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STREET TALK:
Week of Feb. 21 - Feb. 27, 2003
" If you don't want it printed, don't let it
happen."
Street Talk is a compendium of tips, facts, gossip,
rumors, speculation and editorial comment.
PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY, with frequent updates
throughout the week
E-mail: news@thetimesharebeat.com |
Email: street@streettalkblog.com
If we gave the International community its own Street Talk page, with various countries
having their very own heading (like the Eastern and Western USA have), would you like that? Even more important,
would you contribute information to keep it going? Most of the information we get now comes from scouring International
newspapers, and most of it is negative information. We know a lot is going on outside of the USA, but our ability
to cover it is limited and so is our knowledge of the players. Even a once-a-month contribution would be helpful.
What IS going on in Canada, South America, the UK, Central Europe, Germany, Thailand, Australia, Russia,
and... ????
As one reader says, " The industry is international by nature. Lots of ears and voices out there. Even if
it was only once a month. It would be a great thing to see the Timeshare Beat on top of the trend by recognizing
the world at least once a month by opportunity, instead of a generic heading of International."
Take a look at the test page we've thrown up and see what you think.
We're willing. Are you? (Your input is not only valuable, it is crucial.)
Email: street@streettalkblog.com
A question from you and for you: --" Is
there a system to separate the buyers
from the non-buyers? If there is, I would like to order one of those crystal balls!!! I work in the marketing department
at an off-site and my responsibility is to bring in tours that meet the qualifications established by the developer.
Slowly but surely the qualifications have been tightened in order to save face when it comes to the APG. Obviously
the " Unwritten rule" as they say- eliminated US citizens of Indian (India) and middle eastern descent.
Then they eliminated the singles - the Canadians were the last to go.
" Is this an excuse to eliminate people
because the staff is not properly trained to sell or they are looking for the easy laydown? I have been in the
closing end of the business and was taught that once I got my couple that I had to make the best and as a professional
try not to prejudge based on appearance, religion, or race. (I am sure that any one of us out there is witness
to the sale that nobody thought was possible. I remember two single ladies that came in to a presentation in Puerto
Vallarta and no one wanted to take their table because of their looks and that fact that they were in huaraches
(sandles). They ended up buying and paid cash!) I hear that they are contemplating removing the RVers also. At
this rate, pretty soon we are going to have to bring in the people with a credit card on their forehead and the
worksheet filled out. I would like to find out from some professionals out there if this is a cop out for a poorly
trained team or if this is a bonafide move towards weeding out people that `Don't buy'. We are all guilty of prejudging
at one time or another and I would like get some of your best stories as well."
- YOUR COMMENTS:
- Feb. 21: --" Qualifications
are a market by market issue. As in the
case of east Asians, some of these are old ideas that have somehow survived in these times. Back in the late 60s
and early 70s, the land sales operations in Florida had many East Asian tours. Most of these folks were recent
arrivals to this country, and were in service related industries in the N. East. (or so it seemed). The sales folks
had both cultural, and in some cases financial trouble in selling to them. This is not the fact today. These folks
are well integrated and many are second or third generation, they come from all occupations, a great many professionals.
They are as easy or as difficult to sell as anyone, and it depends on your market, product and sales proceedure
how you will do with them as a group. I tend to concentrate on economic qualifications, and tailor product to meet
consumer expectations in that market place. Don't give up you eventually will be proved right."
- AND: --" Every
resort has the same goal in mind, which
is to maximize sales and minimize expenses. Tours that don't purchase are the biggest expense in any resort. If
your resort analyzes the history of tours from any given place on Earth, (i.e. India, for example) and discovers
that they have spent too much money marketing to that segment compared to the sales that have been made to that
segment, it is not " prejudice" , it is good business sense to eliminate those tours. We salespeople wish
that every marketing person had to spend a month on the sales line before they could occupy a marketing position.
We believe that would give a clear understanding of why there is an important need to qualify potential tours before
booking them."
- AND: --" Please,
take this to heart. While some marketers
and sales persons are in it for the short term dollar, when the dollar value of some person's paycheck is higher
than the amount of the initial deposits (downpayment on sales) collected from a certain marketing department for
a 2 week period, then there definitely needs to be a change in either staff or department in whole. In closing,
remember, that idle rainy days are not meant to create conflict, however to look at yourself in the light and better
yourself than what you are!"
