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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The Hideaways Club, a property investment company specialising in the management of a collection of international luxury property Funds, picked up two prestigious awards in the first two months of 2011. Destination Club News awarded the company Best International Destination Club 2010 for the second year running and Fractional Life presented the company with the Best Destination Club 2010 award.

Commenting on the awards Nick Bettany, CEO of The Hideaways Club said, “Receiving these two awards is a great way to start the year and is a further endorsement of our unique proposals – the Classic and City Collections.  Both our Funds offer a great combination of lifestyle experiences and investment potential. The extremely positive testimonials we have received from our members underlines our belief that membership of The Hideaways Club is the logical way forward to owning international properties.”

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yooPhuket, a spectacular collection of 256 apartments and penthouses on the Thai island of Phuket, has won the Fractional Life Readers Choice Award.

The award, which received an impressive 60 per cent of votes from thousands of readers of the global shared ownership web portal FractionalLife.com, was presented at the 2010 Fractional Summit in London on Friday.

Absolute’s International Director of PR & Marketing for yooPhuket 
Charlotte Rose Melsom who received the award, said: “The Fractional
Life Reader’s Choice Award is the ultimate accolade within the 
Fractional Property Industry voted for by the independent consumer so 
a wonderful credit to the yooPhuket project.”

Piers Brown, founder of Fractional Life said: “Thousands of FractionalLife.com readers voted and I’m delighted for yooPhuket.”

L - R: Nick Turner, VP, Registry Collection; Piers Brown, Founder, Fractional Life; Charlotte Rose Melsom, International Director of PR & Marketing, yooPhuket/Absolute Developments; Bryan Lunt, Chairman, the Absolute World Group

yooPhuket is a partnership between international branding, design and investment property company yoo and one of Asia’s leading development and lifestyle brands, Absolute Developments so the added security of buying into two internationally recognised brands is also a huge advantage.

Stand-out interiors are one of the things yoo do best and the contemporary design offers open plan living space with dramatic floor to ceiling windows, opening onto spectacular views across the lake, golf courses and lush Thai island landscapes. The impressive master bedroom suites have en suite bathrooms and walk in closet space. Stylish kitchens are fitted with integrated appliances. Bathrooms have fully tiled walk in shower enclosures and state of the art home technology includes comfort cooling systems and the latest audio visual equipment.

Each yooPhuket apartment comes fully furnished with a yoo designed furniture collection the apartment is ready to enjoy, even down to the last teaspoon. In addition clients can choose from a selection of the most sought after designer interior additions and upgrades to create an apartment that is perfectly unique.

Apartments within the development are available both whole ownership and quartershare fractional ownership offering a choice of purchase options to suit.  Prices for three month quartershare fractions at yooPhuket start at £44,000 for a 38 square metre studio, £65,000 for a 70 square metre two-bedroom apartment and £97,300 for a 105 square metre penthouse. These prices include superior furnishings, use of a fully-captained 31foot powerboat and the latest Callaway golf clubs, plus the standard 5 star service management company Absolute Resorts & Hotels are renowned for.

Owners will also enjoy access to Absolute’s affiliation with the renowned Registry Collection, the world’s largest luxury exchange programme and winners of the Fractional Life Services to the Industry Award also at Friday’s event. The Registry Collection provides members with access to an elite global network of the very finest vacation properties at some of the world’s premier destinations far beyond their Thailand accommodations.

Nick Turner, VP and head of The Registry Collection, Europe, added: “I’d like to congratulate The Registry Collection affiliates yooPhuket who are honoured with the Fractional Life Readers’ Choice Award. This company’s superb developments in Thailand are the essence of the successful fractional with AAA location, style and the highest quality in both accommodations and service levels.

About Fractional Life
From a fractional jet to fractional real estate, Fractional Life (www.fractionallife.com) is the number one consumer lifestyle brand dedicated to growing the fractional ownership marketplace. The company has three divisions: interactive, fractional conferences (www.fractionalsummit.com) and exhibitions (www.fractionallifeexpo.com), and publishing.

