Sol Meliá Vacation Club (SMVC), an international vacation membership club with locations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Europe, has been awarded the prestigious RCI Gold Grown Resort designation by RCI, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange, for its Gran Meliá Puerto Rico resort in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, minutes from the El Yunque rainforest.

A select number of RCI affiliated resorts meet RCI’s requirements for recognition and have earned the RCI Gold Crown Resort award. These resorts have attained high levels in resort accommodations, hospitality and member experiences as measured by RCI.

“We are excited that our product and experience in Puerto Rico exceeds RCI guest expectations, demonstrating the dedication and commitment of our team there,” said Denis Ebrill, Sol Meliá Vacation Club’s Executive Vice President.

L - R: Luis Perez, SMVC Resort Manager, Gran Meliá Puerto Rico; Julio Villasenor, SMVC Regional Director for Puerto Rico; Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President, Sol Meliá Vacation Club; Eugenio Macouzet, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Caribbean, RCI; and John Dishinger, Director of Business Development, Caribbean, RCI

Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club focusing on leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury suites, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities.  Each Sol Meliá Vacation Club vacation experience is different from the other, aligned with local culture and customized to fit Members’ leisure lifestyle needs.

RCI is part of Wyndham Exchange & Rentals, the worldwide leader in vacation exchange and the European leader in vacation rentals, with exclusive access for specified periods to more than 65,000 vacation properties in approximately 100 countries.

Orlando, Florida based Sol Meliá Vacation Club is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, a 50-year-old international hospitality company with over 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents.  Sol Meliá Vacation Club Members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world, as well as flexibility to choose length of stay, season and size of unit.  Featured Sol Meliá Vacation Club locations include Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean; Panama in Central America; and the Canary Islands, Spain, in Europe.  For more information, call 866-379-5950, or visit www.smvc.com.

Interval International, working with its Caribbean member resorts, has made a record-breaking donation to the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association Education Foundation (CHTAEF). David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International, presented a $45,000 check, the largest contribution in the foundation’s history, to CHTAEF representatives at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“Interval commends its resort affiliates for their commitment to this important initiative,” noted Gilbert. “We’re proud that the vacation ownership industry continues to support educational programs such as this one, which are critical to the long-term success of regional tourism.”

Over the past five years, Interval and its member resorts have donated US$120,000 to the foundation.

Participants in the 2009 scholarship fund include:

•    Antigua – Jolly Harbour Beach Resort, Tranquility Bay Antigua.

•    Aruba – La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club, Marriott’s Aruba Surf Club, Marriott’s Aruba Ocean Club, Paradise Beach Villas, Playa Linda Beach Resort, Renaissance Aruba Beach Resort & Hotel, The Aruban Resort and Casino at Eagle Beach.

•    Bahamas – Island Seas Resort, Ocean Reef Resort, Woodbourne Resort.

•    Cayman Islands – Ramada Grand Caymanian Resort.

•    Curaçao – The Royal Sea Aquarium Resort.

•    Dominican Republic – Barceló Punta Cana, Cayena Beach Club, Coral Costa Caribe Resort, Sun Village Resort and Spa.

•    Mexican Caribbean – The Royal Cancun.

•    Puerto Rico – Aquarius Vacation Club® at Boquerón Beach and Aquarius Vacation Club® Dorado del Mar Beach and Golf Resort, ESJ Towers, Hyatt Hacienda del Mar.

•    St. Lucia – Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Bay Gardens Hotel, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort & Spa.

•    St. Maarten – Flamingo Beach Resort, Pelican Marina Residences.

•    U.S.V.I. – Westin St. John Resort and Villas.

“The foundation administers one of the largest scholarship programs in the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry. Applications are received from young people all over the region and reflect a wide variety of interests and backgrounds,” said Tom Pas, the foundation’s chairman. “One of the primary goals of the CHTAEF is human resource development and these funds will definitely assist us in reaching that goal.”

The CHTAEF was established in 1987 as a non-profit organization to provide scholarships and special assistance to Caribbean hospitality industry personnel and students pursuing hospitality and tourism careers.

To date, the Education Foundation has awarded more than US$1 million dollars in scholarships and grants. The application requirements include being a Caribbean national, having a high school or equivalent secondary school degree, pursuing a tourism-related education degree, and demonstrated financial need.

As a strategic partner of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and a board member of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Education Foundation, Interval is committed to understanding the unique needs of the Caribbean region and providing products and programs tailored to this market.

Interval International operates membership programs for vacationers and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 34 years. Today, Interval has an exchange network of more than 2,500 resorts in over 75 nations. Through offices in 15 countries, Interval offers high-quality products and benefits to resort clients and approximately 2 million families who are enrolled in various membership programs. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.

