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 email info@athoc.com.au

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

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….”

Gold Sponsors

HOME GROWN: Resorts and Environmental Change

Ballarat – Victoria: Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th November, 2009

Worldmark Ballarat is hosting the 2009 Southern Seminar which is focusing on operation issues including “How to Drought Proof your Grounds and Gardens, Reducing Your Costs of Hot Water; Waste Management and Re-cycling just to name a few. Mark this date in your diary – more information will come soon.

HOME GROWN: Watch out who you do business with

Please advise your owners to be very careful if they are buying or selling their timeshare and to ensure that they are dealing with a reputable company. If they are unsure, guide them to the ATHOC website so that they can see who the ATHOC members are.

HOME GROWN: Green powered holidays

A committed advocate of the Wyndham Green program, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific has extended its credentials as a ‘green hotel’ by recently making the switch to 25% green power.  Sydney’s choice of green power means that no less than 25% of its electricity will be matched by renewable energy approved under the GreenPower accreditation program.

Whilst Sydney’s decision to ‘go green’ required little more than a signature, the benefits are certainly far reaching and include wins for both the environment – a reduction in greenhouse gas production and water usage, and renewable energy innovation - even greater investment in green power source research and development. As a green powered business, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Sydney is now also entitled to display the government accredited GreenPower logo (as below).

HOME GROWN: RCI Pacific launches brand new tours exchange product exclusively for RCI Pacific members

RCI Pacific today announced the launch of RCI Tours Exchange, a key benefit of RCI membership that will allow RCI Pacific’s more than 70,000 members to achieve significant savings off the cost of a RCI Tour by using either their timeshare week or points.

Through RCI Tours Exchange, RCI Pacific members are able to save up to $1,000 per couple off the already discounted RCI Tour price. To support this initiative, RCI has developed a ‘savings chart’ which shows the saving potential based on the type membership. The greater the value of a week or points, the more a RCI member can save.

“Especially in these current economic conditions, we are very proud to offer another great way for RCI members to stretch their travel budgets further and provide even more value to our members’ timeshare investment,” said Charisse Cox, managing director, Group RCI Pacific, parent company of RCI. “We are working with top tour providers in the region to ensure that our members achieve unforgettable experiences at unbeatable prices.”

RCI Tours are hand picked by RCI experts based on quality, value and experiences.  With more than 20 wonderful adventures covering all corners of the globe, and catering to all levels of pace, exertion, cultural elements and inclusions, RCI members are sure to find a packaged tour tailored to their specific needs.

For more information on RCI Tours Exchange please call AU 1300 301 044 or NZ 0800 301 044

HOME GROWN: Accor Vacation Club sponsoring 'Relay for Life'

Accor Vacation Club kindly donated gifts for the Gold Coast Cancer Council’s ‘Relay For Life’ event held on Saturday 20th June 2009. Accor Vacation Club staff member Denise Illston and her 16 strong team ‘WHAT THE’ (Women Here Are True Triumphant Healthy Examples) braved the rainy elements and participated in the fun run in order to raise money for cancer. Denise’s team raised an impressive $4000 for the cause thanks to the Accor Vacation Club donating a range of digital cameras, DVD, CD and MP3 players through a raffle.

HOME GROWN: A facelift for Pinnacle Valley Resort

It’s been a long time coming, but the 1970ish rooms at the Grand Mercure Pinnacle Valley Resort, Accor Vacations Club Apartments are finally getting a facelift!

Accor Vacation Club has commenced its refurbishment project to modernize its 10 chalets and add a new lease of life to the Victorian High Country accommodation which is expected to be completed by August this year. The renovations will primarily consist of a brand new kitchen, bunk beds, bathroom, a drying cupboard for snow skis and more. These refurbished chalets will offer even more reason to enjoy the property and its idyllic location all year round.  

WORLD AROUND US: First Vietnam property for Group RCI

 Sea Links Golf & Country Club in Ho Chi Minh has become the first Vietnam property in Group RCI’s worldwide network of affiliated resorts.

Situated on sandy hills overlooking Mui Ne Bay, Sea Links Golf & Country Club is reputedly the leading golf resort in Vietnam, offering luxury accommodation and facilities which include an 18-hole golf course, restaurants serving Asian or European cuisine, a spa and tennis courts.

Members will also be able to enjoy the serene landscape of Phan Thiet and the area’s most popular attractions, such as the Poshanu Cham Tower, Mui Ne San Dunes, Ke Ga Lighthouse or the Ta Cu Pagoda. (RDO, June 2009)

WORLD AROUND US: Interval signs long-term agreement with Zorgvliet Group in South Africa

Interval International has added six South African resorts to its vacation exchange network, following an affiliation agreement with Zorgvliet Private Residence Club. The resorts are sold both on a fractional and traditional timeshare basis.

This latest addition gives owners a range of new holiday options, from safaris to wine tours, from golf to health and spa resorts, and the opportunity to explore some of South Africa’s most famous destinations such as the Garden Route.

Both the Ka’Ingo Private Reserve and Spa and the Dinkweng Safari Camp at Ka’Ingo provide a luxury African bush experience in a private game reserve. For the less adventurous, the Riviera on Vaal Hotel and Country Club offers cruises on the Vaal River as well as spa treatments and other leisure facilities.

Wine connoisseurs will love the opportunity to stay at the Zorgvliet Vineyard Lodge and Spa or the Alluvia Specialist Winery and Guesthouse, both located in the Banhoek Valley outside Stellenbosch, in South Africa’s prime wine producing country.