- AND: --" Every
company, even Victoria's Secret, pays
attention to who their buyers are and who they are not and will stop sending catalogues to people who do not buy.
Am I the only person that has been asked for my telephone number and address when I buy something in a retail situation?
What would you do if it was your dollars on the line... including your time with this customer?"
- Feb. 22: --" If
a company paid the person providing the
tour a commission and the sales person giving the tour a flat fee, no salesperson would mind touring anybody and
all tour producers would have their own qualifications. Maybe this would solve the debate. The company pays for
the tours and sales either way. If the company is willing to pay for the tour, the marketer should send them in
and the salesperson should work the client as best they can. After all the debate as to who is and who isn't a
qualified tour, IF THE TOUR IS PAID FOR....IT'S A QUALIFIED TOUR."
- AND: --" I
would like to respond to the comment:--`Every
company, even Victoria's Secret'. It would be fabulous if we could send out a vacation catalog and people could
choose which timeshare they wanted to buy and those that didn't buy would be taken off the buyers list. But in
the real world we have to ferret out the business one couple at a time. Let's try another twist to this analogy:
Let's say Victoria's Secret eliminates single men and woman, Canadians, RV -ers, before they ever have a opportunity
to be introduced to their fine catalog. We all have to watch the bottom line, but the industry has yet to find
a perfect formula. I have seen many " Gold Ball" couples with ten platinum cards go out the door without
a membership kit. I have also been on the closing side and have had clients tell me that they have been to three
or more presentations and this has created an objective and a challenge for me instead of a wall. All this means
that they have not come accross someone who is good enough to sell them on timeshare. I am inspired by the great
motivaters and trainers in the industry and they say that there is no cookie-cutter concept to sales. Each couple
is a challenge - That's why we have " Closers" although the majority are really glorified liners! There
are still master closers out there that don't give themselves reasons why people don't buy but instead try to sell
these people their popcorn not vice-versa. To finish - Let's take a look at Canadians - Their exchange rate is
$1.60 Canadian to $1.00 U.S. Dollar but they have chosen to vacation in the States - UHM! They are paying in U.S.
dollars while in the states right? Wow there is a problem - and our job is to find the solution. Doesn't our timeshare
programs help them freeze (wrong word - let's use control) their future vacation costs? Most of you are aware that
the worldwide travel industry is based on the U.S. dollar anyway!!"
- Feb. 25: --" If
you have a problem with quals go work
for the Orange Lake Country Club. The poor sales team must tour from 8 to 80, blind, crippled or crazy all approved
by Mrs. Swan!"
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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Speaking of prejudging, here's a little quiz for you:
It is time to elect a new world leader, and your vote counts. Here are the facts about the three leading candidates:
- Candidate A: Associates with crooked politicians, and consults with astrologists. He's had two mistresses.
He also chain smokes and drinks 8 to 10 martinis a day.
- Candidate B: He was kicked out of office twice, sleeps until noon, used opium in college and drinks
a quart of whisky every evening.
- Candidate C: He is a decorated war hero. He's a vegetarian, doesn't smoke, drinks an occasional beer
and hasn't had any extramarital affairs.
Which of these candidates would be your choice? Choose first, then see who you elected by scrolling to
the bottom of this page.
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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For
Rent by Owner: Park City & Tahoe Ridge Ski Weeks
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 Ron
Wright - Feb. 8, 2003
It is with sorrow that
we report the passing of Ron Wright, a Trendwest veteran of many years, on Feb. 8, 2003 in San Jose,  California.
Ron was a great sales person for Trendwest. He was a 2-time President's Club winner and was salesperson of the
year for the company in 1997. He was the project director for the San Jose Office in 2000.
Ron was also a man who knew his values. Rather than continue in a Sales Manager's job in Novato, he decided to
go back on the sales line in San Jose so he could be closer to his kids, Courtney and Casey, whom he loved more
than life itself.
