Press Release
April 6, 2001
BOULDER, CO -- Anthony (Tony) Genth, RRP, a 24-year veteran of the vacation ownership industry, has been named
CEO of Sunshine MarketPlace Inc. The company will provide value-added benefits to timeshare developers and timeshare
owners. Sunshine MarketPlace is a Web-based venture developed in collaboration between global giant Accenture (formerly
Andersen Consulting) and Tanco Holdings, a publicly held, diversified Asian corporation. Tanco Holdings also owns
Tanco Resorts Berhad, the largest timeshare developer/operator in Asia.
Sunshine MarketPlace recently purchased a substantial interest in Alton Leisure Industries LLC, a U.S.-based leisure-
and hospitality-consulting firm Genth founded in 1996; Genth will continue as a partner of Alton Leisure in addition
to his new CEO position with Sunshine MarketPlace.
According to Genth, Sunshine MarketPlace will offer programs that complement the lifestyle desires of vacation
owners as well as similar affinity groups, with the goal of providing additional value to the global developer/operator
community through product enhancements. He says although Sunshine MarketPlace will not compete directly with timeshare-exchange
companies, it will deliver new products, services and opportunities that are designed specifically to enhance existing
membership programs.
"Our goal is to help timeshare purchasers achieve maximum utilization of their ownership interests, reduce
delinquencies and resales, increase owner satisfaction levels and enhance the potential for referral sales,"
Genth explains. "Sunshine MarketPlace will deliver all of this in a true partnership with developer/operators
that respects the integrity of their owner bases by leaving control of the product delivery firmly in the developers'
hands."
For the last year, Accenture, which is world renowned for its technological expertise, has led the systems-architecture
development for Sunshine MarketPlace. Beta-testing has been underway for several months and a third-quarter launch
is planned. Accenture continues to direct the company's systems development and technological expansion efforts.
Located in Boulder, Colo., Sunshine MarketPlace also has regional service centers in London, England; Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia; and Australia's Gold Coast. Although the company's services will be Web based, Genth emphasizes that
to properly serve the global developer community and its vacation ownership clients, call center representatives
will be available for members who either don't have Internet access or who don't feel comfortable booking transactions
online.
Over the next two years, Sunshine MarketPlace will complete a phased expansion of its product/service offerings
and its technology initiatives. Genth says customer relationship management (CRM) and inventory selection will
be the key to the firm's success. "Developer and consumer research will continue to play a critical role as
we bring new programs to market. Sunshine MarketPlace will be developer/operator and consumer driven, not market
share driven."
In addition to his Sunshine MarketPlace and Alton Leisure responsibilities, Genth will remain on the Board of Directors
of Phoenix-based International Cruise & Excursion (ICE) Gallery. He also will continue to serve on the Executive
Committee and the Board of Directors of the American Resort Development Association. Genth is the current ARDA
treasurer.
He brings a unique collection of experience to the Sunshine MarketPlace venture. Genth was the force behind the
growth of Costamex Group's Royal Holiday Club - a points-based, global timeshare brand - in the early 1990s. He
also introduced the first timeshare/cruise line alliance in the industry. Genth's Alton Leisure activities have
taken him on assignment to more than 20 countries, working with branded timeshare companies, multisite independents,
single-site independents, homeowners associations and allied-services providers.
Resort developer/operators and homeowners association board members can preview the Sunshine MarketPlace technology
and speak with Genth and other company executives at the 2001 ARDA International Resort Development Convention
& Exposition, which will be held April 21-24 at the Marriott Orlando World Center resort.
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Media Contact:
Tony Genth, RRP/Sunshine MarketPlace Inc. 303.381.1145 or tony.genth@sunshinemarketplace.com