EVENT REMINDER

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Event: Australian Timeshare Industry Golf Open - Friday 27th February 2008
In Support of the ATHOC Foundation
This years tournament will see a capped team of 144 players tee off in an Ambrose event at the Lakelands Golf Course on the Gold Coast. The tournament will also feature a luncheon and presentation function where you can mingle with special guests and vie for the fantastic prizes.

For more information go the events area at www.athoc.com.au

Event: ATHOC Annual Conference – 13, 14 and 15th September 2009
Keep those dates free!

HOME GROWN: Southern Seminar

The Southern Seminar recently held in Victoria offered the delegates an opportunity to get together and learn more about a number of areas within the industry. The 2 day meeting was attended by over 30 delegates from both member and non member resorts. A major focus of the training was on Viewpoint run by Peter Vanderhorst from @ Work International, which went over particularly well. Graham Bowman made an appearance and certainly livened up the group. Sessions were also held on Working with your local tourism organisation; How to avoid, manage and resolve complaints; Health and your guests to name a few.

The Tuesday night saw the Post Melbourne Cup Southern Awards Dinner. Everyone glittered in their finery and congratulations go to the following winners:

Southern Hall of Fame – Liz Clegg
Outstanding Contribution to the Timeshare Industry – Joe Bengasino

Certificates of Recognition went to:

Peter Vanderhorst - @ Work International
Karen Erickson – Eastcoast Timeshare Group
Anne Burns – Eastcoast Timeshare Group
Donna Dobby – Capri Waters Country Club
Rob Birmingham – Capri Waters Country Club
Koa Reebes - Shearwater Country Club

A special thank you to Gold Sponsors – Accor Vacation Club, Classic Holidays, Dial An Exchange, Group RCI, Interval International, ICE Asia Pacific and Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific.

Congratulations to the Southern Committee headed by Phyllis King for such a great event. Keep an eye out for next years!

HOME GROWN: Accor Vacation Club confidently steps up inventory

Accor Vacation Club has purchased forty-four (44) one and two bedroom apartments at the 4.5 star Freshwater Point Broadbeach, QLD which will be made available for Club Members use as growth in the Club continues.

The in-demand destination, offering high quality, self-contained resort style accommodation boasts a heated pool, spa, steam room and sauna, fully quipped gymnasium, games rooms, on-site café, poolside barbecue, tour desk, and secure undercover parking. All of the air-conditioned apartments feature full kitchen facilities, private balcony, security intercom, and have wireless broadband available.

The nine level resort is directly opposite the Casino and Convention Centre, and a stone’s throw from Broadbeach’s trendy café and restaurant scene and the glorious patrolled surf beaches that the Gold Coast is famous for.

Seen as a vote of confidence in the Queensland tourism industry, it shows that despite a global downturn in mainstream hotel business the holiday ownership industry is still strong, mainly due to Member’s having future-proofed their holidays and costs by buying into the flexible points-based system.

Data collected from the Australian timeshare industry confirms that holiday owners are bucking the trend, as the appeal of regular holidays and the need to utilise their pre-paid annual points motivates them to book a getaway.

Photo: Freshwater Point, Broadbeach

HOME GROWN: ATHOC Foundation funds gym for Currumbin kids

Thanks to the $15,000 donation from ATHOC Foundation, Variety Queensland has provided much needed equipment for the school gym, including a Cybex LCX 425T Treadmill, Interlocking Rubber Gym Mats, and other gym equipment.

Federal Member for McPherson, Margaret May MP who is also Patron to the Charity and ATHOC General Manager Laura Younger officially presented the equipment to Currumbin Community Special School. 

Laura Younger, General Manager for ATHOC confirmed the funds have been provided as a result of major fundraising activities by Timeshare Industry member companies (such as Accor Vacation Club, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, Group RCI, Interval International) including an annual Charity Golf Day held in May 2008.

Laura Younger said, “the ATHOC Foundation is pleased to fund this gym equipment for Currumbin Community Special School, and hope it will be enjoyed by the school’s special needs students for years to come. Previous ATHOC Industry Golf Day’s have funded the Variety Liberty Swing in the playground at the Cascade Gardens in Broadbeach, and the Snoezelen Room at Mudgeeraba State Special School.”

HOME GROWN: Promotion for Brian George at Group RCI

Brian George has been appointed Manager- Key Accounts for Group RCI Pacific, heading up the Key Accounts department and reporting directly to Charisse Cox. Brian will be responsible for developing and maintaining the relationships between RCI and their affiliates and Key Clients, as well as accountable for new member enrolment targets and sourcing new business opportunities within the region.
Brian started with RCI in 2000 as a Member Services Consultant. In 2004, Brian was promoted to the role of Account Manager in the Key Accounts department, where many of you were first introduced to Brian and his vibrant personality. His promotion to now head up this department is very well deserved and a testament to his hard work and commitment to RCI and their affiliate network over the years.

Please join us in congratulating Brian and welcoming him to his new role.

HOME GROWN: Staff skills recognised for one of timeshare industry's largest employers

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific congratulated 90 staff members for achieving national hospitality and tourism qualifications at their graduation ceremony held at the Gold Coast Arts Centre last night.

The vacation ownership group has taken advantage of the State Government’s Skilling Solutions Queensland initiative for the second year in a row, with 57 staff members taking up the opportunity to achieve qualifications through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program.

A further 33 staff members from around their Australian network attained qualifications after completing traineeships and workplace-based study, with many students progressing from Certificate to Diploma level.

In partnership with the vacation ownership group and registered training provider, One Step Further, staff who have worked tirelessly in the industry for years and gained specialised skills were able to strive for the qualifications that recognise their efforts. 

