From the staff at ATHOC we would like to wish you a very merry and safe Christmas and look forward to working with you again in 2010. Enjoy the festive season! |
 |
The industry leading golf day will be held at the Colonial Golf Club on Friday February 26, 2010. This a fabulous opportunity to mix with the industry leaders and raise money for many great causes granted by the ATHOC Foundation. This is the fifth year that the Industry has run this event and over this time raised more than $350,000. See some of the great awards granted so far. For more information and sponsorship opportunities click here. If you can't make it but would like to donate prizes, please give us a call on 07 5574 2622. |
|
A call for the National Awards Nominations will be sent out in early February. Start having a think about who you will nominate. If you have someone within your company who you believe should be recognised please put them forward. |
|
Christchurch, New Zealand will be the host city for the 2010 Australian Timeshare and Holiday Ownership Council (ATHOC) Conference.
The Conference will run from Sunday 12th September to Tuesday 14th September 2010. |
|
Resorts – Do you have your complaints process properly in place? A complaint is “an expression of dissatisfaction made to an organisation, related to its products, or the complaint handling process itself, where a response is explicitly or implicitly expected” (AS 10002) An organisation must: • Establish an Internal Complaints Handling Process (ICHP) that is made available to and known by all personnel and be readily available to customers; For a copy of a draft complaints form go to www.athoc.com.au and sign in under member. If you don’t remember your password, contact Susie at info@athoc.com.au |
|
ATHOC has once again contracted The AEC Group to undertake an update of the state of the industry. This will be a continuation of the study undertaken in 2005. Surveys are currently being drawn up for dissemination in late January or early February 2010. It is extremely important that everyone contributed and completes the surveys sent out to enable us to have a true reflection of the industry. Information will be kept confidential and only go to The AEC Group. ATHOC will only see a whole of industry result. Information is generally used as part of the lobbying process with Government as well as media opportunities. The report once completed will be available to ATHOC Members for free or can be purchased by non members once complete. |
|
HOME GROWN: New CEO at Accor Vacation Club Accor Vacation Club farewells Chief Executive Officer, John Osborne after a very successful tenure at the helm. Since his arrival the Club has seen substantial growth in acquisitions, introducing new locations and apartments into the Club’s property portfolio. John’s dedication and leadership has resulted in a 50% increase in Member numbers to almost 27,000 strong. He was also instrumental in the 2008 re-brand from ‘Accor Premiere Vacation Club’ to the streamlined ‘Accor Vacation Club’. During his time there has also been great advances in technology with the newly redesign Member Website scheduled for launch this month, offering Members the ability for the first time to book their holidays online. John hands the reins over to Craig Wood, the current Chief Operating Officer at Accor Vacation Club.
Craig has also replaced John Osborne on the ATHOC Board of Directors with Tracie Sakrzewski as his alternate Director. We welcome both John and Tracie to the Board. Photo: Craig Wood, CEO - Accor Vacation Club |
|
Grand Mercure Busselton, Accor Vacation Club Apartments will present to their Members some fantastic newly refurbished Hotel Studio rooms, available to the Members from 10th December 2009. Accor Vacation Club has invested $250,000 to upgrade the 25 Hotel Studio rooms at this idyllic resort in the magnificent Southwest region of Western Australia. The works will include new carpet, curtains, king beds, light beach stained furniture and art work to complement the new bright and crisp color scheme. New electrical appliances, LCD TV’s, DVD players and elegant lighting will also enhance these rooms. These Hotel Studios will now present to the Members a fresh and contemporary Resort style accommodation with a beach resort ambience. |
|
City of Coffs Harbour Mayor, Cr Keith Rhoades AFSM today officially opened the newest resort by vacation ownership industry leader, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific. Cr Rhoades was joined by seven-time world surfing champion, Layne Beachley, Ambassador to Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific and the company’s CEO and Managing Director, Barry Robinson. The new Coffs Harbour resort is expected to drive extensive tourist dollars to the region. “We have invested more than $26 million in the development of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Coffs Harbour and already the demand for bookings is very strong, ” Mr Robinson said. The official opening of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Coffs Harbour gave Layne Beachley a chance to spend time in one of her favourite coastal towns. “What a perfect base to explore all that this beautiful region has to offer. Coffs Harbour has a magical beauty. It’s an ideal spot for a seaside break, with fantastic beaches and a serene portside atmosphere,” she said. Perfectly positioned among Coffs Harbour’s myriad of attractions, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific Coffs Harbour offers fully self contained apartments from standard and deluxe to penthouse and presidential suites. The excellent facilities and features include a heated pool, spa pool, gym and BBQ area, and access to walking tracks and the beach. Guests can enjoy direct access to a 9-hole golf course, two other pools, tennis courts, games room, day spa, restaurant and bar at the nearby Pacific Bay resort. The new Coffs Harbour resort is the 20th resort in the vacation club. Pictured left to right: Barry Robinson, Terry Maher – President Coffs Surf Club, Layne Beachley |
|
Tasmanian Premier David Bartlett today launched the newest resort redevelopment from Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific, on Seven Mile Beach, Tasmania. Wyndham has invested over $21 million dollars in the resort adjacent to Seven Mile Beach and expects it to generate millions of dollars each year for the Tasmanian economy as vacation owners and other guests from around the world flock to the resort. “This multi-million dollar investment by Wyndham underlines the fact that people continue to have faith in the Tasmanian economy, an economy that has been recognised as the strongest in the nation. “Tourism is part of Tasmania’s success story. I welcome the additional potential for tourism growth that this development represents as it opens up Tasmania to a whole new market of holiday owners. “Evidence shows that holiday ownership resorts attract people who stay longer, which means a greater flow on to local businesses and injection into the economy,” Mr Bartlett said.