About the Absolute World Group
Founded in 1998, the Absolute World Group of companies has positioned its 1200 staff tactically across China, Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Russia and Thailand, offering a seamless range of services within the world of Resorts and Hotels inclusive of a worldwide network of International Estate Agencies and a highly successful Vacation Club, boasting thousands of members.

Absolute is committed to delivering heavenly resort destinations from conception to completion and beyond with the added value of its dedicated turnkey resort management service.

About yoo
yoo is an international branding, design and investment property company enhancing the qualityand adding value to development projects in major towns and cities across the world.

The brand is represented by five core design teams – yoo inspired by Starck, Jade Jagger for yoo, wanders&yoo, Kelly Hoppen for yoo and the yoo design studio; all of whom increase value and sales velocity through market leading design, branded marketing and by maximizing media exposure.

Over the past ten years yoo has been working across the world with international partners on a variety of landmark buildings and large residential projects throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America and the Middle East. yoo is involved in the development of more than 10,000 apartments currently under construction valued at $7 billion.

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® programme and are either accessible for exchange or under development. As the world’s largest luxury exchange programme, The Registry Collection programme 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 programme facilitates exchanges around the world and redefines the vacation experience for owners and developers. The Registry Collection programme 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 the media center at www.wyndhamer.com.

IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) today announced the company’s 1st half year results with a loss of KD 4,968,422 million (US$ 17,372,712 million). Shareholders’ equity of KD 66,129,532 million (US$ 231,230,225 million) compared to KD 66,893,521 million (US$ 244,851,834 million) for the same period last year. The company’s total assets have increased 18% to KD 393,147,155 million (US$ 1,374,688,468).

Ibrahim S. Al-Therban, Chairman of IFA HR, stated: “The new recommendations of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) that are adopted by the company have had an impact on the revenue in comparison to the previously applied methods, where the methodology of Company income is based on the percentage of project completed.”

The International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) applications, might have a negative effect on the company results in the short term, however it will enhance the company’s transparency policy and enables shareholders and investors to understand and compare financial information for companies around the globe.

“The first half of this year has witnessed the launch of a selection of IFA HR luxury properties which include three Private Residence Clubs in Thailand covering Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket as part of our expansions in the Asian market as well as the launch of the second hotel condominium ownership product in the Middle East, the Fairmont Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Further projects such a Fairmont Residence-Palm Jumeirah(Dubai) and Al-Abadiyah Hills in Lebanon  are in their final stages of development which will be completed in the second half of this year.” added Talal Jassim Al-Bahar, Vice Chairman and CEO of IFA HR. .

The launch of three new Thai-based Private Residence Clubs comes as part of IFA HR’s expansion plans in the Asian market due to its high potential for unique real estate products.  The Heights Private Residence Club in Phuket, Northpoint Private Residence Club in Pattaya and The River Private Residence Club in Bangkok are developed by luxury condominium developer Raimon Land in which IFA HR has a 41.07% stake.

IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) launched its second hotel condominium ownership product in the Middle East. Situated within the five-star Fairmont Palm Jumeirah hotel in Dubai, the new offering is of particular interest to investors wishing to diversify their property portfolio with a unique real estate option that combines both the business of guaranteed rental returns and strong capital growth potential with the pleasure of a hassle-free vacation property
Al-Bahar concluded: “The focus in the remaining part of the year will be on completing and delivering our existing projects according to our strategic plan. We will also continue the search for unique investment opportunities that will maximize our shareholders returns. We are looking forward for a better result in the second half of the year.”

IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) announced today the launch of three new Thai-based Private Residence Clubs: The Heights Private Residence Club in Phuket, Northpoint Private Residence Club in Pattaya and The River Private Residence Club in Bangkok. The Clubs are developed by luxury condominium developer Raimon Land in which IFA HR has a 41.07% stake.

