Street Talk International Archives

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 and for their entertainment. The Timeshare Beat makes no assertion as to the veracity of the items contained herein. If erroneous information is inadvertently included and a correction to this information is subsequently sent to The Timeshare Beat, the correction will be prominently published. Opinions published within Street Talk are the opinions of the authors thereof and are not necessarily the opinions of The Timeshare Beat.

STREET TALK INTERNATIONAL: Week of August 8 - August 14, 2003 Street Talk is a compendium of tips, facts, gossip, rumors, speculation and editorial comment. PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY E-mail: news@thetimesharebeat.com | Email: street@thetimesharebeat.com Lost & Found Women in the Biz Street Talk Back Issues Street Talk International Archives We received this note last week regarding our exposure of less than ethical timeshare companies in Mexico and want to put it right up here at the top: --" You seem to be identifying the bad boys of Mexico. Perhaps a note for the ones trying to improve the business might be in order. Per my many years of resort calls in Mexico and AMDETUR those would be the Royals, Club Regina, the Villa Group, Fiesta Americana, Krystals, Melia, etc. The reason Mexico represents 30% of worldwide timeshare sales is not just because a few desperados heat it up." We agree with this writer and want to make it plain that there are an awful lot of happy timeshare owners in Mexico who have not experienced the painful and dishonest tactics of the companies/resorts we have been revealing in the Mexico section below. It is extremely unfortunate that some really rotten apples are spoiling the barrel, since it is a fact that it is people with a gripe who generate the most publicity and the result is a lack of trust of timeshare in general. Will Royal Holiday Club (The owner of Royal's parent-company, Grupo Costamex, is Señ or Pablo Gonzalez Carbonell, who is proud of his charities support but doesn't seem to care how his subordinates get the money that has made him a very rich man.), Sunset Group, the Palace Group, Velas Vallarta and others continue to allow their unethical actions against consumers to continue? We are willing to keep them in the negative spotlight for as long as they do, but are also happy to help promote those companies that keep it clean. We understand sizzle and even a little heat now and then, but this outright fraud that scams consumers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars yearly and continues to give this great industry a black eye just gets our knickers in a bunch. It has to stop. We love Mexico and have personally experienced some great vacations at timeshare resorts there. So you guys and gals who are doing it right-- keep up the good work. For more complete details on the issue of timeshare fraud in Mexico, go to Mexico Fraud Alert E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com UK & IRELAND SCOTLAND: A group of Loch Rannoch Highland Club timeshare owners has put a damper on Scotland’s biggest public-to-private buyout deal at Macdonald Hotels. The Highland timeshare owners, who are currently facing a £ 900,000 damages claim from Macdonald, have now begun their own legal challenge against the hotel group, which last week concluded a £ 600 million management buyout deal to take the company off the stock market. This ongoing fight has been rancorous and interesting (from the outside) to watch. Read about it here: (external) Timeshare revolt steals limelight from Macdonald Hotels buyout KINLOCHARD: The Forest Hills Hotel wants to construct a massive 35-room extension to the Hotel together with three new accommodation blocks. The plans would also include the erection of a staff accommodation block and provision for an additional car park. Put forward this week by the Aberfoyle hotel, the extension could see Forest Hills become the biggest hotel by far in the area. They figure this extension would have a great impact on the local economy since their timeshare guests shop, dine and tour with local establishments. You can read more about it here: (external) Hotel plans may provide tourism boost E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com

ASIA

VIETNAM: CAT BA ISLAND: Honolulu-based Group 70 International announced recently it will design Vietnam's first master-planned resort community on historic Cat Ba Island. Construction of the estimated $400 million project is scheduled to begin within 24 months with completion in seven years. Cat Ba Island, considered a national treasure by the Vietnamese government, is part of the Cat Ba archipelago comprising 366 islands with hundreds of beaches and various habitats that support a diverse range of flora and fauna. The resort, a 500-acre development about 30 miles from Haiphong, can be reached by car, ferry or hydrofoil. In addition to three hotels, two of which will be five-star, it will include villas, a civic center with support facilities, a national aquarium, world-class marina and shopping, dining and entertainment. There may also be a timeshare project, which is a new thing in that particular part of Asia. We'll update you as we hear more. YOUR COMMENTS August 9: --" Well, I guess if we couldn't beat them in Uniform we can sure as heck beat them in " Sales Suits" . Our " Timeshare Division" will surely " Show them the error of their ways!" E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com

CARIBBEAN

ST. MAARTEN: Three unnamed buyers are interested in purchasing the La Belle Creole Hotel property located in Terres Basses on the French side, according to their agent Michael Holmes. He told The Daily Herald the buyers were " very interested" in the property. However, his firm maintains strict confidentiality regarding its clients, so he was unable to release the names of the interested parties. Completion of negotiations is expected by the end of September. Discussions are also ongoing to choose a management company for the property should the deal be completed. One of the companies under consideration is Buena Vista Hospitality Group linked to Buena Vista Vacation Resorts, a fast-growing company which recently took over management of the Port de Plaisance. By the way, Buena Vista Vacation Resorts has indeed permanently rehired 7 of 8 desk staff at the Port de Plaisance, just as they said they would. E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com

MEXICO

QUINTANA ROO: CANCUN: Does Avalon Resorts really have properties in progress and near completetion in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, Jamaica, and Cuba? And what is the status of the Avalon Reef in Belize? E-mail street@thetimesharebeat.com

SOUTH AMERICA

ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES: Interval International has affiliated the Plaza San Martí n Suites. Located in the heart of the city on the elegant Santa Fe Avenue and near the financial district, Plaza San Martí n Suites has 58 purpose-built units. Plaza San Martí n, famous for its wide variety of trees and peaceful park setting in the middle of Buenos Aires, is just a block away. The property is also in close proximity to popular tourist attractions such as theaters and exclusive shopping centers like Patio Bullrich and Galerí as Pací fico, a refurbished turn-of-the-century building that boasts murals by prominent Argentine artists and houses the Borges Cultural Center.

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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 and for their entertainment. The Timeshare Beat makes no assertion as to the veracity of the items contained herein. If erroneous information is inadvertently included and a correction to this information is subsequently sent to The Timeshare Beat, the correction will be prominently published. Opinions published within Street Talk are the opinions of the authors thereof and are not necessarily the opinions of The Timeshare Beat. THIS COLUMN CONTAINS OPINIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THIRD PARTIES. THE TIMESHARE BEAT DOES NOT REPRESENT, ENDORSE OR GUARANTEE THE TRUTHFULNESS, ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY OF SUCH CONTENT POSTED BY SUCH THIRD PARTIES, OR ENDORSE ANY OPINIONS OR RECOMMENDATIONS EXPRESSED BY SUCH THIRD PARTIES. ANY RELIANCE ON CONTENT POSTED BY THIRD PARTIES WILL BE AT YOUR OWN RISK. CHANGES ARE PERIODICALLY MADE TO THIS COLUMN AND MAY BE MADE AT ANY TIME.

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