TATOC, the Timeshare Association, today announced that sponsorship for the annual conference, taking place from 9^th-11^th March at the Park Royal Hotel, Stretton, near Warrington, has gone beyond the board’s expectations.

“We have been delighted and surprised at the huge level of support shown by the industry for the annual conference,” explained Harry Taylor, executive chairman. “The conference is always well supported and attended but this year, with such difficult economic conditions, we were aware that sponsorship might be affected. We needn’t have worried.”

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), and Welk Resorts, a well-established leader in the vacation ownership industry, today announced the renewal of their master affiliation agreement. The multi-year contract extends the relationship established in 2004 and comprises six existing properties in four sought-after markets, as well as future development.

Welk Mountain Springs

“Our commitment to excellence is seen in everything we do at our resorts, beginning with the design and amenities to delivering the best service to our owners,” said Jon Fredricks, president of Welk Resort Group. “Renewing our partnership with Interval ensures that we will also be able to continue providing industry-leading programs and benefits to members, including the opportunity to exchange their vacations through Interval’s renowned resort network to some of the most highly demanded destinations around the world.”

“We’ve greatly enjoyed working with Jon and the Welk team, who are among the most respected professionals in the shared ownership industry,” added Craig M. Nash, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Interval Leisure Group. “We’re very proud to enhance our relationship and offer our members many more years of exceptional experiences at the outstanding Welk locations.”

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, has revealed that its UK members travel extensively, find holiday ownership satisfying, own an average of 1.9 weeks of shared ownership time or its equivalent, and report average household incomes of approximately GBP 70,050 per year. And, more than one-quarter report ownership of a second home — apart from their holiday ownership.

These findings are from Interval International’s 2011 UK Membership Profile, which was developed from a sample of UK-resident vacation owners maintaining an active membership with Interval. The online study was undertaken to provide insights for use in the development of services and benefits to be offered to Interval members and may also be useful to resort developers and prospective industry entrants in designing their products and developing their marketing strategies.

Interval’s UK members spend approximately 28 nights away from home travelling solely for leisure purposes. Additionally, these study respondents indicate a penchant to travel across the European continent during the course of the next two years, boding well for future holiday ownership purchases. Further afield, they have a strong desire to visit the USA and Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia and New Zealand.

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), welcomes The Village Coconut Island, the latest Absolute World Group resort to join its global vacation exchange network. The private residence club is part of an exclusive mixed-use development on a private island off the east coast of the popular holiday island of Phuket, Thailand.

“The Village Coconut Island has been developed to create the ideal vacation residence for owners and Interval International members,” said Bryan Lunt, chairman of Absolute World Group. “With staggering views of Phang-Nga Bay, endless amenities, and a high level of service, it is the perfect paradise island escape. To find such a quality all-villa resort right on the beach is rare.”

In fact, the resort was recently named Best Shared Ownership Development in the inaugural South East Asia Property Awards created by Property Report South East Asia. The magazine received more than 1,500 nominations and recognised winners as “the crème de la crème of the industry.”

Absolute’s private residence club is part of the 192-unit Coconut Island resort community with 500 metres (1,640 feet) of unspoiled beachfront. Amenities include a spa and state-of-the-art fitness centre offering yoga classes and Thai boxing lessons, two lighted tennis courts, and a children’s club.

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Interval International and the City of South Miami recently co-sponsored the 18th Annual Holiday Toy Fest benefiting more than 350 deserving children in the community. Each child had the chance to visit with Santa Claus and select a holiday gift. Other highlights included face painting, arts and crafts activities, as well as some tasty treats.

Interval employees Kathy Olivares and Monica Fonseca with “Santa” Rafael Monteiro and children during the 18th Annual Interval International/City of South Miami Holiday Toy Fest

Interval employees supported the event by donating gifts and volunteering their time during Toy Fest, one of the many community service initiatives that the company hosts throughout the year. Rafael and Virginia Monteiro played Santa and his elf to help make this holiday a special one for the children.