" What separated Ron from most was his character. The day after Ron died a few of the office receptionists
and office staff e-mailed me telling me that Ron was one of their favorite people. They told me that Ron would
always go out of his way to see how they were doing and to offer any help if they needed it. Ron would never leave
an office without recognizing them. I have always believed it's the waitresses and people that most people perceive
as " Not very Important" that truly know our character. It's not our bosses, neighbors, or co-workers--
we put on our best face for them. Ron was a man of character and he will be missed." -Bill Brown |
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E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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| IN THE WESTERN Half of the USA: |
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ARIZONA:
SEDONA: For you Sunterra owners out there, let us be the first to tell
you the official word from Radisson concerning a branding affiliation between Sunterra
and Radisson Vacation Ownership: There have
been discussions, but nothing to announce at this time.
The subject arose again because there has been some confusion about the status of the Villas at Poco Diablo
in Sedona. All of a sudden that property, along with Sedona Springs and Villas at Sedona, is missing from
their website (you can find all 3 in the site map, but there are no details given about them) all 3 are
in the new 2003-2004 SunOptions Directory, though, with the cryptic notation ‘Restrictions Apply’ with no
additional explanation.
Anyhow, the Poco Diablo property is flagged as a Radisson, so there was some confusion. Here's the deal, as far
as we can determine. This is a franchised property Radisson doesn't own it, they don't manage it, and they have
nothing to do with the timeshare part of it. The timeshare part is managed by VRI Vacations. Bluegreen
Resorts also has Poco Diablo inventory available via their rental section. Still, the Sunterra part of the
equation is problematical. Considering the company's penchant for `losing' resorts without telling their members,
is this going to be another case of “We are no longer affiliated with X Resort(s). This is due to an insufficient
number of Club Members vacationing at those resorts.”
Who does actually own those properties, anyhow?
- YOUR COMMENTS:
- Feb. 21: --" Duh...
Let's see if we can figure this out...
What was it the salespeople always said about who owns a deeded ownership timeshare resort after it's sold out?
Perhaps the individual purchasers?
" These resorts were developed by All Seasons Resorts (Poco sold out in 1992, Villas in 1994 and Sedona Springs
in 1996), and managed by All Season's management company, RPM. " Argosy" (which bought All Seasons in
1996, evolved into Signature Resorts and then became " Sunterra" ) provided management services after their
purchase of All Seasons and RPM. The Resorts are each 40 units or less, share the same on-site services staff,
and are managed as a group. VRI took over management of the resorts a couple of years ago.
" While Sunterra managed the resorts they were offered through the Club Sunterra resort network, and appeared
on the Sunterra website. Sunterra also sold VPD, VOS and SSR properties (which came back into their possession)
through the Club Sunterra program, with Club benefits - hence their continued inclusion in the Club Sunterra network
and Sun Options Points Directory. The Villas at Poco Diablo (timeshare) are located adjacent to the Poco Diablo
Resort (not a timeshare), which now bears the name " Radisson Poco Diablo Resort" however there is no
relationship between the two."
- AND: --" The
previous message that was sent to you
is fairly accurate. Although resorts sell out, many times the developer acquires additional inventory from defaults
and upgrades. Sunterra is undoubtedly the biggest owner of the 3 Sedona resorts, but these are small inventory
numbers. They are selling this inventory in their Sedona Ridge and Summitt sales centers.
It is up to VRI and the HOA Boards on how they want to interact with Club Sunterra. If they want to place all kinds
of restrictions on inbound Club exchangers, I am sure that Sunterra does need to disclose that the resort is restricted.
If the HOA boards are made up of mostly non Club Sunterra owners, they can choose to even cancel the Club Sunterra
affiliation if they wanted, since they have no interest in it. They are the Board, and they can do what THEY want.
This is another example of how important it is to have HOA boards that represent all owners versus just their own
interests.
Another note, these are the same Boards where the current Board president was the former president of All Seasons
Resorts. As ASR President, he gave golf privileges to all owners when ASR sold the weeks. As current Board president,
he took these privileges away, and blamed it on Sunterra. That does not sound right. Rumor has it is that he is
on the HOA boards and does not even own a week."
- AND: --" That
would be Gary Hughes, the President
of the Board. No one who knows him should be surprised by anything he does. Basically all these years after sell
out the developer still is in charge and thinks the resorts belong to him. Maybe they do. I'd count the silverware
if I were you."
