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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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.

Equity Estates Fund I, LLC, www.equityestatesfund.com the largest residence fund in North America and fastest growing in its sector, announced today the formation of a strategic alliance with The Hideaways Club, Europe’s largest residence fund. The two companies will offer owner members access to nearly 30 vacation homes in 23 of the world’s most spectacular destinations, thereby creating the largest global portfolio of residences available through an equity-based model.

“This alliance is ideal as it facilitates international growth for both companies and enhances the already stellar value proposition for owner members of both funds,” said Adam Capes, co-founder of Equity Estates. “We cannot imagine a better way to begin 2010 than doubling our portfolio of accessible properties.”

Under the agreement terms, Equity Estates and The Hideaways Club will each make nights available for reciprocal use for travel beginning in 2010. Both companies have experienced impressive recent growth, a testament to their common unique model of shared ownership of a portfolio of vacation homes.

Equity Estates owner members, who have been enjoying homes in locations including Turks & Caicos; Telluride, CO; and Maui, HI; will now have access to such locations as Tuscany, Italy; Cape Town, South Africa; and Croatia; through The Hideaways Club relationship. The Hideaways Club has 18 properties in 12 locations that will be part of the shared pool of residences. In return, The Hideaways Club members will have access to the 11 properties in 11 destinations currently offered by Equity Estates.

“Our companies have a common goal: to provide unparalleled vacations coupled with a sound investment, so it seems natural to create this strategic alliance for the benefit of our individual companies and our respective owner members,” said Mike Balfour, Chairman of The Hideaways Club.

Equity Estates is a luxury residence fund designed to offer spectacular vacations in addition to a real estate investment opportunity. Membership is structured as an equity interest in the fund that owns the vacation homes and offers use of these residences, in addition to appreciation when the homes are sold. For more information visit www.equityestatesfund.com.

The Hideaways Club is Europe’s leading property investment fund, offering its members usage and ownership of a portfolio of luxurious properties for a fraction of the cost of buying a single home overseas. For more information visit www.thehideawaysclub.com.

Trading Places International was recently awarded the full service management contracts for the Association of Apartment Owners Hanalei Bay Resort and the Hanalei Bay Resort Vacation Owners Association located on the north shore in the prestigious community of Princeville on the beautiful island of Kauai. Trading Places will provide resort management services as well as all reservations, exchanges, and association financial services of the resort. Trading Places currently manages three resorts in Hawaii on the islands of Oahu and Maui and is pleased to welcome Hanalei Bay Resort into their expanding family.

“TPI was one of six management companies the two [Hanalei Bay] boards contacted when we sought alternative management, and their references are outstanding,” said Dick Schweickert, president of the Hanalei Bay Resort Vacation Owners Association. “We look forward to a bright and exciting future with Trading Places.”

Hanalei Bay Resort, a relaxed retreat within the posh Princeville community of Kauai, encompasses 16 three-story stucco buildings on 22 lush acres above the spectacular Hanalei Bay. Amenities include an open-air lobby, restaurant and lounge, overlooking Bali Hai Mountains, while a free-form pool with a sandy bottom, waterfalls and a spa tub grotto offer the ultimate in relaxation. The resort caters to tennis players of all levels of skill with an on-site tennis pro and eight beautiful tennis courts. Also available are massage services overlooking Hanalei Bay, an activities center with snorkel, surfing and beach gear available, and a very well-appointed sundries store. An activities desk is located on site for owners and guests, providing all of the exciting Kauai activities through the best vendors in the area. The resort is located within the Princeville Resort, which hosts two championship golf courses, a health spa, horse stables, grocery store, shopping center, service station, etc. which are open to the public.

“We’re very excited about the acquisition of a resort of this distinction in this area of Hawaii. Hanalei Bay is a welcome addition to Trading Places current family of managed resorts.” said Douglas L. Wilcox, Vice President of Resort Management. “We fully believe that this resort will soon recover its prominence as a premier vacation destination through the efforts of the two association boards and support of all the owners in Hanalei Bay Resort”

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 management, association administration, timeshare exchanges, and travel agency services. It currently oversees more than 55,000 timeshare owners at over 30 resort locations in Hawaii, Mexico, South America, and mainland United States.

The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Kapalua Bay, the highly anticipated residential development, is now open on a 24-acre oceanfront setting at Maui’s Kapalua Resort. Situated near The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, the property features the newest Ritz-Carlton Destination Club (previously The Ritz-Carlton Club) location, and private ownership luxury residences.

“The new Members and Owners are enjoying this addition to the Kapalua Resort lifestyle, as well as Maui’s beauty and spectacular views of the surrounding islands,” said Peter J. Watzka, executive vice president and chief operating officer for The Ritz-Carlton Development Company, Inc. (an affiliate of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC). “Additionally, the Maui location is just the beginning of the expansion plans for the evolving Ritz-Carlton Destination Club brand.”

Kapalua Bay, LLC is the developer of the new resort. “We are delighted to welcome this stunning new property to Kapalua Resort’s portfolio of luxury living,” said Ryan Churchill, senior vice president of Maui Land & Pineapple Company, the majority owner of Kapalua Bay, LLC. “Whether a family wants to enjoy long vacations each year or spend a lifetime here, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences is an incredible offering that fits perfectly with the tradition and comforts of Kapalua Resort.”

The property boasts 62 fully furnished, two- and three-bedroom fractional ownership residences ranging from approximately 1,912 to 2,257 square feet. Club Members purchase a deeded, one-twelfth interest giving them the opportunity to stay 21 days per year. Prices start at $350,000 per interest.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Kapalua Bay features 84 wholly-owned Residences. The three- and four-bedroom floor plans offer living areas ranging from roughly 3,002 to 4,271 square feet. Design elements include a private elevator and garden entryway, gourmet kitchen, and lanai opening to 180-degree views. Prices start at $3.9 million.

Property amenities are highlighted by a private 6,100 square-foot beach club, 8,500 square-foot pool with bar and grill, and a second bar located near the water’s edge.

Members and Owners, through membership at the Kapalua Club, will enjoy access in the coming weeks to a nearly 30,000 square-foot spa, as well as the current amenities offered at the Kapalua Resort, including golf course privileges, award-winning white-sand beaches, 12 dining options, and the Kapalua Adventure Center.

Visit www.kapaluabay.com.