Resort Equities, (www.ResortEquities.com), an emerging national leader in the shared ownership industry, has announced its participation as a co-host of the 12th Annual Ragatz Fractional & Resort Real Estate Conference, held March 12-13 at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Arizona. This year’s conference will be a departure from previous events, which focused solely on the fractional industry and will feature topics on all forms of resort real estate.

Resort Equities Founder and CEO Keith Cox added, “Along with the beautiful new conference venue, expanded discussion topics will cover a broad range of important resort real estate issues and opportunities specific to the current era. The educational value of these sessions is beneficial to the entire resort real estate industry. As the conference Co-Host, we will have the opportunity to introduce our senior executive team and share some exciting new initiatives, which we believe will help us reshape and move forward within the fractional industry.”

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Ragatz Associates has announced the expansion of their 12th Annual Fractional Interest Conference to include more segments of the resort real estate industry. The 2012 event will be held March 12-13 at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch. While the focus will remain on shared-ownership components – such as fractional interests, private residence clubs, and destination clubs – most featured products can be generalized as whole-ownership components. These include resort condominiums, single-family detached vacation homes, master-planned destination resort communities and vacation rentals. Due to the broader range of products, the Conference is attractive to a wider audience and has been renamed the Ragatz Fractional & Resort Real Estate Conference.
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“It is apparent that the world of resort real estate is becoming increasingly integrated, including more mixed-use developments, a greater cross-over of product lines, ever-changing consumer use patterns and purchase motivations,” said Richard Ragatz, Ph.D., President of Ragatz Associates (www.RagatzAssociates.com). “During our global consulting work, we find that developers are active in more than a single resort real estate product. Today, more than ever, it is critical to understand how many components can blend together to create developments that are most appealing to today’s multi-motivated consumers.”

The 2012 Conference will have several sessions on consumer trends including changes in decision-making patterns and which resort real estate products make most sense to various buyers. It also will emphasize marketing and selling to today’s consumers, as well as how to determine the most appropriate product(s) to offer. The educational content of these sessions is applicable to the entire resort real estate industry.

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Since its inception in July 2008, Owners Perspective Magazine has established itself as the authority on buying timeshare, resort real estate and fractional ownership products, having been selected for distribution via the first class airport lounges of more than a dozen of the world’s leading airlines, luxury hotels, resorts, golf clubs and spas with a reach of over 50,000 highly targeted prospective buyers per edition.

Today, sees the launch of a new cutting edge website for the magazine, which offers access to all back issues in both digital page turn technology and downloadable PDF formats, web versions of all articles for easy search and reference, reader offers, competitions and the latest resort and luxury travel news updated daily.

The new site also has a social media element to it, combining the most popular features of Twitter and Facebook as well as offering Groups and Forums designed to glean positive feedback and consumer opinion on all aspects of shared ownership products.

To ensure the quality and integrity of its readership, all previous subscribers to the website are being asked to manually re-register, enabling Owners Perspective Magazine to have an accurate and active database of readers; with the new system also controlling any unsubscribing readers with ease.

Estimated figures predict that more than 10,000 will re-register over the next few weeks and the company expects rapid growth thereafter.

For more information visit www.ownersperspective.com

For information on advertising and editorial opportunities visit www.perspectiverates.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

Since the announcement that the shared ownership industry’s leading independent trade publication was launching a version dedicated to the North American (http://www.perspectivemagazine.com/na) marketplace, no less than 11 new companies have chosen the publication for anything from 3 month to 12 month marketing campaigns.

Perspective Magazine (http://www.theperspectivemagazine.com), now in its fifth year, has successfully brought the industry closer together by offering a unique and global view of the timeshare and fractional ownership industries, growing its print and online readership to more than 22,000 industry professionals and securing media sponsorship deals with 18 major conventions and events around the globe each year.

As a continuation to their expansion, Perspective Magazine has now revealed that February 2010 will see the first of a new edition dedicated specifically to the USA, Canada, Mexico & Caribbean regions and has been very well received by the North American marketplace, resulting in 11 companies purchasing advertising and advertorial packages within seven days of the first announcement.

Additionally, Perspective Magazine has been busy converting their online readership for the region to print subscribers and has increased its print circulation by more than 1,200 to exceed more than 7,000 industry professionals, with a further 5,500+ still reading the digital version.

Perspective Magazine is available free of charge to qualifying timeshare, fractional ownership, resort real estate and hotel professionals.

