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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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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Global hospitality and vacation ownership company promotes industry professional

DIAMOND RESORTS INTERNATIONAL® (Diamond), a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, today announced Sarah Hulme has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Global Club Operations.

Sarah Hulme will continue to oversee worldwide club operations and management as well as all service contact centers, including the United States and European customer service departments. Additionally, Ms. Hulme will manage the continued development of THE Club® member offerings involving member benefits and the resort affiliate program, which has grown the resort portfolio to nearly 200 resorts providing a choice on every continent since 2008. Her expertise of THE Club® at Diamond Resorts International® will continue to position Diamond as a worldwide hospitality and vacation ownership leader.

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Thai hospitality, renowned for its warmth, friendliness and smiles, just got a little warmer as two industry management leaders joined forces on a boutique resort in Phuket, Thailand.

As part of its expansion into the Asia Pacific region, LaTour Hotels and Resorts, which offers personalized, luxury hospitality management services for four- and five-star properties worldwide, and Tri-Asia, a hospitality management company based in Phuket, Thailand, will now manage the Dewa Phuket Resort.

“Asia is a premier travel destination for affluent leisure and business travelers and an exemplary model of service and hospitality at its highest level,” said Tom LaTour, chairman of LaTour Hotels and Resorts. “We have found an ideal partnership with Tri-Asia, whose philosophy, ‘Excellence through people, for people, with people,’ mirrors our own. With our combined strengths, we look forward to continuing to build the LaTour brand in the Asia Pacific region.”

Dewa Phuket Resort is a luxurious four-star plus resort consisting of 34 resort pool villas and 62 one- and two-bedroom residences located a stones throw from the white sandy beaches of Nai Yang on the Andaman Sea. Dewa Phuket is a spacious, tranquil paradise catering to the discerning traveler, featuring lush landscaped gardens, two large pools, a Qi Shiseido Spa with double private spa treatment rooms with outdoor baths, restaurants, bars, a Bread & Butter bakery, shops, 24-hour room service and more.

“We’re excited to put Dewa Phuket Resort into LaTour Hotels and Resorts’ group of managed properties and welcome their team’s expertise and guidance in providing premier services. By introducing LaTour, we will only further enhance what we have already achieved and thereby add more value for all our individual home owners at Dewa Phuket. As the saying goes, more tools in the tool box,” said Lars Ydmark, managing director of Tri-Asia.

Tri-Asia, headed by veteran hotelier Lars Ydmark, is well established in the Phuket region where LaTour Hotels and Resorts also manage the IndoChine Resort in Kalim Phuket.

About LaTour Hotels & Resorts
With headquarters in San Diego and San Francisco, LaTour Hotels & Resorts, previously known as ResortCom Elite, offers customized, luxury hospitality management services for four- and five-star properties. The company’s goal is to make the ownership experience as unique, tailored and memorable as possible through superior service, distinctive amenities, imaginative activities and an obsessive attention-to-detail.

Offering services ranging from conceptual planning through marketing, sales, staffing and operations, LaTour Hotels & Resorts specializes in managing new and existing luxury fractional, private residence club, hotel, mixed-use and condo resort developments. The global company currently operates properties in the United States, Mexico and Thailand with upcoming expansion plans throughout South America, Europe and Asia.

For more information, visit http://www.latourhotelsandresorts.com, or contact Sarah Rezak at 619-683-2470 x.1659 or e-mail srezak@latourhotelsandresorts.com.

Global hospitality and vacation ownership company recognizes timeshare resale opportunities

Diamond Resorts International® (DRI), a global leader in the hospitality and vacation ownership industries, has today announced it is working closely with its European membership who have authorized a third party reseller, Travel & Leisure Group (TLG), to act as reseller for Diamond Resorts European Collection (DREC) points. This is the first time DREC members have had the opportunity to deal directly with an authorized reseller.

Travel & Leisure Group International Timeshare Resale Brokerage, is a family owned company working closely with developers and helping owners to sell their timeshare and buyers to make the right choice when it comes to vacation holiday ownership. A financially sound international timeshare company, TLG have steadily consolidated and expanded their business throughout the world, and says Maria Mills-Farinas, Managing Director of TLG, “we are delighted to be able to offer the consumer this new opportunity and to assist Diamond Resorts European Collection members with a never before offered opportunity as well as a reputable partner and process. Many of the members have been with Diamond for a very long time and it’s time for them to let someone else enjoy what they have for so many years. And we are glad to be a part of that process, to help them find an alternative.”

