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2008 Annual Conference - Denarau Island Fiji |
Sunday September 14 -
Tuesday September 16
Australia, New Zealand and Fiji Timeshare associations will once again come together to talk through current industry issues and have the opportunity to network with their fellow colleagues on the balmy Fijian Island of Denarau.
This three day event will host a number of sessions that focus directly on the timeshare industry as well as taking a look at the external environment. It is a great opportunity to hear from the Industry Leaders, do business with your colleagues or simply enjoy the social activities.
The annual conference is a terrific networking opportunity and a chance for industry representatives to connect and catch up. It is a great chance for suppliers to show their wares and meet the ultimate purchasers of their products. |
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This year, the ATHOC Conference will be held in Fiji. Denarau Island is located on the western side of Viti Levu, famous for its year round blue sky. Only 20 minutes from Nadi International Airport and 8 minutes from Nadi Town. Experience the timeless beauty of Fiji Denarau Island a bright, airy, and tropical playground where you can enjoy sports, spa, golf, sand, and sea. The beautiful Denarau Island is renowned for its traditional Fijian environment, where you will be mesmerized by the warm, smiling Fijian hospitality from the moment you arrive at the "island of smiles." |
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ATHOC Training Programs - 1 day training |
Avoiding Managing and Resolving Conflict
Higher End Complaints Handling
Targeted at Resort Managers, Complaints
Departments, Front Line Administration and
Member/Owner Services Teams
These one day intensive workshops are
designed specifically for ATHOC Members,
aimed at assisting members to manage and
resolve complaints, using their own internal
dispute resolution process with a focus on negotiation and conciliation. Stop the
problem before it magnifies.
Dates:
Intermediate – 12th December 07
Advanced – 13th December 07
Venue: Accor Première Vacation Club
Corporate Uni Building
Robina Super Centre
3/86 Robina Town Centre Dr,
Robina QLD 4230
Time: 8.30am – 5pm
Cost: Member $230pp + GST
Non Member $330pp + GST
Includes morning & afternoon tea & lunch
Limited places so get in quickly
Trainer: Nina Harding
Nina Harding has designed and conducted over a hundred training courses in Australia and Asia Pacific. She has conducted postgraduate training courses at numerous universities including the University of Sydney, La Trobe University and Hong Kong University.
Nina has conducted training for ATSIC, State Forests, NSW Premier’s Department, Aboriginal Land Councils, KPMG, US Aid and United International Pictures. Nina teaches mediation, negotiation, advanced negotiation, conciliation, dispute resolution and several other related programs.
Trainer: Trevor Slater – FICS
Trevor is a highly qualified and experienced mediator and negotiator and holds a
Masters in Conflict Resolution from La Trobe University.
Currently the National Relations Manager with the Financial Industry Complaints Service (FICS), which involves acting as a conduit between the FICS members and consumers of financial products and the staff at FICS, Trevor also has a private practice which includes teaching conflict resolution and conducting private mediations. He has delivered numerous workshops both in Australia and the UK.
Contact us for a registration form. Hurry - spaces are limited! |
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Australian Timeshare Industry Golf Open – May 23rd, 2008 |
The 2008 industry fundraising golf day will be held at Lakelands Golf Course on the Gold Coast on Friday May 23rd. Last year over $60,000 was raised and shared between the ATHOC Foundation, Variety Queensland and Christel House.
Information for the day will be distributed in the not to distant future and we encourage you to get involved by sponsoring the event, playing on the day or donating prizes. Any support is truly appreciated. |
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New CEO for RCI Asia Pacific |
Group RCI has appointed Kendall Oei as the new president and managing director of Group RCI, Asia Pacific, effective October 15, 2007.
Kendall will lead the Asia Pacific region in growing Group RCI’s existing business and pursuing new opportunities via new service and product lines and new markets and segments. He will be responsible for leading a team of 440 employees in 9 countries and managing relationships with 350 affiliated resorts.
“I am extremely pleased that Kendall has accepted this important position which will bring added focus to our strategic growth throughout the Asia Pacific region,” said Kenneth N. May, chairman and chief executive officer of Group RCI. “He has over 30 years of experience as a business leader in Asia Pacific and an excellent track record of building relationships with developers and hoteliers across the hospitality industry. While Group RCI has been operating in Asia Pacific for the past 10 years, we are looking to significantly expand our presence in the area, especially as the Asia Pacific region is projected to be over 25% of global tourist arrivals by 2020. Kendall’s leadership in Asia Pacific and his impeccable credentials are in line with our vision for long-term, sustainable growth.”
