The 2008 National Awards night will be held at Southport Sharks Function Centre on Friday 25th of July. It is sure to be a memorable night so come along and join in the celebrations. Contact us for a registration form.

Accor Vacation Club (AVC) has successfully implemented the Enterprise Software System.
       
Developed by Florida-based Systems Products International (SPI), it addresses a full range of software needs – marketing, in-house marketing, tours, sales, commissions, premium/gift tracking, reservations, club dues billing, receivables administration and resort operations.

Mike Winlaw, executive director of group strategy at AVC, said: “We are using SPI’s system’s various tools to create unique reports and can query the database for specific statistical and analytical information. Also, we can interface information from other systems with SPI’s database so that data can seamlessly be accessed by multiple systems.”

AVC’s plans call for controlled growth of its timeshare interests “that will enable us to be a leading player in the Asian holiday ownership industry”.

SPI’s software would help ensure AVC had the tools to support strategic and operational activities well into the foreseeable future, said Mr Winlaw. OTE Issue 9

The authorities in Dubai – a focal point for shared ownership products and services in the Middle East – have approved new regulations for the industry. 

In formulating the new laws, the two main exchange companies, Interval International and Group RCI, worked with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), the Emirate’s Department of Economic Development and Dubailand, the largest tourism and entertainment project in the region.

The regulations include:

- The necessity for developers to acquire licenses, register with an agency and provide a copy of the contract and a copy of the disclaimer;

- Protective measures governing the completion dates of buildings and the long-term availability of products and services;

- Marketing and advertising standards;

- Providing purchasers with a cooling-off period and placing deposits in escrow;

- All projects having a minimum of 10 units to qualify as a timeshare development;

- The requirement that all timeshare properties are of a four- or five-star standard.

Tom Bell, senior vice president, governmental affairs for Interval, said: “It’s a solid piece of regulation. It will serve Dubai very well – we are very happy with the final product.”

Citing results from the United States, he said good timeshare regulations would lead to improvements in several areas including consumer and business spending and employment. He also believed hotel groups would form a significant component of the Emirate’s timeshare industry. 

While timeshare is a different proposition to hotels, many hotel properties “have figured out that it’s a good complementary product which has proved itself profitable.” OTE Issue 9

Saving $70 - Cost $68,000 and growing

A budget accommodation manager, as is his wont, ‘employs’ backpackers as housekeepers in return for a free bed – it’s legal practice although the ATO are perturbed that no one pays tax for this little perk – something they have vowed to address this year.

Late last year, as a result of a bed bug outbreak, Mr BAM required one of his ‘employees’ to replace a mattress. The luckless backpacker was carrying the mattress up some stairs when he lost his footing, crashing to the bottom and sustaining quite a few injuries including a broken hip.

The resulting hospitalisation resulted in a bill of more than $32,000 that was, of course, not covered under WorkCover. Under legislation, all Queensland employers must have workers’ compensation insurance but this only applies to ‘bone fide’ employees. A ‘worker’ for the purposes of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 is an individual employed under a contract of service. The mattress carrier had no contract. Neither did he have travel insurance.

Mr BAM was adamant that he had no responsibility to front up for the $32,000 medical bill but the mattress carrier’s lawyers thought otherwise. Mr BAM is now up for a substantial bill far in excess of the $32,000 as there are rehabilitation costs to be added to formidable legal expenses. A total of some $68,000 (plus interest and growing) is being suggested.

On top of this he is being investigated for breaches of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 and ATO are taking quite an interest in the proceedings as well. All of this for the sake of a $70 WorkCover insurance.

This loophole in employment law has existed for many years and been taken advantage of by the Mr BAMs of this world. Clearly the quality of work is very much secondary to the cost as reputable accommodation managers would shun such activity.

The realist is that the whole practice may dissolve with new workplace laws that are presently being mooted. Any employment will require the registration of the employee and also require a minimum wage being paid for such services. Enough to make any ATO official smile.

As for Mr BAM, his tight fisted-ness is going to cost him big time. The courts have already ordered him to pay up the medical and legal bills of his mattress carrier and, although he is appealing, the consequences of that will only add to the bill.

It really makes little sense to penny pinch on housekeeping when the state of the room is what a guest will base his or her opinion around and is the ultimate reason that they would return or seek accommodation somewhere else.

Yes, this is the 21st century and, yes, Mr BAMs still exist. Resort News-Issue 138 February 08