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group, announced the affiliation of the fractional residences at Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa. The mixed-used resort is located in Carvoeiro, a whitewashed village in the western part of the sun-drenched Algarve. On the southern tip of Portugal, the Algarve is one of Europe’s favourite vacation destinations, renowned for its rocky coastline, beautiful beaches, golf, and nightlife.

“As its name suggests, Vale d’Oliveiras Quinta Resort & Spa is set in a valley of olive trees,” said Darren Ettridge, Interval’s senior vice president of resort sales and business development for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. “Panoramic views of the surrounding hills and adjoining golf course make the resort seem a world away from holiday crowds, yet it’s only a short drive to Carvoeiro and the beach. The resort is beautifully appointed with a definite luxury feel.”

The property has 22 acres of landscaped gardens laced with walking paths within its gated grounds. On-site amenities include two outdoor swimming pools, a health club with a heated indoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and gymnasium, and tennis courts. The resort’s world-class spa offers a wide range of massage and beauty treatments.

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Preferred Residences, a hospitality-branded membership and exchange programme for luxury shared ownership resorts offered by an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), has signed an affiliation agreement with the private residence club at Essque Zalu Zanzibar. The eco-friendly property, which also includes a boutique hotel, is on the exotic island of Zanzibar off Africa’s northeast Tanzanian coast.

“We couldn’t be more delighted with the addition of Essque Zalu Zanzibar, the second Preferred Residences location in Africa,” said Darren Ettridge, senior vice president of resort sales and business development for Preferred Residences in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. “Our members will enjoy the resort’s ideal location and stunning ocean views, along with exceptional service and hospitality.”

Essque Zalu Zanzibar overlooks the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean and its white sandy beaches and coral reefs. The club comprises 40 suites that feature a living room, spacious bedroom and bathroom, and terrace. The nine villas spoil guests with en-suite bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, dining room, personal massage room plus plunge pool, private gardens, and terrace.

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq:IILG), announced that Pinamar Family Resort and El Aljibe Casas de Campo in Argentina have joined its exchange network. The properties are situated in the exclusive beach resort town of Pinamar, in the Buenos Aires Province, and the scenic Traslasierra Valley, in Cordoba.

“These resorts offer memorable vacation experiences in two popular Argentinean destinations and we are very pleased to welcome them to our global network,” said Marcos Agostini, Interval’s vice president of resort sales and service for Latin America. “Our members now have the opportunity to enjoy seaside holidays or authentic rural getaways in beautiful settings.”

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Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services and an operating business of Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG), has exceeded expectations with Club Interval Gold^SM, a points-based exchange and membership program designed specifically for owners of fixed- or floating-week timeshares. Since the spring launch, 16 resort developer clients, representing 25 timeshare resorts, are selling the program and reporting measurable sales increases.

“Club Interval Gold represents the ultimate in transaction flexibility and is a valuable sales tool that makes the vacation ownership product even more desirable to new purchasers and existing owners,” said David Gilbert, Interval’s executive vice president of resort sales and marketing.

Gilbert’s enthusiasm is echoed by Travis Taylor, project director at Williamsburg Plantation in Virginia’s historic Colonial Williamsburg area. “Club Interval Gold has been an asset to the sales process — customers really enjoy the flexibility and transparency. It offers so many options, that members can use their ownership more often.”

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Interval Leisure Group (Nasdaq: IILG) (“ILG”)  announced results for the three months ended September 30, 2011.

THIRD QUARTER 2011 HIGHLIGHTS

•ILG consolidated revenue and EBITDA increased year over year by 6.2% and 4.8%, respectively

•Transaction revenue grew by 3.9% from the same period of 2010

•Interval International added 27 new resort affiliations

•Management fee and rental revenue improved by 39.7%

•ILG free cash flow of $66.9 million year to date

“ILG delivered positive growth in consolidated revenue and EBITDA. Each of the operating segments saw success from new initiatives that were implemented in the first and second quarters. The results for the third quarter are consistent with our expectation that the second half of the year will show year over year improvement from the first six months of 2011,” said Craig M. Nash, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Interval Leisure Group.

