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February 16, 2001
" The world's biggest after-hours timeshare
watering hole."
" If you don't want it printed, don't let it happen." -unknown- |
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What do you all think about the announcement that Starwood has been named the official
Hotel, Resort, Vacation Ownership and Loyalty Program for the PGA TOUR? Think there could be deal in the
works between KSL Recreation and Starwood for Starwood to develop vacation ownership on KSL properties?
Remember that KSL was planning on developing its own timeshare brand on some of its properties but finally decided
against it. Marriott's became the first company allowed to build a resort on a KSL-owned PGA property a
year or so ago at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, FL (due to open in April this year). So folks
were pretty much thinking that Marriott's had the inside track for further development of KSL golf properties.
Especially since some of the top dogs at both companies were close friends from way back: Dave Broderick
at Marriott's, Murray Bryant and Russ Gilman at KSL-- etc.
But Dave and Russ have both moved over to Starwood now, while Murray remains at KSL. So will we be seeing a
Starwood Vacation Ownership resort at La Quinta's neighboring PGA West property in Palm Springs? Other KSL properties
include: Lake Lanier Islands Resort, near Atlanta, Georgia Michigan's Grand Traverse Resort and
Spa the San Francisco Bay area's The Claremont Resort & Spa Maui's Grand Wailea Resort Hotel &
Spa and the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. Yummy!
With more than 55 golf properties worldwide, including nine of Conde Nast Traveler's Top 50 Best Golf Resorts,
Starwood is already the hotel industry's premier golf company.
And while we're on the subject, will Starwood build on one of Alexander & Baldwin's properties on
Kauai, Hawaii? On the south shore of that island is A& B's master planned community Kukui 'Ula,
which includes a planned 200-room resort hotel on 22 acres, and two timeshare condominium sites of 15 and 16 acres
with up to 500 units.
Also in Hawaii, we hear that Marriott has the land across the street from Trendwest
(in Kihei) in escrow and that they're trying to decide if it should be a Marriott or a Horizons.
It would be good to have a Horizons in Hawaii, in our opinion.
We have heard rumors about an unidentified property in Makena, near the Maui Prince, going timeshare
but have been unable to confirm anything (so far). And hey! Wouldn't it be great if the Hyatt at Kaanapali
included timeshare? There are rumors --just rumors, so far-- that this might possibly become a reality,
and also that this Hyatt might be sold. Gorgeous resort! Make it so...
When will Outrigger announce a decision to get into the biz? They've been looking at the possibility
and they have some very fine resorts that would make excellent timeshare destinations. We've been tapping our feet
and looking impatiently at our watches for some time now, but then Outrigger operates on Hawaii time...
It appears that Pahio Resorts is reorganizing its mainland sales efforts. Where
will this leave its previous sales and marketing team, which was hit with attorney general lawsuits on the West
Coast? Anyone care to share information on this topic?
There have been several timeshare-related bills facing the Hawaii legislature this
session, and it doesn't look like a whole lot of developers and other timeshare representatives have been paying
much attention. These bills run the gamut of issues, from doing away with the stigmatizing badge that has to be
worn by OPCs to issues of Transient Accommodation Taxes and more. Take a look at this letter
to the editor The Beat received about this subject.
QUESTION from you: --" I am new in the industry and am currently working in Wisconsin. We
do not have a first day offer. It is against the law here. Are there any other states where this applies? Love
the business and would like to learn more. Thanks for your help." Anyone?? E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
- COMMENT from you Feb. 21: --" Just a guess
but I'll bet you're working for Equivest at their Lake Tamarac Property or whatever they have renamed it. The attorney
general of Wisconsin hates timeshare and everything associated with it. They went as far to fine the aforementioned
company 500,000 for pitching the referral program as a First Day Incentive. Tough sell without incentives, try
another state to pursue your career." NOTE: This writer and another
one had a suggestion as to other places to work, but since it would amount to free ads-- which would not be fair
to our paid advertisers-- we can't print the information. Nice try guys...
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A couple more comments from you about the reported 'glass ceiling' for women in Marriott
West: --" This whole Marriott glass ceiling in the West is an unfortunate rumor. As a high level
male executive with MVCI I can say without hesitation that I take great pleasure in hiring the most qualified individual
to fill the available roles and more times than not they are women. Comments like we only want passive women in
these positions is an insult to the women holding these positions in our company." Comment from The
Street: This is good to hear. Even better would be to have their names in our Women in the
Biz page. How about it?