- AND: --" I
attended our Annual HOA meeting for Poco
Diablo in August, 2001 when the HOA President announced that VRI had replaced the old management company and that
secret agreements precluded the sharing of any information about why or how this had occured - although the owners
(of roughly 6,000 at the 3 resorts) would be paying approximately $5 million in special assessments for the " 5
year financial recovery plan" capital improvements would be deferred and certain benefits/services to owners/guests
in residence would be reduced or available on a fee only basis. Disgruntled owners asked the President how many
units he owns at these resorts and appeared surprised when he stated that he does not now, and never has, personally
owned a timeshare! At the conclusion of that meeting another owner went to the President and actually physically
presented his Deed of Ownership (it was right there, in his hand, extended toward the President) AND THE PRES REFUSED
TO ACCEPT A VILLAS OF POCO DIABLO TIMESHARE offered to him free!"
- Feb. 22: --" It
is well RUMORED that Mr. Hughes receives
a kickback from the management fees that VRI collects on the Sedona resorts. I am not sure how anyone can prove
that, but President of VRI and Gary Hughes were close friends in the past. Before Sunterra acquired All Seasons,
VRI was fired from these same resorts for mis-management."
- AND: --" I
know this is about Sedona, but let's not
leave Gary Hughes' pal and partner John Stevens out of things. Two of a kind there and if Stevens is still on the
Board of the HOA at the Kona Hawaiian Village that Fairfield bought, they'd be smart to count the silverware there,
too."
- Feb. 23: --" It
is certain the Boards are made up of non-Club
Sunterra owners, who are probably also non-timeshare owners and/or persons not understanding or sensitive to owner
needs and interests. It seems the Boards are firmly in the grip of VRI. Board members do not personally respond
to owner questions at the board meetings - when addressed, they look confused and/or uninformed, and the VRI reps
respond authoritively in a manner clearly not inviting more inquiry or understanding. They are clearly the 'gatekeepers
of understanding' for reasons we would very much like to understand. (The resorts' website shows contact data for
board members to be the same as the resort contact data and it seems that all correspondence directed to board
members is forwarded to VRI, who may or not respond. Thus Board members are isolated from contact or input from
owners.) There are many disgruntled owners who find the management, policy and lack of board deliberations in resort
policy absolutely repugnant."
PHOENIX: In the northwest Valley outside of Phoenix, developer Princeton
Resorts Group is working on the 20-acre Cibola Vista Resort & Spa. The property will include an
8,000-square-foot European-style spa, 240 timeshare units, 100 hotel rooms and several recreational amenities.
It is expected to be completed in 2010. The developer expects sales of the timeshares alone will total $300 million.
Problem: The project needs a new road into the subdivision, and to build it they are trying to force an
elderly couple out of their home by threatening to condemn the land. Dana and Franklin Haught have lived
on their little 3½-acre ranch there for 40 years. By the way, decorated World War II veteran Franklin is
83 years old. Dana is in her 70s. Shame on Cibola, Princeton Resorts Group and the city of Peoria.
UPDATE: Note that this issue was finally resolved to everyone's satisfaction
in late 2003. Read about it in The Peoria Times: (external) City reaches agreement with Haughts
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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CALIFORNIA:
If the national trend follows California, then Campground Sales ought to have a booming
good year. Looming war, high gasoline prices, the sluggish economy and the recent trend of Americans to vacation
closer to home have campgrounds along the California coast completely booked up through August. In addition, inland
areas like Lake Tahoe have been taking campground reservations as fast as they can answer the phone. California
parks reservationists book July campsites in January and August's in February. On the first day of February the
10,700 reservations made in one day topped the previous record by 3,700.
SAN DIEGO: In December last year we reported that Carlsbad's City Planning
Department anticipated that LEGOLAND would be submitting an application for a hotel and timeshare units.
It has been done, and it should be no surprise to anyone that it is Grand Pacific Resorts who will be handling
the 350-unit timeshare side of the deal. Legoland owns the property and GP has an option to purchase. Meanwhile,
Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood are all scouting for timeshare resort locations in San Diego County.
We'd like to see someone open a serious urban timeshare somewhere near downtown San Diego, wouldn't you? Or even
a playful one.