Oei most recently served as executive director at General Hotel Management. While at GHM he was responsible for strategic planning, hotel management projects and operational management of the company. Kendall will continue his relationship with GHM as a non-executive director.
Throughout his career, Oei has held various management positions in hotel development and commercial and investment banking in Asia and the US including GHM, Scandinavian Bank, Summa International Finance Company and Bank of America.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Harvard University and a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in international finance from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. (AsiaTravelTips.com)
ATHOC looks forward to welcoming Kendall to the Australian Timeshare Industry |
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New WA Resort for Wyndham |
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific has added to its portfolio with the acquisition of the Broadwater Resort in Dunsborough for about $12.35 million.
The 88 room Broadwater Resort is one of several popular tourist and accommodation resorts on the Busselton-Dunsborough strip that runs along Geographe Bay. (West Australian 31/10/2007) |
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Growing Popularity of Timeshare in Finland |
A new study has highlighted how timeshare has become a growing segment of the leisure travel industry in Finland.
Target groups included owners and non-owners of the product. Some 2,023 respondents answered the survey – commissioned by OTE Finland and conducted by Digitieto Oy – in April and May this year.
A key finding underscored that one in six households would now consider purchasing a timeshare. The study also showed that long-term owners were the best prospects for buying more timeshare.
The profile of the timeshare owner reflects a growing number of ‘white collar’ workers with a college education, living in central and northern Finland. Ten years ago the main buyers were executives with a higher level of education, often living in the capital, Helsinki.
The survey reflects that timeshare is seen as an easy and flexible way to spend a holiday, offsetting the stresses of everyday life. “People are prepared to invest more and more money and purchases are considered investments in well-being and holidays,” it says.
Ten years ago Finns bought timeshare primarily abroad, some 60 per cent of them. Today the product is mostly purchased in the country, some 78 percent.
OTE Vol. 7 | Issue 22 | OCTOBER 8, 2007 |
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Monthly Feature - Resort Refurbishment Spotlight
Sandy Point Beach Resort |
Sandy Point Beach Resort, proudly managed by Classic Holidays, is currently undergoing a dramatic transformation. In a continued effort to create the perfect holiday environment, each 2 and 3 bedroom and Penthouse apartment is receiving a makeover.
With 22 apartments already completed, the works are due to conclude in mid July 2008. The refurbishment program includes:
Complete new kitchen
Complete new bathroom
Tiling in bathrooms and laundry
New appliances
Large LCD TV's
New carpet
Paint
All new furniture
All new soft furnishings
New art work
Lighting in bathrooms
New walls in bathrooms
Air-conditioning |
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By having a display unit prior to the refurbishment owners were able to view the refurbished apartment and were given a chance to put forward their suggestions and comments, which were taken into careful consideration. Some of the suggestions made were for comfy arm chairs with an ottoman for relaxation, high backed lounge suite, extra hooks in the bathrooms and handrails for getting in and out of the bath.
Much care was given to ensure the highest level of commercial quality was met while addressing the owners requests and making the units as functional and attractive as possible. AAA Tourism was commissioned to write a report on recommendations and ensure that all works followed industry standards. Some of these recommendations ranged from using the highest quality beds and bedding, installing large screen LCD TV's to the number, quality and mechanism of the coast hangers! Also, being an environmentally aware resort, all steps were taken to ensure the works complied with the environmental standards in keeping with our AAA Tourism Green Star rating.
Attention to detail is incredibly important and a local artist was commissioned to provide paintings that capture the essence of the surrounding areas our members and guests love to return to each year. One painting in particular is of the iconic lagoon, pelicans and Charis Seafood with Sandy Point in the background. This painting has been placed in each room and the owners love it!
With the last partial refurbishment carried out over ten years ago, the comments and feedback from members and guests has been overwhelming, especially from those that stay every year and truly appreciate the changes made.