AND: --" One of the comments about no women in Marriott West doesn't make sense, that they will go
to Starwood or Hilton when they are up and running. Hilton still isn't up and running yet after 8 years trying.
And two of the three leaders of Marriott West are now at Starwood! If their accusations are true, the 'boys club'
just moved to Starwood. Looks like Marriott is better than ever!"
The Street has been hearing quite a bit about Fairfield's recent President's Club
trip. Sounds like a good time was had by some. We have heard from folks who were initially excited to be going,
only to be disappointed (one said " appalled" ) by the behavior of certain senior management people. " Guess
what," said one. " The Emperors had no clothes." Tsk tsk. Do try to set a better example in public
places, and for the benefit of your brothers and sisters in arms, OK? Such things just can't be kept quietly within
the magic circle anymore, not when everyone notices and then everyone tells The Street. It's tacky,
it gives the industry a bad name and it's very unpleasant for everyone else-- and besides, will they still respect
you in the morning? End of sermon.
- COMMENT from you Feb. 16: --" The president club
trip to Cabo with Fairfield was perfect. No one took there clothes off or were anyway out of line. Your information
is truely wrong." Um, no one said anything about anyone taking
their clothes off. That reference was to an old fairy tale perhaps " feet of clay" would have been a
better phrase, but we didn't write it so we left it as it came to us. We're delighted that you had a perfect outing,
and since this was in Cabo it probably wasn't overly noticed by the locals anyway. Business as usual among timeshare
folks in Cabo San Loco, where being a little crazy sometimes seems to be a prerequisite...
- COMMENT from you Feb. 17: --" That is
all you are going to print about Fairfields Cabo trip??? Some of the 'good ole boys club' now show up for these
trips without their pretty trophy wives in tow... get sloppy drunk all over town and act as if life is a frat party.
...As for your bogus female management list... you must be joking! A handful of women thrown in our faces week
after week to show how modern timesharing is. Check out a Fairfield trip to see that the dark ages of timesharing
still rule." NOTE from The Street: the whole point of the female
management list is to 1) Congratulate the women who made it and 2) demonstrate how many or how few there really
are.
- COMMENT from you Feb. 18: --" Who are
these people that supposedly saw a " frat party" atmosphere at Fairfield's Cabo trip? For one thing, the
frat party was at the home of frat parties: Squid Roe and the senior management only showed up one night which
was the designated Fairfield night. It was mainly sales reps prior to that. The company put on a tremendous trip
to honor their top sales executives, sounds like someone who didn't make the grade. Also, whomever claims there
was lack of female presence there, clearly didn't look around the room on awards night. There was strong female
presence. Fairfield was started by a good ole boys club as were all companies 35 years ago, but I have found them
to be extremely fair and unbiased in their hiring and promotional practices. At our site women represent 65% of
the sales line, 50% of sales management and out of six directors on site 50% are women."
Again, the lack of female presence referred not to the trip to Cabo but to the lack of women in top management
postitions within the industry as a whole. The list is here if anyone wants to contribute
more names to it. Seems that some saw/heard/experienced things that not everyone else did. This has nothing
to do with the vast majority of Fairfield people attending this event, who apparently behaved themselves just fine.
We could name names and times and places, but thought we would try to be at least a little bit discreet...
Sheeesh.
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
Last week we wrote: --" Word to Orange Lake Country Club. Though the resort
has been making new additions to their property, ie The Legends Golf Course, they are still in the horse and buggy
era of timeshare. Unless they do something to modernize their product, ie points, lockouts, splits etc. their sucess
story will soon come to an end. Remember, if your not going forward, then your going backwards. NOBODY stands still..."
This week we hear: --" Most of the Managers at Orange Lake in Orlando have
been put on specific performance (probation) due to slow sales. In about 2 weeks, look for alot of talent on the
job market."
AND on Feb. 13: --" Orange Lake rolled out the new East Village sales inventory to the rep's
today. And there's nothing new no points, no lockoffs, no new floor plan. OL Management is living in the 1960's
(and they wonder why sales are down?)"
Anyone with a more positive perspective on things at Orange Lake? E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
- COMMENT from you Feb 16: --" Reportedly,
at the annual association meeting, Spence Wilson,pres. announced to the owners in attendance that Orange Lake will
be converting over to a points based program(GPN?) by the end of 2001. We Hope SO. Things are getting stale. We
are seeing the same owners every year, offerring the same product. This would be a gigantic boost!"