Finally, the Protea King George Hotel is situated on the George golf course overlooking the Outeniqua Mountains, in the heart of the Garden Route. (RDO, June 2009)

WORLD AROUND US: Studies show 87% satisfaction rate by owners of timeshare

A European survey that reveals 87 per cent of owners are satisfied with their timeshare is a powerful, credible and ringing endorsement of the growing popularity of holiday ownership.

According to The Timeshare Association, TATOC, the study also heralds a sea change in public perceptions of timeshare while recognising it as an integral part of the global travel and tourism industry.

An independent consumer body, TATOC – the Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees) -- is run by timeshare owners for timeshare owners.

Based on a detailed questionnaire completed by 33,000 respondents in 12 different countries, the survey also showed the majority of owners rated their timeshare experience over other self-catering holidays. In 2007 more than 1.5million European households owned timeshare.  The UK & Ireland has the largest market share with close to 600,000 owners, followed by Germany and Italy.

The findings are a key element of a comprehensive study by The Christel DeHaan Tourism and Travel Research Institute, based at the Business School in the University of Nottingham.

Based on 2007 data, there are 1,312 timeshare resorts in Europe – most are in Spain where there are more than 350.  The UK, Portugal and Italy each has more than 100.

WORLD AROUND US: Timeshare Stripped Bare. Seminar to look at the realities of timeshare

On the 29th & 30th September 2009 a two day (not for profit) seminar hosted by DAE will see several hospitality, marketing and property experts put the timeshare product firmly under the microscope.

In the last 20 years, the timeshare industry has frequently hit the news headlines for negative reasons - scratch cards scams, inflated selling prices, re-sale issues and hollow promises are frequently amongst the words used to describe the industry.

But do the headlines always provide a balanced perspective?
One of the little known realities is that close to half a million British families own timeshare. Significant percentages of this number typically use the exchange service to go on quality holidays all around the world.

September’s seminar is being held at the picturesque Barnsdale Hall Hotel & Country Club near Oakham in Rutland. Entitled "Timeshare Stripped Bare" the seminar will tear away the veneer to take an honest and in depth look at all of the issues that have confronted timeshare, and that have given the industry such a tarnished reputation for the last two decades.

Searching for solutions to established problems
The organisers of the event DAE insist the seminar is not a platform to simply talk over issues, and to seek to cast timeshare in a favourable light. One of the key objectives of the seminar is to draw on some of the respected companies and individuals within timeshare to shape solutions to known industry problems, thus protecting the interests of the consumer.

The Managing Director for the European office of DAE is David Lilley.

Commenting on the seminar, David said "It is clearly apparent that timeshare owners want an opportunity to discuss their issues in an open forum. Our DAE Roadshows have been held to do exactly that - to listen to issues, offer protective advice and to create improvements. After having staged four events, it has become acutely apparent to me that more needs to be done. Some owners really don't understand what they own and whilst others have had good value from their ownership, they are now ready to relinquish but find their escape route blocked by their inability to sell."

Speakers already confirmed for the event are Simon Jackson, Managing Director of Macdonald Resorts, Philip Watson, Managing Director of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, Ramy Filo, CEO of Classic Holidays, Paul Mattimoe, Editor of Owners Perspective Magazine, Matthew Moody, Managing Director of Millennium Property and David Lilley, Managing Director of Dial An Exchange Europe.

Anyone interested in the event can find out more via a specially created website, http://www.timesharestrippedbare.com. Timeshare owners can also share their stories via this website.

BUSINESS: Immigration Update

What do I need to know before I employ someone from overseas?
Perhaps you have been approached by someone who is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident and would like to work for you.  What are the questions you should be asking?

Q1. Is the person allowed to work in Australia?
Depending on the type of visa held, the person may or may not be allowed to work in Australia, or may only be allowed to work under certain conditions.  For example, the person might be allowed to work a maximum 20 hours a week, six months with one employer, only for a specific employer or not be allowed to work.  These conditions are known as "visa entitlements."

As an employer, you can easily check these through Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) or by fax or telephone, with the agreement of the visa holder.  You can find out more at Department of Immigration & Citizenship or on 1800 040 070.

If the visa entitlements match your needs, you will not need to ask any more visa questions.  That means you can employ the worker according to the relevant Australian industrial arrangement.

However, if your prospective employee's visa entitlements do not match your needs, you may consider sponsorship.

Q2. What does "sponsorship" mean?
Sponsorship means that the person will be entitled to work for you full-time in a skilled position with some other conditions. 

If you wish to sponsor an overseas worker, you will need to apply to become an approved sponsor. 

According to the type of sponsorship you apply for, you will need to satisfy particular requirements.  For example, you may need to show evidence of the good standing of your business, including your financial ability to meet employer obligations, the benefit to Australia of employing an overseas worker and your commitment to training Australian workers.

You will also need to show that the position is "skilled" and that you cannot find a local worker to do the job.  The person you wish to sponsor will then need to apply for a visa linked to your sponsorship, providing evidence of skills that match the position.  Not all positions will meet the required skill level.

Q3. What is the right visa for the job?
Different visas may require different skill levels and vary in application costs, processing times and visa conditions.  The Department of Immigration and Citizenship offers a range of temporary and permanent sponsored visas to help employers meet their skill needs.  Natalie can help you identify which visa may be most suitable to you. 

Q4.  What obligations do sponsors have?
These will depend on the visa you choose. For example, they can include salary payments, job tasks, minimum hours of work and responsibilities towards family members who may accompany the worker while in Australia.
(QTIC, June 2009)