Venice On Water Has Arrived
July 9, 2009 by Perspective Magazine | Timeshare & Fractional ReviewsThe industry has just seen the launch of one of the most unusual timeshare properties yet – Venice on Water. This operation is based around a small fleet of custom-built luxury Houseboats that will be moored in a strategic and central location within very close proximity of the iconic city of Venice. The first of 10 Houseboats, the MDINA VENEZIA, was inaugurated in Malta on June 23rd and several stakeholders in the hospitality and holiday ownership sectors were invited to pre-view the Houseboat before it reached its base in the Venice lagoon.
This floating residence concept was borne out of the co-operation between Malta based Marketing And Promotion Ltd, headed by Managing Director Mary Anne Pulé and its Italian partner Floating House, which has secured licences for 10 Houseboats. The project is being financed by Marketing And Promotion Ltd’s development arm – MAP Destinations Investments Ltd. The initial plan was to start with one Houseboat, however since there are 10 licences available, the long-term aim is to build up to this number, giving MAP 500 weeks to sell. The latter initially started promoting this venture in its home territory of Malta, a market it knew well, however it is now turning its attention to the UK and US markets.
The marina Darsena DEC was chosen as the base mooring place for the MDINA VENEZIA. It is an ideal location given that it is only 5km away from the Venice city centre and it offers guests various services and facilities including water and electricity supply and protection from winds and tides. The houseboat, measuring ten by four and a half metres, can accommodate up to six guests and is easy to manoeuvre and handle with no licence or experience required. Anyone wanting to jump aboard can hire their own skipper for an extra fee or can opt to learn the ropes in a couple of hours.
According to Mary Anne Pulé “if a member can clearly pilot the boat and establish themselves as a good skipper, there is no reason why they can’t go further afield to explore the rivers of Italy. But for those wanting to stay in Venice, there’s lots to do. There’s the Lido and plenty of islands. We’re also planning to provide several itineraries to make it easier for members to plan their routes”.
The construction of the MDINA VENEZIA was entrusted to Malta-based General Maintenance Ltd, however it was also entirely designed, furnished and finished in Malta. No compromise was made on the choice of finishing required to make this Houseboat a marvel in luxury. The hull has also been fabricated from light aluminium which is more durable than other materials and is less expensive to maintain although the initial production costs are higher. It has also been specifically designed for the shallow waters of the Venetian Lagoon and has been planned with safety in mind so guests may cruise in confidence. The vessel is equipped with fenders to protect it whilst it is moored and lifejackets, fire blankets and extinguishers are also available on board. The inside layout of the houseboat consists of two bedrooms, one with ensuite facilities, a separate shower room, a full kitchen and living area, a rooftop sundeck and lounge area, a cockpit and private sleeping area for the skipper.
Apart from offering luxury 5 star accommodation on board, membership of Venice on Water also offers flexibility through its affiliation with RCI and ICE Gallery. Given that the Houseboats enjoy a red seasonal time band across the year and have been awarded the Gold Crown status by RCI, members will also benefit from excellent exchange power. If this was not enough, the Management Company also offers members the option of splitting their week and enjoy one week-end and one mid-week break at different times during the year.
Ultimately, the beauty of Venice on Water is that it allows members to create a holiday tailor-made to
suit their preferences and each holiday can be a different one with new routes explored year after year. Although the Management Company will offer a number of suggested cruise itineraries, it will be up to the members to organise the holiday to their liking and at their pace.
Life onboard a Venice on Water houseboat is a truly magical experience and is ideal for everyone. Children revel in the sense of adventure that a boating holiday gives them whilst adults will not fail to appreciate the freedom and flexibility of having all the comforts at arms length wherever they decide to go.
Venice Highlights
The Venice lagoon has a lot to offer visitors, starting with the magical beauty of the historic island of Venice. The heart of Venice is the area around St. Mark’s square and its famous five domed Basilica. Of note is also the spectacular Doge’s Palace ‘Palazzo Ducale’ which together with the Basilica represents the core of the Serene Republic’s spiritual and political power plays. A visit to Venice is not complete without a stop to admire the famous ‘Ponte di Rialto’ and ‘Canal Grande’ where visitors may discover the incredible Venetian style Palaces and soak up the unique atmosphere whilst enjoying a strong espresso or a rich cappuccino at one of the many café’s.
Moving on from Venice, visitors may discover the lagoon by cruising around the three main northern islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello which are characterised by their unique architecture and picturesque fishing villages. These islands give visitors an idea of the authentic Venetian way of life. There are more than 80 islands in the lagoon, most of which can be visited, for example S. Francesco, S. Erasmo, S. Lazzaro, Pellestrina and Giudecca. The latter lies immediately south of the central island of Venice and is one of the contracted mooring places available to Venice on Water members for day visits.
Another important location in the lagoon with mooring arrangements for Venice on Water houseboats is the famous Lido. This is an 11km long sandbar which hosts the renowned Venice Film Festival every September. At least half the Adriatic side of the island is constituted by a sandy beach, much of which belongs to the various hotels that house the summer tourists, however towards the northern and southern ends of the island there are two enormous public beaches. The Adriatic Sea is fairly clean and warm, ideal for children.
For those members who wish to navigate further afield the ‘Naviglio del Brenta’ is not to be missed. This waterway links the Venice lagoon to the historic city of Padova and was a vital thoroughfare for commerce and for travel. Along the canal visitors may admire various important monuments which host works of art by Giotto and Galileo Galilei and magnificent 15th century villas, amongst which Villa Pisani and Villa Foscari.
About Marketing And Promotion ltd.
Marketing And Promotion Ltd traces back its origins to 1985, when Managing Director – Mary Anne Pulé ventured into the Holiday Ownership Industry with her involvement in The Sunny Coast Resort Club in Qawra, Malta. Since then, the company went on to market with remarkable success a number of other resorts both in Malta and in other European destinations.
The company’s headquarters are situated in Ta’ Xbiex, Malta, however it has offices at each of the resorts, which are linked up with a multi-level software package, thus facilitating communication. The company employs close to 100 people, which number rises during the summer peak season.
Recruitment is ongoing and several senior employees have brought to the organisation experience in hospitality-related fields, both at home and abroad. The company has its own internal training scheme and its key people attend most of the industry conferences overseas.
Over the years Marketing And Promotion Ltd has reached a level of professionalism that is essential in the hospitality industry, by investing in its human resources and adhering to strict standards and procedures. This has enabled it to keep excellent relations with its associated resorts, protect the reputation of the developers and brands and also to guarantee customer satisfaction, which is at the top of its agenda.
With this new venture, Mary Anne Pulé hopes to bring her learnings and experience as a developer to the marketing arm of her business, as she explained “this can only deepen my understanding of my developer clients and strengthen our relationship. We value our developer partners. Infact, our developers are very excited about adding Venice on Water to the overall industry portfolio of exchange options. They believe the more holiday options our owners have, then the more value they will get out of their timeshare ownership”.
Marketing And Promotion Ltd has over the years introduced over 15,000 members to Holiday Ownership resorts in Malta, thus significantly contributing to the local tourism industry. The company is also recognised by RCI (Resort Condominiums International) as one of the 25 leading Holiday Ownership companies in Europe.
For information on advertising and editorial opportunities with Perspective Magazine & Owners Perspective Magazine; the leading independent B2B & B2C magazines for the timeshare and fractional ownership industries visit www.perspectiverates.com
