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The ATHOC office will be closed from Friday 21st December through to Monday 7th January. If there is anything you need please email us.
Both Susie and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a great New Year. We look forward to working with you in 2008. |
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2008 Annual Conference - Radisson Fiji Resort, 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 at the Radisson Fiji Resort in Denarau, 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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Silver Sands Wins Silver at the WA Tourism Awards |
In our last issue we mentioned that Silver Sands Resort had submitted an entry in the Deluxe Accommodation category of the Tourism Council of WA-2007 Tourism Awards. And what a great night this turned out to be.
Resort Manager Ivan Hill said “as this is the first time we had entered these awards we were delighted to be chosen as finalists. We were even more thrilled when this week we received our certificate as Silver Medalists”.
Congratulations to Silver Sands Resort. We encourage you all to consider nominating your resorts in the awards in your states. Not only does it make you feel good, it also makes you take a close look at your business as you fill in your nominations. |
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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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IAC TO SPIN OFF INTO FIVE SEPARATE COMPANIES |
The parent company of Interval International is to separate into five publicly traded companies.
Along with IAC itself and the Miami-based exchange company, IAC comprises HSN, its retailing segment, Ticketmaster’s domestic and international operations, and Lending Tree, a series of property businesses.
Interval will continue as a stand-alone company with Craig Nash as chief executive officer. |
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Wyndham News |
Wyndham Vacation Resort The Outram Perth -
Western Australia’s 3rd Best Hotel!
An online poll hosted by travel giant TripAdvisor.com has seen Wyndham Vacation Resort The Outram Perth confirmed as WA’s 3rd most popular hotel!
With nearly 25 million monthly visitors, five million registered members and 10 million reviews and opinions, TripAdvisor branded sites, cover more than 270,000 hotels and attractions and make up the largest travel community in the world. By evaluating the general public’s opinion on feedback, quality and value in an open e-based forum, TripAdvisor.com compared 78 of the state’s leading hotels in order to compile the definitive list.
On the back of reviews such as “service at its best”, “best value for money” and “Perth’s best hotel”, the TripAdvisor.com rating is confirmation that Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s involvement has only strengthened the already impressive reputation Wyndham Vacation Resort The Outram Perth has in the market place. President & CEO, Barry Robinson said, “to be recognised in an online poll, such as this one on TripAdvisor, is always a fantastic achievement as it represents the true opinions of the travelling community, not just the commissioned opinion of professional hotel critics. I am very happy to see that Wyndham Vacation Resort The Outram Perth has not only maintained, but improved on its reputation following our acquisition. It remains a fantastic addition to our club and helps link Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s name with quality nationwide.”
(A 22-room Parisian chic boutique hotel in West Perth, Wyndham Vacation Resort The Outram Perth is ideally located five
minutes from Perth’s CBD, 20 minutes from the airport and 15 minutes from Perth’s famed Cottesloe and Scarborough
beaches. Adjacent to Kings Park and just minutes from the Swan River, guests are also within walking distance of the
restaurant and shopping precincts of Subiaco and Northbridge.)
Two’s Company for Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific!
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific has secured its second resort destination in Western Australia today with the acquisition of the development formerly known as The Broadwater Resort & Spa, Dunsborough.
Renowned for its idyllic location, exceptional quality and service, and first class on-site day spa, The Broadwater Resort & Spa makes an ideal match to Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s existing Western Australian interest, Wyndham Vacation Resort The Outram Perth.
Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s President & CEO, Barry Robinson said, “The Broadwater Resort & Spa aligns perfectly with our Asia Pacific inventory expansion plan and will provide much needed standing inventory for our Owners.”
To be named Wyndham Vacation Resort & Spa Dunsborough, the absolute beach-front property comprises an outdoor heated pool and spa, Escape Day Spa, restaurant, bar, wedding chapel, floodlit tennis court, gymnasium, extensive conferencing facilities and 44 king studio rooms in addition to 44 spacious 2-bedroom apartments.
With 8 units transferring to WorldMark South Pacific Club immediately and more units to follow, Wyndham Vacation Resort & Spa Dunsborough, along with Wyndham Vacation Resort The Outram Perth and an additional sales site, will lead the company’s charge into the potentially lucrative south Western Australian market. |
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RCI 2008 Resort Recognition Awards |
Congratulations to the resorts below for their outstanding efforts in achieving either Gold Crown, Silver Crown and/or Hospitality status for the 2008 Group RCI Resort Recognition Awards. These awards are given to resorts in recognition of their superior resort facilities and service, and are based on guests’ assessments of resort quality, service, facilities and amenities and overall holiday experience.
