Buying Fractional Ownership, Resort Real Estate & Timeshares

According to a recent survey by VacationBetter.org, 72 percent of respondents listed time away with their spouse as one of the best ways to reconnect and rekindle romance within the marriage.

Today’s hyper-busy lifestyle can take its toll on relationships as evidenced by high divorce rates in the United States. According to a recent survey by VacationBetter.org, 72 percent of respondents listed time away with their spouse as one of the best ways to reconnect and rekindle romance within the marriage. The quality of leisure time with one’s partner is strongly related to marital satisfaction. Even more, satisfaction with leisure time is one of the most important factors in one’s overall quality of life. And regular vacations are an important part of a couple’s overall “leisure portfolio”.

“As a therapist, one of the first things I recommend to a couple having marital stress is carving out that ‘sacred’ couple time,” said Dr. Peter Fraenkel, a marital therapist in New York City, Professor of Clinical Psychology at City College of New York, and the Director of the Ackerman Institute for the Family’s Center for Work and Family. “Taking time away from the stress of everyday living goes a long way in helping couples remember why they fell in love in the first place. The benefits from time away in a lovely or exciting place without the constant pull of life’s interruptions will last even when the vacation is over.”

There are warning signs to look for when a marriage (or other committed relationship) may be in need of a vacation. Evaluate where priorities of the relationship fall compared to other influences such as work, family and friends, or outside hobbies. Make sure attention to each other and the other’s needs are equally distributed. Is one more distracted then the other – or is work taking over the marriage completely? Stress can lead to a major disruption in marriage and it’s important to evaluate the causes of stress and its source. Finally, how much quality time is being spent together alone? The less quality time a couple spends together, especially on a relaxing vacation with no outside influences, the more the lines of communication start to fall apart. Take the 10-question quiz developed by Dr. Fraenkel to see if you and your spouse are in need of a vacation.

Vacation is a perfect time to learn the art of living in the present. Focus on the joy of being together – in the moment. It is not the time to plan for the future, but a time to indulge in love. Even the planning can help to bring couples together with a shared purpose, providing an enjoyable goal to work toward together.

“In the timeshare business, we have seen many couples that have made that commitment to renew their love each year with a regular getaway,” says Howard Nusbaum, president and CEO, American Resort Development Association (ARDA). “Having a beautiful place to go and an easy way to plan adds to the quality of the experience.”

There are some recommended ground rules for these special couples’ vacations to help ensure maximum benefit from time away together.

- Select the type of vacation both spouses will enjoy. If one loves skiing and the other loves the beach, compromise before you go.
- Leave the technology tethers behind. At least leave them out of the bedroom. It’s important to have quality, focused time together….not checking email every hour.
- Don’t work on vacation and don’t ruminate about work problems. Research shows that thinking negatively about work while vacationing eliminates the “vacation benefit” of stress relief.
- Arrange for the kids and pets to be taken care of so there are no last minute issues or worries while on vacation.
- Take a vacation from your disagreements. Leave them at home and approach this special time together as a fresh start. Get to know each other again and don’t bring the petty arguments with you.
In preparation for your vacation, practice a “vacation attitude” towards one another everyday, and especially during your free time together in the evenings or on weekends. Learning to set limits on work and other distractions in your regular life will help you really immerse fully in your vacation.

About VacationBetter.org
VacationBetter.org, the American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) on-line resource informs consumers of the importance of vacations and the overall health and wellness benefits of enjoying one – regularly and economically – through timeshare

World’s Largest and Most Revolutionary Cruise Ship Sets Sail for Home Port of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

After nearly six years in the making, Royal Caribbean International today took delivery of its newest and most revolutionary cruise ship, Oasis of the Seas, from STX Europe in Turku, Finland.