Third Quarter 2011 Consolidated Operating Results

Consolidated revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $106.7 million, an increase of 6.2% from $100.5 million for the third quarter of 2010. The increase was driven primarily by the incremental revenue contribution from the acquisition of Trading Places International (TPI) and an increase in transaction revenue.

Net income for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $11.4 million, an increase of 23.1% from net income of $9.3 million for the same period of 2010. The year over year increase reflects a $4.3 million increase in the Membership and Exchange segment pre-tax income primarily due to higher gross profit of $1.2 million, largely from the inclusion of TPI in these results, a change in the estimated accrual for European Union (“EU”) Value Added Taxes (“VAT”) of $1.5 million, and favorable foreign currency exchange related impact of $4.0 million. These items were partly offset by an increase in general and administrative expense primarily pertaining to a $1.2 million change in the fair value of the estimated contingent consideration of the TPI acquisition, increases of $0.7 million in depreciation and $1.0 million in IT costs (including non-capitalized IT expenses) predominantly related to the fourth quarter 2010 iServices deployment and an increase in consolidated income tax expense. Diluted earnings per share were $0.20 compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.16 for the same period of 2010.

EBITDA was $38.3 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, compared to EBITDA of $36.6 million for the same period of 2010.

Business Segment Results

Membership and Exchange

Membership and Exchange segment revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2011 was $86.2 million, an increase of 3.1% from the comparable period in 2010.

For the third quarter of 2011, transaction and membership fee revenue were $46.8 million and $32.2 million, respectively, an increase of 3.9% and a decrease of 0.6% over the same period in 2010.

Total active members at September 30, 2011 were 1.79 million, approximately 1% less than the total active members at September 30, 2010. New member enrollments for the first nine months of 2011 increased by 5.0% compared to the same period last year.

Average revenue per member for the third quarter of 2011 was $45.15, an increase of 2.6% from the third quarter of 2010. During the third quarter of 2011, Interval International affiliated 27 new vacation ownership resorts in the United States and 11 international markets.

Membership and Exchange segment EBITDA was $36.3 million in the third quarter, an increase of 4.9% from the segment’s EBITDA of $34.6 million in 2010. Membership and Exchange segment EBITDA reflects higher gross profit of $1.2 million, primarily due to the inclusion of TPI in the results, and a decrease in general and administrative expense attributable largely to a $1.1 million change in the estimated accrual for EU VAT and higher operating foreign currency net gains of $0.8 million, partly offset by increased sales and marketing expenses at Interval, a $0.6 million charge to this segment resulting from a change in the fair value of the estimated contingent consideration of the TPI acquisition and $0.4 million of higher non-capitalized expenses related to iServices following its implementation in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Management and Rental

Management and Rental segment revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2011, was $20.5 million, including $8.5 million of management fee and rental revenue (defined below). Year-over-year, management fee and rental revenue grew by 39.7%. The improvement was primarily driven by the acquisition of TPI and an increase in revenue per available room (“RevPAR”) at Aston. Aston RevPAR for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 was $113.12, increasing 13.4% from $99.74 for the same period in 2010, resulting primarily from a higher average daily rate (ADR) of 11.0% and, to a lesser extent, improvement in occupancy rates by 2.2% in the third quarter.

In the third quarter of 2011, Management and Rental segment EBITDA was $2.1 million, compared to $2.0 million in the prior year period. Segment EBITDA benefitted from a 5.3% increase in room revenue and the inclusion of TPI in these results, partly offset by a $0.6 million charge to this segment resulting from a change in the fair value of the estimated contingent consideration of the TPI acquisition.

To read the full report, please click here.