Here is where you'll find the list
of women in positions of authority within the industry. We'd sure like to know that there are a whole lot more
than have so far been brought to our attention. We received this note, which seems to state the situation fairly
clearly: --" In regards to the women in timeshare-
Funny, how if you look at the list of companies and women that work for them in management, it appears somewhat
substantial. However, if you were to list the actual percentage they represent within the company, most companies
would run and hide or AGAIN, ban them from The Beat! Looks nice, but reality is it's a very small percentage." E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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" The quality of the ruthlessness in an
industry is relative to the amount of money that is at stake." --unknown
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 For
convenience (and to shorten the length of this page) we are opening a new Legal Issues page
here. It will contain information, resources, discussions and personal experiences with the legal system for
your edification. NEW February 17: Going
through Small Claims Court -- the personal experience of one person.
We
are told by an attorney that one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself in any situation regarding
employment is to KEEP VERY GOOD RECORDS!!!!! Otherwise, you will be at the mercy of the record keeping of the company
you may be going up against. Not a good scenario.
There
is a lawsuit in progress against Bluegreen Corporation, d/b/a Shore Crest Vacation Villas, claiming sexual harrassment, gender discrimination, and discrimination based on disability, which
is due for trial this year. The plaintiff has received some helpful responses from you all and would like to thank
you. Having been diagnosed with MS and Fybromyalgia, and supporting three children, she says this is a difficult
fight for her. This suit was filed in the United States District Court, District Court of South Carolina, Florence
Division. It's all in the public record (yes, it is). Please note that Bluegreen has denied the allegations and
since the case has not yet been decided one way or the other they and the plaintiff are entitled to equal credibility
until such time as the courts have handed down a decision.
Again, if you are interested in learning more about this case, or have something you'd like to ask or contribute,
or have fought such a case yourself and would like to share your knowledge, you may send an email to WOMENVSBLUEGREEN@aol.com
And yes, it's true. There is a very similar lawsuit against Bluegreen in progress in the Dallas, Texas courts,
this one from a woman who was working in one of the company's land sales offices.
" I WOULD LIKE MORE
INFORMATION ON THESE NON COMPETE CONTRACTS THAT ISLAND ONE RESORT IN ORLANDO HAS FORCED US TO SIGN. DO THEY HOLD
UP OR IS IT SMOKE?? PLEASE GIVE US INSIGHT ON THIS." For now, please refer to the Legal Issues page...
Go
here for Legal Issues
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com |
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MPTV finally released some PR for its beleagured investors the other day. It basically
said that they are in the final stages of the loan underwriting process but have extended the time table. Things
are taking a little longer to finalize than both MPTV and Remington had anticipated, partly due to " a few
unanticipated technical legal issues that force time delays due to scheduling'' --but that both parties are still
committed to the deal. And they announced that there won't necessarily be any more announcements until they actually
have something to officially announce. This is reasonable.
And then there's this interesting little tidbit, from Nevada's record of corporations:
- NEVADA CORPORATIONS:
Name: MEGO ACQUISITIONS, LLC
Type: Limited Liability
Company File Number: LLC7971-2000
State: NEVADA
Incorporated On: August 18, 2000
Status: Initial list of officers filed Corp Type: Limited Liability Company
Resident Agent: CORPORATION TRUST COMPANY OF NEVADA (Accepted)
Address: 6100 NEIL ROAD #500
RENO NV 89511
Manager or Member: MPTV, INC. NEVADA CORPORATION
Address: 366 DAN MIGUEL DRIVE STE. 210
NEWPORT BEACH CA 92660
Interesting choice of a name for a new corporation, since Mego is not your average word. There was the old Mego
Toys company, now defunct, that made all those action figures kids loved a couple of decades ago (Dukes of Hazard,
etc.-- remember?). And there's Mego Financial Corporation, headquartered in Las Vegas, which owns
Preferred Equities Corporation (PEC)-- which in turn owns all those Ramada branded timeshare resorts
(they have an exclusive with Cendant for the use of the Ramada name in timeshare). PEC maintains fully-staffed
on-site sales offices at its timeshare properties in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada and Steamboat Springs, Colorado
as well as the Las Vegas headquarters. Small on-site sales offices staffed with one to two sales associates are
maintained in Hawaii Indian Shores and Orlando, Florida and Brigantine, New Jersey. PEC also maintains off-site
sales offices in West Covina, California Dallas and Houston, Texas and Denver, Colorado. Currently, approximately
48.6% of sales is made through the Las Vegas sales offices.
