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

EVENT OVERVIEW - 2009 Awards

Over 250 attended the 18th National Timeshare Awards hosted by the peak body – Australian Timeshare and Holiday Owners Council (ATHOC) at the Gold Coast Arts Centre on Friday night (31/7/09).

The theme of the night was stars, which is exactly what the 16 award winners were. Industry Stars, recognised by both their company and the industry as a whole.
The group enjoyed the festivities of the evening and am sure many struggled to open the reception as their resorts on Saturday morning.

Congratulation to all nominees who have been recognized as start by their employers and congratulations to the winners, the industry stars.

2009 ATHOC National Industry Awards - Winner List

Resort Category
Resort Performer of the Year - Rachael Malone – Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific
Resort Team of the Year - Tiki Village International Resort  - Surfers Paradise - Classic Holidays
Resort Manager of the Year - Stephanie and Tim Kewming - Korora Bay Village Resort - Coffs Harbour

Sales Category 
Sales Performer of the Year - Sharon Pitkin – Wyndham Vacation Resort Asia Pacific
Sales Team of the Year - Accor vacation Club – Coffs Harbour Sales Team
Sales Manager of the Year - Peter Cole – Twin Waters, Accor Vacation Club

Marketing Category
Marketing Performer of the Year - Daniel Bennett – Classic Holidays
Marketing Team of the Year     - Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific 
Marketing Manager of the Year - Ross Nicholas - Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific

Corporate Categories
Corporate Performer of the Year - Marnie Jess – Accor Vacation Club
Corporate Team of the Year - Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific – Legal & Compliance Team
Corporate Manager of the Year - Marianne Ossovani – Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific

Whole of Industry - Outstanding Contribution
to the Timeshare Industry - Barry Robinson – Wyndham Vacation Resort Asia Pacific 
Newcomer of the Year - Coreen Currey – Sandy Point Beach Resort
Industry Innovation Award - Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific – “Privileges by Wyndham”
Excellence in Service - Debbie Blatch – Accor Vacation Club

For a full list of all nominees, please go to http://www.athoc.com.au/athoc/events

Photography by:

Photo 1: The Crowd, Photo 2: Barry Robinson & Laura Younger / Charisse Cox & Peter Cole, Photo 3: Tiki Village International Resort and Carole Smith

HOME GROWN: Regional elections outcome

NORTHERN COMMITTEE
Tracie Sakrzewski – Accor Vacation Club
Carole Smith – Classic Holidays
Brian George – Group RCI
Stephanie Kewming – Korora Bay Village Resort
Brent Schafer – Mariner Shores Resort

SOUTHERN COMMITTEE
Joe Bengasino – WMB Lawyers

WESTERN COMMITTEE
Ivan Hill – Silver Sands Resort

HOME GROWN: Resorts and environmental change

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

 Worldmark Ballarat is hosting the 2009 a two day seminar on  “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: DAE News

USA launched DAE Facebook this month for the group

We know your time is valuable, so we want to make it easy for you to get the information you need as conveniently as possible. This is why we're now on Facebook and Twitter. Join our online networks, and be among the first to find out about Bonus Weeks, new specials, and other news. Plus, our Facebook fans and Twitter followers will be automatically entered into random drawings for valuable exchange or bonus week vouchers. Click the link to join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

Three great new 'daeOptions' resorts launched in July for Australian & New Zealand members to exchange into.

Dial An exchange has announced the launch of their Thai language website to service the Thai members and also that DAE will be "on the road" on 9th August 2009 with a series of Member Information sessions.
Topics to be covered in THAI are:

• DAE overview
• Helpful tips for getting the exchange you want
• The simplicity of our Website and easy Online Reservations
• Future initiatives & more great innovations to come
• Question & Answer session

Venue: The Westin Grande Sukhumvit
Address: 259 Sukhumvit Soi 19, Sukhumvit Road, Klongton, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Duration: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Ecomm Submission July 09

HOME GROWN: Silver services by RCI

Silver Service by RCI is an invitation only membership club that was launched to a select group of RCI members earlier this year. At RCI we believe that the more you transact with us, the more you should be rewarded. With this in mind the Silver Service Club and its mantra of “More Service, More Privileges, More Rewards” was born.