Oasis of the Seas will leave Turku on Friday October 30 with Captain William S. Wright at the helm, en route to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where the ship will make its official debut on Wednesday November. 11.  The transatlantic crossing will be chronicled via daily webisodes broadcast on OasisoftheSeas.com and via Twitter @OasisandAllure.  A new feature to OasisoftheSeas.com will allow visitors to view a Google Maps application and follow Oasis of the Seas journey.  Richard Fain’s “Chairman’s Blog” on OasisoftheSeas.com and “Adam’s Blog” by President and CEO Adam Goldstein on NationofWhyNot.com also will provide personal updates.

Royal Caribbean International has revolutionised the cruise industry in recent years, with onboard attractions including the FlowRider surf simulator, ice-skating rinks, cantilevered whirlpools, rock climbing walls and the Royal Promenade – an entertainment boulevard stretching nearly the length of the ship. The innovation continues onboard Oasis of the Seas with a range of new attractions and engineering marvels. Industry “firsts” include a neighbourhood concept – seven themed areas providing guests with the opportunity to seek out relevant experiences based on their personal style, preference or mood.  Within these seven neighbourhoods – Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone – are extraordinary elements such as the first park at sea, a thrilling zip line that races diagonally nine-decks above an open-air atrium, an original handcrafted carousel, 28 multilevel urban-style loft suites boasting floor-to-ceiling windows, an aquatic amphitheatre called the AquaTheater that serves as a pool by day and a dazzling oceanfront theatre by night; and an array of epicurean innovations that allow for new culinary experiences each day of a guest’s holiday.

Oasis of the Seas will be welcomed into its home port of Fort Lauderdale, Florida on US breakfast show “Good Morning America”. The hit show will as also give viewers an exclusive first glimpse of the ship during a special live broadcast on Friday November 20.

The official naming ceremony for Oasis of the Seas will take place on November 30 during a one night inaugural celebration-fundraiser to benefit the non-profit Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Tickets for the once-in-a-lifetime event begin at $750 per person and guests who wish to continue their adventure onboard will receive an exclusive discount price, beginning at $650 per person, on a four-night cruise package sailing to the cruise line’s private beach destination, Labadee, departing the morning following the event on December 1 (rates based on double-occupancy and stateroom package).

For reservations to this exclusive event combined with the four-night sailing, contact Cynthia Paez, Royal Caribbean International, at (877) 202-1520, ext. 12751, or cpaez@rccl.com.  Bookings are also available for Oasis of the Seas’ inaugural sailing departing on December 5. The inaugural sailing will include exclusive entertainment and gifts for guests to commemorate the special occasion.

Oasis of the Seas is the largest and most revolutionary cruise ship in the world.  An architectural marvel at sea, it spans 16 decks, encompasses 220,000 gross registered tons, carries 5,400 guests at double occupancy, and features 2,700 staterooms.  Oasis of the Seas is the first ship to feature the cruise line’s new neighbourhood concept of seven distinct themed areas, which includes Central Park, Boardwalk, the Royal Promenade, the Pool and Sports Zone, Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Center, Entertainment Place and Youth Zone.  The ship will sail from her home port of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale (Florida).  Additional information is available at www.OasisoftheSeas.com.

Royal Caribbean International is a global cruise brand with 21 ships currently in service and one under construction. The line also offers unique cruise tour land packages in Alaska, Canada, Dubai, Europe, and Australia and New Zealand.

For more information and to book please see www.royalcaribbean.co.uk, call 0844 493 2061 or talk to your travel agent.

Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family (NYSE:WYN), is celebrating a milestone anniversary this month.  Commemorating 20 years in business, WorldMark by Wyndham has successfully grown from a small product portfolio in Oregon to more than 70 resort properties throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and the South Pacific and more than 270,000 owners.
“We’re very excited to celebrate this significant milestone anniversary within our Wyndham family,” said Franz Hanning, president and chief executive officer, Wyndham Vacation Ownership.  “It’s amazing to think that what originally began as a small credits-based vacation ownership company in the Pacific Northwest has evolved into one of the most prominent vacation clubs in the world.”