Those are the only two Megos we know of. Except of course for this new one with MPTV as manager or member. So
go ahead... Speculate your hearts out.
- COMMENT from you Feb. 19: --" Up until now
I have felt that The Timeshare Beat was a fairly reputable timeshare industry informational tool. That has just
changed with the report on 2/16 regarding MPTV and it's MEGO LLC subsidiary. I believe your article attempts to
make a connection between it and MEGO financial, a NASDAQ company trading under the symbol MEGO. I realize the
names are the same but all you are doing is fanning the fire of speculation in regards to MPTV and their loan and
acquisition situation. Reporting the facts is fine, but to speculate some connection is unethical. Thank you."
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- Ft. Lauderdale is getting bigger. If you haven't been there in the last couple
of years, be ready for a big surprise. Two ultra luxury projects are getting off the ground there: St. Regis,
a fractional property, is expected to break ground in March. Club Regent (which recently announced an agreement
for Club Member access with the Fort Lauderdale Golf and Country Club) is finally opening its sales office for
its 34 luxury fractional vacation
residences. Hapimag is still working on getting its new resort going there. And lots lots more. Ft. Lauderdale
is not going to be Spring Break heaven any more. Who else is working on timeshare in Lauderdale? Bluegreen?
- Fairfield is going out with a bang. In its last year-end report prior to the merger
with Cendant, they announced their biggest year ever. CEO Jim Berk, who will leave Fairfield the day after the
merger (which is expected to be April 2) to pursue other opportunities, is expecting another strong year ahead.
The company will open its new resorts in Daytona Beach and Las Vegas, as well as new phases of development
at 11 existing resorts.
- Silverleaf tells us they have recently completed the redesign of their Las
Vegas resort. There is no word yet on when construction will begin, but they look forward to announcing the
date. So do the rest of us... This resort will be on Koval Lane.
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- Not actually getting smaller, but in response to your questions about the subject, we
regret to tell you that the new Radisson SAS resort in Mijas Golf in Spain unfortunately will
not be offered as timeshare.
- IF GE Capital and Goldman Sachs actually do help to pull Finova
out of its financial hole with a capital infusion, do you think they will manage to take control of Finova? The
Wall Street Journal has reported that Goldman Sachs and GE Capital have proposed taking " effective control"
of Finova through an investment of about $2 billion and a management contract to run the company. Under this scenario,
these moves would happen during a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, and the two firms wouldn't actually
buy Finova.
Meanwhile, Finova recently sold a piece of its former corporate finance division to a subsidiary of Guaranty
Bancshares Inc.-- perhaps as much as $400 million worth, according to an article in SmartMoney.com. Finova
seems to be continuing to pursue an asset liquidation strategy even as GE, Goldman Sachs and Warren Buffet fight
among themselves to take " effective control" of the firm. If Finova continues to pursue this strategy,
Guaranty is said to be interested in more opportunities.
- Peppertree is still getting smaller. According to information provided to The
Street: Equivest has decreased the Peppertree staff by at least 80%. There are only two Peppertree PDs. Costs have
been cut to the bone with skeleton crews at the resorts, and we are told that the Peppertree home office in Asheville,
North Carolina, has also been stripped to the bone (accounting, IS, owners service, etc.). There are apparently
only 2 reps left there to handle the over 50,000 owners. Maybe they're just moving everything to one central location
or something?
A lot of current and former Peppertree personnel are still in a state of shock over the speed with which the
dismantling of the company has occurred.
Comment from you: --" As one of the many who have gotten the axe from Equivest,
I have to take some comfort in the fact that since Equivest is clearly the laughing stock of the industry, maybe
being fired by a company with a track record of doing NOTHING right is actually a feather in ones cap. Upper management...
don't have a clue."
And: --" To all the good people that have lost their jobs-- there is a company out there that will
appreciate your experience and expertise hold your heads up high. To the cold hearted big business people, your
day will come. We'll see how positive your frame of mind is when you are told that it your day to walk. Who's next?"
The rumors are back about Equivest selling out, too. Is this a new rumor, or just a revival of the old one?
