EVENT REMINDER: 18th Annual ATHOC National Timeshare Industry Awards Gala Dinner

We would like to take this opportunity to invite you to join us. This gala event will be held at Gold Coast Arts Centre on Friday 31st July 2009.

Please come along and help celebrate our industry Star Performers.

Commencing at 7pm with nibbles, entertainment and pre-dinner drinks prior to sitting for dinner and be dazzled by the musical   brilliance of Phoenix Calling.

For more information click here or email us.

EVENT REMINDER: Moving Forward Together - ATHOC Conference - September 13-15, 2009

The 2009 ATHOC Conference is the leading event for the industry in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji and will come together to talk through current industry issues and give the opportunity to network with fellow colleagues on the beautiful Gold Coast.

This three day event focuses directly on the timeshare industry as well as the external environment surrounding us. We will hear a global perspective from Group RCI President and CEO Geoff Ballotti, Prof Sparks and Dr Bradley will bring us up to date with recent results of the consumers perspective of the value of timeshare; Finance Guru Noel Whittaker will give us ways to create wealth whilst reducing our tax; you will get to take away some great ideas on yield management and external operations as well as the responsibility of companies in protecting the timeshare brand. RJ Jackson President of Trading Places will walk us through the Management and Corporate Governance of Timeshare Resorts; and Joe Malone from Shell Vacations will delve into Marketing and Selling in a Recession.

This will be a great opportunity to network with fellow colleagues, to hear from our Industry Leaders, do some business and enjoy the social events.

This year the ATHOC Conference will be held at the Courtyard Marriott, Surfers Paradise
on the Gold Coast

“Gold Coast - beautiful one day and perfect the next….”

HOME GROWN: Easter celebrations at Accor Vacation Club

The staff at Accor Vacation Club were in for an Easter surprise this past April. Donning rabbit ears and big grins, Executive Directors Tracie Sakrzewski, Mike Winlaw and Ben Dedopoulos welcomed staff with a morning treats as they walked into the building Easter day – a delicious hot cross bun and butter for everyone. Sugar levels were kept to an all time high throughout the day, thanks to the friendly Human Resources team and their mystery Easter bunny rabbit friend who delivered generous amounts of chocolate eggs to all departments! The amount of work completed on the day was mind blowing and may never be seen again, well until next Easter!

HOME GROWN: Lucky guest wins a Bali holiday!

Accor Vacation Club and Lion Nathan team up for a dream holiday to Bali. Laurie Tucker of Kewdale in Perth WA, couldn't believe his luck when he took the phone call to announce that was he was the lucky winner of a family holiday to Novotel Bali Nusa Dua - just for drinking a Tooheys Dry beer and entering an Accor Vacation Club competition! As a guest at All Seasons Kalgoorlie Plaza WA, he purchased his Tooheys Dry and three months later won the fantastic prize of a five night stay and airfares for four people at the Novotel Bali Nusa Dua. Laurie never in his wildest dreams thought that he would win such a dream family holiday, whilst staying with Accor as a loyal Advantage Plus member!

HOME GROWN: ATHOC Ten Pin Bowling Challenge - The Results!

ATHOC Ten Pin Bowling Challenge was held at Surfers Paradise Ten Pin Bowling Centre on Thursday 14th May 2009.

A fabulous night was had by all but the Winners of the night were "Group RCI - 35 years strong" team - Anna Nowlan, Dave Scheckter, Scott Hirst and Brian George with a team score of 595. Anna's score was 220 (and to all those who enquired..."Yes, she really does work for Group RCI and not brought in especially for the Bowls Night")!