A Humble Start
In October 1989, WorldMark by Wyndham  (then known as Trendwest Resorts) recorded its first sale in Kirkland, Wash. and offered a very limited selection of vacation options – a two-bedroom town house in Eagle Crest, a two-bedroom condominium at the Inn at Otter Crest and a one-bedroom hotel suite at the Ashland Hills Inn.   Despite the limited options, the ease and flexibility of the credits-based program proved appealing to the first WorldMark, The Club owners.

“Being the first owner of a new timeshare concept was a little unnerving to say the least. But I knew it had success written all over it,” said Laurie Smith of Leavenworth, Wash.

As the first WorldMark, The Club owner who purchased in October 1989, Smith appreciates the flexibility of the credits-based program.  “What we love about being WorldMark owners is that the possibilities are endless!  We can go anywhere, anytime, for the rest of our lives!  It’s a canvas for memories to be made upon, whether it be a romantic getaway for my husband and me, or a family reunion, it is the ultimate gathering place.”

WorldMark would continue to expand its’ resort portfolio over the next ten years to include several highly sought after vacation destinations, including Bass Lake and Palm Springs, Calif.; Las Vegas and Tahoe, Nev.; Hawaii; San Jose del Cabo, Mexico; and Whistler, British Colombia.

A Growing Family
In 2000, WorldMark welcomed its 100,000th owner to the WorldMark, The Club family.  The company also debuted seven additional resort properties that same year, including WorldMark, The Canadian – the portfolio’s first urban property in Vancouver, British Columbia.  The company also began to span the globe with the introduction of Trendwest South Pacific, which is now known as Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, in Australia.

In the years following, the company would add another seven resort properties to the ever-growing portfolio, including WorldMark Steamboat Springs, WorldMark Lake of the Ozarks and WorldMark Branson.   In addition to resort development, the company also added a variety of owner benefits, including expansive owner education programs and online booking capabilities, to further enhance the vacation experiences of the growing WorldMark family.

In 2002, WorldMark by Wyndham was acquired by Cendant Corporation, which would spin off into four separate publicly traded companies in 2006.  One year later, as part of the Wyndham Vacation Ownership family, WorldMark would celebrate eclipsing 250,000 owner families.  Today, WorldMark by Wyndham continues to provide world-class vacations to more than 270,000 owners at more than 70 resort properties.

About Wyndham Vacation Ownership
Wyndham Vacation Ownership, a member of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) family of companies, is the world’s largest vacation ownership business, as measured by the number of vacation ownership resorts, individual vacation ownership units and owners of vacation ownership interests.  Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its three primary consumer brands, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, WorldMark by Wyndham, and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific.   As of January 1, 2009, Wyndham Vacation Ownership had developed or acquired approximately 150 vacation ownership resorts throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and the South Pacific that represent approximately 20,000 individual vacation ownership units and more than 830,000 owners of vacation ownership interests. Wyndham Vacation Ownership is headquartered in Orlando, Fla., and is supported by approximately 13,800 employees globally.

• New: Bring Your Vacation To Life http://bit.ly/3n9yD2 #

The Hideaways Club, a leading international property investment Fund that offers its members the opportunity to invest in and exclusively enjoy an entire portfolio of luxury villas and chalets,  has recently added a further three stunning chalets to its 2010 skiing programme.
Set in the magnificent ski areas of Chamonix, France and Nendaz, Switzerland the six in total luxurious, designer built properties offer a wide variety of skiing and snowboarding for the enthusiast with the majority having ski-in ski-out accessibility.