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Gold Crown |
Australia
Golden Shores Holiday Club
Pacific Palms (H)
Port Pacific Resort (H)
The Holiday Club at Village Resort (H)
Tamarind Sands (H) |
New Zealand
Club Paihia (H)
Lake Edge Resort (H)
Sun Pacific Villas (H)
Fairway Lodge (H) |
| Provisional Gold Crown |
Australia
WorldMark Sydney Suites
WorldMark Seven Mile Beach
WorldMark Lakes Entrance
WorldMark Ballarat
WorldMark Golden Beach Resort
WorldMark Port Macquarie
WorldMark Coffs Harbour
WorldMark Cairns
WorldMark Pokolbin Hill
WorldMark Port Stephens |
Australia
The Holiday Club at City Towers
The Holiday Club at Amalfi Resort
The Holiday Club at Leeuwin Resort
The Holiday Club at Alexandra Beach
New Zealand
WorldMark Rotorua |
| Silver Crown |
Australia
Silver Sands Resort (H)
Mansfield Country Resort
Vacation Village
Voyager
Sunraysia Resort (H)
Marine Cove Resort (H)
Kerami Gardens Resort (H)
Island Breeze Resort (H)
Regent Park Apartments (H)
Riviera Beach Resort (H)
Bellbrae Country Club (H)
The Bright Resort (H)
Whitecliffs Beach Resort |
New Zealand
The Pines Resort (H)
Kaimanawa Lodge (H)
Queenstown Mews (H)
Taupo Ika Nui
The Phoenix Resort (H)
The Lakeside Villas
The Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay |
| Hospitality Award |
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Australia
Island Palms
Mariner Shores Resort
Cedar Lake Country Resort
Lake Edge Resort
WorldMark Flynns Beach
WorldMark Kirra Beach |
Fiji
WorldMark Denarau Island
Fiji Palms |
| * (H) denotes additional Hospitality Award Winner |
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Massive new timeshare project underway in Dubai |
“Dubai is the regional hub for tourism with hundreds of tourism-related projects under construction or on the drawing board.” So says David Clifton, managing director, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia for Interval International.
He was speaking as the Miami-based exchange company announced the affiliation of Aqua Dunya Vacation Club that will operate a points-based system and offer the “ultimate in luxury” for its members.
As the first timeshare resort announced in Dubailand, it will comprise 110 one, 400 two, 200 three and 45 four bedroom units, making it the largest single vacation ownership resort in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. The developer is Ali Sulaiman Al Shehri.
Construction of the first phase of 170 apartments is scheduled early next year with completion in early 2010.
According to Interval, the current demand for timeshare products in the Middle East is “extremely robust” with potential timeshare sales estimated at £550million annually and growing.
OTE NOVEMBER 12, 2007 |
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New mixed-use resort in Hawaii for Disney |
The Walt Disney Company is to develop a mixed-use family resort on the Hawaiian island of Oahu with 800 hotel rooms and villas for its timeshare unit – the Disney Vacation Club.
Disney is paying $144million for a 21-acre beachfront site. Work is due to start in the second half of next year with completion scheduled for 2011.
According to Jay Rasulo, chairman of Disney Parks & Resorts, apart from the company’s theme parks, Hawaii was the most requested destination for the Vacation Club’s 350,000 members.
OTE November 2007 |
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The Registry Collection announces First Affiliate for Pacific Region |
The Registry Collection, a business unit of Group RCI is pleased to announce The Cashmere Villas as the first addition within the Pacific region to their network of over 100 affiliates worldwide. This is a key milestone for The Registry Collection, and reaffirmation of our commitment to securing a truly worldwide network of high-end leisure properties.
The Registry Collection, a global network comprised of a broad selection of luxury leisure assets, is the world’s largest luxury exchange program. By providing members with worldwide access to the very finest holiday properties and services, The Registry Collection program enables luxury leisure real estate developers and owners to meet the unique needs of discerning and affluent consumers while setting the stage for unprecedented business growth. |
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Managed by The Pacific Registry, The Cashmere Villas consist of four stand alone villas. Luxurious and private, each villa enjoys uninterrupted views of Lake Wakatipu and the Southern Alps in a peaceful setting that has to be experienced to be believed. The architecturally designed villas have been constructed with the utmost attention to detail. From polished wooden floors and state of the art home entertainment systems, to luxurious drapes and soft leather couches. The Cashmere Villas provide everything you have ever dreamed of in a vacation home, and are a perfect fit to the exclusive The Registry Collection portfolio.
More information on The Registry Collection can be found here.
More information on The Cashmere Villas can be found here. |
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Tourism Recruitment and Retention Project to address industry staff shortages |
The Queensland Tourism Industry Council recently launched the Queensland Tourism Recruitment And Retention Project (TRARP), to assist tourism and hospitality businesses in avoiding high staff turnover costs. TRARP offers resources including short, online courses in staff and time management, workshops and a free staff management toolkit that contains ready-to-use templates, tip sheets and checklists. TRARP also provides diversity workshops about accessing the valuable skills of indigenous, multicultural and matured aged people, parents and carers of children and people with disabilities.
For more information visit QTIC - Email: trarp@qtic.com.au - Ph: 07 3236 1445 |
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Green Habits of Hotel Visitors |
The majority of travellers admit to letting their green routines slip when on the road according to a survey of frequent travellers commissioned by Element Hotels, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
• Most of those polled said they are less likely to conserve water and electricity while they are away from home.