Visit http://www.perspectivemagazine.com/na/print

The first edition of Perspective Magazine North America will be available online mid February, in print one week later and will also be officially distributed via delegate registration bags to all attendees at the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) Convention in Las Vegas a couple of weeks later.

ARDA Convention attendees who wish to speak with a Perspective Magazine Account Manager during the event can visit Booth #355 or arrange an appointment in advance by emailing sharon@perspectiveinternational.com or calling +1 407 792 2343.

The world’s most read independent trade publication for the shared ownership industry has now launched a test version of its new online social media business forum at http://www.theperspectivemagazine.com/forum/

Described as a cross between the discussion attributes of LinkedIn and the functionality of Twitter, this innovative “live update” site is another industry first from Perspective International Ltd and backed by their B2B publication, is expected to grow rapidly into a useful resource and communication platform for timeshare and fractional ownership professionals to discuss anything related to their industry, share thoughts and ideas with others and learn from each other’s expertise, knowledge, successes and failures.

This online forum is the first in a series of social media products and services set to be released in 2010 by Perspective International Ltd specifically designed for the shared ownership industry and mark the beginning of another year of accelerated growth.

Perspective International Ltd first published their trade publication in 2005 and since then has grown to be the industry’s most read independent monthly publication globally with more than 21,400 print and online subscribers. February 2010 will see an additional version of the award winning publication launched – Perspective Magazine North America; specifically focusing on the USA, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean regions.

2009 also saw the launch of the first globally recognized consumer publication focused on the purchasing and ownership of timeshare, fractional ownership and resort real estate, which is now available in selected hotels, resorts, supermarkets and first class airport lounges around the world and is now generating direct sales enquiries for developers from its print and online components and strategic brand alignments.

For more information on advertising and editorial opportunities visit www.perspectiverates.com

Perspective, The Leading Shared Ownership Magazine, confirms its second year of media sponsorship for Ragatz Associates’ 2010 Fractional Interest Conference, which will be held March 29 through 31 at the Fairmont San Francisco. Perspective International Ltd publishes Perspective magazine.

“As we prepare for our 10th annual Fractional Interest Conference, Ragatz Associates is pleased to have the support of Perspective International once again, not only for their ability to attract international delegates to the conference, but also because of their vast reach throughout the United States, as they publicize the event in print and online,” says Richard L. Ragatz, Ph.D., president of Ragatz Associates.

The conference should be of interest to companies already in the fractional interest industry (including private residence clubs and destination clubs), as well as to companies considering entering the industry. Past attendees include developers, exchange companies, financial/banking institutions, hotel companies, legal and design firms, ARDA, sales and marketing firms, and real estate and many other industry-related companies. Participants at the 2009 event commented that it was the “best”’ and “most valuable” Ragatz conference they had attended.

As in the past annual conferences, the 2010 Fractional Interest Conference will include formal presentations (in 2009 there were more than 65 speakers) as well as a series of small group break-out sessions. The event will continue to host industry experts who share their perspectives, experience, and outlook.

Perspective magazine is officially distributed to all conference delegates, making it a prime advertising opportunity. For more information on advertising and editorial opportunities visit www.perspectiverates.com or call +1-407-792-2343.

Additional conference details are available at www.ragatzassociates.com, and registration is scheduled to begin November 3.

About Ragatz Associates
Ragatz Associates is recognized as the leading consulting and market research firm in the resort real estate industry on a global basis. The firm has conducted more than 2,500 studies in over 70 countries since being formed in 1974. It specializes in feasibility analysis and consumer research.

About Perspective Magazine
Perspective magazine is the most read independent B2B publication for the shared ownership industry globally, offering exclusive interviews, news and reviews on all aspects of timeshare, fractional ownership, private residence clubs and resort real estate. Winner of two Innovative Marketing Awards and Media Sponsor of 18 major industry conventions around the globe with official distribution to all delegates at each event just adds to the highly targeted print and online subscription base of more than 20,600 industry professionals and the additional online exposure offered through its network of news and press release sites.
For more information visit www.perspectivemagazine.com, call +1 407 792 2343 (USA) or +44 191 250 3501 (UK) or visit our online media centre at www.perspectiverates.com.