Werner Burger, President and COO of IFA HR said: “Our strength lies in our proven ability to create products that meet a wide range of client needs in a number of sought-after destinations. Working with Raimon Land to add three Private Residence Clubs to our Thai portfolio takes us beyond our existing foothold in the residential sector and further expands our lifestyle product offering in Asia, a key market in our global development strategy.”

Each home within the Private Residence Clubs is divided into saleable fractions of 1/13th. This fraction entitles owners to enjoy a minimum of 21 days per year at the Club in which they purchase as well as unlimited use of space available time.  Additionally, owners will have access to a greater network of properties through the IFA Collection and The Registry Collection program. Ownership is in perpetuity and can be sold at any time.

Private Residence Clubs represent the top tier of Fractional Ownership products and are among the fastest growing sectors of the real estate and hospitality industries. It is an innovative form of ownership that appeals to those who want the security and advantages of an equity-based private club along with the benefits of owning luxuriously appointed, prime real estate.

Hubert Viriot, Chief Executive Officer of Raimon Land said: “The design, implementation and launch of Private Residence Clubs presented a unique opportunity to diversify our portfolio without diluting our focus on luxurious residential experiences. We also had the benefit of working closely with our major shareholder IFA Hotels & Resorts who have successfully developed and sold a variety of investment and lifestyle products around the world, including several Private Residence Clubs within the IFA Collection.”

Jeff Tisdall, Managing Director, RCI Middle East; Hubert Viriot, Raimon Land CEO; Piaras Moriarty, Vice President Client Management with IFA Hotels & Resorts

The IFA Collection consists of a luxury portfolio of international properties developed by IFA Hotels & Resorts, an international specialist in the development of mixed-use resorts

Piaras Moriarty, Vice President Client Management with IFA HR, said: “Owners in the Clubs will have access not only to their selected property in Thailand, but can also exchange their days for access to over 160 properties through the IFA Collection and The Registry Collection program. Likewise, the addition of these Private Residence Clubs provides our IFA Collection clients access to three great new vacation options in Thailand.”

Each of the Thai Private Residence Clubs offers a sanctuary of elegance and sophistication specifically created to cater to the desires of its owners, which have been designed, constructed and finished by the very best award-winning teams in Asia and are furnished and equipped to the highest international standards. Owners also enjoy unparalleled service when in residence with dedicated staff available to pre-stock kitchens, book leisure excursions or make dining reservations and arrange babysitters, laundry, transportation and even a private chef when required.

“We are extremely excited by the expansion of the IFA Collection into Asia and by the addition of the Raimon Land developed resorts,” said Geoff Ballotti, President and CEO, Group RCI.  “IFA Hotels & Resorts and Raimon Land and are synonymous with quality and these three extraordinary properties offer the level of luxury vacation experience we aim to deliver to our members through The Registry Collection program.”

The Heights Private Residence Club – IFA Collection in Phuket is nestled atop the hillside above Kata Beach with stunning views of the Andaman Sea. The units have large open terraces, expansive living areas, and the seamless spill-over of indoor into outdoor spaces. A wide range of recreational choices are available at the club house, including a fitness centre, a free-form infinity pool, lap pool, kid’s pool sun deck and Jacuzzi – a culmination of visionary island-living.

The River Private Residence Club – IFA Collection in Bangkok will offer an unrivalled choice of condominiums, lofts and penthouses in two unique and iconic towers along the Chao Phraya. Facilities include state-of-the-art fitness centres, sky gardens, riverfront infinity pool and 50-meter lap pool complete with superb dining and entertainment experiences on the riverfront podium and terrace.

Northpoint Private Residence Club – IFA Collection in Pattaya soars above the sands of prestigious Wong-Amat Beach with easy access to world class amenities, a wide variety of recreational and entertainment choices, and over 20 championship golf courses. The Point features an exceptional mix of residences from 1-3 bedroom luxury units to breathtaking duplexes and penthouses.