SANTA BARABARA: Ritz-Carlton Club and developer Bill Levy have finally
made the formal announcement about the new private residence club they are building in the great town of Santa
Barbara. Until the Ritz joined the deal, Levy fought the battle alone for several years until recently, the timeshare
project was called Entrada de Santa Barbara. Man, these things can really take a long time to get going,
can't they? Read all about it here: The Ritz-Carlton Club Joins with William
Levy Investments To Bring a Private Residence Club to Santa Barbara, California
LAGUNA HILLS: Pacific Monarch Resorts has added two new resorts to its
Monarch Grand Vacations family of resorts: Cedar Breaks Lodge & Spa Resort in Brian Head, Utah,
and Tahoe Seasons Resorts in South Lake Tahoe, Calif.. These resorts bring to seven the number of resorts
now available through the Monarch Grand Vacations™ points-based ownership program.
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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OREGON:
COASTAL: Trendwest's new resort at Seaside
should be finished this summer. " The Resort at Seaside" will offer 171 WorldMark and 112
fractional units. The fractionals are affiliated to the Residence Club and offer four weeks throughout
the year in one, two, three-bedroom and penthouse units. Also in Oregon, the 80 units at WorldMark Gleneden
are well into their reconstruction and owners should be pleased with the new and improved version of this resort.
Gleneden is set to reopen in July this year.
INLAND: UPDATE: An oops on our part: Shell Vacations has officially
announced their new resort (number 15), we just never got a copy of the press release. Their new resort is in Welches,
OR, and is the Whispering Woods Resort. Welches is about 45 minutes east of Portland, at the base
of Mt. Hood. A really nice place, RCI Gold Crown, with condos and views that will knock your socks
off.
Phase II of the property is approximately 7 years old and consists of 24 one and two bedroom units in 3 buildings
A B, and C comprised of eight units each. The last building (Building D), was built approximately 3 years ago and
is the building that is being added to the Phase II Association. This will bring the number of units to 32 in Phase
II. It will continue to be managed by VRI. Shell will be selling this resort onsite.
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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NEVADA:
LAS VEGAS:
On Feb. 20 the MOON development team in Vancouver, British Columbia released further
information regarding the highly anticipated MOON Resort and Casino project. The second phase of the project
will include a vacation ownership element, with 2500 of the 10,000 hotel rooms being made available to guests
who wish to own a small piece of this remarkable property. In total, 130,000 weeks will be offered and the MOON
team is currently in discussion with certain well-respected global vacation ownership companies who will represent
this portion of the project. 130,000 weeks. That's really a LOT! Who will get the contract on this? Any guesses?
Oh, you aren't familiar with this project? Well, it's one of those things that can't even be imagined to be
built anywhere except Las Vegas. Read the press release here: MOON
Resort and Casino: Onwards and Upwards!
Word is that the Royal Hotel Casino (Royal Vacation Suites), which has been under
heavy remodeling for some time, is going to close the small casino on the property and turn it into a bar/lounge.
Staff at the property say it will be closed on Feb. 28, and they are worried that they will all be losing their
jobs. Rumors include other changes to be made at the property, too. Will that affect the timeshare staff there,
who seem to spend a lot of time either in the casino or playing pool?
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com |
TEXAS:
SAN ANTONIO: Legacy Trails Development Joint Venture has asked for a zoning
change at the intersection of Hunt Lane and Highway 151 for the purpose of building a timeshare resort. This location
is on the western outskirts of the city. The request was to be heard by the City Council on Feb. 20.
Anyone know who this is and what exactly they intend to build?
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com |
| IN THE EASTERN Half & Midwest of the USA: |
MICHIGAN:
CHICAGO: Trendwest is moving into the Great Lakes area in a big way. Over the next three years,
in what is being called the Great Lakes Region, Trendwest plans to open five sales centers and add four
resort properties to its network of vacation ownership resorts. Sales of Trendwest's points-baseD system will begin
in the Chicago are in March. Read the press release here: Trendwest Resorts
Announces Expansion Into Chicago Area |
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MISSOURI:
BRANSON: Whatever happened with the Dennis Swafford/ Best Timeshare Resales
case, filed in Taney County in August last year? Anyone have any info? A felony warrant was issued for him at that
time in connection with a timeshare resale scheme that had allegedly bilked customers out of more than $120,000.
