FROM THE SPONSORS PEN Our monthly highlight on what’s happening across the industry directly from one of our Annual Gold Sponsors.
Tours Exchange Website We are very excited to announce the launch of our brand new RCI Tour Exchange website. This website combines our entire Tour Exchange program in the one central location, and offers our members quick, easy to use and informative access on the full range of tours and program guidelines.
The Registry Collection is RCI’s luxury exchange program, with over 170 affiliated properties and in excess of 35,000 members globally. We are very pleased to announce that we have signed our first Registry Collection affiliate in Australia with the addition of Palm Cove Private Residence Club. Located on the east coast of far north Queensland, Palm Cove is the gateway to two World Heritage listed natural wonders- the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, and is the holiday destination of choice for many domestic and international travellers wanting to experience the amazing natural wonders Australia has to offer in a relaxed, cosmopolitan environment. Palm Cove Residences consists of 1/12th ownership within the stunning 4 bedroom villas, each featuring private pools and based on tropical ‘pavilion style’ architecture, and the beautifully appointed 2 bedroom dual key apartments with spectacular resort facilities. For more information please go to www.palmcoveprc.com Pictured: Leigh Ratcliffe (left), Managing Director Palm Cove PRC with Gregg Anderson - Global Managing Director, The Registry Collection. HOME GROWN: RCI in the Community RCI staff will also be helping out in the upcoming Salvation Army Doorknock Appeal on Sunday 30th May. Staff last year raised over $1500 for the appeal and are keen to see if we can top that amount this year. We would also strongly encourage others within the industry to do their best to get behind this very worthy cause. |
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The links to the interpretive decisions are listed below, but the ATHOC Board strongly recommends that you act cautiously with this information as it is an interpretive decision NOT a ruling. The general understanding is that before any refund could be claimed from the ATO that the GST should first be refunded to owners, hence is it important to weigh up the cost associated with doing that or just starting afresh if the ruling is related to your organisation. An additional factor to consider in this process is that input tax credits on expenses would no longer be allowed and would need to be offset against any refund. As there is a great difference between schemes, if you want certainty, the ATO suggests that individual scheme's should apply for a Private Ruling which should take 60 days. The ATO will use the current Interpretative Decisions as their guidelines. Once a private ruling is made to an entity The ATO cannot ask for pay back of any past taxes if they change their guidelines in future. ATO ID 2010/18 - GST and financial supplies made by a time-sharing scheme developer - view |
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Earlier this year, the Australian Taxation Office released a number of rulings regarding its view on the GST treatment of various aspects of the timeshare industry. These rulings have the potential to alter the net GST entitlements and therefore the annual cash flows of timeshare participants. We invite industry participants along to our session dealing with how the GST will impact on them, including: What are the changes for developers and club operators WHEN: (time to be advised shortly) WHERE: Venue’s to be advised – depending on numbers To Register Click Here – http://www.athoc.com.au/athoc/events IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ANSWERED, PLEASE FORWARD THEM TO US PRIOR TO THE DAY. Numbers are limited so get in quick!!! |
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A casual get together for Dinner will be held Thursday 29th July at avenue to be conformed. You will also have the opportunity to attend the 19th Industry Awards night on Friday 30th July. |
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NAVIGATING THE NEW DECADE The ATHOC Conference will be held in Christchurch New Zealand at the Crowne Plaza from Sunday 12th September to Tuesday 14th September 2010. There will be a great line up of international and local speakers to bring you up to speed on what is happening in the timeshare industry. This is a must attend event for anyone in the industry or suppliers to the industry. Some speakers include Craig Nash CEO Interval International; Geoff Ballotti CEO RCI; Dan King from Generator Systems, and topics including – Do you have the wow factor; Maximising your inventory; Managing your customers; Being Green; Social media; Sales and marketing techniques; Industry resiliance and the list goes on. There will of course be the terrific networking opportunities thanks to our sponsors each night of the conference. For more information contact ATHOC at info@athoc.com.au or go to www.athoc.com.au and look at the events section. |
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Putri Ariyani membership services from the Accor Vacation Club Resort in Nusa Dua Bali has just spent a week on the Gold Coast learning the ropes. Putri settled into the Australian way of life very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed her introduction to the local industry. Great to see the cross country training happening.