The Chamonix property can accommodate up to eight people and the Nendaz chalets up to 10. All six properties meet The Hideaways Club’s exacting standards of luxury and service and are built in the traditional alpine style with fabulous panoramic views of the valleys below. The Nendaz properties offer over 412 km of pistes and 92 ski lifts thus ensuring minimum queuing time, and the Chamonix area is world renowned for its high altitude skiing, pristine slopes and stunning views of the Mont Blanc Massif.
Each chalet is equipped with open plan living areas, some with underfloor heating, and modern fully equipped kitchens, internet access, flat screen TV, DVD players, Bose and iPod music systems and traditional log fireplaces. Other activities available during the winter season include paragliding, skating and dog sled driving.

In order to take all the stress and hassle out of booking a skiing holiday members have the use of the Club’s very popular concierge service who will arrange everything to make their holiday a stress-free and memorable experience. The Concierge will arrange transfers, ski hire, ski passes, ski guides, instructors and, if required, a childcare service.

Founded in 2006 and launched in early 2007 by a group of highly experienced and successful international entrepreneurs and businessmen, investors in the Fund automatically become members of The Hideaways Club and enjoy the usage of a diversified portfolio of stunning properties in beautiful locations that offer a luxurious lifestyle and a solid investment. Members currently have access to 25 multi-million euro properties throughout Europe, Africa, Mauritius and the Far East. Recently properties in Bali, Phuket and Malaysia/Borneo have been added to the Club’s portfolio with further scheduled to come on line during the remainder of the year and in 2010.

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 US$50 million
•    Each year an additional 12 to 15 luxury villas, 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 that gives 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

VacationBetter.org Announces Winners for 2009 Photo and Story Contest

As part of an industry effort to promote the power of travel during National Travel and Tourism Week in May, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) launched the “Bring Your Vacation to Life” photo and story contest. Contestants were asked to share a memory of a timeshare vacation that impacted their family, health, or enjoyment of life.

American Express gift cards were awarded to first- and second-place photos and one first-place story. The highest award went to Sally Lessig for the photo “Al Relaxing” and the story “Thru the Years”. Second-place photo prizes were awarded to Alexis MacDonald for “Lexie & Dan Love Myrtle Beach” and to Tracy Dunn for “For My Next Act”.

ARDA recognizes the need for vacations and the long-term benefits associated with taking regular vacations that contribute to better health, relationships, and job performance. In these tough economic times, the large number of entrants reflected the real value of timeshare ownership and how pre-paying for future vacations, guarantees that owners get away at least once a year.

According to ARDA, timeshare owners continue to travel to their timeshare destinations. The ARDA International Foundation (AIF) reported occupancy rates are at 81.6% in the State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study, 2009 edition.

Owners are encouraged to share their stories, photos, and videos by visiting www.VacationBetter.org/Vacation-Scrapbook.

About VacationBetter.org
The American Resort Development Association’s (ARDA) on-line resource informs consumers of the importance of vacations and the overall health and wellness benefits of enjoying one – regularly and economically – through timeshare. VacationBetter.org gives vacationing families and consumers a way to learn about traveling better with vacation ownership.

New: Bring Your Vacation To Life http://bit.ly/3n9yD2

Branson’s Nantucket, the front runner in fractional ownership in Branson Missouri, has announced that all future 5 bedroom homes will have private elevators. This comes as big news for the area that is visited by many senior citizens who often times have trouble with stairs on multilevel properties. This is also exciting news for any visitors traveling with handicapped persons.

Branson’s Nantucket has solicited the advice of their existing owners and taken the feedback into consideration when making their most recent improvements. The one thing most owners agreed upon was the perceived difficulty concerning stairs.

The resort has four story units with an additional level at the famed Widow’s Peak perched high above that affords unparalleled views of Table Rock Lake. Branson’s Nantucket also has the largest of any fractional homes offered in the area with over 5600 square feet on over four levels. These units boast total state of the art technology and luxury, featuring gourmet kitchens with granite and plasma TVs. It is by far the most luxurious resort the Ozarks has ever seen.