- E-mail The Street: street@streettalkblog.com (but not from
the office!)
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| This suggestion was sent to The Beat's classifieds department, but we're going to
publish it here: --" Given that the TSB has captured most of the TS audience on this
planet, why don't you guys place a section where folks can let developers know they are available for hire? Seems
like the only ones who can't take advantage of the WWW are the sales men and women who drive this industry. With
this information available to developers, resort owners, management, etc., you could and should charge more for
your advertising rates-- and not to the sales people! Thanks." So what do you all think about this
suggestion? Let us know if you'd like something like that-- maybe a section where you all could post resumes, photos,
contact information, etc. A real who's who. E-mail The Street: street@streettalkblog.com
(but not from the office!) |
Is this effective marketing? Remember Small Town Girl and the gentleman who fought
so hard to get refunded by that now defunct Millennium outfit last year (doing business under another name now,
and NOT to be confused with Millennium Marketing, which is a whole different company). We got this letter (from
the gentleman mentioned above) on Feb. 15:
--" When I got the refund from Millennium, I had thought that I would never hear from them again.
Guess what. I got, get this, an offer to buy travel services from a company called Ramada Plaza Resorts. On the
outside of the envelope they have an address of 2901 W. Oakland Park Blvd, Suite B-7, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33311.
On the information inside they have an address of 2419 E. Commercial Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308. Sound familiar???
" In the 2 page material included it has a voucher for a $1600 credit towards a vacation package. The travel
package description sounds EXACTLY like what I got involved with before. There is no mention of price, but there
is a toll free number to call. Even more amazing is on the last package of the enclosures it has at the bottom,
" Sincerely, Daniel Lambert" . There is also a website listed www.rprvacations.com
" Can you believe these guys? I am not surprised that they are still doing this stuff, but I am amazed that
they didn't change the package or the specifics of the package. If I had the money to lose, I would purchase this
package with the hopes of them doing what they did before and then prosecuting the hell out of them!"
If you'll remember, Ramada Plaza Resorts got the heck sued out of them by several State Attorneys General for
deceptive marketing practices. It was all settled last year, with fines and refunds, etc., and the RPR folks promised
to never do it again. Their name was mentioned in connection with Millennium in the Small Town Girl affair, but
it was all so knotted up that no one ever could get it untied to see what was really what or if there was a there
there. The E. Commercial Blvd. address mentioned above was very familiar to everyone trying to get some justice
from Millennium...
People kept asking us where Blake Plumely went after he " escaped from the
asylum" of Spinnaker (that's what they called it) and what he's doing now. We were going to put it
in the Lost and Found, but so many were asking that we decided to find out how to contact him ourselves to ask
him personally. And we did. This was his reply to us: --" To everyone wondering how I am, I apologize
for not getting back to many of you and appreciate your thoughts and prayers. I am doing well it is kind of nice
being able to enjoy some time with my wife and family without worrying about a cell phone ringing. As far as professionally,
I am considering an offer from my family for their new development and two public resort companies have made me
offers. I am also seriously contemplating my own vacation club. Anyone that wants to reach me can get my email
address from The Timeshare Beat. Once again, thanks for your concern." So now you all know.
While we're on the subject, we also hear that Spinnaker Myrtle Beach has been having frequent visits
from the real estate commission the last two weeks. And we heard from a lot of people (who seem to be disgusted
with someone from that resort) saying, " People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones." What's
up with that?
- COMMENT from you Feb. 16: --" I ...quite frankly take exception with you constantly bashing Spinnaker Resorts, without any fact or
Foundation.
- " I have been with this Company for over 5 years,
and have worked for numerous large timeshare resorts extensively in my 20 year Career and Find this company by
far the most ethical and fair company in the Business. So much so, that we have people from all over the country
lining up to work for us, in fact in the last 2 weeks we have had over 10 ex-salespeople return to the fold and
stating this is the only place to work!
" As regards the Real estate commission visiting
us, yes that is true. A Mr. Harold simmons visited us concerning a customer that cancel 6 days past recission and
wanted her money back. The commission was welcomed with open arms and ruled in our favor."