Affluent Leisure Travelers Remain Committed To Vacations

Affluent leisure travelers interested in resort real estate strongly believe in the value of their vacations, as nearly nine in ten report that vacationing is important to their well-being and to the health of their personal relationships. They appreciate leisure travel experiences and activities such as spending time with family and friends, exploring unique and interesting destinations, taking part in new experiences, and setting aside time for rest and relaxation – all components that support their commitment to the concept of vacationing.
These are some of the findings from The Affluent Shared Ownership Buyer: A Market Profile, a study produced exclusively for Interval International, to provide insights about the travel habits and resort real estate preferences of the most affluent U.S. households interested in acquiring some form of resort real estate. Developed from the Ypartnership 2008 Portrait of Affluent TravelersSM, a comprehensive analysis of high-end lifestyles, social values, and travel trends of the top eight percent of American households defined by current income, the results are being introduced at the 11th Annual Vacation Ownership Investment Conference in Orlando, Florida.

“The fieldwork for this survey was conducted in August 2008, a time of considerable anxiety for many affluent households, particularly those with significant investments in equities,” said Peter C. Yesawich, chairman and chief executive officer of Ypartnership, author of the study. “The financial turmoil that prevailed during the remainder of the year amplified this anxiety, hence the implications for how affluent Americans feel about their leisure time, vacations, and resort real estate are very provocative.”

The study also reveals that nearly three quarters of affluent leisure travelers interested in purchasing some form of resort real estate confirm their interest in vacationing in condominium-style accommodations during the next two years. They are nearly twice as likely as their uninterested counterparts to be familiar with the concepts of vacation ownership, fractional ownership, and private residence clubs. Additionally, they see themselves as value-driven consumers who place a premium on quality and reliability.

“This personal viewpoint combined with their desire to own vacation real estate illustrates how aligning resort development plans with a branded exchange and benefit program can enhance the value proposition for affluent consumers,” said David C. Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing for Interval International, a leading global provider of vacation services.

Affluent travelers assign high levels of perceived value to the availability of various attributes and activities when making their resort vacation purchase decisions.  These attributes generally take the form of physical features, as well as service offerings to complement their stay.  “Having access to features and amenities that extend their luxurious residential lifestyles is a key element in exceeding the expectations of this discriminating traveler. Today’s fractional interest product and private residence clubs are well positioned to appeal to the tastes and desires of this influential group of consumers,” said Yesawich.

“These findings will assist resort developers in offering affluent travelers the vacation experiences they seek,” Gilbert added.  “Understanding the specific luxury privileges and services, along with the physical and architectural resort features sought by this consumer group, gives them a competitive advantage in the marketplace.”

What does this all mean to the shared ownership industry? “It’s important to note there are approximately 1.3 million affluent leisure travelers in the U.S. who are interested in acquiring resort real estate during the next two years,” noted Yesawich. “They’re looking for vacation experiences that fit their changing needs and that also fulfill their penchant for status and the personal satisfaction of real estate ownership. Since shared ownership offers consumers the ability to purchase only the amount of time they intend to use, this augers well for the future of this business.”

The data for this analysis were collected randomly during August 2008 using a nationally representative sample of U.S. consumers, prequalified and screened for specific demographic and behavioral characteristics.  Respondents were adults who took at least one trip for leisure purposes of at least 75 miles away from home that required overnight accommodations during the previous year, stayed in a “luxury hotel or resort” (by self report) at least once during the previous year, and reported a minimum annual household income of $150,000.  Results are representative of the population of all affluent travelers in the United States.

Other Notable Findings
•    Affluent leisure travelers interested in resort real estate overwhelmingly tend to be married (93%) and White (80%) with an annual household income of $250,000 or more (52%) and a reported net worth of $1 million or more (72%).

•    More than four in ten are Boomers (44 – 62 years of age) (42%) and approximately four in ten are Generation Xers (30 – 43 years of age) (37%).

•    Affluent leisure travelers interested in acquiring resort real estate have taken an average of more than seven (7.4) leisure trips during the past 12 months.  Of those who took at least one trip in this category, approximately five (5.3) were to domestic destinations, whereas two in seven (3.5) were to international locales.

About Interval International
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 across 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.

After nearly four years Perspective Magazine has now managed to acquire the previously unavailable PerspectiveMagazine.com

Perspective Magazine; the leading trade publication for the shared ownership industry globally has been in circulation since November 2005, residing at www.theperspectivemagazine.com, but finally after a long wait, parent company Perspective International Ltd have finalised negotiations to buy www.perspectivemagazine.com and have now taken ownership of this domain.

