with deep messages.”

The Resort
Nearby to historical sites on the western side of O‘ahu, Aulani will be located on 21 acres of oceanfront property in the Ko Olina Resort & Marina development.  The Resort is planned to have 360 hotel rooms and 481 two-bedroom equivalent Disney Vacation Club villas.

Design plans call for amenities to engage every member of the family, a hallmark of a Disney vacation.  Among the recreational highlights planned for the resort are pools and sunset facing hot tubs, a snorkeling lagoon, a variety of kids’ club and other play programs for children, and a river, suitable for tube floating, running through a specially created volcanic outcropping.

The resort will also include an 18,000-square-foot spa designed with families in mind.  The resort, built adjacent to a crystal blue lagoon and a white-sand beach, is planned to also have two restaurants, a 14,545-square-foot conference center and 48,685 square feet of outdoor venues. Located nearby are the existing Ko Olina Marina and a Ted Robinson-designed, 18-hole Championship Golf course.

The Web Site
Disney has launched a new preview Web site, www.DisneyAulani.com, to provide updates and background information on the resort now under construction.  The site also details some of the adventures and amenities under development, and includes conceptual art, descriptions of resort highlights, regularly updated resort information and photos of Aulani as it nears completion.

“We are looking forward to welcoming guests to Aulani to share the fun, immersive family vacation experiences Disney is known for combined with the beauty and culture of Hawai‘i,” said Djuan Rivers, Vice President, Disney Vacation Club and Resort, Hawai‘i.  “We are turning to the Hawaiian culture for inspiration in everything we are doing at Aulani, and we hope our guests will not only enjoy the Disney experience, but will also embrace the unique culture of Hawai‘i and its diverse people.”

Further details about the 2010 TATOC conference “Working Together” have been announced. The event is being held at the Nottingham Belfry from Friday 26th March to Sunday 28th March, 2010.

Stephen J. Cloobeck

Stephen J. Cloobeck is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Resorts International®.  Mr. Cloobeck has over 25 years of experience in development, construction, management, operations, marketing and sales of real estate properties including vacation ownership resorts, hotels, retail shopping centres, office and apartment buildings.

Today, Diamond Resorts International®, with global headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, is one of the largest vacation ownership companies in the world with more than 160 branded and affiliated resorts and over 24,000 guest beds in 26 countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Offering simplicity, choice and comfort to more than 400,000 owners and members through the branded hospitality service of more than 5,500 team members worldwide, Diamond Resorts International® is dedicated to providing its guests with effortless and relaxing vacation experiences every time, for a lifetime.

Mr. Cloobeck is widely recognized as one of the most innovative, successful and accomplished entrepreneurs in the global vacation ownership industry and under his leadership, annually, nearly 1.4 million owners, members and guests enjoy the simplicity, choice and comfort Diamond Resorts International® offers through its branded hospitality experience.

This year’s conference is expected to surpass previous records for attendance and sponsorship.  It is the ideal event for timeshare owners and industry professionals to network while enjoying superb speakers.

Details of other speakers will be announced soon.

Booking forms are now available to download at www.timeshareassociation.org
For more information please contact harry.taylor@timeshareassociation.org
Telephone 00 44 (0)161 237 3611   Fax 00 44 (0)161 237 3611