TATOC announced today that the popular timeshare resort Pergola Club Hotel & Spa located on the holiday island of Malta is the latest resort to join the Association.

Located in the picturesque village of Mellieha with views of the bay and the islands of Gozo and Comino Pergola Club Hotel is close to the centre of the village’s main street. Shops, banks, restaurants and bars are just a two-minute walk away. The largest and most beautiful sandy beach in Malta is just 1km away from the village.

The resort consists 52 apartments and 30+ hotel rooms over seven floors with a restaurant, bar, Internet cafe, games room and kiddies’ room.

Facilities at the resort include an indoor heated swimming pool, two outdoor pools with a children’s paddling pool, fitness centre, Jacuzzi and sun terraces with views over the village, valley and bay. The Da Vinci Spa provides an extensive range of health, beauty and well-being treatments.

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TATOC, the Timeshare Association, has announced that two major changes to the Board were approved by members at its recent Annual General Meeting held on 13^th March 2011.

Mr Harry Taylor, previously Chief Executive Office, is to take up the position of Executive Chairman and will replace the current Chairman Mr David Eastburn.

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Television Programming Helps Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket Lead the Resale Market

Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, Europe’s leading timeshare resale company, is blazing a trail for televising programs about timeshare. First, the company partnered with TATOC, the Timeshare Association, to broadcast a 30-minute informational program that aired on the Travel Channel. Now, Worldwide  Timeshare Hypermarket is creating 60-minute programs that focus on the offerings from particular timeshare resort developers. First up: Macdonald Resorts.

This past November, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket joined together with TATOC, the Timeshare Association, to launch their first television broadcast, “Timeshare – History in the Making” – a 30-minute program explaining all the benefits associated with owning a timeshare – which has aired multiple times on both the Travel Deals Direct channel (Sky 647) and the Travel Channel. The program also is available to view on demand at www.traveldealsdirect.com.

“Timeshare – History in the Making” is split into several sections covering all aspects of timesharing and is interspersed with footage of typical timeshare resorts located on the Costa del Sol (Club La Costa, Marina del Sol), Cyprus (Paradise Kings Club) and Scotland (Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, Forest Hills).

Here’s an excerpt from the segment on Macdonald Forest Hills: “Forest Hills lochside resort is beautifully set in landscaped gardens and woodland on the shores of Loch Ard, ideal for exploring the magnificent Trossachs, Scotland’s first national park.” While any brochure or website can relay flowery prose and descriptive words, there is no substitute for the complementary video footage of Forest Hills and environs that accompanies them.

The broadcast also explains how exchange programs and memberships work, detailing the concepts of banking, trading and even bonus weeks and cruise exchange.

The presentation is the result of a combined effort between Philip Watson, managing director of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket and Harry Taylor, the CEO for TATOC. Throughout the half-hour, Taylor offers his insight on things such as management fees and the beauty of being able to exchange worldwide. He also shares his experiences as a timeshare owner. What’s more, Taylor explains the basic premise of timeshare so that even someone without any timesharing experience can understand.  The idea behind the show is to educate people about timesharing in the comfort of their own homes.

This special program was the first of what is to be many, says Watson. And now, he says, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is introducing longer programming, announced in December 2009 at The FORUM event in London, with Macdonald Hotels & Resorts as the first client to participate. Rather than focus on just one Macdonald property, the show will be much broader. “We will create either two half-hour programs or an hour-long program that will promote Macdonald in total,” explains Watson, “so you would have all their hotels, their resorts and their rental program – and maybe even a fly-buy program in there – so that you’re concentrating on one group of resorts” and all that they have to offer.

Of course, by the time you read this, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket may have already finalized additional deals to create further 60-minute television specials. “We’re also discussing the possibility of creating such an hour-long program with Club La Costa and one or two other major groups,” Watson says, noting that another program launch is likely for March.

Key to all this is Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket’s relationship with television outlets; while any decent marketing agency could create a video, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket’s agreement with the appropriate channels and networks turns a video into an actual television program. “We’ve increased the sponsorship contract with the Travel Channel for a further year,” says Watson. “We’re in discussions with Sky Travel at the moment to do exactly the same thing, but I can’t say any more than that at present.”

The Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket Difference
Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is proud to be one of the market leaders in secondary timeshare resales, providing to both buyers and sellers a very safe and professional service. With Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket’s parent company being a developer, they have found from experience that among some of the main reasons why people do not buy timeshare direct from the developer is either the product is too highly priced for them, or they do not like the sales tactics/environment used.

Therefore when it came to resales, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket take a step back and allow both the buyer and the seller to approach them, which leaves buyers and sellers feeling relaxed and in control. Under no circumstances does Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket cold call, so the client never feels under pressure from the staff at any time.

Instead, the company advertises extensively on international and national television and in the press, which means the client first has to call if they wish to either purchase or sell a timeshare. Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is then able to offer a full service for clients from beginning to end. The company advertises sellers’ weeks in the press as well as on their website; once a buyer is found, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket completes the transfer on the seller’s behalf, taking all the hassle out of having to sell privately.

For the purchaser, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket determines which product would suit their requirements and budget – and again, the company conducts a full transfer service where all the client needs to do is sit back, relax and when they become the legal owner enjoy their timeshare along with the family.

All monies are held in trust by Resort Fiduciary Services until the transfer is complete so the client knows they can relax happy with the knowledge that their money is safe until they become seen as the legal owner. Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket does not take deposits and allows a full 14-day cooling off period; should the potential client be unable to afford the cost up front, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is able to assist them with membership to WorldWide Plus, which is a club card allowing them to purchase with 6 months interest free and nothing to pay for 6 months.

Afterwards they can use this card on a similar basis to purchase further Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket products if they wish. This club card is supplied by H.M.C Funding and Barclay Partner Finance – Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket was the first European timeshare company to be offered this product.