RCI affiliate recognized as top-performing partner

A select number of RCI affiliates meet RCI’s requirements for this annual honor and have earned the RCI® Pinnacle Award. As a top-performing RCI affiliate, Sol Meliá Vacation Club has received the award for its volume of business.

‘It is a pleasure and privilege for Sol Meliá Vacation Club to be recognized by RCI to receive this prestigious award.  We consider this to be an important indicator of our overall success in providing unique and high quality vacation experiences in all our destinations,” said Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President, Sol Meliá Vacation Club.

“For over 35 years, RCI has been working with its affiliates to transform the vacation experience for owners and resort developers alike,” said Gordon Gurnik, president of RCI North America. “We pride ourselves on helping our affiliates grow their business while also making dream vacations a reality for their owners and our members. The RCI Pinnacle Award allows us to honor and recognize our top performing affiliated resorts who continue working to offer vacation experiences to our 3.8 million members worldwide.”

Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club focusing on leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury suites, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities.  Each Sol Meliá Vacation Club vacation experience is different from the other, aligned with local culture and customized to fit members’ leisure lifestyle needs.

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 program, the world’s largest luxury exchange program; vacation rentals, including Endless Vacation Rentals, Landal GreenParks®, Novasol®, and other renowned vacation rental brands, through which vacationers can rent a variety of property types, from city apartments to villas; and NorthCourse® Leisure Real Estate Solutions, a research and consultancy firm providing advisory services to the global leisure real estate industry. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation is one of the world’s largest hospitality companies with leading brands in lodging franchising, vacation ownership, vacation rentals and vacation exchange.

Orlando, Florida based Sol Meliá Vacation Club is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, a 50-year-old international hospitality company with over 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents.  Sol Meliá Vacation Club members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world, as well as flexibility to choose length of stay, season and size of unit.  Featured Sol Meliá Vacation Club locations include Cancun, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean; Panama in Central America; and the Canary Islands, Spain in Europe.  For more information call 866-379-5950 or visit www.smvc.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.

A number of positive trends that reinforce the appeal of the Caribbean market to both existing and potential vacation owners are being shared with delegates at the annual Caribbean Marketplace conference by Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services.

First and foremost, members are visiting the region in increasing numbers and U.S. resident leisure travelers who have indicated an interest in purchasing some form of shared ownership in the next two years also chose this market as a top destination of interest.

“Member demand for vacation exchange and resort rentals in the Caribbean is strong and we continue to affiliate new projects throughout the region,” said David C. Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International. “In today’s environment, shared ownership offers resort developers a compelling business model with multiple profit centers and higher occupancy levels than hotels. In the case of mixed-use projects, it also provides the potential for cost-saving operating synergies and reduced marketing costs.”

Interval reported that bookings into the Caribbean increased approximately nine percent from January through November 2009, as compared to the same period in 2008. This is particularly encouraging in light of the global economic downturn that adversely affected overall arrivals to the Caribbean over the past year.
Additionally, interest in the region among U.S. resident leisure travelers considering a shared ownership purchase is significant. According to the Future Timeshare Buyers: 2009 Market Profile, the Caribbean is one of the preferred international destinations of choice among U.S. resident leisure travelers interested in purchasing vacation time in the next two years, as approximately eight in 10 (78 percent) indicate they want to vacation in the region.

In 2009, Interval expanded its resort network in the region through numerous affiliations, including Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort & Spa in St. Lucia, Gold Coast Aruba, Dawn Beach Club in St. Maarten, and Grand Laguna Beach and Los Altos in the Dominican Republic.

Los Altos, a residential resort located within Casa de Campo —a 7,000 acre mixed-use development considered one of the finest resort communities in the Caribbean — has affiliated with Preferred Residences™, Interval’s hospitality branded membership and exchange program for luxury shared ownership resorts.

Dawn Beach Club marked the entrance of Columbia Sussex Corporation, one of North America’s leading independent owners and operators of resorts and hotels, into the shared ownership industry.
Interval International is a longstanding supporter of the region through its strategic alliances with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and the Caribbean Tourism Organization, as well as through its conference sponsorships, including the Caribbean Marketplace in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Interval International operates membership programs for vacation owners and provides value-added services to its developer clients worldwide. Based in Miami, Florida, the company has been a pioneer and innovator in serving the vacation ownership market for more than 33 years. Today, Interval has a network of approximately 2,500 resorts in more than 75 countries and offers its resort clients and about 2 million member families high-quality products and programs through offices in 26 cities in 16 countries. Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG), a leading global provider of membership and leisure services to the vacation industry.

Global Hospitality Giant Will Open the Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel and Debut the W and St. Regis brands in the Next 12 Months

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) – the hotel industry’s most global company – today announces it will double its presence in Puerto Rico in the next year with the opening of the island’s first W and St. Regis hotels and its second Sheraton.

Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel – the first full-service hotel and casino built in San Juan in a decade – opens this November. Coming on its heels are the W Retreat and Spa-Vieques Island and The St. Regis Resort and Residences Bahia Beach, both scheduled to open in 2010. The St. Regis also marks a meaningful milestone for Puerto Rico and Starwood as it is the first new luxury hotel to welcome guests to the island since 1997.

“The temperate climate, strong infrastructure, and proximity to gateway cities in the United States, Mexico and South America make Puerto Rico an extremely attractive growth market for Starwood and our proven development partners,” said Paul Sacco, Senior Vice President of Development, North America, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “As we work to further our lead as the world’s largest upper-upscale and luxury hotel company, and the leading innovator in the select service segment, we see significant long-term opportunity in this dynamic market.”
The three new Starwood properties will join Starwood’s three existing properties in Puerto Rico: Sheraton Old San Juan, Four Points by Sheraton Caguas Real Hotel & Casino and Four Points by Sheraton Resort & Casino at Palmas Del Mar.

Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel
Sheraton Puerto Rico Convention Center Hotel opens next month adjacent to the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan’s newest vibrant commercial and residential district. The new 503-room hotel will accommodate both business and leisure travelers and offer exceptional meeting facilities, a full-service casino and resort-like amenities, including a pool, spa and retail space.

W Retreat and Spa – Vieques Island
Located on the island of Vieques, approximately eight miles off the coast of Puerto Rico, W Retreat and Spa-Vieques Island is scheduled to open in the spring of 2010. The first W property in the Caribbean and the brand’s second retreat property, W Retreat and Spa – Vieques will offer breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea, stylish guest rooms, world-class dining, a luxurious spa, flexible meeting and banquet space and two private beaches.

The St. Regis Resort and Residences Bahia Beach
Opening in the fall of 2010, The St. Regis Bahia Resort and Residences will offer spectacular views of the sparkling sea to the north and the mountainous El Yunque National Rainforest to the south. The $172 million resort will feature 139 luxurious guest rooms and suites with spectacular ocean views, 25 Residences, the iconic St. Regis Butler Service, a world-class Remèdesm Spa, oceanfront swimming pools, 120-seat restaurant by renowned Chef Jean-Georges and a recently opened 18-hole golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., marking the island’s foray into the five-star-luxury market with its inauguration.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 982 properties in more than 100 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

Orlando-based Sol Meliá Vacation Club (SMVC), an international leisure vacation membership club with locations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Europe, has been presented with the 2008 Developer Innovation Award for the new Sol Meliá Vacation Club at Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, by Group RCI, a worldwide leader in vacation exchanges with more than 3.5 million members globally.

Pictured from left to right for the award presentation at SMVC at Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora are: Ovidio Zapico, RCI Spain; Fernando Navarro, SMVC at Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora; Ignacio Diaz, General Manager of Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora; Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President of Sol Meliá Vacation Club; and Dimitris Manikis, RCI VP Business Development.

RCI’s Annual Awards for Developer Achievement include the Developer Innovation category, recognizing resorts with new vacation ownership projects that are eco-friendly, have unique features, are family friendly and provide a high level of service, starting with the point of arrival.

“The Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora is one of the finest quality resorts in the Canary Islands and is a great new location for us,” said Denis Ebrill, Executive Vice President of Sol Meliá Vacation Club.  “We are proud to receive this award and RCI’s recognition of our unique product offering.”  SMVC at Gran Meliá Palacio de Isora features 200 one and two-bedroom oceanfront suites with lavish amenities such as plasma TVs, fully-equipped kitchenettes, upscale wood and granite accents.  Resort features include five restaurants, six bars, room service, wine cellar, golf simulator, two tennis courts, world-class Yhi Spa, four adult swimming pools, two children’s pools, including one of the largest swimming pools in Europe.

Sol Meliá Vacation Club is an internationally-branded membership club that focuses on providing leisure lifestyle experiences that include exotic destinations, designer-appointed luxury suites, exclusive services and unforgettable amenities.  Each Sol Meliá Vacation Club vacation experience is different from the other, aligned with the local culture and customized to fit Members’ leisure lifestyle needs.

SMVC is part of Spain-based Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts, a 50-year-old international hospitality company with over 350 hotels in 30 countries on five continents.  Sol Meliá Vacation Club Members have more vacation lifestyle options through global luxury accommodations in a variety of unique resort and urban destinations around the world, as well as flexibility to choose the length of stay, season and size of unit.  Featured Sol Meliá Vacation Club locations include Cancun, Cozumel and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico; Puerto Rico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean; Panama in Central America; and the Canary Islands, Spain, in Europe.