“It has been one of those things that has irritated me every day for four years…” says Paul Mattimoe, CEO of Perspective International Ltd, “…having to give out the magazine’s website with a ‘the’ in the front of it – so I am very pleased to have finally convinced the previous owners to sell the domain to us and look forward to establishing the magazine’s online component in its rightful place shortly.”

The new website will not be available for some weeks yet, but is expected to be released with even more enhanced features as the magazine gears up for the release of its annual advertising packages for 2010.

In the meantime, industry professionals can read all the latest news, press releases, interviews and articles about the fractional ownership, timeshare, and resort real estate industries at http://www.theperspectivemagazine.com

Perspective Magazine is available in high quality print and online, reaching a subscription of more than 20,400 industry professionals every month in addition to providing the most up to date news on a daily basis online.

For information about advertising and editorial opportunities visit http://www.perspectiverates.com

Will be St. Thomas’ first enviromentally sustainable development.

Preferred Residences™, a hospitality branded membership and exchange program for luxury shared ownership resorts, today announced that Flagberry Hill Club and Resort in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, has joined its exchange network. Offering breathtaking views from its 950-feet above sea-level location, the resort is being designed and built using green materials to make it the island’s first environmentally sustainable development.

Plans for the mixed-use resort include a 40-unit boutique hotel, 10 whole ownership condominium units, and 80 three-bedroom fractional villas. Designed by OBM International, one of the premier architectural firms in the Caribbean, the fractional unit interiors are expected to range from 2,300 to 3,900 square feet. Each will feature gracious living and dining areas with lavish finishes, fully equipped kitchens, high-end electronics and entertainment systems, and a private swimming pool.  In addition to these upscale features and amenities, when possible the property will be powered by wind, solar and photovoltaic energy sources, and will employ water conservation technologies.

“Flagberry Hill demonstrates our commitment to preserving the environment through sustainable development and responds to the growing consumer demand for green luxury accommodations,” noted Glenn Elskoe, president, and Dorothy Elskoe, owner, of Wintdots Development LLC. “Through our affiliation with Preferred Residences, we will be able to position our product as one of the Caribbean’s most desirable luxury properties and set it apart from others in the region.”

“We are delighted to launch the Preferred Residences program in the Caribbean with this outstanding property that promises to take luxury to a new level. Visitors will enjoy first-class accommodations in a tropical paradise and be treated to unparalleled service and amenities,” said David Gilbert, executive vice president of resort sales and marketing, Preferred Residences.

Flagberry Hill will offer owners and guests on-site amenities that include a clubhouse with gourmet dining, a full-service spa, a fitness center, and access to several nature trails available throughout the property. Each unit will be assigned a vehicle for guest use and 10 sailing yachts will be available to them as well. 

Visitors will be able to take an aerial cable car ride from the resort to Paradise Point, one of the “must see” attractions in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The St. Thomas Skyride whisks passengers 700 feet above sea level in seven minutes giving them panoramic views of Charlotte Amalie Harbor and neighbouring islands. Once at Paradise Point, they can enjoy an observation deck, complete with a restaurant, bar, tropical bird display, nature trail, and a gift shop.
 
“The government and people of the U. S. Virgin Islands can be proud of this development because it demonstrates the Virgin Islanders’ abilities to be involved in something unique that will bring jobs and international recognition to the nation. It will create more than 250 construction jobs and employ over 200 full-time local residents when complete,” added Mr. Elskoe.

In addition to the sales and marketing opportunities for developers, Preferred Residences offers owners “high-touch” exchange services and year-round leisure and lifestyle benefits tailored especially for sophisticated, affluent travelers. These include preferential pricing at participating Preferred Hotel Group affiliated properties worldwide, complimentary Prestige membership in Priority Pass™ airport VIP lounge program, personal concierge services accessible 24/7 online and via phone, discounts on the Delta AirElite private jet program, and complimentary annual membership in Hertz #1 Club Gold®.

About Preferred Residences™
Preferred Residences™ is a hospitality branded membership and exchange program for luxury fractional resorts, private residence clubs, and condominium-style hotels.  The program gives developers the opportunity to promote their upscale vacation residences within a network of exclusive accommodations and to deliver high-quality vacation experiences to owners of exceptional real estate. Members have access to a rich menu of benefits and services designed to enhance a sophisticated lifestyle. Preferred Residences is an alliance between Interval International, a leader in vacation ownership for more than 30 years, and the Preferred Hotel Group, representing more than 700 of the world’s finest independently owned hotels in over 75 countries.