DRI is also exploring alternative pathways for its points members in North America. According to Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Resorts International®, “The U.S. market is over-saturated with resale companies. Just turn on any cable television station and you can hear the enticing ads. We owe it to our members to provide them with the due diligence to explore the best possible resale opportunities available, if they exist, so we will take the time to monitor our European business model with a single authorized reseller and see if that transposes in the U.S. and adheres to state regulations, our club constitutions and our home owners associations.”

Diamond Resorts International® continues to expand and seek efficiencies in all facets of its operations. Now, more than ever before, DRI is helping families enjoy the benefits of vacation ownership and the importance of spending time with each other.

Annually, nearly 1.4 million owners, members and guests enjoy the simplicity, choice and comfort Diamond Resorts International® offers through our branded hospitality experience.

Diamond Resorts International®, with global headquarters in Las Vegas, Nev., 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. To learn more, visit DiamondResorts.com.

Recognizing Two of the Finest in the Vacation Ownership Industry

Tapestry Resorts, a full-service hospitality management company, has garnered two Silver ARDY Awards from the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) at their annual Awards Gala.

The ARDYs showcase outstanding accomplishments among individuals, teams, resorts and companies in a variety of categories.  Tapestry Resorts had two silver finalists in management and administration: Janeth Olachea, general manger of the Park Plaza in Park City, Utah, and Jennifer Laboy, a front desk agent at Club Cala Resort in Boqueron, Puerto Rico.

“Winning two silver ARDYs out of over 400 submissions is a remarkable achievement,” said John Small, chairman of Tapestry Resorts. “Olachea and Laboy consistently demonstrate a dedication, initiative and leadership that go beyond their job duties, plus an impeccable level of customer service. It’s an honor to have their efforts recognized by our peers.”

A seasoned hospitality professional, Olachea has been working for Tapestry Resorts for almost nine years. Since 2007 she has worked at Park Plaza, a high-volume vacation ownership timeshare resort. As general manager she oversees all aspects of the resort’s day-to-day operations. She is responsible for achieving maximum resort profitability through revenue generation, cost-control and guest satisfaction, as well as providing leadership and business support for vacation ownership sales efforts.

Laboy began her Tapestry Resorts career in 2007. As front desk agent/activity coordinator at Club Cala Resort, she is responsible for providing attentive, courteous and efficient service to guests throughout their stay, while maximizing room revenue and occupancy. Laboy consistently looks for ways to make guests’ stays more enjoyable, including developing activities for both adults and children.

For more information on the 2010 ARDYs and a list of winners and finalists, visit http://www.ARDA.org/awards

About Tapestry Resorts
For every client, Tapestry Resorts weaves a team of experienced thought leaders and skilled team members who exemplify its tagline: “We Listen, We Deliver, We Guarantee It.” For more information, visit http://www.tapestryresorts.com.

Luxury Hospitality Management Company Serves Four-, Five-Star Properties Worldwide

Veteran hotelier Tom LaTour has announced the newly rebranded LaTour Hotels & Resorts, previously known as ResortCom Elite, which offers personalized, luxury hospitality management services for four- and five-star properties. A joint venture between LaTour and ResortCom International, LaTour Hotels & Resorts specializes in managing new and existing luxury fractional, private residence club, hotel, mixed-use and condo resort developments, including golf, ski, urban and oceanfront locations worldwide. LaTour will also continue overseeing LaTour Signature Group, providing exclusive ser vices to select five-star properties, as an elite brand of LaTour Hotels & Resorts.

Currently, LaTour Hotels & Resorts operates seven developments, representing nearly 500 units, with nearly 400 more units at multiple properties planned in the near future. For every client, the company’s goal is transform the ownership experience through superior service, distinctive amenities, imaginative activities and an obsessive attention-to-detail.