Other prizes for the night were:
Most Unique Bowling Style - Susie from Classic Group 
Gutter Queen - Tracie Henry from The Holiday Club
Gutter King - Tom Thorpe from Classic Group
Best Dressed Team - "Immature Young Children" - Felicity, Kellie, Deidre & Laurielee from Classic Group
Wooden Spoon (last) - "Minds In The Gutter" - Kirsten, Trent, Michelle & Marnie from Classis Group (Score - 273)
2nd Place - "Bowling for Columbine" - Olivia, Neil, Andre & Scott from Wyndham Vacation Resort Asia Pacific (Score - 481)
All team scores can be found here.

The Pizza and BYO Drinks proved to be very popular and night clubs in Surfers Paradise wish to “thank you” for your patronage!

HOME GROWN: Layne continues to ride our wave of success

Australia’s greatest female surfer, Layne Beachley has re-signed to be Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s Ambassador into 2010!

On the back of a successful 12-month 2008/2009 partnership, which saw her appear at number of corporate, Owner and charity events, the seven-time World Surfing Champion has agreed to continue her representation of Asia Pacific’s largest vacation ownership company.

Despite retiring from the rigors of professional surfing at the end of 2008, Beachley’s entrepreneurial, business and philanthropic interests are keeping her busier and giving her a bigger profile than ever. In addition to hosting the richest surfing event on the women’s world tour, the Beachley Classic, being an active member of the ASP board and driving the continued expansion of her own sporting, academic, community and cultural charity – the Aim for the Stars Foundation, Beachley has been instrumental in expanding Beachley Athletic throughout Australia and Beachley Jewellery into no less than 30 countries.

This year already, she has been named joint winner (with Sarah Murdoch) of an InStyle Women of Style Award, nominated for Australian of the Year, and was the first female to tame arguably Australia’s “heaviest” monster wave - the infamous “Ours” off Solander Bay, News South Wales.

As Ambassador for Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, Beachley’s schedule will expand to include numerous corporate and industry appearances for the company as well as playing host to two more multi-day events like the highly-successful “Learn to Surf with Layne” VIP Events that proved popular with both Owners and the company in 2008.

HOME GROWN: Welcome Mr President

Long the exclusive domain of heads of state, Hollywood glitterati and those that have made themselves at home on the various “Rich Lists” of the world, Presidential Suites are renowned for their opulence, decadence and luxury.

While their exorbitant price tags put them out of reach of many, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific recently transferred into the WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham brand new inventory, namely five Penthouse Suites and two Presidential Suites in the radically redeveloped Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Seven Mile Beach, making WorldMark South Pacific Club Owners just a booking away from joining the A-list.

Like their namesakes the world over, the new two, three and four-bedroom Penthouse Suites and two and three-bedroom Presidential Suites are nothing but sheer luxury.

From decadent in-room fireplaces to luxurious spas and the latest in home entertainment systems, the new apartments are stunning additions to the standout eco-inspired resort.

A showcase of environmental design, the architectural styled apartments draw on locally found cues, including Nautilus shells and the Southern sky, to create award-winning floor plans, which have been dually matched by unprecedented attention to internal detail.

Including open plan kitchens with stone-topped island benches, superior furnishings and fabrics throughout, superior quality appliances crockery and cutlery, the new single-level apartments are capable of housing even large families in uncompromising style.

With Owners showing keen interest in the new apartments throughout their development, WorldMark South Pacific Club is expecting the new Suites to be sought-after additions to the Club’s inventory.

So while the President may not have plans to visit Tasmania anytime soon, at least he can be confident that Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Seven Mile Beach is ready for him if he does.

HOME GROWN: RCI supports the Salvation Army

RCI believes in making the community a better place and we especially support groups which work with under privileged people. One of these groups is The Salvation Army and we are pleased to announce that we have chosen The Salvation Army as our official charity to support this year

Each year The Salvation Army will provide assistance to over one million Australians suffering from poverty, addiction and abuse. In a typical week, The Salvation Army will provide people in need with an estimated 100,000 meals. It provides beds to 5,000 homeless people, rehabilitation to 500 addicted and refuge to 400 victims of domestic abuse. It also provides counselling to several thousand people

On Sunday 24 May, 14 RCI staff members (and some family members) gave up a few hours of their time to knock on doors around the Gold Coast area with the aim to raise funds for the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Door Knock Appeal.  