About IFA Hotels & Resorts
IFA Hotels & Resorts is a leader in real estate development, specialising in premier integrated and mixed-use hotel and tourism resort projects throughout the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Indian Ocean region, Asia and North America. IFA Hotels & Resorts offers exclusive branded residential, resort and hotel properties in exotic locations, with sound appreciating investment opportunities across the globe which include a yacht ownership club, a jet ownership club, vacation clubs and Private Residence Clubs. IFA Hotel & Resorts’ current portfolio consists of 46 projects in total, of which 20 are hotels, with over 13,750 keys across 13 countries in 4 continents.
www.ifahotelsresorts.com

About Raimon Land
Raimon Land is a listed company on the stock Exchange of Thailand with a primary focus in the residential development sector. Raimon Land’s list of award-winning projects includes: Northpoint, The Heights Phuket, The Lofts Sathorn, The Lakes and The Legend Saladaeng.  Its major shareholder is IFA Hotels & Resorts.
www.raimonland.com

About The Registry Collection
The Registry Collection® Exchange Program is a global network comprising over 35,000 members and more than 130 affiliates on five continents. The more than 160 properties available through the programme are either accessible for exchange or under development. As the world’s largest luxury exchange programme, 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 Group RCI, 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 the media centre at www.grouprci.com

The Registry Collection® exchange program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of brands (NYSE: WYN), today announced the addition of three private residence clubs to its worldwide network. Each of the three private residence clubs developed by Raimon Land are located in Thailand and have been added through the IFA Collection, providing members with full access to the IFA network as well as The Registry Collection program.

Conceived by renowned designer Hans Brouwer, founder of HB Design and a former protégé of Sir Norman Foster, the new resorts include The Heights Private Residence Club in Phuket, The River Private Residence Club in Bangkok and Northpoint Private Residence Club in Pattaya.

Raimon Land plans to initiate sales by first releasing The Heights Private Residence Club – IFA Collection, with priority registration commencing at the Alternative Ownership Conference Hotels & Resorts – Asia Pacific 2009 in Phuket, Thailand, on October 12-13.

The IFA Collection consists of a luxury portfolio of international properties developed by IFA Hotels & Resorts, a major shareholder in Raimon Land and an international specialist in the development of mixed-use resorts.

“We are extremely excited by the expansion of the IFA Collection into Asia and by the addition of the Raimon Land developed resorts,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO, Group RCI. “Raimon Land is synonymous with quality and these three extraordinary properties offer the level of luxury vacation experience we aim to deliver to our members through The Registry Collection.”

“We are very proud to see the continued growth of the IFA Collection and to add these unique properties to our growing portfolio of luxury destinations,” added Piaras Moriarty, VP Client Management IFA Hotels & Resorts. “Our goal is to offer our members the finest vacation destinations in the world, and our partnership with The Registry Collection and Raimon Land ensures that our members receive exactly the world-class luxury travel experience they desire.”

The Heights Private Residence – IFA Collection in Phuket is nestled atop the hillside above Kata Beach with stunning views of the Andaman Sea, inspired by a contemporary expression designed to complement the site’s unique natural environment. The units have large open terraces, expansive living areas, and the seamless flow of indoor into outdoor spaces, reflect the modern-Asian design of the site. There is a wide range of recreational choices at the club house, including a fitness centre, a free-form infinity pool, lap pool, kid’s pool sun deck and Jacuzzi – a culmination of visionary island-living.

The River Private Residence Club – IFA Collection in Bangkok offers an unrivalled choice of condominiums, lofts and penthouses in two unique and iconic towers. The prime location along the Chao Phraya offers commanding unobstructed views and the units are espoused to create an environment of unprecedented privacy and exclusivity. Facilities include state-of-the-art fitness centres, sky gardens, riverfront infinity pool and 50-metre lap pool complete with superb dining and entertainment experiences on the riverfront podium and terrace.