LaTour Hotels & Resorts works in partnership with Tapestry Resorts, the recently consolidated, full-service hospitality division of ResortCom International, to provide its clients with established infrastructure for service delivery. The company then focuses on customizing extraordinary guest experiences with its specialized LaTour Brand Pillars, featuring at least three pillars at LaTour Hotels and Resorts properties and all five at LaTour Signature Group properties: culinary, wine, wellness/health, entertaining and concierge.

LaTour Hotels & Resorts is led by LaTour, chairman and CEO, and John Small, vice chairman. LaTour brings more than 40 years of experience in the hospitality and travel industries, including 23 years at Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, where he pioneered the concept of the boutique hotel. Small is one of the world’s most well known hospitality executives. He has worked on six continents and has held key management positions at some of the world’s leading properties. Joining the team in 2009, Business Development Director Sarah Rezak brings another 13 years of experience in the fractional interest and private residence club industries.

In addition, the company’s executive management team has proven resort industry experience in conceptual planning; expert property and HOA management; financial management support; creation of fully integrated information technology system for reservations and collections; skilled sales and marketing assistance – from developer inventory through resales; exchange and rental opportunities; property branding; staffing and more.

LaTour Hotels & Resorts clients include Tonopalo Private Residence Club in Lake Tahoe, Calif.; El Secreto and El Caracol in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; IndoChine Resort and Villas and Grove Gardens Resort in Phuket, Thailand; and Lodge at Stillwater in Deer Valley, Utah; as well as an in-construction project, Delcanto Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico scheduled to open summer 2010. LaTour Signature Group actively operates Dewa Resort in Phuket, Thailand and has two projects in various stages of construction: The Wyoming Club in Black Hills, Wyo.; and Olamar Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

About LaTour Hotels & Resorts
With headquarters in San Diego and San Francisco, LaTour Hotels & Resorts, previously known as ResortCom Elite, offers customized, luxury hospitality management services for four- and five-star properties. A joint venture between veteran hotelier Tom LaTour and ResortCom International, the company’s goal is to make the ownership experience as unique, tailored and memorable as possible through superior service, distinctive amenities, imaginative activities and an obsessive attention-to-detail.

Offering services ranging from conceptual planning through marketing, sales, staffing and operations, LaTour Hotels & Resorts specializes in managing new and existing luxury fractional, private residence club, hotel, mixed-use and condo resort developments. The global company currently operates properties in the United States, Mexico and Thailand with upcoming expansion plans throughout South America, Europe and Asia.

For more information, visit http://www.latourhotelsandresorts.com, or contact Sarah Rezak at 619-683-2470 x.1659 or e-mail srezak@latourhotelsandresorts.com.

About LaTour Signature Group
LaTour Signature Group, the elite brand of LaTour Hotels & Resorts, delivers an exceptional five-star vacation resort “lifestyle” experience to select developers and owners of new and existing luxury golf, ski, ur ban and oceanfront properties. By delivering management services that are unprecedented in the industry, LaTour Signature Group is committed to becoming the ultimate brand for extraordinary, highly personalized vacation experiences.

For each client, LaTour Signature Group manages all resort operations – including the training and supervising of staff, reservation coordination and concierge services, as well as the sales and marketing of fractional rentals. Before a property even opens, LaTour Signature Group can effectively lend its expertise and direction to the resort’s conceptual design and operational functionality and provide referrals and recommendations for other key partner alliances, such as real estate sales and marketing.

For more information, visit http://www.latourhotelsandresorts.com, or contact Sarah Rezak at 619-683-2470 x.1659 or e-mail srezak@latourhotelsandresorts.com
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RCI today announced that SkiStar, one of the Nordic region’s strongest hospitality brands, has affiliated two of its resorts – SkiStar Vacation Club Fjällhotell and SkiStar Vacation Club Snötorget – with RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange.

The resorts are located in the popular Swedish ski area of Sälen, which offers some of the country’s best skiing and snowboarding and is best-known for hosting the start of Vasaloppet, the world’s oldest, longest and largest cross-country ski race, which regularly attracts more than 15,000 participants.

Sälen is also home to Experium, Sweden’s newest leisure complex, featuring a number of indoor and outdoor swimming pools including an adventure pool offering indoor surfing and wave effects. Also at Experium are spa and sauna facilities, restaurants, cafés and bars, food court, 3-D cinema, children’s play area, bowling, conference facilities and more.