Swafford was charged with 27 counts of felony stealing and the court documents alleged some of the victims paid
money to receive a timeshare, but did not get it and other victims were to receive money for the sale of their
timeshares and did not receive the money. According to Taney County, total losses for this ranged from $120,000
to $130,000 with individual losses being from $1,600 to more than $10,000. There were more than 20 alleged victims
in this case, some of them having more than one crime committed against them. Has this been resolved, or is it
still ongoing?
- YOUR COMMENTS:
- Feb. 21: --" Dennis
Swafford, AKA: Danny Swafford left his
resale company.. had owned a Ma and Pa's diner in Branson then he disappeared after the indictment was returned..
he is living somewhere out of the country < Mexico> where he cannot be found."
- AND: --" There
is some truth to the Denny Swafford sallegations..
It's unfortunate because he is really talented. He could earn more than this in one year and satisfy these creditors.
He is loved by many!!!!"
- Feb. 26: --" Swafford
was picked up by authorities in Las
Vegas, returned to the Branson area & is awaiting arraignment & trial in the Hollister, Mo. jail."
How important is timeshare in any given community? Nearly half of last year’s $60.5 million
spent on commercial and residential projects in Branson were invested in new timeshare condominiums, an industry
that is estimated to bring as many as a million people to town annually. Currently, there are about 2,547 units
in Branson, and as younger consumers discover the delights both within town and in the surrounding countryside
you can expect those numbers to grow and for the age demographic to change. Branson is a whole lot more than theater
entertainment and the City is finally beginning to market the other area attractions (fishing, hiking, horseback
riding, antiquing, shopping, boating, water skiing and more-- check it out here)
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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FLORIDA:
ORLANDO:
ORL LLC, headed by Florida panhandle developer F.W. " Freddie" Schinz, plans to build
a $150 million full-ownership condominium project northeast of Marriott's Orlando World Center. Named The Blue
Heron Beach Resort, the four 17-story towers, each with two floors of parking, will have a total of 560 one-
and two-bedroom condominiums each selling for $245,000 or more. RCI Resort Management has been chosen to
provide management services to Blue Heron.
There is some confusion going on at Trendwest's new resort in Orlando, the
Kingstown Reef at the Crowne Plaza. Did Trendwest really buy it, folks are asking? (Yes, they really did)
The reason they are asking is this: There are two buildings, the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the Kingstown Reef, but
both are accessed from a single lobby. As of Sunday, Feb. 16, Starwood Vacation Ownership (Vistana) has
apparently taken over the tour desk in the lobby and allegedly has a contract to stay in there for at least a year.
They are setting things up so that their OPCs and Guest Services reps will be booking vacation packages for people
right from the lobby. So how do the Trendwest reps feel about that?
What's larger than the Orlando Museum of Art and comes equipped with a revolving bed and its own Zamboni,
asks the Orlando Sentinel? David Siegel, king of CFI/Westgate Resorts, is building a brand
new palace on about 10 acres of land. At 88,000 sq. feet, it will be 60% bigger than the White House. Well of course
it will be. The White House only houses Presidents. Siegel describes himself as a dictator. Everyone knows that
dictators are bigger than presidents and need more room.  (Until the Sentinel puts this story in its paid archives, you can read about it here: Siegel home bigger than White House )
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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MYRTLE BEACH, SC:
Apparently the investigation into Nigel Russell's actions over the last few years
goes deeper than " mere" indentity theft and passport fraud, though details are still scarce at this point.
(Are any of you nervous about what the feds might find in his computer and other files? Or who might turn State's
Evidence?) And those few of you who defended Nigel as a stand-up guy and a brilliant businessman (just before you
jumped ship)-- do you still feel the same way, or is it now a case of " Hardly knew the guy..." ? Did
you leave a paper trail? Are you sweating?
Most recently, Nigel is being investigated for allegations of murder for hire. (see
the separate page about all of this scandal)
OLD TIMESHARE SAYING: When a fish stinks it's from the head down.
