Press Release
April 18, 2001
MIAMI, FL -- Escapes!, formerly CooperShare Resorts, Inc., has affiliated Escapes! to the Gulf at Orange Beach
in Orange Beach, Alabama, with Interval International, the timeshare industry's leading vacation exchange company.
Escapes!, one of the nation's oldest independent timeshare resort development companies, has recently announced
an aggressive rebranding and strategic growth plan and a significant expansion of its resort portfolio.
Escapes! to the Gulf at Orange Beach is the brand's first beachfront property. Located on the white sand beaches
of the Gulf Coast of Alabama, it comprises 27 units of a new mixed-use condominium resort. Construction is complete,
and vacation sales will commence this month.
"For nearly half a century, the parent company of Escapes!, Cooper Communities, Inc., has been a respected
leader in land sales and residential real estate development. In addition, the company has a 20-year proven track
record in the timeshare industry, and we are delighted to be a part of the company's aggressive growth strategy,"
said Craig M. Nash, chairman and chief executive officer of Interval International. "Escapes! to the Gulf
at Orange Beach is a quality product that will be an exceptional addition to our resort network."
"Our owners will be delighted with the high-quality resorts, flexibility and benefits associated with Interval
International membership," said T.L. Spencer, president/CEO of Escapes!. "The access to Interval's
nearly 1,900 resorts worldwide will be a tremendous selling point for our first beachfront resort. Most importantly,
Interval's commitment to delivering the highest-quality service and products in the industry parallels our corporate
philosophy."
Interval International, the quality vacation exchange company, is celebrating its 25th year leading the vacation
ownership industry with innovative products and the highest levels of quality, service, and value. Interval's
reputation for superior products and services has attracted leading independent and brand-name developers to its
network, which now includes nearly 1,900 resorts in over 75 countries. Interval serves its developer clients and
consumer members through 30 offices in 21 countries.
For nearly two decades, Escapes!, formerly CooperShare Resorts, Inc., has offered exciting and flexible vacation
ownership products backed by almost five decades of successful community and resort development. Headquartered
in Bella Vista, Ark., the company recently renamed its resorts under the new Escapes! brand. There are currently
close to 10,500 Escapes! vacation owners and more than 350 employees.
Escapes! parent company Cooper Communities, Inc, founded in 1954, pioneered the recreational community concept
through the development of six such communities across four states. Today, 120,000 families are members of Cooper
Communities. Timeshare was introduced to its mixed-use developments in the early 1980s, with sales limited first
to existing Cooper Communities owners and extended to the general public in the mid-90s.
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CONTACT:
Christina Wells
Interval International
305/666-1861, ext. 7267
cwells@interval-intl.com