SkiStar is one of the Nordic region’s largest and most established hospitality brands, and its entry into shared-ownership – sales at the two resorts started in November 2009 – is a major undertaking for the company.

Jonathan Back, managing director, RCI EMEAI, said: “We at RCI are delighted to welcome SkiStar to the RCI network of more than 4,000 resorts and are proud to be associated with a company of this standing.

“SkiStar’s entry into the vacation ownership market is fantastic news for the industry as a whole, as well as for RCI. As an established and high-profile Alpine ski resort brand in Sweden and Norway – with a 41 per cent share of total Scandinavian ski-pass sales, 10 resorts, several ski schools and rental developments – SkiStar brings a quality product, big brand visibility and a high level of consumer loyalty to the business. RCI is proud to be able to help further distinguish SkiStar’s offering.”

SkiStar Vacation Club Fjällhotell is comprised of studio and one-bedroom units with partial kitchens and two-bedroom units with full kitchens, while SkiStar Vacation Club Snötorget is made up of two- and three-bedroom units with full kitchens.

The SkiStar resort properties join 17 more resorts in Sweden which are part of the RCI holiday exchange network, and will add to the exchange company’s extensive portfolio of resorts in ski locations, which currently number more than 250.

“We are very excited to bring our owners the opportunities that RCI offers,” said Mathias Lindström, SkiStar Sales and Marketing Director. “RCI offers our owners access to more than 4,000 terrific vacation resorts around the world.

“SkiStar Vacation Club means people can purchase their favourite weeks in Sälen, but at the same time have the opportunity to exchange for a selection of RCI holidays which could include a sunshine holiday in the Canary Islands, a peaceful lakeside and sauna retreat in Finland or a city break.”

About SkiStar
SkiStar is listed on Nasdaq OMX Mid Cap Stockholm. The Group owns and operates alpine destinations in Sälen, Åre and Vemdalen in Sweden, and Hemsedal and Trysil in Norway. The company’s market share of ski-pass sales in Scandinavia amounts to 41 per cent. The company’s core business is alpine skiing, with a focus on the guest’s overall skiing experience. Operations are divided into two business areas: Destinations – which consists of skiing, accommodation services, ski school and ski rentals – and Property, which includes construction and development. SkiStar’s vision is to create memorable winter experiences as the leading operator of European alpine destinations. For more information visit www.skistar.com

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 programme, the world’s largest luxury exchange programme; 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.wyndhammer.com or the media center of www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

For additional information on the services offered by RCI and the latest news from the shared vacation ownership markets across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India, visit www.rciventures.com

The leading trade publication for the shared ownership industry reaches another milestone as it takes the number one spot on Google.com for another powerful search term.

Perspective Magazine and its network of websites have commanded top search engine results for search terms such as “timeshare news” for several years, but now can boast the top spot for the term “fractional news”, with their flagship website http://www.theperspectivemagazine.com, beating other competing sites, even the many that use the word “fractional” within their website name.

“There are many factors to achieving high search engine rankings, but quality content, loyal repeat visitors and natural growth have always been the key to our success.” Says CEO Paul Mattimoe. “We have reported on the fractional ownership industry for several years, but as that market continues to gain momentum and we continue to take on more fractional clients it is important for us to show our strength and commitment in this specific area.”

Perspective Magazine provides daily timeshare, fractional ownership, resort real estate and hospitality news online and by email, in addition to publishing the “most read” independent trade publication globally for the shared ownership industry, reaching more than 21,000 registered industry professionals. Perspective Magazine also recently launched a Social Networking Site (http://perspectiveforums.com) dedicated to the shared ownership industry which in just four weeks has attracted more members than any other industry social media group worldwide.

For more information visit http://www.perspectivemagazine.com

For Advertising & Editorial opportunities visit http://www.perspectiverates.com

Sol Meliá, the 15th-largest hotel chain in the world and the leading Spanish hotel and resort company, has launched a comprehensive brand assurance evaluation  program across its global portfolio of hotel and resort brands.  To execute the program, Sol Meliá has partnered with LRA Worldwide, Inc., a leading firm in the design and development of performance measurement and quality assurance programs for the hospitality and lodging industries.