Editorially speaking, we agree with those of you who wrote in to point out that in the end Plantation Resorts
developer Blaine Liljenquist and Ken and Brian Taylor (Spinnaker Resorts/Southwind Sales and Marketing)
bear a lot of responsibility for Nigel's alleged scurvy actions since it was they who empowered him-- first by
hiring him and then by retaining him after it became obvious that he was not exactly an ethical man. Both entities
not only stood by while Nigel allegedly looted and pillaged his way through sales reps' reserves and commissions,
it appears (at least on the surface) that they may have aided and abetted by doing nothing to stop it. Liljenquist
seems to have objected enough to fire Nigel only when he discovered that Nigel was allegedly stealing from him,
too. Most recently, rumors are swirling that Blaine, his lawyer, and the current BIC (Broker in Charge) are working
hard to try to keep a lid on things. We find it interesting that the local newspaper, the Myrtle Beach Sun News,
has so far given only one brief mention about the whole thing, lost in the back pages. This is juicy most reputable
local newspapers would be all over something like this. Why aren't they?
Many sales reps have written to us accusing both Liljenquist and Brian Taylor's companies of retaining $$$hundreds
of thousands of their reserve funds, which they think they will probably never get. Taylor allegedly is already
in deep financial trouble, and rumors are rampant that he is being investigated by various federal entities. Blaine
Liljenquist, on the other hand, is politically very well-connected in South Carolina, having once been the head
of the Republican Party for Horry County, so what is the chance that he will be investigated for anything, our
readers ask? Both entities allegedly were aware of the bogus chargebacks and reserve funds disappearing but did
nothing about it for 5 years. Says one disgusted and irate former Plantation Resort sales rep: --" I
have one final word: UNIONIZE!!!!!!!"
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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| Rumors rumors, who's got the rumors... |
- Is there any truth to the rumor that that a certain female Bluegreen
Sampler Manager (single) is not satisfied with being the catalyst that cost the previous Director of Sales
his job? Scuttlebutt says her current target is another manager who is, like the previous manager, married, with
children. AND her Significant Other is the Director of Sales at a neighboring resort. The current Director of Sales
is said to be aware of both her previous and present liaisons, so the question is: why is she still employed? Is
Bluegreen afraid to fire her for fear of yet another lawsuit?
- Is there any truth to the rumor that Starwood will be converting
some of the rooms at the Sheraton Kauai Resort in Poipu to timeshare besides developing a new timeshare
resort in Princeville?
- Is there any truth to the rumor that the dreaded Wayne Schilling
(" a monkey could sell timeshare" ), the former Fairfield VP who was finally fired once and for all last
October (for reasons FFD didn't care to elaborate on), is on his way to Branson to take the reins as new
President for Grandvista? Hope you " monkeys" are ready for him...
- Feb. 24: An inside joke we couldn't resist (time to pick up your drink and hurriedly slink away): from
The Moody Blues, Threshold of a Dream
When the white eagle of the north is flying overhead
The browns, reds and gold of autumn lie in the gutter, dead.
Remember then that summer birds with wings of fire flaying
Came to witness Spring's new hope, born of leaves decaying
Just as new life will come from death, love will come at leisure
Love of love, love of life and giving without measure
Gives in return a wondrous yearn of a promise almost seen.
Live hand-in-hand and together we'll stand on the threshold of a dream. 
- E-mail
street@streettalkblog.com
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- Quotable quotes: " Only work half a day. It doesn't matter which half you work – the
first 12 hours or the second 12 hours." —the late
Kemmons Wilson, founder of the Holiday Inn hotel chain
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| INTERNATIONAL: |
- Check out the new test page for the International timeshare happenings, and let
us know what you think. This is still in the figuring-out-if-it-will-work phase, so your input is important.
Should we keep the info on it for a month, adding to it throughout that period? It all depends on how much y'all
are willing to contribute... Street Talk International (Last
Updated Feb. 25)
E-mail street@streettalkblog.com
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| Idle Thoughts: |
- If a resort company does not keep its list of properties updated,
both in print and on their Web sites, could that present a potential legal problem for them? For instance, what
is Sunterra's potential liability for presenting all the resorts on their list as their own and supplying
purchasers with a list of properties for usage that isn't up to date as they keep selling properties or losing
management contracts? Is this a form of misrepresentation that could allow buyers to back out of a sale even long
after the rescission period has passed? And if a company selling a points club, like Sunterra's, does not reveal
during the sales process that the number of resorts available for Club exchange could become fewer over time, or
that resorts of particular interest to the purchaser might be dropped, is that a problem, too? Your thoughts?