Northpoint Private Residence Club – IFA Collection in Pattaya soars above the sands of prestigious Wong-Amat Beach with easy access to world-class amenities, a wide variety of recreational and entertainment choices, and over 20 championship golf courses. The Point features an exceptional mix of residences from one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury units to breathtaking duplexes and penthouses. Residents can choose to indulge in its tiered horizon pools, relax on spacious sun-drenched decks, enjoy lush gardens, sail away to island hideaways, explore endless water sports options or savour exquisite cuisine at the al fresco dining or the breathtaking Sky Gardens.

Adrian Lee, Managing Director of Group RCI Asia, is very pleased about the new addition to the portfolio. “The Registry Collection represents superbly-appointed accommodations at the most desirable resort destinations in the world and the addition of these fine properties in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya are a perfect complement to our growing program. The style, feel, design and sense of place at these properties in Thailand are in essence what The Registry Collection is all about. We are very pleased to welcome the IFA Collection to the Asia Pacific region, and look forward to working with IFA and Raimon Land,” said Lee.

“We are excited to be working with IFA Hotels and Resorts and The Registry Collection,” added Hubert Viriot, Chief Executive Officer of Raimon Land. “In addition to the extraordinary private residence club locations we have developed in Thailand’s leading destinations and IFA Collection itself, our members will enjoy access to luxury vacations worldwide through The Registry Collection. The Registry Collection designation is important to us as it reinforces the highest standards of quality and luxury which is so important to our customers.”

About Raimon Land
Raimon Land is a listed company on the stock Exchange of Thailand with a primary focus in the residential development sector. Raimon Land’s list of other award-winning projects include: The Lofts Sathorn, The Lakes and The Legend Saladaeng.  Its major shareholder is IFA Hotels & Resorts.
www.raimonland.com

About IFA Hotels & Resorts
IFA Hotels & Resorts is a leader in real estate development, specialising in premier integrated and mixed-use hotel and tourism resort projects throughout the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Indian Ocean region, Asia and North America. IFA Hotels & Resorts offers exclusive branded residential, resort and hotel properties in exotic locations, with sound appreciating investment opportunities across the globe which include a yacht ownership club, a jet ownership club, vacation clubs and Private Residence Clubs. IFA Hotel & Resorts’ current portfolio consists of 46 projects in total, of which 20 are hotels, with over 13,750 keys across 13 countries in 4 continents.
www.ifahotelsresorts.com

About The Registry Collection
The Registry Collection® exchange program is a global network comprising over 35,000 members and more than 130 affiliates on five continents. The more than 160 properties available through the program 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 Group RCI, 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 the media centre at www.grouprci.com.

An Introduction to Collective Syndicated Ownership will be presented to Property developers, agents, accountants and legal experts at the Nicosia Hilton hotel, on the 29th of October, 2009 organized by World Class Group.

Collective Syndicated Ownership, CSO, often referred to as Fractional Ownership, has proved that it offers alternatives to vacation home buyers through the combining the collective power of a several investors to buy, own and use a luxury property as a second home through syndication.

The principal of using the combined financial strength of several investors to own  and share a single asset is not entirely new.

According to Trump University spokesperson, founded by Donald Trump, the concept is simple and sensible, its like getting a few friends and family members together to enjoy a beach house and sharing the usage.

Security of ownership is provided by carefully structured legal systems that provide real equity for the end user.

“Major organizations worldwide have applied a Fractional Ownership model successfully, and its time to import this knowledge to Cyprus and the region”, says Michael J. Tolan, CEO of World Class Group.

World Class Group, a PR and communications unit, with various offices in the region, has a shared ownership division and services developer clients worldwide.

Attendees of the symposium will be updated on news from the recent World Alternative Ownership congress in Phuket, Thailand, where delegates from World Class Group represented various clients who are eager to learn the success formulas from around the globe.

They will also unveil the newest innovations in ‘Property Partnerships’, a product created by the consulting firm.

“We see the opportunity for mature developers to capitalize on this opportunity to create compelling product offerings through  uplifting their current real estate holdings and this will invigorate the Cyprus Property market.” he added.