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Congratulation to Stephanie Kewming who has been recently elected onto the board of the Coffs Coast Marketing in Coffs Harbour. Getting involved is a brilliant way for us to bring timeshare into the main stream. Well done Steph! |
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Stephanie Kewming and Laura Younger met with the Lands Department in NSW to further discuss our problems associated with the recovery of Land Titles. We both felt that the meeting was positive, but there is still a way to go. The Director has advised that she will look at taking our concerns to the Director Generals Conference with the potential of discussing one process across Australia rather than different situations in each State. Whilst there are no guarantees, this is definitely positive for the Industry. In the interim, ATHOC is researching the approximate amount of titles that need recovering from resorts across Australia so that a report can be sent outlining the size of the problem to the department. |
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The Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) has their own Foundation and this is exactly the type of thing we like to support said Foundation Secretary and ATHOC General Manager Laura Younger. The industry is keen to give back to the community. Particularly a community like Yarrawonga who certainly have their fare share of timeshare. Its is so sad for a family to have two children so young suffering so much. The Foundation immediately agreed to a grant of $2,500 to help the Crawford family towards the purchase of their new vehicle. For more information on the foundation go to the ATHOC website - www.athoc.com.au |
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There's been the Enigma code, The Rosetta Stone, The DaVinci Code…now there's the D'ARDA Code - Reading the Signs Laying the foundation for the healthy return of timeshare 5 Key Initiatives: Customer Care VacationBetter.org website was established by the American Resort Development Association Use technology to nurture existing customers: Create a Healthy Secondary Market |
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Beware of changes to council rate classifications. There have been some cases come across our desk. Do not accept this change as a done deal. ATHOC and this particular member visited with the Councillor responsible for that area and were in most cases able to establish the re-categorisation was not only unfair, but incorrect. This resulted in a saving of approximately $50,000 to one resort alone. |
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LandMark White have advised us that the change to site value will have an impact resulting in a higher land valuation base applicable for rating and land tax. It is particularly effect those properties which have highly improved land, e.g. land which has been substantially filled or excavated to enable development. This is however unlikely to be a large amount of properties and the new methodology will be simpler for the general public to understand. Of major concern however is the most recent changes to the legislation as it relates to the Objection Process, these changes have already passed through parliament for the 2010 year valuations and if not amended will remain part of the new act. The objection process for valuations was always a relatively simple one which could be undertaken without professional valuation or legal advice if necessary. The new process requires very detailed information to be submitted to the Department (DERM) with the objection. Information that will require the services of professional assistance, this extra impost will therefore impose a new cost to Queensland business and render the objection process out of the reach of many. In my view it is designed to result in fewer objections for the state to consider. Further although there are significant extra requirements included in what is to be provided in the objection (e.g./ basically a full valuation of the land) the time frame for objection is no longer than previously included within the Act being 45 days. This period is too short. There is currently no time frame requirements for the government to respond to the objection and from my experience these have extended to over a year on many occasions. In summary the change to ‘site value’ is not considered a major concern, however the resultant valuations are likely to be higher than previously assessed and the Government should be prepared to lower the land tax rate in the dollar if the overall tax base becomes higher as a result of the changes, so as not to benefit by way of a land tax windfall. The major concerns revolve around procedures within the act regarding the objection process which has been written to the sole benefit of the State Government and disregards the interests of the land owner. These sections of the act should also be redrafted. Consultants Price Waterhouse Cooper have been appointed to prepare a report for the Government following liaison with Industry. In a meeting with them yesterday, all of the above issues were raised. |
SPONSOR WRITE UP: 
HOME GROWN: The Registry Collection
EVENT: Feeling a bit confused with the ATO treatment of GST?
EVENT: 2010 Industry Awards Night 
EVENT: Operational Seminar Thursday 29th & Friday 30th July 2010
EVENT: 2010 ATHOC Conference – Christchurch New Zealand
HOME GROWN: A little bit of Bali on the Gold Coast
HOME GROWN: New Member for Coffs Coast Marketing Board
HOME GROWN: Timeshare Industry gets behind the Crawford Family
BUSINESS: Watch Your Council Rates
BUSINESS: Land Valuation Queensland
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