Don’t forget to send your refurbishment information to info@athoc.com.au if you would like to be featured in an issue of Industry Whispers. |
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ATHOC Foundation |
ATHOC Foundation support Aunty Marsha
“Aunty Marsha as she is known around the Wyndham Resorts Asia Pacific Fiji Sales office has been a mother to most of the staff there. She looks after us, cleans up after us and ensures that everything in the housekeeping affairs of the office is maintained smoothly said Melissa Twigg WRVAP. She is loved by all the sales staff, resort staff and mostly by our guests, owners and children whom she minds while the parents attend our presentation or going for evenings out. Unfortunately, she suffered severely when she lost all her possessions in a recent house fire. She is a widow and the sole bread winner for her family (daughter & grandson). Despite her trauma Aunty Marsha is cheerful and willing to put that smile back on her face… said Melissa”
The Wyndham Sales team raised Fijian $1800.00 out of there own pocket which was presented to Marcia with an aim to raise $2800.00 for her to help with material for her house and we would appreciate any assistance to help Marsha and her family try to rebuild there family home.
The ATHOC Foundation has donated $1,000 to help Aunty Marsha get her house back in order. |
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Tourism Industry Awards |
Well done to some of our members who are now finalists in their State’s Tourism Industry Awards. It is so good for the industry that you take the time (as the nominations are very involved) to put your resorts forward and show the rest of the industry what great Resorts there are in the Timeshare Industry.
West Australian 2007 Tourism Awards
Congratulations to Silver Sands Timeshare Resort in becoming a finalist in this years awards in the Deluxe Accommodation category.
Good Luck on November 3rd for the big announcement!
QUEENSLAND TOURISM INDUSTRY AWARDS
Congratulations also to the following Classic Holiday Resorts who are also finalists in the Queensland Tourism Industry Awards:
Beach House
Surfers Royale
Tiki Village
Golden Shores
Sandy Point |
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QTIC Industry leaders breakfast - Hon. Desley Boyle MP |
What is next for Queensland’s Tourism Industry? Hear from the Hon. Desley Boyle MP, Minster for Tourism, Regional Development and Industry as she shares her vision for the future of Queensland’s tourism industry. Date: Tuesday 13 November Time: 7:15 for 7:30 Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Tickets: $50.00 members / $70.00 non-members.
For further information please contact Kym Stephenson on 07 3236 1455 or email kym.stephenson@qtic.com.au or download a copy of the registration form. |
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Time for holiday share study |
The research team from Griffith University Business School are now one year through a three year study investigating consumers’ satisfaction levels with the timeshare sector.
The team are investigating what constitutes value for the 125,000 owners of timeshare in Australia.
The Australian Research Council-funded Linkage study is being carried out in partnership with ATHOC and sponsors – Accor Premiere Vacation Club, Classic Holidays, Dial an Exchange, ICE Asia Pacific, Interval International, RCI Asia Pacific, and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific.
Chief investigator and tourism specialist Professor Beverley Sparks said this was believed to be the nation’s largest study into the Gold Coast-headquartered timeshare sector.
Professor Sparks said previous research by Griffith University and ATHOC had shown that consumers gain considerable value from their timeshare ownership.
“Consumers report the highest satisfaction levels when they obtain value through timeshare ownership that boosts their financial savings, and where the quality of the resort facilities or opportunities to gain new tourist experiences is high,” she said.
“The current study is focusing on perceptions of the value of timeshare by those in the general community, those new to timeshare, and those who have owned timeshare for a longer period of time.
“The team will develop a way to measure value across three time points – pre-purchase, point of sale, and ownership.”
ATHOC General Manager Laura Younger said the study’s findings would help paint a comprehensive picture of investment in the industry and assist in addressing consumers’ concerns.
“The better the quality of the research we have available to our members, the better we will be able to service the needs and wants of our timeshare owners,” Ms Younger said.
“It’s great to see the team from Griffith University researching an industry such as timeshare that means so much to regional economies.”
Griffith University secured $143,000 in federal funding for the project and will contribute staff time and relevant infrastructure valued at around $300,000. ATHOC and sponsors will donate $108,000 in cash and kind across the three years of the project.
To view results thus far go to www.athoc.com.au and log into the members section and into research and statistics. |
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NEW ATHOC website |
Don't forget to visit www.athoc.com.au and experience the all new website. If you have not yet received your log on details please let us know.
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