“Cyprus will benefit from the proper introduction of Fractional Ownership, and in the process, consumers will derive excellent value as the average second home usage in Cyprus is less than 32 days per annum.

“This will allow many more potential clients to acquire a dream home in Cyprus,  and only invest the amount of capital that will represent their usage requirements. Fractional Ownership provides the opportunity for investors to experience capital appreciation over time as the asset, although shared, is deeded.” said Tolan

World Class Group promotes as one of its clients a ‘consortium of developers’ to attract investment to Cyprus through the Cyprus Investment Festival, which will also be touring Doha, Qatar later in November.

At the Collective Syndicated Ownership Symposium in Nicosia, World Class Group will also share business models and opportunities for accountants ,FSA’s, Asset managers, Property companies to participate in what is expected to be the fastest growth in the real estate on the island over the past 18 months.

“Without thoughtful innovation and a bold commitment to change  current strategies, Cyprus property markets are doomed to experience a major hurdle of growth recovery in the future.” We are certain that, CSO, in offerings of Fractional Ownership, will play an important role to over that hurdle and  to attract prosperity for the future of the Property Market in Cyprus.” said Tolan.

World-Renown Shared Ownership Consultant Richard Ragatz Ph.D. to address Alternative Ownership Conference, October 12 and Hotel Investment Conference, October 15 in Hong Kong and Phuket.

Richard Ragatz, Ph.D., the internationally-recognized consultant in the shared ownership resort real estate industry and President of RAGATZ ASSOCIATES, will speak during the 20th Annual Hotel Investment Conference for Asia Pacific (HI-PAC) in Hong Kong and at the Alternative Ownership Conference of Hotels and Resorts, in Phuket, Thailand in October. Both presentations will address fractional interests on a world-wide basis.

“We fully expect the fractional interest segment of the resort real estate industry to rebound more rapidly and more aggressively than the whole-ownership segment, as the economy continues to rebound,” says Ragatz (pictured). “This is due to the increased value and rationality of the concept for the consumer, and the broadening of the market and the greater profit margin for the developer. Such heightened interest is occurring on an international basis!”

Ragatz will be the keynote speaker on October 12 at the Alternative Ownership Conference of Hotels and Resorts, being held at the Millenium Resort, Patong in Phuket, Thailand. On October 15 during the HI-CAP Conference, Ragatz will be joined by Paul K. Dean, Director, Horwath HTL Shared Ownership Services Pty Ltd, to direct a workshop entitled, “How To Determine Whether Fractionals Are Practical For Your Project.”
Ragatz has earned a reputation for being the world’s premier consultant for shared ownership resort real estate over the past 35 years as he and his team have assisted clients to develop both large and small projects in over 70 countries.

About RAGATZ ASSOCIATES
RAGATZ ASSOCIATES (www.ragatzassociates.com) is a highly respected international consulting and market research firm in the resort real estate industry. It was founded in 1974 by Dr. Richard Ragatz and has serviced clients from both the private sector (from small, individually owned companies to international corporations) and the public sector (from small municipalities to national governments). The firm has worked on over 2,500 assignments in the resort real estate industry in 48 states and over 70 countries.

Absolute Resort Management company continues it’s expansion by adding its fifth property of 2009 to its management portfolio, taking the total number of resorts under Absolute Resort Management to seven.

Absolute Resort Management is one of the business sectors under the Absolute World Group of companies. Absolute Resort Management is a fast growing boutique resort management brand for hotels and resorts, property developments and mixed-use developments in Thailand.

The latest resort to come under the Absolute umbrella and be managed by Absolute Resort Management is Absolute At Panta in Phuket, effective October 1, 2009. The resort, located just a few kilometres from Phuket International airport and leading golf courses. Absolute At Panta consists of 78 Thai style rooms and villas in landscaped gardens with a canal running through the property offering guests a natural and relaxing atmosphere.

