Leading fractional ownership super-yacht company YachtPlus last week launched the second yacht of its four yacht fleet in La Spezia, Italy. Christened Ocean Pearl, this stunning 41 metre yacht, identical to its Norman Foster designed sister yacht Ocean Emerald, will operate a series of cruises throughout the Mediterranean during the summer of 2010 and the Caribbean in the winter of 2011.

“We are delighted with the response from the owners who spent this summer on Ocean Emerald and are extremely optimistic about the future of the next three yachts that will continue to grow the YachtPlus fleet. The many enquiries we have received over the past few months and the very positive comments from current owners is a testament to the concept of fractional ownership which is rapidly becoming acknowledged as the most financially astute way in which to own a super-yacht,” said John Hare, Chairman of YachtPlus. “These are challenging financial times and increasingly more people, many former sole yacht owners, are turning to fractional ownership as the most cost effective, stress-free and viable way to own a luxury super-yacht,” he added.

This type of ownership allows members to maintain a prestigious and luxurious lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of sole ownership thereby freeing up capital for other forms of asset ownership that would otherwise be invested as a sole yacht owner. One of the major attractions of YachtPlus fractional ownership is that it removes all the hassles, concerns, unforeseen financial pitfalls and very substantial annual running costs incurred via sole ownership.

The third yacht of the fleet, Ocean Sapphire is due to be launched in May 2010 and the fourth, as yet unnamed, is scheduled to enter service at the beginning of 2011. All four yachts, identical in design by world renowned architect Norman Foster, are being built at the Rodriquez Cantieri Navali boat yard in Sarzana, Italy and will initially spend the summer months in the Mediterranean and the winter in the Caribbean and will offer total exclusivity, privacy and pleasure to those participating.

Joining the YachtPlus Programme
The company is offering a 1/8th share in one of the four yachts with a buy-in fee of € 1.875.000. This will give the owners 30 nights a year onboard split between the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Alternatively those wishing to only purchase a half fraction – 1/16th share – it will cost € 975.000 and give the owners 15 nights a year onboard again split between the Caribbean and Mediterranean. It is estimated that there will be an annual management fee of € 200.000 for a 1/8th share and € 100.000 for a 1/16th which will cover all year round maintenance, a permanent crew of seven, marine and hotel operations, 24/7 lifestyle management, transoceanic crossings , port charges and cruise itinerary management. Once the fleet is complete owners will have the option of sailing on any one of the four yachts.

The fleet may expand to include other kinds of vessels in the near future. The term of contract will be for eight years after which the yachts will be sold and the owners will receive full pro-rated proceeds of the sale.

Key Benefits of Membership
-    24/7 concierge service available to handle all requests including bookings, itineraries, transport, shore excursions, hotels and so on

-    Limited number of owners ensures high availability
-    Cost of membership is a fraction of the cost of sole ownership
-    One of the world’s most contemporary and futuristic yacht designs
-    Exclusive and luxurious lifestyle offering the ultimate in hospitality, service and comfort
-    Unique interior designed by Norman Foster
-    Ability to visit small ports and islands
-    Flexibility and variety of destinations

• Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa, Canada added to the exclusive Fractional Property Guide by Owners Perspective Magazine http://bit.ly/bscUZ0 #
• 7 Nights At Royal Resorts Newest Resort In Riviera Maya, Mexico – Great Rates At http://bit.ly/dbk6dU #
• Golf holidays at Gleneagles, Scotland http://bit.ly/a6rc7Q #
• Fractional Holiday Home inspection visits available in Spain, England and Scotland http://bit.ly/aWvsvl #

• Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa, Canada added to the exclusive Fractional Property Guide by Owners Perspective Magazine http://bit.ly/bscUZ0 #
• 7 Nights At Royal Resorts Newest Resort In Riviera Maya, Mexico – Great Rates At http://bit.ly/dbk6dU #
• Golf holidays at Gleneagles, Scotland http://bit.ly/a6rc7Q #
• Fractional Holiday Home inspection visits available in Spain, England and Scotland http://bit.ly/aWvsvl #

Mountain Spirit Resort & Spa, Canada added to the exclusive Fractional Property Guide by Owners Perspective Magazine http://bit.ly/bscUZ0

7 Nights At Royal Resorts Newest Resort In Riviera Maya, Mexico – Great Rates At http://bit.ly/dbk6dU

Golf holidays at Gleneagles, Scotland http://bit.ly/a6rc7Q

Fractional Holiday Home inspection visits available in Spain, England and Scotland http://bit.ly/aWvsvl

Aloft To Be Presenting Sponsor of Exclusive “Live In the Vineyard” Music Series

Aloft(R) Hotels, the new style-at-a-steal brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.(R) (NYSE:HOT) that is revolutionizing the select-service hotel category, is cranking up the volume on its music agenda by partnering with one of the year’s hottest live music events, “Live in the Vineyard.” Aloft’s title sponsorship of “Live in the Vineyard,” a twice-yearly private “once-in-a-lifetime” live music showcase featuring on-the-verge artists and big name bands alike, also establishes Aloft hotels as the venues for “Live in the Vineyard” artists who will rock it up close and personal with hotel guests and local tastemakers through a series of live acoustic sets at Aloft properties across the country throughout the year.

“At Aloft we’re always looking for what’s next and our ‘Live in the Vineyard’ partnership gives our guests exceptional behind-the-scenes access to ‘the next’ in music which is a vital part of the Aloft experience,” said Brian McGuinness, Starwood’s Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands.