Kudos: Bluegreen has announced that all 22 of its Bluegreen Resorts
division representatives who took the recent ARDA Educational Institute (AEI) certification exam passed
it. Who they are: Kay Asplund, Lodge Alley Inn resort manager Christine Giordano, corporate assistant
administrator Barney Barber, corporate vice president, resorts management Joe Baxter, Harbour Lights
resort manager Sue Bowers, Christmas Mountain Village regional director Irma Cortes, corporate
administrative assistant, resorts management David DeShaw, Mountain Loft resort manager Dale Dobis,
Shore Crest regional director Kim Fries, Shore Crest assistant administrator Dottie Glowczynski,
South Shore resort manager Kerrie Hallet, Millwood Landing resort manager Howard Kitchen, Shore
Crest resort manager Jeff Lee, Shore Crest resort manager Rebecca Mellenthin, Christmas Mountain
Village assistant administrator Al Natorp, Players Club of Hilton Head resort manager Jeanne Rathke,
Dolphin Beach Club resort manager Donna Hall, Shenandoah Crossing assistant administrator Suzanne Wainscott,
Falls Village resort manager Charles Wilson, Laurel Crest resort manager Karen Parsons, corporate
director, quality assurance Kathy Foster, corporate vice president, financial services and Lani Liber,
corporate director, rentals/reservations.
Note from you Feb. 9: --" Hi guys, It's just one of us Westgater's again.
I wrote in to you recently about going through pure hell getting my reserves from them. You printed a portion of
it. Well,since I wrote that, I have since been BANNED from Westgate properties! Am I like super cool or what? Why
does a lowly timeshare sales representative like myself deserve such attention? Well, here was and still is my
response to them.... Until, and only until, I receive my money... will I cease and desist. [Several names], know
that I will come on property as much as I please. Seems to make sense being that I have urgent business to attend
to there on property. That's all I have to say about that. I look forward to seeing you guys at the resort!"
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Christel House (http://www.christelhouse.org)
is a wonderful charity and we fully support it, as you may have noticed. But it is not the only charity to have
derived from within the ranks of the timeshare industry. Madame Viviane Boulos-Tolan, a timeshare developer,
founded Time4sharing.com. She sends out a call for action to other like-minded timeshare professionals around
the globe who share the wish to give something back to the communities they live and work in today.
Time4sharing is an " energy raising-action making" movement in the ranks of responsibly thinking professionals
that wish to foster goodwill and enjoyment in the lives of the less fortunate in their midst.
We have just been updated on their latest TIME4SHARING event on Valentine's Day in Central Europe. Time4sharing
organized a charity ball that was attended by members and staff of Platinum Resorts. The charity raised
over $5000 and will be used to fund the next event in April to send 25 handicapped kids on a learn-to-ski holiday.
Some members of the GSO were also on hand. Press coverage was huge and the event really warmed the hearts of every
Valentine... You can read more about it here, or go to http://www.time4sharing.com
to find out more about the organization.
Someone who noticed the announcement last week of Wolfgang Brand's new deal with City Slicker Holiday Club sent in the following, for use by those who may not
know what a City Slicker is. We thought you'd enjoy it, so here it is.
You know you're a City Slicker when:
- You have a riding lawn mower up on blocks in the back yard.
- You have more locks on your apartment door than are floors for the building.
- You color coordinate your pistol to match your purse and pumps.
- You use " The Club" in your Yugo for spite.
- " Parallel Parking" is a row of two or more buses at rush hour.
- When you give directions by citing building names instead of street addresses.
- A concrete common is a park.
- You look out of your office window and can't make out the street for at least two blocks.
- You get lost on " the streets" because you only know the route through The Skyway System or Subway.
- Being an asshole is a survival skill.
- Your car's been parked in the same spot for three days because you don't want lose a good spot.
- You hold corporate meetings in movie theaters.
- You parked your car eight blocks away but use the elevator to go up one floor.
- You have more pictures of your family in your work-cubicle than at home.
- You own a four-wheel that's never been on a dirt road.
- You've never even seen a dirt road except on TV or in the movies.
- Two way traffic frightens you.
- 'Alfresco' is in an atrium.
- Your daughter's boyfriend turns out be a step nephew of your college roommates mother's first husband.
- You see the tops of clouds from your office.
- You can't sleep without a siren sounding.
- When you've heard too many " You know you're a Redneck when..." jokes.
- Eating " American" is a treat.
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- Johnny Saldat, West Coast Timeshare Ltd. of Vancouver, BC, developers of Point to
Point Destinations, is pleased to announce that Peter Breikss has been appointed Director of Marketing.
