Ernie Dingo, Layne Beachley, and Kirk Pengilly – INXS are to join the teams at the Australian Timeshare Golf Open being held at Lakelands Golf Club on May 24, 2008.

We are absolutely thrilled with the support that the day is getting and hope yet again to raise upward of $50,000 for the ATHOC Foundation and Variety QLD.

There are four excellent hole in one prizes to win as well as numerous other prizes to be won on the day. You just have to be in it to win it!

For more information go to www.athoc.com.au and look under events. We hope to see you there.

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific has expanded its interests on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast by acquiring the Management Rights to SurfAir, Marcoola, from the resort’s developer Central Group.

A subsidiary of Wyndham Vacation Ownership and a member of one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, is keen to add value to the letting pool management of the 223 room 4 ½ star SurfAir property.

President & CEO, Barry Robinson, said, “The acquisition is exciting news for SurfAir letting pool unit owners and the general public, enabling both to benefit from Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s experience in operating strata titled resorts. Our attention to detail and commitment to providing quality accommodation and superior service will ensure that SurfAir remains an attractive Sunshine Coast beachfront holiday and conference destination well into the future”.

Little more than an hour north of Brisbane, and just five minutes from Maroochydore Airport, SurfAir has a spectacular pristine beachfront location, an on-site day spa, a la carte restaurant with terrace and substantial conference and business facilities.

Accor's Vacation Club division based on the Gold Coast (previously known as Accor Première Vacation Club or APVC), has changed its name this past month to ACCOR VACATION CLUB to reflect the strong ties with parent Accor, and the brands it represents across the Asia Pacific region. The name will no longer be abbreviated but used in full to represent the importance of the Accor brand.
The new website is now www.accorvacationclub.com.au 

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific has announced their launch into Asia with a contract to manage and operate Thailand’s soon to be completed, Pantipa Spa Villa & Resort, Phuket.

Having previously identified Asia as being key to their Asia Pacific expansion plans, Wyndham Vacation Ownership’s President & CEO, Franz Hanning said, “Ancient cultures and spectacular destinations are in abundance [here]... When coupled with Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world’s largest developer and marketer of flexible points-based Vacation Ownership, East meets West in glorious accord”.

Due for completion in August 2008, Pantipa Spa Villa & Resort will be a first class boutique hotel featuring an exclusive list of 65 stunning rooms, six fantastic cafés, bars & restaurants, a magnificent terraced pool, massage & day spa, shops and business centre all with spectacular Andaman Sea views courtesy of its incredible Kalim Beach hillside location. “We were very keen to make this location our first in Asia”, said Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s President & CEO, Barry Robinson. “We are supremely confident that Pantipa Spa Villa & Resort will be a coveted addition to the company’s management resort portfolio”.

“I also have great pleasure in announcing that Pantipa Spa Villa & Resort is set to become even more spectacular”, Hanning added. “Because we have also signed a turnkey agreement for Kalim Bayview to construct, and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific to conditionally purchase, what will be 44 first class one, two and three bedroom Deluxe and Presidential Holiday Ownership villas”. Due for completion in August 2009, this tremendous addition will see the eagerly anticipated Pantipa Spa Villa & Resort confirm its place amongst the leading Thai resorts.

Whilst Pantipa Spa Villa & Resort is set to become the first property to carry the Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific brand in Asia, the company has Associate Resort arrangements with Bali Dynasty Resort, South Kuta, Bali; Pat-Mase Villas Jimbaran Bay, Bali and Swiss-Belhotel Bay View, Nusa Dua, Bali.

New research indicates that Arab nationals will be spending $1.2billion a year on shared ownership leisure property products and services by 2020.

For the vast majority of Gulf Arabs, especially Saudis, the draw of easy access to major shopping and leisure facilities is their main consideration when deciding upon a holiday destination. 

The research was conducted by NorthCourse Leisure Real Estate Solutions, a sister company of RCI.

In a separate development, the Ivory Grand in Dubai has signed an affiliation agreement with RCI. Due for completion next year, it will have 70 timeshare units and a further 150 for short-term rentals. 

Situated in the fast-growing Al Barsha district, it is close to one of the city’s largest shopping and leisure complexes, Mall of the Emirates.

This is the latest in a series of resort developments in the Middle East. More are in the pipeline.

Earlier this year Group RCI affiliated the first mixed-use resort project in the United Arab Emirates. The Princess Resort, a development of the Dubai-based PKN Group, will have 500 units.

At the end of last year, RCI affiliated the Barka Resort in Oman – the first vacation club development to open in the Sultanate.

Some 40 miles east of the Omani capital Muscat, it will comprise 65 timeshare units and 131 residential units for a rental programme. Completion is due in 2009. Vol 8, Issue 6 OTE

“Under Wraps……”

Not any longer! The TATOC 2008 conference launched a new era for the Association.

Embracing change was the theme of the conference and this was certainly evidenced by a  new logo, a new mission statement and a new resort accreditation process (RAP) for member resorts has meant that TATOC has now announced its presence as the Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees.) in Europe.

The conference was held this year in the north of England at the Park Hotel, Stretton Nr Warrington and was very well attended by both members and industry suppliers. Dial an Exchange, ICE, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, RCI and II and Diamond Resorts International ® were just a few of the companies who gave of their time not only in sponsoring the conference but also their expertise and experience through networking and well attended workshops.

Marty Kandel  the President of European Operations for Diamond Resorts International ® in his speech stated that “I am pleased to have been invited to address the TATOC conference which has provided DRI with a unique opportunity to underscore our presence in Europe and substantiate our commitment to exceeding best practices in the vacation ownership industry.”
With its vibrant logo and new website TATOC is opening its doors to welcome different types of membership.  Not only are resort committees welcomed but now individuals can also become members even if their own resort is not a member. There will also be a new category for industry professionals and companies. Formerly, the Association primarily targeted “sold out” clubs, but now resorts who are still in the selling phase can become members. 

“The increase in membership is pivotal for the future growth of the Association and for TATOC to carry out its mission statement “to safeguard and enhance the timeshare holiday experience for existing and prospective users and to be the voice of owners.” said its Chief Executive, Harry Taylor.

“Since I became Chairman I have felt the driving need to make TATOC more proactive and in particular, to remedy the public perception of timeshare as generated by a hostile and nearly always uninformed press.”

In order to address the issue of the media and also raise the profile of TATOC Jennie Thompson as director on the board of TATOC has been given the specific responsibility to deal with the media.

“Having worked within the timeshare industry for many years in a variety of professional fields I am still passionate about the industry” says Jennie. “I believe the role that TATOC has is so important, as it represents the backbone of the industry, the consumer. It is our intention to build up constructive relationships with not just fellow industry bodies but also various media representatives in order that we can all strive get the positive message across about timeshare.”

International tourism arrivals in 2007 grew by six per cent to 898million. Of the additional worldwide 52million, Europe received the largest share – 19million.

In data published in the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, Europe attracted 480million tourists, with Turkey up 18 per cent, Greece up 12 per cent and Portugal up 10 per cent.

The report says confidence remains high for the current year although it warns this perception “might deteriorate”. World GDP has experienced its longest period of sustained growth for 25 years with figures around or above five per cent since 2004. Vol 8, Issue 6 OTE