Mr. Supachart Ruamsamu, Managing Director Absolute Resort Management said that “As the number of new resorts in tourist destinations such as Phuket, Pattaya and Samui continues to grow, many are looking for and need a professional resort management company to manage everything from operations to marketing and market positioning of the resort.”

Artitaya Temtripeth, Director, At Panta said “We are pleased to work with Absolute Resort Management. Absolute’s global affiliate and sales network will help bring more visitors to At Panta. And with Absolute’s professional resort management experience, the operational side of the resort will be of the highest standards ensuring guests enjoy their stay at the resort”.

Absolute Resort Management is expanding rapidly in line with its strategic plan, even during the current global recession. The company now has seven resorts in its portfolio.

For more information, visit www.AbsoluteResorts.com

The Hideaways Club is a leading international property investment fund that offers its members the opportunity to invest in and exclusively enjoy an entire portfolio of luxury holiday villas and chalets throughout Europe, Africa and Mauritius. The company has recently added two spectacular new properties to its expanding Far East programme on the beautiful islands of Bali and Phuket.

Situated on the Asmara Estate on the southern end of Bali in a secure gated private estate, the main house comprises three tastefully furnished and spacious en-suite bedrooms, plus two stand-alone garden bungalows, each with double beds and al fresco bathrooms and a large private swimming pool set in 2,200 square metres of beautiful manicured gardens.

There are full time staff on hand at all times and the property is in close proximity to a world class golf course, famous surfing beaches, excellent local restaurants and is ideally located from which to explore the island and experience the rich Balinese culture.

The Phuket property is positioned on the Layan Estate on the northern end of the island in a beautiful gated community that offers privacy, tranquillity and security with one of the islands finest beaches, Layan beach, a five minute walk away. The villa offers four large en suite bedrooms, open plan living and dining rooms, a children’s room and a large private pool. An additional benefit is a 34’ powerboat available at a special rate for guests’ usage only a 20 minute drive away.

As with all Hideaways Club properties a 24-hour local concierge service is available and the villa has full time staff to take care of every requirement. Phuket is famous for world class diving and snorkelling facilities and some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are close by. The internationally famous Pang Na Bay with its 42 islands is a short drive away.

Commenting on these two purchases Mike Balfour, Chairman and co-founder of The Hideaways Club said, “As part of our ongoing commitment to providing members with the widest and most exciting choice of holiday options in three continents it was a natural move to expand our operation in the Far East. Having researched a number of locations in the area we realised that two of the most popular and requested destinations lay in the spectacularly beautiful islands of Bali and Phuket. These destinations fit in perfectly with the profile of our existing Malaysian Borneo property and offer excellent value for money and solid investment potential which will ultimately benefit all our members. We are currently looking to add further properties to our portfolio in the South-East Asia region over the coming year.”

Founded in 2006 and launched in 2007 by a group of highly successful international entrepreneurs and investors, Members of The Hideaways Club enjoy the use of a diverse portfolio of 25 multi-million euro properties throughout Europe, Africa, Mauritius and the Far East (see attachment). Membership of the Club is rapidly becoming recognised as the most financially astute way of investing in overseas property that combines a unique investment with a luxurious lifestyle, offering members a wide variety of holiday options while at the same time benefiting from medium to long term growth on their investment.

Key benefits of membership:

• Membership is a FRACTION OF THE COST of sole ownership

• Members pay an annual cost which represents a 60% DISCOUNT TO MARKET villa rentals

• The Club currently has in excess of 25 LUXURY VILLAS in three continents

• The total value of The Hideaways Club property portfolio is now in excess of £30 million

• Each year an additional 12 to 15 luxury villa, chalets and apartments are added to the portfolio

• Each member owns (pro-rated to the type of membership) an equal share of the entire property portfolio giving them REAL ASSET OWNERSHIP

• Owing to its purchasing power the company has been able to capitalise on the current market conditions for the benefit of the members

• All members requests and requirements are handled by the company’s local and UK concierge team

• Robust corporate governance in place protects members 100% ownership of property assets