Despite battling the elements, we raised a grand total $1561.50 – We would encourage everyone to get behind The Salvation Army and the fantastic work they do for the under privileged.  Click here to learn more on how you can help.

BUSINESS: Small business initiatives from the Federal Government

 

Below are some initiatives included in this year’s budget aimed at assisting business:

New programs and initiatives

• A Small Business Support Line will be established to help businesses manage better during the global financial downturn.
• A Small Business Online Program will assist small businesses in developing an online presence and taking advantage of e-business opportunities.
• A new R&D Tax Credit will to come into effect from 1 July 2010, to replace the R&D Tax Concessions scheme.
• A Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute will be established to support research commercialisation and early stage company development by small and medium enterprises.
• A number of projects will receive funding under a new Super Science initiative, intended to boost infrastructure and research capacity in space science and astronomy, marine and climate science, and future technology.
• A Clean Energy Initiative will assist in encouraging innovation in clean energy generation and low emissions technologies.
• Funding will be provided to the Tax Office to assist small businesses experiencing financial distress to remain viable and stay engaged in the tax system.
• Funding for the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear industries will be retargeted, with a new package aimed at innovation and renewal.

Existing programs

• There will be an increase in the Small Business and General Business Tax Break for small businesses that acquire eligible assets by the end of 2009.
• Additional funding will be allocated to the Export Market Development Grants scheme for 2008-09.

Parental leave

• A government funded Paid Parental Leave scheme will come into effect as of 1 January 2011, providing up to 18 weeks of paid leave at the Federal Minimum Wage.

Employment

• Fair Work Australia and the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman will commence on 1 July 2009 to help implement the Government's new workplace relations arrangements.
• Funding will be provided to Registered Training Organisations to help deliver off-the-job completion of training where an Australian Apprentice cannot complete training with an employer.
• There will be an extension of employer incentives for the commencement, recommencement and completion of apprenticeships, employing out-of-trade and mid-career apprentices, and employing apprentices in skills shortage occupations. 

BUSINESS: Federal Government jobs fund

This is a new $650 million Australian Government Initiative to support and create jobs and skills development through projects that build community and social infrastructure. Priority will be given to projects in regions experiencing high levels of disadvantage and most affected by job losses (Logan/Ipswich in Queensland). The Jobs Fund has the following three streams:

Local Jobs - $300 million of funding is available over two years. Funding will be available for community infrastructure projects with a focus on the promotion of environment-friendly technology and heritage.

Get Communities Working - $200 million of funding is available over two years. Seed capital will be available for self-sustaining projects which create jobs and provide activities and services to improve community amenity.
Infrastructure Employment Projects - $150 million over two years. Projects under this stream will provide for investment in infrastructure projects which generate jobs in regions affected by the economic downturn. 

For more information CLICK HERE.  Please note, applications closed on May 22nd 2009.

BUSINESS: Special offer from the Financial Ombudsman Service

ATHOC Members can attend day 1 of the FOS Annual Conference at a special rate of $250 for the full day on day 1.

If you would like to take up this offer, please fill your special rate in on the form. Only timeshare has been given this opportunity. If you would prefer to attend the timeshare session only, the cost will be $200 per person.

11-12 June 2009
Crown Promenade Hotel, Melbourne
Click here for full programme, cost and registration form

Highlights of Day 1 : Thursday 11 June 2009
Keynote Address Senator the Hon. Nick Sherry, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law
Does IDR Serve Its Purpose? Discussion from industry and consumer representatives
Financial Ombudsman Service and the New Terms of Reference Overview and panel discussion
Your Industry In Focus Workshops
Credit Reform and the PDS Review: What Do Commonwealth Initiatives Mean For You? Panel discussion

For more information go here.