Being a member of RDO (Resort Development Organization, which formerly was OTE/Organisation for Timeshare in Europe) is integral to Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket’s beliefs and methods of working. RDO has provided a solid framework upon which Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket has built a  professional and efficient procedure in assisting their customers, be they buyers or sellers, and this provides those customers with the confidence that they deserve when they are dealing with a reputable and trustworthy organization.

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts is the first shared-ownership developer to take advantage of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket's 60-minute TV programming offer

RDO not only ensures that its member companies are operating correctly, but it also works tirelessly to promote the image of timeshare throughout Europe. In this regard Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket shares a common purpose and they are extremely proud of their involvement with RDO. They are also proud to add to the company’s close association with TATOC, whom they support and assist in every way that they can.

Future Collaborations
“I think it is absolutely vital that resale companies and developers have a good working relationship and provide a good level of service for their customers, both old and new,” Watson says. “This is one of the key reasons why I am always looking at ways to improve the developer’s understanding of who we are and how we operate.” In addition to the television programming, Watson says that another result of this has been Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket’s “Indulgence” trial membership package, which allows the company to tap into the large market of new-to-timeshare customers while providing good quality leads to their partner developers.

“Other than this mutually beneficial relationship, it is key that we work closely with both the developers and trustees when we are processing a transfer of ownership and the flow of information between all parties involved and a speedy and efficient process serves to enhance our reputation and that of the resort,” notes Watson.

“We also offer wholesale purchases for developers and marketers; in some instances certain resorts have the ability, through using our stock, to sell additional exchange member resort week(s) to exchange members when they exchange onto their resorts, which works very well,” he says. “We can also come to arrangements with developer resorts that take in exchange weeks through their sales teams whereby we can take these weeks off their hands.”

For more information about creating a television program about your resort(s) or otherwise working with Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, call +44 870 443 1466 or visit www.timeshare-hypermarket.com.

About Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket
Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket is a highly professional company with an excellent reputation for customer care. We have been trading in timeshare resales for more than 12 years and currently have the largest database of timeshare weeks available, plus a long waiting list of buyers who are eager for specific weeks when they become available.

Our European Headquarters are located in Bournemouth, Dorset in the United Kingdom, so we conduct our business strictly in line with the Timeshare Act of 1992. We specialize in matching buyers to sellers and handle over 1000 such transactions each and every week, so when you are dealing with us, you can rest assured that you are dealing with the best in the business.

When buying through Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, you can be sure that you are in safe hands, with full protection provided. Your monies are deposited in an escrow account, administered by Resort Fiduciary Services Ltd. This means that no funds will be released until title has been transferred to the purchaser’s name, ensuring both parties to the agreement of sale are fully protected at all times.

We are full members of Resort Development Organisation (RDO), the governing body for timeshare in Europe. This association allows us to offer a safe and professional service to all our clients, ensuring that all legal obligations are adhered to every step of the way.

We are also Platinum Affiliates with TATOC the Timeshare Owners Association that is run on behalf of Timeshare owners by Timeshare owners.

In its first year of operations, the HelpLine launched by the Timeshare Association, TATOC, has helped thousands of timeshare owners — conservatively saving them more than £1million. An independent consumer body, TATOC – the Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees) — is run by timeshare owners for timeshare owners.
 
In 2008 the HelpLine handled more than 6,000 phone calls – 60 per cent were general enquiries, the remainder complaints.  Most complaints related to dubious re-sale practices or scams based on non-timeshare holiday clubs.  Phone activity was augmented by substantial postal and email communications.
 
This year the HelpLine handled more than 1,400 calls in January and February. The service is free of charge and available to member and non-member resorts and individuals.

Telephone number for the TATOC HelpLine:  0845 230 2430
 
At its annual conference in Warrington , Cheshire , TATOC delegates learned that HelpLine services have been enhanced with the opening of a new office in central Manchester and the recruitment of additional staff.
Harry Taylor, Chief Executive, said TATOC was going from strength to strength. 

“We have a good team in place, excellent office facilities and the knowledge and expertise of the timeshare industry to focus exclusively on the interests of timeshare owners and prospective owners,” he added.  According to TATOC board director Geoff Chapman, the HelpLine has a crucial role to play.  “Many problems are still out there and the demand for our services is growing,” he said.
 
As part of its remit, TATOC executives have met with senior officials at the Department of Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) – formerly the Department of Trade and Industry — to address consumer issues and legislation.  More meetings are planned with the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), Consumer Direct and politicians and regulators in Brussels .  The Association will also be involved in the implementation into national law of the EU Timeshare Directive that aims to close many loopholes that rogue operators are currently exploiting.
 
While its interests are focussed on the consumer, TATOC will continue to forge a close and professional relationship with reputable timeshare companies.  “We will do this in part through Resort Accreditation and Affiliation programmes,” said Mr Taylor.  “We are keen to work with companies that share the TATOC vision of enhancing the holiday experience for existing and prospective timeshare owners.  We also aim to be the voice of timeshare owners.”
 
In a video message to the conference, Arlene McCarthy, MEP for the North West Region of England, thanked TATOC for its assistance in helping to draft the EU Timeshare Directive.  She has been prominent in the campaign to win better rights for timeshare owners.  Ms McCarthy also chairs the European Parliament’s Internal Market & Consumer Protection Committee.

For further information please contact: 

Jennie Thompson
jennie.thompson@timeshareassociation.org
Tel 00 34 615 022 542

OR

Harry Taylor, chief executive, on
+44 (0)845 230 2430.
harry.taylor@timeshareassociation.org

Date: 13-15 March 2009
Location: Park Royal Hotel, Warrington, UK
Website: TimeshareAssociation.com