The 61-apartment resort’s organic architectural theme was inspired by geometries found in nature – the polygonal layout of most of the new villas is a reflection of the honeycomb and basalt rock shapes, while other villas base their spiral layout on the ‘divine-swirl’ found in seashells on the adjacent Seven Mile Beach. In his address to the gathered guests, Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific’s Managing Director, Barry Robinson, focused on the impact the resort’s redevelopment has had both on the surrounding environment and the local community: “The redevelopment of Wyndham Vacation Resorts Seven Mile Beach really is a fantastic example of how the hospitality sector can support local communities and the environment,” Mr Robinson said to guests. Over a three year period Wyndham Vacation Resorts worked towards promoting the native habitat surrounding the resort, an effort that has seen an increase in local wildlife populations including butterflies, echidnas and wallabies. As part of this program over 20,000 native plants were planted around the resort. The Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett MP said “My congratulations to all involved with this project, it is an innovative development that reflects an authentic Tasmanian experience. I particularly welcome the effort that has gone into minimising the impact of the resort on the local environment.” |
|
Resort Development Organisation’s Enforcement team in Spain confirmed that five companies have been recently closed down by the Spanish authorities on the Costa del Sol, on suspicion of fraudulent activities related to timeshare. The companies closed include First Legal Services, a class action company operating from Estepona, and Multisur, a resale company operating from Fuengirola, where five people were arrested. This company had been approaching timeshare owners with an offer from a potential buyer, demanding up-front payment to carry out the supposed sale, which never materialised. Also raided were Iberia Market & Trade, a resale company operating from Mijas, and two of its associated companies: Pasaporte Ltd and Vicmar Cabopino. |
|
Recent timeshare purchasers are younger, wealthier, and savvier, according to the Vacation Timeshare Owners Report 2009 published by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA). The new report shows how the profile and attitude of buyers is gradually changing, with significant differences between traditional timeshare owners and new purchasers. According to the survey, 58 per cent of recent purchasers are under the age of 45, younger than the average timeshare owner. The average household income for recent purchasers is US$94,933, compared to the average of US$92,405 for timeshare owners. New purchasers are also less likely to make a rush decision and like to try the product before they buy, with about half of them choosing to rent a timeshare for a while before committing. Saving money on future holidays is the main reason for buying timeshare for more than half of recent purchasers. (ARDA, Nov 09) |
|
Interval International has added two new affiliations in popular winter sun destinations: Gardenia Resort on Egypt's Red Sea Riviera and Grand Laguna Beach on the Dominican Republic. Gardenia Resort, a mixed-use property in Hurghada scheduled for completion in 2011, will have 175 timeshare units, combining studios, and one and two bedroom units. Facilities at the resort will include restaurants and bars swimming pools, health club and kids' corner. Hurghada is renowned as an international centre for aquatic sports, particularly snorkeling and diving on its offshore reefs. Grand Laguna Beach is a purpose-built, mixed-use resort being being developed by Inversiones Internacionales del Caribe on the north shore of the Dominican Republic, between Sosua and Cabarete. It will have whole ownership and vacation ownership units, ranging from studios to three-bedroom units. Amenities will include a fine dining restaurant with a cigar lounge and wine bar, grocery store, swimming pools and the In-Sense Spa. (RDO November 13, 2009) CONTACTS: Lou Ann Burney, ARDA Sarah Scruggs |
|
Working Together The conference is expected to surpass previous records for attendance and sponsorship. It is the ideal event for timeshare owners and industry professionals to network while enjoying superb speakers. Booking forms and sponsorship opportunities are now available to download from www.timeshareassociation.org or telephone 01612373611 for more details |
|
Launched in September the Eco Helpline is the world's first free online Eco Course to help people and businesses go green. The primary focus is to provide management and staff of a hotel, lodge or resort with free online Eco Best Practices Courses. Further information: http://www.ecohelpline.com/ |
|
The Victorian Government has launched the Crisis Essentials guide for tourism businesses to assist in preparing, responding and recovering from events like bushfires. The guide was developed to inform tourism operators about how to protect their business in the event of a crisis and includes advice on risk management; developing a plan; communicating to customers; and ensuring business continuity following an emergency. The guide is available to all Victorian tourism businesses and will be supported by a series of briefings and workshops for tourism businesses located in high fire risk areas. Further information: http://www.tourism.vic.gov.au/industry-resources/ |
|
MERRY CHRISTMAS
EVENT: 19th National Industry Awards Night – July 30, 2010
EVENT: 2010 ATHOC Conference - Christchurch, New Zealand
HOME GROWN: ATHOC Economic Impact Study
Craig has been with the company for close to 2 years and has over 20 years in the holiday ownership industry. Craig will continue to grow the business by introducing new innovative ideas and exploring synergistic opportunities within the Accor group to take the Club into 2010.
HOME GROWN: Grand Mercure Busselton Refrubishments
HOME GROWN: New Coffs Resort Makes Waves
HOME GROWN: Tasmanian economy and environment benefit as
Premier Bartlett launches redeveloped Seven Mile Beach Resort
Australian native plants and trees were showcased in the resort’s 55 acres of landscaped gardens, while students from Cambridge and Lauderdale Primary Schools planted a new resort garden in celebration of the opening. 
WORLD AROUND US: ARDA report shows changing profile of timeshare purchasers
WORLD AROUND US: Interval adds affiliates in Egypt and the Caribbean
WORLD AROUND US: TATOC Conference 2010 
BUSINESS: Eco Helpline
BUSINESS: Crisis Essentials Guide for Tourism 
You have received this email because you expressed interest in receiving updates from ATHOC. Thanks for your subscription and support! If you have received this e-newsletter in error or wish to unsubscribe, simply send a blank message with a subject heading of “unsubscribe” to info@athoc.com.au - you will be missed!