- Feb. 24: --" Is
the situation with Sunterra not exactly the same
as the situation with RCI or II showing a hefty book with resorts that sales people know darn well owners will
have a " tough" time getting into? i.e. the Manhattan Club? Does this situation also happen from time
to time with resorts either changing affiliation and/or dropping out of the system? Is there a difference that
I am unaware of? Remember, in essence, salespeople are selling a week of timeshare at that resort."
- AND: --" There
is a difference in presenting resorts
that are currently in a club compared to presenting resorts as resorts in a club that the company already knows
are not any longer available for usage and have been sold off to another developer or management company."
- For many years government entities have concentrated on protecting consumers from the
less ethical practices of the timeshare industry. We think it is past due that those government entities start
looking seriously at the unethical practices perpetrated against the sales people (who are also tax payers,
after all)-- everything from questionable Independent Contractor status to unethical practices by some companies
regarding the " holding" of reserve funds. Take the practice of holding your reserve funds and final commissions
until the purchaser has made 6 consecutive timely monthly payments, for instance. Theoretically, a new owner
could pay off his purchase entirely, but if he never made 6 timely payments in a row, you might never get
paid the balance of your reserves and commissions at all. AND, that money is not held in a special " escrow" type of account, so the developer gets to use your money, interest free, for the duration. When are the States
and the Feds going to look at that kind of abuse?
- We logged on to a website the other day and were greeted with one of those irritating
pop-under ads. It used Flash technology and we couldn't determine just who it came from, but the title (the words
up in the blue bar at the top of your browser) said " TSN" and the body of the ad said: --" Congratulations! You are the 1000th visitor to our website & have
been selected to receive $1001.00 in travel dollars toward a Disney Vacation. Call
1-800-581-8915 to claim your prize. Res. #400" . Well, we called. It is TSN. The entire ad was basically
a questionable come-on designed to get us to call up and join the TSN Vacation Club. Same old, same old.
We guess that if you are in business to make a lot of money you can't always be too fussy about who you get
in bed with. RCI's first master franchise in Asia, for instance, was with the Challenge Group, the
property arm of weapons dealer Rasri Bualert (as reported in the Bangkok Post. Nowadays they call
her a developer, but in 1998 she was referred to as a weapons dealer.) And, like a man sniffing around for a one-night-stand,
not all the distributors of TSN's Vacation Club care very much what they have to say or do to sell the TSN product,
and if we all know that, TSN owner Beth Valente must surely know it, too. But, she did win a Gold
Ardy in 2002, so everything must be OK. Right?
Tom Flatley once won ARDA's Humanitarian of the Year Award... Wonder what new company name(s)
he is working under since handing over Five Star to the bankruptcy court handling the Epic mess. Anyone know?
- YOUR COMMENTS:
- Feb. 26: --" Yea
!!!!! I'm the `1000th visitor to your
website', too !!!! I got this great little pop-up that said so - and that I won $1001.00 in travel dollars toward
a Disney Vacation. My question is - How many people can be the 1000th visitor? I see from your newsletter above
that there has been at least one more. Is this legal?"
E-mail
street@streettalkblog.com
|
| People on the Move: |
- Rumor has it that timeshare veterans Larry Kenney and Daryl Palmer have
been in the Chicago area recruiting sales personnel for the first of Trendwest's new stores in the
area, starting with Downers Grove and then Schaumburg. Rumor also has it that they will be joined shortly by Curtis
Curry, who stepped down from the PD slot in Overland Park, KS. to accept the Sales Manager position at the
first store. Says one source: --" Holy cow, with this list of heavy hitters all in one talent pool Trendwest
must want to make a big statement in the mid-west."
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|
Who did you vote for?
- Candidate A is Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Candidate B is Winston Churchill
- Candidate C is Adolph Hitler
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Street Talk is a compendium of tips, facts, gossip, rumors, speculation and editorial comment provided by The Timeshare Beat as an outlet for the free expression of its readers
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If erroneous information is inadvertently
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