Silver Service Club membership includes:

• Priority service and dedicated phone lines when calling RCI
• Free guest certificates
• Invitation only preview of the latest specials and deals
• Holiday cancellation protection
• Exclusive airfare savings with RCI Travel

In addition to these fantastic benefits, Silver Service members can expect to receive special gifts before travel departure, bon voyage calls, in room gifts and invitations to special events. Silver Service was developed to thank our most prolific members by enhancing the RCI experience through exceptional and personalised customer service. For more information on Silver Service by RCI please download a copy of the brochure from our Affiliate Website http://aspac.rciaffiliates.com

HOME GROWN: Ernie hits the slopes at Accor Vacation Club's Pinnacle Valley Resort!

Ernie Dingo dropped in to Grand Mercure Pinnacle Valley Resort a few weeks ago to enjoy the early snow at Mount Buller and some quality time with his family. Citing the Resort as one of his favorite Accor Vacation Club properties, Ernie was able to measure up, fit and hire all his ski gear and snowboard, at the Resort, in his own time, (and with no queues) before heading up the mountain on the Resort shuttle. A great ski season is predicted in 2009 due to the approaching El Nino.

HOME GROWN: Accor Vacation Club's massive escape promo launch

Accor Vacation Club and Virgin Blue are the lynch-pin to the success of the re-launch of the Sunday papers' Escape Travel lift out in August giving away 13 family holidays (for 4 people) at a variety of destinations across Australia and New Zealand. With two weeks pre-promotion the great holiday giveaways are expected to draw new readers, retain loyal readers and show off the newly designed and created weekly travel guide, and the scope of Accor Vacation Club's inventory.

HOME GROWN: Wyndham on winning streak

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific winning streak continued after the ATHOC Awards when its travel agency business, Travel by Wyndham, received second prize from Virgin Blue in its “Go for Gold” promotion which rewarded travel agencies’ percentage growth in travel bookings in May and June 2009 compared with the same period last year.  Travel by Wyndham services its 43,000 vacation owners who are members of the vacation ownership club, WorldMark South Pacific Club by Wyndham. 

“I’m proud that our travel agency achieved such outstanding results in a tough market”, said Barry Robinson, CEO & Managing Director of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific.  “This award is a reflection that travel within the vacation ownership sector continues even when other hospitality businesses are experiencing significant declines”, he said.

Barry Robinson, CEO and Managing Director, said “I’m very happy to see that our dedication to customer service, innovation and industry development is working and being recognised.  We continue to focus on our customers and exceeding their expectations.  I think these awards suggest that we are on track”.

 “It’s an honour for me to lead such a successful team and to be part of the continuing evolution of vacation ownership. But I’m only as good as the team around me; thankfully, I have one of the best” said Robinson.

BUSINESS: Address the level of leave in your organisation

The start of a new financial year is the ideal time to set good practises for the year ahead. A step by step guide has been created to help you to identify and address the barriers to taking leave within your organisation. Understand just how much leave has been accrued in your workplace and how to overcome the challenges facing management with strategies and tools to help. Review the module

BUSINESS: Encourage your employees to take annual leave

With every serious side there's the need for fun. Here are some ideas to create a leave friendly culture in your workplace and get employees excited about taking leave.

1. Hold an inter-department challenge
2. Start a funniest postcard competition
3. Create a holiday photo board to inspire colleagues to plan leave
4. Create a company mascot
5. Write a No Leave, No Life message on staff payslips
6. Send email alerts to employees with the highest leave debt
7. Make a 'who's on leave this week' notice board in the kitchen
8. Set up a recommendations board - where staff can recommendations of good hotels, restaurants and surf hot spots

Review the ideas - Written by Tourism Australia