• More than 6-in-10 said they were using more because they knew it would be free.
• Nearly 70% of respondents said they open a new mini-bottle of shampoo each time they shower at a hotel.
• Almost two-thirds said they were more likely to leave the lights on at a hotel than at home.
• Three out of four hotel guests believe it is important to have their sheets and towels changed each day
Element Hotels will open its doors in 2008 and will adopt practices originally championed by cutting edge ecotourism operators in the delivery of a new, smart approach to sustainable hotels with properties designed to make environmentally friendly choices intuitive. Key smart design features include:
• Clean and green: Shampoo and conditioner dispensers will eliminate multiple mini-bottles.
• Stemming the tide: Low-flow sink faucets and dual flush toilets and/or low gallons per flush toilets will allow guests to optimize water use during their time away from home. This small change will conserve an estimated 4,358 gallons of water per room each year.
• Smart materials: The element design incorporates eco-friendly materials wherever possible. The floor will feature carpets with up to 100 percent recycled content. On the walls, art will be mounted on a base made from recycled tires. Low-VOC paints will improve indoor air quality for guests and staff.
• Recycling reminder: About 50 percent of the waste generated in hotels is recyclable, but most hotel rooms don’t have recycling bins. Element guestrooms will include bins to help guests maintain their home recycling ritual.
• A bright idea: compact fluorescent lamps will be used throughout the hotel instead of incandescent light bulbs. This small change will result in up to 75 percent less energy used.
• Nature’s best: Biophilic design, which maximizes natural light and sightlines to the outdoors, will help guests thrive and connect with their surroundings.
• Staying smart: An education program will help guests make smart decisions for the environment while travelling and at home.
The survey was conducted by Studylogic via telephone interviews with 1,041 respondents, screened for a minimum of 3 hotel stays over the past twelve months.
Centre for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development
The Centre for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development has designed four practical guides to help businesses begin the certification process and improve carbon emission programs. The guides are the result of studies commissioned by the Rainforest Alliance and conducted by the Centre for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development and the International Ecotourism Society.
For further information click here. |
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ATHOC Foundation funds a state of the art Snozelen Room |
Variety Queensland's CEO Linda Graham today announced that the Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) Foundation, has provided the much needed funds of $12,000 to refurbish a state of the art "Snoezelen Room" at Mudgeeraba State Special School on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
The funds have been provided from our major fundraising activities by our Golf day sponsors Accor Premiere Vacation Club, Interval International, Wyndham Vacation Resorts, RCI, Classic Holidays) at the annual Charity golf day in June.
The intention of the Snoezelen Room is to provide a stimulating and safe environment for students with sensory deficits and intellectual impairment. |
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Students use the Snoezelen Room to explore and interact with light, sound, texture, smells, movements and tasters for the purpose of leisure, relaxation and enhancement of senses. The Room features bubble tubes, acrylic mirrors and a musical floor. ATHOC is pleased to provide this amazing technology and hopefully it will be enjoyed by special needs children in years to come. Last year's ATHOC Golf Day funds paid for a special Variety Liberty Swing that is situated in playground at the Cascade Gardens at Broadbeach”, she added.
As the students who attend Mudgeeraba Special School are diagnosed with an intellectual impairment and may be diagnosed with vision, physical or hearing impairment, many students aged 5 to 18 years exhibit deficits in processing information related to their senses. The Snoezelen Room enables teachers to support students who require additional sensory experiences and implement individualized programs to enhance and optimise learning outcomes.
Principal of Mudgeeraba Special School, Ms Colleen Hope and Head of Curriculum Ms Nicky Belous wrote to Variety Queensland seeking financial assistance for equipment required for the Snoezelen Room and was delighted to receive a surprise phone call to advise that ATHOC, a corporate sponsor of Variety, would fully fund the room as a community project.
Colleen said, “Children will enjoy hours of fun discovering and exploring materials and the sounds of our tremendous Snoezelen Room and get pleasure from social interaction amongst their peers. We are absolutely thrilled to know ATHOC raised so much money at their golf day to fund our special Room and we sincerely thank every single person involved in making this happen”. |
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Free ATHOC Water Saving Stickers are Coming Your Way |
Thank you to all of you who are interested in placing the free Water Saving Stickers in your bathrooms. It is great to see the industry across the country taking the initiative to help save our environment. Stickers should arrive with you any time soon. |
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Get Those Twinkle Toes Ready - Barefoot Bowls Early February |
The Bowling challenge is on once again. This time we move from the alley to the green. Start organising your teams for a great night at the Surfers Paradise Lawn Bowls. We will have more details out for you soon. |
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Marty Kandel to leave APVC |
After over 5 years heading up APVC, Marty Kandel is off to greener pastures in Spain to work as President, European Operations, for Diamond Resorts, International. Marty has been a member of the ATHOC board and a real leader of our industry during this time. John Osborne who has been a director at APVC for the past year has stepped into the CEO role.
We sadly say good bye to Marty and happily welcome John Osborne and look forward to working with John in the future. |
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