Branson’s Nantucket has been offering pre-construction pricing and considering the present economic situation the response has been much better than anticipated. Visitors to the resort definitely see the value in both the location and the fine furnishings that the resort offers.

Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club is utilizing its rugged terrain in a unique way.   For the first time, portions of the resort and areas around the golf course will play host to a US Cycling Federation event.

The Central Florida Criterium Cup, an avant-garde mountain bike race, expects over 100 riders to participate and is put on by the Orlando Bike & Social Club.   The two-day event is slated for Friday, October 30th and Saturday, October 31st.

Friday’s race will be an urban-style Criterium, and offers three divisions – beginners, sport, and expert.   The 4.2 mile course consists of off-road terrain (grass, gravel, and sand) as well as paved path.   Although none of the race will take place on the golf course itself, the layout of the course will be challenging, rugged, and provide racers a speed of up to 34mph.

Registration will begin at 5 pm on Friday followed by race meetings for the participants.   An award ceremony and post-race reception for all participants will conclude the evening on Friday.   Saturday evening’s events include time trials followed by the open-reception “Monster Bash Party”, a celebratory culmination of the competition, sponsored by Monster Energy Drink and City Beverages, will take place on Halloween night.   Participants are being offered tremendous hotel, golf and massage packages.

“The Central Florida Criterium Cup is one of the most revolutionary and unrivaled races in MTB history,” said Herfel Torres of the Orlando Bike & Social Club.   “This will certainly be an event that will raise the bar in high class MTB.   Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club is the perfect venue, offering challenge and beauty with its magnificent terrain.”

Pre-registration for the event is required and can be done by visiting www.cfl.criteriumcup.com or by calling 407-353-0013.

About Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club
Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club, one of the largest vacation ownership resorts in the Central Florida area, is owned and operated by Tempus Resorts International, Ltd.   The resort is nestled on 600 acres of lush tropical landscaping just two miles from Walt Disney World® and minutes away from other major Central Florida attractions.   Mystic Dunes features 717 fully-appointed vacation villas in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations with all the comforts and conveniences of home, plus a wide array of resort amenities including an 18-hole championship golf course, four heated pools, tennis and basketball courts, miniature golf, family and children’s activities, and onsite dining options including Kenzie’s full-service restaurant and bar, Dunes Lagoon poolside bar, room service and grocery delivery service.   Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club has been designated a “Premier Resort” by the Interval International resort exchange network.   Resort reservations can be made at www.mystic-dunes-resort.com or by calling 1-877-747-4747.

The LawnCourt™, a modular game center accommodates bocce ball, croquet, lawn bowling, putting, optional shuffleboard, and other games on one modular game court system, is introduced at the National Recreation Parks Association annual trade show, this week.

“The LawnCourt™ is a convenient and instant way to bring all of your favorite lawn games and skills to any environment, inside or outside…all in one system,” says Scott Lundmark, director of sales for Adventure Golf Services, located in Traverse City, Michigan.  “The price, without game equipment, is $8,400.  One of the first units is already scheduled on board a cruise line ship for guest entertainment.  We believe that there are many uses and applications including:  parks and recreation centers; military; multiple dwelling units; bars and restaurants; hotels, resorts and timeshare facilities; senior living accommodations; summer camps; children museums; residential; and office venues.”

“The LawnCourt™ is easy to install in a 10’ x 50’ space.  We use the same technology for installing putting greens and miniature golf courses on cruise ships, back yards and business locations as well as other applications, says Lundmark.  Lawn games are played on turf mounted over, compression molded and interlocking panels, made from recycled materials.   This creates a low maintenance system that can be installed quickly, offers superior drainage, and can be moved to another location or stored.”

Adventure Golf Services designs, fabricates, installs and builds a full line of indoor and outdoor miniature golf courses, putting greens, portable courses, The LawnCourt™, modular sports fields and the “The GolfLab™,.   For more information contact www.adventureandfun.com or call 888-725-4FUN.