According to One Step Further CEO Jo-Anne Smith, the interest from Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific staff was so great they needed to facilitate more diploma opportunities through the program to meet the demand.

“Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific graduates represent the largest number of our graduates through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program this year,” said Ms Smith.

Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific staff from around south east Queensland graduated with qualifications such as Diploma of Tourism, Diploma of Hospitality and Certificate III in Tourism based on the training provider’s assessment of their years of industry experience and underpinning, specialised skills and knowledge.

 “Staff members ranging from our Vice-President of HR and Resort Managers to team leaders and call centre operators can all be proud of their hard work and specialised skills they’ve developed over the years in the field.”

HOME GROWN: Barefoot Bowls

Friday 31st October 2008

A great night was had by all with 120 attending the Barefoot Bowls Challenge.

The Accor A-Team took out first place with Shoeless and Clueless close behind in second. The most unique style went to Rose from Group RCI in the Footloose 2 team. Best Dressed was won by the Super Troopers at Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific and the Wooden Spoon, ie. Last place went to Laura Younger and her team the Barely There Bowlers. The name was quite apt really!

WORLD AROUND US: Green light for £1Billion golf resort in Scotland

Donald Trump, the American billionaire developer, has won government approval to build a resort in Scotland that will encompass 950 timeshare units, a 450-room hotel, 500 luxury homes, 36 villas, two golf courses and a golf academy.

The decision follows a protracted planning process where environmentalists opposed the project that will be developed on the Menie Estate, north of Aberdeen. The site incorporates a series of sand dunes, home to a variety of wildlife.

Although the plans were originally rejected in a close vote by the area council a year ago, the government, which has power over planning policy, called in the proposal and set up a public inquiry. 

The development was widely supported by business and tourism leaders along with Alex Salmond, first minister of the Scottish government. It could also generate 6,000 jobs, some 1,400 locally, he said. OTE November 10, 2008

WORLD AROUND US: Sandy Grey: Source of the 'Crimeshare' website

The High Court in London has ruled that the self-styled chairman of the Timeshare Consumers’ Association (TCA) is the man behind ‘Crimeshare’ -- a web site that has libelled many reputable players in the timeshare industry.

Alexander ‘Sandy’ Grey was ordered to pay substantial costs of the legal action, brought by Bob Trotta, founder and chairman of Resort Properties. Mr Justice Eady ordered that Grey pay Mr Trotta’s costs in proving his responsibility for publication with £25,000 to be paid within 21 days of the court judgement, made on 28th October.   

Under the name ‘Crimeshare – Timeshare Frauds and Scams,’ the web site appeared under all five of the domain names that formed the basis of the High Court case.

It included personal attacks against employees and directors of timeshare companies as well as so-called ‘black lists’ incriminating reputable timeshare firms.

Over the past five years Grey had denied he was behind the sites and signed court documents verifying his denials.

More than 200 companies were ‘blacklisted’ by Grey including RCI, the Organisation for Timeshare in Europe (OTE) and the American Resort Development Association (ARDA).

After the judgement, OTE expressed concern about the legitimacy of a number of private organisations, set up around Europe purportedly to provide consumer advice on timeshare issues.

“These companies have absolutely no link to the industry or any government authority,” said secretary general Peter van der Mark. “We would advise consumers to exercise caution in dealing with any organisation that refers to the so-called ‘Crimeshare’ blacklist, Mr Grey or the TCA.”

WORLD AROUND US: RCI News

RCI puts Serbia on its exchange holiday map with two new resort affiliations
RCI, the world’s largest timeshare exchange company and a part of Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), has signed its first affiliation agreements in Serbia, adding two new resorts to its portfolio of over 4,000 affiliated resorts worldwide: Club Satelit and Kraljevi Konaci resort.

In welcoming the two new Serbian resorts to the RCI exchange network, Jonathan Back, managing director, Group RCI EMEAI, said: “We want to invest in Serbia and are pleased to have two first-class resorts as our first affiliates in this fabulous new destination. The country is accessed by three international airports making it easily accessible for international tourists. This, together with its close proximity to many highly-promoted European holiday destinations, makes us confident Serbia is poised to see rapid growth in its inbound and outbound visitor levels making it a good place to be for timeshare.”

The two resorts are both located in the Zlatibor mountain region in western Serbia, at the crossroads of Central Europe. Zlatibor is renowned for its clear mountain air, spas, excellent skiing, and a myriad of outdoor pursuits including trekking, cycling and fishing among lakes, rivers, lush pastures and pine forests. The region has established itself as a popular health and wellbeing holiday destination. The country’s rich historical, architectural and cultural heritage is also an irresistible tourist attraction, together with the city sights of Belgrade and Novi Sad.

BUSINESS: Collection of titles at Silver Sands Resort

As most resorts have many issues in locating titles, Silver Sands have come up with a great idea to be able to hold them on site.

 The committee put it to the AGM and it was very well supported by the members to offer owners in the club the following discounts. When levy notices are sent out, owners are offered a $50 pay on time reduction as well as a $50 reduction for lodging their titles with the resort for safe keeping. Silver Sands has purchased new safes to safeguard the titles and also provides the title owner with copy  of the title and an official receipt  for  the  title notice for their records. The  clubs insurance policy for documents has also be increased with the insurance company  to safeguard members interests in obtaining new titles. Over 1500 of the 2500 titles are now kept on site.  This has also made it easier for change of title in sales and any other changes required such as the Death of a member, separation of couples and alike. At the last AGM of the club members gave a 99% support of making the discount higher for titles to encourage members to be a supportive partner in the Club.