Currently going in to its third year, “Live in the Vineyard” (www.liveinthevineyard.com) is the brainchild of music industry veterans Bobbii Hach-Jacobs and Claire Parr. It is an intimate grassroots music festival held at a number of boutique wineries in California’s Napa Valley every April and November. Acts currently confirmed to take the stage at the upcoming April 2010 “Live in the Vineyard” event include Train, Melissa Etheridge, Back Street Boys, Macy Gray, Tonic and Ryan Star among others.

Tickets for the exclusive events cannot be purchased – they must be won through radio station promotions and online contests and through special Aloft Hotels promotions, including a giveaway with Facebook at www.facebook.com\alofthotels.

In addition to the April and November festivals, Aloft will host “Live at Aloft Hotels” shows featuring “Live in the Vineyard” acts at several hotels, including performances from Five for Fighting at Aloft Charlotte Uptown at the Epicenter on March 11th, Ryan Star at Aloft Rogers-Bentonville on March 12th, Emerson Hart, lead singer of Tonic, at Aloft Nashville Cool Springs on March 24th and Aloft Birmingham Soho Square on March 25th, and Diane Birch at Aloft Houston by the Galleria on April 29th. Go to www.liveatalofthotels.com for frequent updates on confirmed shows at Aloft hotels.

The Festiva Adventure Club recently launched a Loyalty Program for select members that offers more services, amenities and flexibility to both new and existing members who have purchased higher levels of annual points.

Members who qualify for this program can take advantage of accommodations upgrades, early check-in, late check-out, a priority phone line, priority reservation windows and more. The Loyalty Program also offers special vacationing opportunities throughout the year to certain resorts within the Festiva Adventure Club family and Exclusive Escapes to properties worldwide that are outside of Festiva’s network of resorts.

“We have launched this new program because we are committed to providing superior products and service, said Don Clayton, Chief Executive Officer. We hope that these new benefits and amenities will enhance the vacation experience so that our members can enjoy much-needed time away from their everyday lives to create memories of a lifetime with their families.”

Festiva Hospitality Group launched its Adventure Club in 2006 and now has more than 18,000 members. The flexibility of this points-based vacation club provides all members with additional benefits over traditional timeshare ownership. Members can use their points to travel to 27 different resorts during any time of year and can vacation for three or four night stays as an alternative to the typical seven-night stay.

Festiva Adventure Club members also have the option to exchange their points for vacations at any of Interval International’s thousands of affiliate resorts. The possibilities are endless for Adventure Club members, and now some members are entitled to even more benefits and amenities through the Loyalty Program.

Based in Asheville, N.C., Festiva Hospitality Group manages and operates a dynamic collection of hotels and resorts in some of the most sought-after destinations throughout the U.S. and Caribbean. Festiva has made a commitment to employees and members to constantly improve its products and services while preserving the family-oriented atmosphere upon which the company is based.

From priority access on specialty inventory to upgraded accommodations – the world’s largest points exchange program takes it to the next level

RCI, the global leader in vacation exchange today announced its plan to launch RCI Points PlatinumSM membership, a new premium membership and the latest enhancement to its successful RCI Points® program, that will offer exclusive exchange and lifestyle benefits to subscribing members.

“RCI launched its groundbreaking global Points exchange product in 2000 and it’s been the fastest growing Points exchange program in the world ever since,” said Geoff Ballotti, CEO, RCI. “Our members seek unique access and expanded benefits and the RCI Points Platinum membership provides just that – offering exclusive member deals and access to a phenomenal selection of member benefits and services. For our valued affiliates, this new membership provides a meaningful differentiator at the point of sale, reinforcing RCI Points as the most proven, comprehensive and flexible exchange membership available in the industry today while becoming more relevant in their owners’ daily life.”

RCI Points Platinum will offer its members exclusive “first look” exchange access to specially acquired inventory around the world at upscale properties in highly sought after vacation destinations. “Members that have looked for an exchange in New York or London may have found few options because the demand may have been higher than supply. To help, RCI acquires millions of dollars of upscale hotel and condominium inventory in dozens of highly demanded vacation and city destinations every year. We will expand this program and provide our RCI Points Platinum members with a first look at this inventory for exchange,” Ballotti added. 

RCI Points Platinum will also provide members with free unit upgrades based on availability providing even more room to relax and Cash Back rewards for various RCI transactions. In addition to these extremely exciting advancements in exchange, RCI plans to extend unique lifestyle benefits to RCI Points Platinum members that will include advance access to popular Broadway style theater experiences including select opportunities to attend pre-launch and producer shows. For the golf and ski connoisseur, RCI Points Platinum members will receive preferred pricing or discounts of up to 50 percent at thousands of golf courses and dozens of the most popular ski mountains in North America. Taking the member experience further than ever before, RCI Points Platinum plans to extend other significant savings benefits of up to 50 percent on spa experiences and much, much more allowing RCI Points Platinum members to get more out of their vacation experience.

“As the inventor of the vacation exchange business, we’re always looking to develop fresh new ideas that will improve our members’ experiences and exceed the expectations of our affiliates,” said Ballotti. “The RCI Points Platinum membership brings terrific new benefits to the RCI Points program. We’re excited to be able to give our members what they’ve asked for from a status and access standpoint, with dozens of lifestyle benefits included that we’ll continue to add to going forward. We’re really just getting started.”

RCI plans to launch the RCI Points Platinum membership in the United States and Canada with other regions to follow. Member benefits may vary in other regions.