by Lesley Campbell
Business a.m.
July 18, 2001
FOR REASONS too complicated to go into, I was given two weeks, free, in a timeshare resort in Florida, writes Lesley
Campbell.
The resort consisted of about 40 six-storey boxy buildings, their breeze-block facades spruced up with a coat of
peach paint and a couple of palm trees, all built on reclaimed swampland. It had three swimming pools, a restaurant
(called Fisherman’s Cove) and a shop.
On our arrival, Marlene was quickly allocated to us. She was marvellous. She guided us through the crowds checking
in, took us to our room, made sure everything worked (which it did), drew a map of the area and gave us advice
on how to get around. She even gave us her cellphone number which we could call at any time of day or night. If
we got lost, we were to call her and she’d talk us home. Marlene was wonderful.