The brand assurance program is a crucial part of Sol Meliá’s “brand equity” strategy for all of its various brands.  The process began with a series of brand “boot camps” facilitated by LRA to help further define each brand and how that offering is delivered at the property level.  The evaluation program is designed to measure the effectiveness of the implementation process and delivery of a “branded” guest experience at each property.

“It is crucial to the continuing growth of our company that we consistently deliver what we promise across more than 28 countries and 300 properties,” explained André Gerondeau, Executive Vice President, Hotels for Sol Meliá. “LRA brings the right blend of hotel operational experience, brand sensibility and data collection expertise as our partner in this program.”

Each of Sol Meliá’s hotel and resort brands – including Gran Meliá, Meliá, ME, Innside, Tryp, Sol and Paradisus – has a customized evaluation protocol designed to measure its specific brand attributes.  In addition, there are a set of common standards that are measured across all brands.  All of the data is available at the corporate and property level via LRA’s proprietary online quality management reporting tool, TouchPoint Manager ™.   All reporting is available in both English and Spanish.

“Sol Meliá understands that the strength of a brand is in consistently delivering value and quality,” said John Roberto, LRA’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Quality Assurance. “Once we helped Sol Meliá define their brands, our charge was to distill those brand elements into measurable line items to ensure consistent execution.”

LRA provides a variety of branding, standards development and performance measurement services to seven of the top ten hotel companies in the world.  In all, LRA’s Quality Assurance practice conducts nearly 13,000 site visits and evaluations each year, either as a stand-alone offering or as an integrated part of an overall Customer Experience Management project.  In addition to its work with other lodging clients such as Hyatt Hotels Corporation, IHG, Sofitel Luxury Hotels, Grupo Posadas, Pestana Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Wyndham Worldwide, LRA works with industry leaders in Sports, Conference Centers, Timeshare, Gaming, Homebuilding, Retail and Travel.

The brand assurance program was officially launched in June at the Gran Meliá Colon in Seville, Spain.  Since then, LRA has conducted an additional 190 evaluations, with a full complement of evaluations scheduled for 2010.

About Sol Meliá
Sol Meliá was founded in 1956 in Palma de Mallorca (Spain) and is the world’s leading resort hotel chain, as well as Spain’s leading hotel chain in both the business and leisure markets. It currently provides more than 300 hotels in 28 countries on 4 continents under its brands: Gran Meliá, Meliá, ME, Innside, Tryp, Sol, Paradisus and Sol Meliá Vacation Club. www.solmelia.com

Sol Meliá is the hotel company with the greatest number of properties in the exclusive club of “The Leading Hotels of the World” (seven hotels). In 2006, the “Corporate Reputation Institute” of New York ranked the company amongst the corporations with the best reputation in the world, the leading hotel company and the second highest ranked company in the travel industry. Sol Meliá is the only travel company included in the exclusive “Footse4Good Ibex” Spanish stock market index, and is the third ranked company in Spain amongst companies which generate the greatest degree of confidence and in the top three hotel chains for reputation.

The company currently employs more than 34,000 people worldwide with staff from over 80 different countries.

About LRA Worldwide, Inc:
LRA Worldwide is a leading research and consulting company in the emerging discipline of Customer Experience Management (CEM). We work with our clients to help them design and deliver consistently exceptional customer experiences in order to drive customer satisfaction, loyalty and advocacy, and company growth and profitability.

In LRA’s 25-year history, we have grown from a provider of customized quality assurance evaluation programs for the hospitality industry, to a leading CEM consulting company offering a variety of client solutions. The evolution has been driven by our clients asking us one question – “How do we get better?” In response, we have built a range of performance measurement, research, training and consulting solutions to help them do so. Today, we are a growing company operating in more than 120 countries throughout the world, helping clients such as Starwood Hotels & Resorts, the National Basketball Association, the PGA TOUR, InterContinental Hotels Group, Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Ritz-Carlton Clubs deliver exceptional customer experiences. Every touch. Every time. For more information, visit us at www.LRAworldwide.com.