Peter joins West Coast after spending 10 years as Director of Marketing for Whistler-based Whiski Jack
- James Nighswonger, for those of you who didn't notice our front page story about
it last week, has been named Vice President of Marketing for Bluegreen. He will be based in the company's
Boca Raton headquarters and in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Jim's name is well known in the industry he has had a
long and distinguished career in the biz.
- We've heard from a lot of people that Dean Parker has left Starwood in
Orlando, FL, and in fact we can confirm that he has left. We understand Parker is currently taking a long-needed
breather. After 20 years of marriage, timeshare and child-raising, Dean and his wife Rene are enjoying some time
with each other and their newly adopted baby girls, while he considers other opportunities. Mike Shutt has
reportedly stepped in to fill the gap at Starwood (yes no?).
- Monterey Financial has made 3 promotions to senior management:
- Dick Kuscsik has been named vice president and chief financial officer. A former vice president of finance
for a Wall Street conglomerate, Kuscsik was named Monterey's CFO in July 1998 after joining the firm in 1997.
- Scott Little has been named vice president of sales and marketing. Previously national sales manager,
he joined Monterey in 1994. A graduate of the University of San Diego, Little had managed the Southern California
rental fleet for Enterprise Rent-A-Car before joining Monterey.
- Chris Hughes, who had been Monterey's collection manager, was promoted to vice president of operations.
A graduate of San Diego State University, Hughes joined Monterey in 1995.
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- Where is Maxwell A.E. Mohr?
- Does anyone know where Kevin Austin is and what is he up to?
- Where is Mark Lamonica?
- Where is Valeria Powell formerly of Gatlinburg and Myrtle Beach?
- Does anyone know how to contact Susan Blum formerly at Embassy in Tahoe?
- Private Request: " Looking for Susan Simmons.Lost track of her after Timber Creek Resort
in Desoto, Mo. She was Member Services Director when the resort first opened. Then I heard a rumor that she went
to Texas at maybe the Villages in Tyler. Thanks" Contact information will be provided upon request from Susan.
- Where's Joe Niehouse? RESPONSE: Joe works as a t.o. at Welk in Escondido, CA.
- Looking º ¿ º for Jack Gregory formerly working in Mexico and at 4 Sails in Va.
Beach several years ago. (Please contact The Street and we'll
tell you who is looking, privately.)
- Whatever happened to Luana Knight... Maui and Big Island. Would like to say Hi...
- Where is David Lee Wood, last known area Margarita Island, Venezuela?
- Does anybody know the whereabouts of Maxwell A.E. Mohr formerly Dir of Mktg Aloha Group, Waikiki
then Developer of Lifetime of Vacations: Thailand & Singapore.
- Where is Paul Parker, last known area New Jersey selling t/s. " I knew him prior, at Thousand
Adventures Inc {campgrounds etc.}"
- Where is: Gary Rudlaff- Fairfield Sedona Warren Van Skike- Marriott Palm Desert?
- Where did Gordan Leete from Shell San Francisco end up? RESPONSE: " Gorden Leete is on the Island of Kauai. He is a TO for a timeshare project. I don't know
the name though."
- Howie " from Maui" Baron is looking for Robert Young formerly of Maui. Drop us a line
and we'll give you Howie's phone number (after we're sure you're really the right Robert Young). PS: Jackie
Young & Larry Cornelius would like to say hi, too. RESPONSE:
As of a year and a half ago, Robert was at Paradise Village in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Still there???
- Anybody know where the ever-lovely Suzanne Bridge/Rockwell/Foster(?) might be?
- What ever happened to James Noyes from Sunterra?
- Has anyone seen Kerry Johnson of Spinnaker Resorts lately? Last we heard he was on his way to Florida
to work with Jim Williams.
- Where are Francine and Bob Currier, formerly with Shell Kona Coast and then Shell in Florida?
- Where is Frank D'Errico Jr., OPC Manager, these days?
- Where is Paul Petrac, most recently International Sales Director, Hilton Grand Vacations Club, Orlando
(until a couple months ago)?
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LET'S DO THINGS THIS WAY: If you want to find someone, go ahead and ask but include
contact info (privately with The Street) so we can reply if the person is found. If the person you are looking
for wants to know WHO'S LOOKING before giving out information, we can tell that person who you are and let them
decide whether or not to respond. It can all be done privately, if you prefer, but let us know that you
want it that way BEFORE we publish it. Yes, we ARE a paranoid bunch. And sometimes with reason.
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